Jason Daniels, a strategic antitrust advisor, guides market-leading companies in heavily regulated industries through high-stakes business transactions, government investigations, and litigation.

Mr. Daniels quickly learns clients’ industry landscape and business needs and crafts strategies that protect the business’ bottom line. He brings a background in economics, a commercial perspective, and extensive experience across multiple industries to help clients navigate merger control proceedings and litigation. Having worked across from federal agencies on numerous deals and litigation, he is well versed in their tactics and provides comprehensive advice. He regularly guides clients on:

  • Strategic deal planning in volatile transactional environments
  • Multinational and domestic merger control strategies
  • Litigation risk mitigation
  • The evolving antitrust regulatory landscape, including: guidelines, state filings, and interlocking directorates

Placing a premium on client engagement and service, Mr. Daniels draws on a keen analytical ability to assess risk, negotiate antitrust covenants, secure regulatory clearance, and — if necessary — defend the transaction through trial.

A recognized leader both within and outside the firm, Mr. Daniels serves on Latham’s Diversity Leadership Committee and plays an active role in the American Bar Association Antitrust Section, including having served as Vice Chair for multiple committees. He also serves on the board of Equality California.

Mr. Daniels maintains an active pro bono practice, including advising on Special Immigrant Visa applications, the Tenant Assistance Project, the Innocence Project, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Mr. Daniels’ representative experience includes representing:

Merger Clearance and Government Investigations

  • Cerner Corporation in obtaining global merger clearances for its US$28.3 billion acquisition by Oracle; including an unconditional EU merger clearance despite market test, and global FDI reviews
  • Desktop Metal in its merger clearance for its US$1.8 billion sale to Stratasys
  • Vital Pharmaceuticals in its sale of Bang Energy to Monster Beverage
  • A leading social media platform on its day-to-day compliance and other antitrust matters
  • GCP Applied Technologies in obtaining global antitrust and FDI clearances in 8 jurisdictions for its US$2.3 billion acquisition by Saint-Gobain
  • GoldenTree Asset Management in its portfolio company, Neenah Enterprises’ proposed acquisition of US Foundry and its sister companies
  • A leading healthcare company in a complex multi-region transaction with intense regulatory interest
  • Globe Specialty Metals, a global silicon metal and specialty alloys producer, before the US Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the company’s merger with European competitor FerroAtlantica
  • A leading global IP lifecycle solutions provider in multiple cross-border acquisitions and assessments
  • A leading insurance brokerage in multiple acquisitions and assessment of multiple major considered transactions
  • Live Nation in its US$2.5 billion merger with Ticketmaster Entertainment
  • Various pharmaceutical clients in matters including:
    • Complex licensing arrangements and acquisitions
    • A DOJ investigation of a branded drug litigation settlement
  • An online gaming executive in an US Federal Trade Commission inquiry regarding privacy issues

Litigation and Trials

  • Surescripts in various matters including:
    • An ongoing FTC lawsuit alleging monopolization of e-prescription markets
    • A follow-on class action brought by classes of pharmacies alleging monopolization of e-prescription markets through exclusionary contracts
  • Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) in a putative class action alleging antitrust violations under Section 2 of the Sherman Act; a case raising claims similar to those in litigation that Latham successfully dismissed for DFA
  • Cox Communications in In re Cox Enterprises Inc. Set-Top Cable Television Box Antitrust Litigation, a rare antitrust trial with a certified class related to the lease of set-top cable boxes; Following trial, a federal judge granted Cox’s post-verdict Rule 50 motion and entered a defense judgment in Cox’s favor
  • Oracle in high-profile trials with Hewlett-Packard, in which HP alleged that Oracle’s actions in halting software development for the Intel Itanium microprocessor violated contract and unfair competition laws
  • Apple in a series of individual cases and a putative class action brought by resellers who alleged that Apple violated California’s antitrust and unfair competition laws, and in nationwide antitrust class actions relating to the alleged monopolization of iPhone aftermarkets

Bar Qualification

  • California

Education

  • JD, Georgetown University Law Center
  • MPP, University of Chicago
  • BA, University of California, Berkeley