Clients turn to Ryan Thomas for their most significant antitrust matters involving complex M&A, government investigations, counseling, and litigation. Ryan regularly appears before the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and state attorneys general. He has extensive experience successfully leading cross-border matters involving enforcers in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Ryan has 20 years' experience across many sectors, including semiconductors, hardware and artificial intelligence (AI), financial institutions, payment products and services, pharmaceuticals, ophthalmic lenses and eyewear, aerospace, medical devices, and consumer and industrial goods.
He has secured antitrust clearances in many complex transactions, including NVIDIA's acquisition of Mellanox; Essilor's combination with Luxottica; USG's acquisition by Knauf; Hertz's acquisition of Dollar Thrifty; and XM's merger with Sirius. He has significant experience navigating antitrust and bankruptcy laws, recently representing M&G Chemicals before the FTC in its $1.1 billion sale of PET assets. Ryan also represents clients in merger litigations, including the successful defense of STERIS's acquisition of Synergy Health against an FTC challenge.
Apart from transactional work, Ryan defends clients against monopolization claims, recently obtaining a favorable outcome for a technology company targeted in a government investigation. He also helps clients manage day-to-day risks, providing user-friendly advice on pricing, distribution, and marketing practices.
Ryan has been recognized by Who's Who Legal as a "Future Leader," "eminently practical," and "very good in front of clients." He writes and speaks frequently on important antitrust enforcement topics, including the failing firm doctrine, vertical mergers, blockchain, and future/potential competition issues.
Experience
Additional Publications
- January 21, 2021
China's New Merger Rules Streamline Process But May Extend Some Reviews, The M&A Lawyer, Vol. 25, Issue 1 - Fall 2020
Blockchain Technology: A Future Antitrust Target, published in 30 Competition: J. Anti., UCL & Privacy Sec. Cal. L. Assoc. 18 - April 2020
DOJ Prevails in Unprecedented Arbitration in Merger Challenge, Signaling More Arbitration in Future Merger Challenges, The M&A Lawyer, Volume 24, Issue 4 - September 2018
DOJ Rattles the Sabre: A Template for High Tech Merger Challenges?, M&A Lawyer, Vol. 23, Issue 8 - December 2018
U.S. antitrust law developments chapter in "Report on Competition Law and Policy of China (2017)" published by China Society for World Trade Organizational Studies - December 2018
U.S. antitrust law developments chapter in Report on Competition Law and Policy of China (2017) published by China Society for World Trade Organizational Studies - August 2013
Three Years in Rental Cars -- A Wild Ride, 13 The Threshold 3 - May 2012
What Companies Can Learn From AU Optronics, Law 360 - May 2012
Beware Obstruction of Justice In Merger Investigations, Law 360 - April 2012
M&A Lawyer: Hostile Transactions: A Different Antitrust Playbook - June 2009
The Rules of Professional Conduct Are Not Aspirational: Joint Representation of Corporations and Their Employees, Antitrust Source (Read the article.) - April 2009
FTC v. CCC Holdings: Message Received, GCP Magazine - November 2008
XM-Sirius: A Case Study in the Debate Over High Technology Merger Review, Icarus, Newsletter of the Computer & Internet Committee of the ABA Antitrust Section - Fall 2008
XM-Sirius: A View From the Dugout, The Threshold, Newsletter of the Mergers & Acquisitions Committee of the ABA Antitrust Sectio - 2005
Executives Beware: Extradition and the Long Arm of US Law, Young Lawyers, Newsletter of the Young Lawyers' Committee of the International Bar Association - 2002
Practice Guide: Premerger Notification Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, Antitrust Committee of the Section of Business Law
Speaking Engagements
- October 21, 2020
U.S. Competition Law: Fundamentals and Selected Issues, speaker, Peking University - October 14, 2020
Global Antitrust Update (US, Europe, China, Australia, Japan), speaker - February 13, 2019
SciTech Focus on Blockchain: Antitrust Regulation and Blockchain Technology, panelist, American Bar Association - November 29, 2018
U.S. Competition Law: Recent Developments in Technology Markets, speaker, Monte Jade Global Antitrust Competition Law Forum - November 28, 2018
U.S. Competition Law: Fundamentals and Selected Issues, speaker, Peking University - December 3, 2015
Presentation on U.S. & China Antitrust Developments - June 20, 2013
Antitrust Investigations: Tactical and Ethical Issues, D.C. Bar Association - July 12, 2012
Antitrust Investigations: Tactical and Ethical Issues, D.C. Bar Association - November 3, 2010
A Smarter Way: Acuity All-In-One Legal Review, panelist - December 17, 2008
Overview of Key Statutes in U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Antitrust Investigations and Prosecutions, panelist, American Bar Association (Antitrust Section) Cartel and Criminal Practice Committee
- University of Virginia (J.D. 2000; Executive Editor, Journal of Law & Politics); Ohio Wesleyan University (B.A. in Economics 1997)
- Virginia and District of Columbia
The Legal 500 US — recommended for merger control (2017, 2019-2021) ("Ryan Thomas is noted for his broad sector expertise and key role in a number of business-critical merger review proceedings and challenges.")
Who's Who Legal: Competition — Future Leaders (2017-2021)