August.05.2016
Orrick is pleased to announce the addition of James Tierney, one of the nation’s most accomplished antitrust lawyers and chief of the Networks and Technology Enforcement Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division (Net Tech). Jim will join the firm’s growing Washington, D.C. office as a partner, effective August 22.
A 22-year DOJ veteran and Net Tech chief since 2006, Jim has served as the chief architect of the federal government’s antitrust enforcement efforts in the technology and financial services sectors. He has overseen all civil antitrust enforcement, competition advocacy, and competition policy in the areas of computer hardware and software, high-technology component manufacturing, financial services, securities industries, and professional associations. He has also led the agency’s cooperation with antitrust and competition authorities worldwide. In short, he has reviewed, investigated and/or litigated every major strategic technology transaction and conduct issue in the past decade.
“With his distinguished career leading antitrust enforcement, Jim will be instrumental in guiding the firm’s tech and financial services clients through the increasingly complex regulatory environment now unfolding on both the U.S. and global stage,” said Bob Rosenfeld, leader of Orrick’s Antitrust Practice Group. “We are simply thrilled that he is joining our team.”
“A key area of focus for our Washington office is advocating before federal agencies on behalf of the firm’s clients in the technology, energy & infrastructure and finance sectors,” said Washington Office Leader Kyle Drefke. “Adding a leading talent like Jim, who is recognized in the Beltway and worldwide, is one of the exciting ways we are deepening our bench. He’ll very quickly become a central member of our Washington team.”
Jim is a five-time recipient of the Assistant Attorney General Award of Distinction, and also received the prestigious Roberts Award in 2011 for excellence, leadership and dedication in the enforcement of antitrust laws. Prior to becoming Net Tech’s chief, he served for three years as assistant chief of the Antitrust Division’s Litigation 2 section and was a trial attorney in the agency from 1994 to 2003. He also served in the Antitrust Division’s Professions and Intellectual Property sections. He clerked for Washington State Supreme Court Justices James A. Andersen and Fred Dore.
“I am very proud of Net Tech’s work over a decade of dramatic change in the technology and finance sectors. It has been an honor to serve with these distinguished lawyers,” said Jim. “At the same time, I am excited to make the transition to private practice as a member of the Orrick team and to bring my experience to Orrick’s clients. The firm’s tech and financial services sector leadership, its top-tier trial platform, and its top quality antirust practice make it a perfect fit.”
Jim is the second senior antitrust official to join Orrick’s Washington, DC office in the past year, following Alex Okuliar, who served as attorney advisor to FTC Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen and before that as an attorney in Net Tech with Jim. In addition, Jim joins a growing stable of former top Justice Department officials at Orrick, including Melinda Haag, who returned to Orrick in March as head of the firm’s Global Litigation practice after serving as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California. Former Justice Department lawyers Billy Jacobson and Jonathan Lopez also were added to the firm’s DC office last year as partners in our white collar practice.
Orrick’s antitrust team comprises 30 lawyers in 10 markets worldwide handling major deals and litigation for clients in the tech, energy & infrastructure and finance sectors.