Overview
Noah Pinegar is a member of the firm's Antitrust and Competition practice. Mr. Pinegar represents clients in antitrust and competition litigation, merger reviews, and conduct investigations before the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, and international enforcers.
During his time as an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, Mergers I division, Mr. Pinegar was a member of multiple litigation/trial teams, including FTC v. Staples/Office Depot (2016) (Janet D. Steiger award) and FTC v. Steris/Synergy Health (2015), the first litigated actual-potential competition theory in over 30 years. He also led and contributed to high-profile investigations in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, pharmacies, and pharmacy benefit management.
Recognitions
- The Legal 500 USA, Merger Control (2022)
Education
- Indiana University Maurer School of Law, J.D., 2010 (cum laude, Federal Communications Law Journal)
- University of Washington, B.A., 2001
Representations
Litigation/Investigations
- A leading medical device manufacturer in three cases alleging monopolization
- Three trial witnesses in United States v. Bertelsmann (Penguin Random House acquisition of Simon & Schuster)
- An agribusiness company in an antitrust defense to trade secret and employment mobility claims brought by a large competitor
- A leading food/CPG company and class of CPG companies in an antitrust case against the major provider of in-store promotions and free-standing insert coupons (settled for $250 million)
- A global transportation company in a grand jury investigation into price fixing/bid rigging in government procurement
- An investment education provider in an FTC investigation
- A social gaming company in a putative class action brought under consumer protection laws
Representative Transactions
- A leading pharma player in antitrust aspects of a co-detailing agreement
- A&E Medical in its sale to Zimmer Biomet
- Saba Software in its sale to Cornerstone OnDemand
- GI Partners in the acquisition and merger of California Cryobank and Cord Blood Registry
- David H. Murdock and Dole Food Company in the sale of a 45% stake to Total Produce
- Netsmart in its acquisition of the home care/hospice business of Change Healthcare
- Gannett Co., Inc. in connection with antitrust review of its merger with Belo Corp., a leading broadcast television company, valued at approximately $2.2 billion
- Jack Cooper Holdings Corp. in the antitrust review of its acquisition of competitor Allied Systems Holdings
- David H. Murdock in the international antitrust review of his historic second take private acquisition of Dole Food Company, Inc. for $1.6 billion
- Shuanghui International Holdings Limited, China's largest meat manufacturer, in the worldwide antitrust review of its acquisition of Smithfield Foods, Inc., a cash merger valued at $7.1 billion
- MetroPCS in the antitrust review of its reverse merger with T-Mobile USA, valued at $10+ billion
- Franchise Services of North America before the FTC as purchaser of divestiture assets in the Hertz-Dollar Thrifty transaction (Merger Control Matter of the Year—Americas at the Global Competition Review Awards 2013)
- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. in the international antitrust review of the sale of its hard disk drive business to Seagate for approximately $1.4 billion (Matter of the Year at the Global Competition Review Awards 2012)
news
- Paul Hastings Advised Micronics Engineered Filtration Group in Acquisition of AFT - July 28th, 2023
- Teleperformance Announces Acquisition of West Health Advocate Solutions from Intrado Corporation - October 27th, 2020
- Moody’s Corporation to Acquire Regulatory DataCorp - January 24th, 2020
- Enable Midstream Partners to Acquire Assets of Velocity Midstream Partners - October 25th, 2018
- Lotus Midstream to Acquire Centurion Crude Oil Pipeline and Related Assets in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma from Occidental Petroleum Corporation - August 8th, 2018
Recognitions
insights
- FTC Announces Increased HSR Thresholds and Filing Fees for 2024 - February 2nd, 2024
- FTC and DOJ Solidify Expanded Merger Enforcement in Finalized Merger Guidelines - December 21st, 2023
- FTC Plans Massive Revamp of HSR Act Reporting Requirements - June 29th, 2023
- FTC Announces Revised HSR Filing Fees and Increased HSR Thresholds - January 26th, 2023
- FTC Sows Uncertainty with Unfair Competition Guidance - November 15th, 2022
- Guilty Plea in Criminal Attempted Monopolization Case for Inviting Collusion Highlights Elevated Antitrust Risk - November 2nd, 2022
- Considerations For Private Equity After FTC Vet Clinic Deal - July 7th, 2022
- Raising the Stakes: Global Criminal Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws in the Supply Chain - February 22nd, 2022
- “The Wheel Is Come Full Circle”: FTC Investigations of the Supply Chain and Gasoline - November 30th, 2021
- DOJ Settlement a Reminder That Antitrust Deal Risk Extends Beyond the Deal - November 17th, 2021
- U.S. Criminal Antitrust Enforcement: How to Respond When the FBI Comes Knocking - March 17th, 2021
- HSR Early Terminations Suspended - February 4th, 2021
- Reduced HSR Thresholds Announced for 2021 - February 2nd, 2021
- How the Antitrust Landscape May Change in 2021: Compliance Risks in a Democratic Washington - November 20th, 2020
- Déjà-vu All Over Again: Government Enforcement in Response to Economic Crises - May 6th, 2020
- HSR Early Terminations Return, But Timing Challenges May Persist in Some Reviews - March 29th, 2020
- New HSR Thresholds Announced for 2020 - January 29th, 2020
- Extradition in Price Fixing Case the Latest Reminder of the Reach of U.S. Antitrust Laws - January 16th, 2020
- New DOJ Task Force to Increase Detection of Collusion in Government Contracting - November 14th, 2019
- New HSR Thresholds Announced for 2019 - March 4th, 2019
Engagement & Publications
- FTC Hearing #8: Common Ownership, Competition Policy International (Jan. 2, 2019)
- Michael Wise and Noah Pinegar, Tronox, Cristal Merger Review Underscores Need for Reform, Competition Law360 (Sept. 26, 2018)
- Scott Hataway, Michael Wise, Noah Pinegar, and Sabin Chung, U.S. Merger Control in the High-Technology Sector, The Merger Control Review 9th (Sept. 2018)
- Speaker, Significant Antitrust Issues for Healthcare & Pharma: What Lies Ahead in 2018 & Beyond, The Knowledge Group (Webcast, Apr. 19, 2018)
Involvement
- Member of the New York State Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, the State Bar of Texas, and the ABA Section of Antitrust Law
- Editorial Board of the Quick Look, a publication of the Joint Conduct Committee of the ABA Section of Antitrust Law
- Pro bono counsel to a non-profit organization working with banks, financial services players, and federal, state, and local law enforcement on improving detection of human trafficking