Michael H.Knight (Mike)

Partner

Washington + 1.202.879.5553

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With more than 25 years of experience as an antitrust lawyer in both government and private practice, Mike Knight advises clients on a full range of competition law matters including mergers, joint ventures, competitor collaborations, distribution issues, price discrimination, monopolization, and intellectual property restraints. He routinely represents clients before federal and state antitrust agencies and federal courts. Mike also co-heads Jones Day's Hart-Scott-Rodino Act premerger notification team.

Mike's recent representations include securing antitrust clearance for Cintas Corporation's acquisition of G&K Services and the long-fought acquisition by Hertz of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. He also has represented Aetna, Axiall, Conagra, and Indivior, among other clients, on antitrust matters.

Mike served as an assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition from 2003 to 2007, heading the Bureau's Mergers II Division, where he oversaw hundreds of investigations across an array of industries including technology, chemical manufacturing, mining, and agriculture. He was a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division from 1997 to 2000. In private practice before joining Jones Day, Mike represented technology firms Adobe, NVIDIA, and Synopsys, among other clients.

Mike has held various leadership positions in the American Bar Association's Section of Antitrust Law over the past 18 years and currently serves on the editorial board of the Section's Antitrust Source publication. He writes and speaks frequently on antitrust enforcement topics.

Experience

  • VSE Corporation acquires Turbine Controls, Inc.Jones Day is advising VSE Corporation in the $120 million acquisition of Turbine Controls, Inc., a provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support services for complex engine components, as well as engine and airframe accessories, across commercial and military applications.
  • Indivior resolves "product hop" allegations in antitrust class actionJones Day resolved multidistrict litigation brought against Indivior, Inc. Indivior manufactures the prescription drug, Suboxone, which is used to treat opioid addiction.
  • VSE Corporation sells Federal and Defense Services operating assetsJones Day advised VSE Corporation in the sale of substantially all of its Federal and Defense Services operating assets.
  • ETS acquires PSIJones Day advised Educational Testing Service (ETS) in its acquisition of PSI Services LLC, a global leader in test development and delivery across workforce certification and licensure.
  • The Stephens Group sells Summit Industrial Construction to Comfort Systems USAJones Day is advising The Stephens Group, LLC in the sale of portfolio company, Summit Industrial Construction, LLC, to Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
  • Shiseido Americas acquires Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare for $450 millionJones Day is advising Shiseido Americas Corporation, a subsidiary of Shiseido Co., Ltd., regarding its definitive agreement to acquire DDG Skincare Holdings LLC, the owner of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, for $450 million in cash.
  • Koch reaches agreement to acquire Wever fertilizer plant from OCI GlobalJones Day is advising Koch Ag & Energy Solutions, LLC, an affiliate of Koch Industries, Inc., in the $3.6 billion acquisition of Iowa Fertilizer Company (IFCO) from OCI N.V., a Netherlands-based producer and distributor of hydrogen products.
  • Asbury Automotive Group acquires Jim Koons AutomotiveJones Day advised Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., in its acquisition of Jim Koons Automotive Group of Companies for approximately $1.2 billion in cash.
  • Affiliate of Centre Lane Partners acquires appliance business from Instant BrandsJones Day advised an affiliate of Centre Lane Partners in the acquisition and financing of the appliances business of Instant Brands, designer and distributor of kitchen and home appliances, including the Instant Pot, pursuant to Section 363 of title 11 of the United States Code.
  • WEG acquires industrial electric motors and generators business from Regal Rexnord CorporationJones Day is advising WEG S.A. in the $400 million acquisition of the industrial electric motors and generators business of Regal Rexnord Corporation.
  • Sega acquires Rovio EntertainmentJones Day advised Sega Corporation with the international aspects of the acquisition of Finland’s Rovio Entertainment (the creators of 'Angry Birds').
  • TotalEnergies completes PIPE investment in NextDecade Corporation and investment in $18.5 billion Rio Grande LNG ProjectJones Day represented TotalEnergies in connection with its PIPE investment in NextDecade Corporation and investment in the Rio Grande LNG (RGLNG) Project, a planned natural gas liquefaction project in South Texas.
  • Sonepar Group acquires Billows Electric SupplyJones Day represented Sonepar in the acquisition by its U.S. subsidiary, Cooper Electric, of Billows Electric Supply, an electrical distribution business operating 19 branch locations in the Philadelphia, South New Jersey, and Wilmington, Delaware, markets.
  • Evoqua merges with Xylem in $7.5 billion all-stock transactionJones Day advised Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. (NYSE: AQUA) in its $7.5 billion stock-for-stock merger with Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL).
  • NioCorp combines with GX Acquisition Corp. IIJones Day advised NioCorp Developments Ltd. (TSX: NB; OTCQX: NIOBF) in its business combination with GX Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq: GXII), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition corporation.
  • Flowers Foods acquires Papa Pita BakeryJones Day advised Flowers Foods, Inc. in its acquisition of Papa Pita Bakery, a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality bagels, tortillas, breads, buns, English muffins, and flat breads.
  • Horizon Global merges with First Brands GroupJones Day represented Horizon Global Corporation in its acquisition by First Brands Group, LLC, a global automotive parts manufacturer that serves the worldwide automotive aftermarket.
  • J.F. Lehman & Company backed NorthStar Group acquires Trans Ash Inc.Jones Day advised NorthStar Group, a portfolio company of J.F. Lehman & Company, in the acquisition and financing of Trans Ash Inc., a leading provider of coal ash (or coal combustion residuals) services to utilities customers across North America.
  • Sonepar acquires NEDCO SupplyJones Day represented Sonepar, a global market leader in B-to-B distribution of electrical products, in its acquisition of NEDCO Supply, a full-line distributor of electrical products and services operating throughout southern Nevada.
  • Hard Rock International acquires The Mirage Las Vegas Hotel and CasinoJones Day represented Hard Rock International (Hard Rock) on the acquisition of The Mirage Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from MGM Resorts International.
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    February 2024 Alert

    U.S. Merger Notification Threshold Increases to $119.5 Million

    July 2023 White Paper

    DOJ/FTC Propose Massive Changes to HSR Premerger Filings: What You Need to Know

    January 2023 Alert

    U.S. Merger Notification Threshold Increases to $111.4 Million

    January 2023 Alert

    Congress Enacts Substantial Increase in U.S. Merger Notification Filing Fees for Large Deals

    October 2022 Newsletters

    Global Merger Control Update | Fall 2022

    January 2022 Alert

    U.S. Merger Notification Threshold Increases to $101 Million

    April 2021 Alert

    Supreme Court Blocks FTC from Obtaining Monetary Remedies in Most Antitrust and Consumer Protection Cases

    February 2021 Alert

    Antitrust Agencies Suspend Early Termination of HSR Waiting Period

    February 2021 Alert

    U.S. Merger Notification Threshold Falls to $92 Million

    February 2021 Newsletters

    Global Merger Control Update | Winter 2021
    View All

    Speaking Engagements

    • November 9, 2016
      Jones Day Global Life Sciences Conference – 2016 Issues & Trends
    • March 10, 2015
      What You Absolutely Positively Must Know About HSR
    • May 21, 2014
      The Interface Between Sector Regulation and Competition Law: The Experience in the US, Europe And Elsewhere, panelist, Canadian Bar Association's 2014 Competition Law Spring Forum
    • November 13, 2013
      2013-2014 Life Sciences Webinar Series: Intellectual Property, Regulatory, and Antitrust Issues in Life Sciences M&A and Capital Markets Transactions
    • September 5, 2013
      Risk Factors for Second Request Merger Investigations by the DOJ and FTC, panelist, ABA Section of Antitrust Program
    • September 12, 2013
      Merger Practice Workshop, panelist, ABA Section of Antitrust Law Program
    • March 27, 2012
      Antitrust for Deal Lawyers, guest lecturer, Boston College Law School
    • January 31, 2012
      Budgeting for eDiscovery: Exploring your Approach to Cost Control and Transparency, panelist, LegalTech New York 2012
    • July 19, 2011
      New DOJ Merger Remedies: Expanded Antitrust Enforcement Tools, panelist, Strafford CLE Webinar
    • June 22, 2011
      Executive Roundtable Series - Growing Your Business: How to Handle Legal and Regulatory Hurdles Both Before and After They Arise
    • March 10, 2011
      TransPerfect Legal Solutions/FTI Technology Second Request Panel, panelist
    • September 27, 2010
      International Competition/Antitrust Update, panelist, CCCA 2010 Corporate Counsel World Summit
    • July 1, 2010
      Horizontal Merger Guidelines: Operating Within the New Antitrust Framework, panelist
    • February 16, 2010
      Executive Roundtable Series: Antitrust in the Obama Administration: Developments in the First Year and What to Expect Next
    • September 15, 2009
      Annual seminar on Antitrust for the Westchester/Southern Connecticut chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (WESFACCA)

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