U.S. Antitrust Merger Trial Attorney Joins Axinn

Justice Department trial attorney Craig Minerva, who oversaw several high profile antitrust division merger investigations, has joined Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP.

Minerva will join Axinn’s antitrust group as counsel after spending over three years with the DOJ, the firm announced Monday.

At the DOJ, Minerva led the government’s investigation into Walt Disney Co’s $71 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox Inc.’s entertainment assets. The deal, which was approved by the U.S. in 2018, required Fox to divest all of its regional sports network in order to proceed with the acquisition.

Minerva also oversaw the government’s probe and eventually lawsuit to prevent Quad/Graphic’s $1.4 billion merger with LSC Communications Inc.

The merger, which sought to unite the two largest printing companies of books, magazines, and catalogs, was abandoned by LSC and Quad/Graphics in July 2019, a month after the DOJ sued to block the deal.

Minerva’s move over to Axinn marks the firm’s second high-profile hire this month.

Koren Wong-Ervin, who served as Qualcomm Inc.'s director of antitrust policy and litigation, also announced her move over to Axinn March 25.