Overview
Michael Wise is a partner in Paul Hastings’ Litigation Department, specializing in antitrust and competition issues. He oversees the firm’s antitrust regulatory practice, based in the Washington, D.C. office.
In today’s environment, antitrust is increasingly a multi-jurisdictional practice. Mr. Wise regularly counsels both domestic and international companies on legal challenges arising under antitrust and competition laws, including both merger clearance and conduct investigations. Mr. Wise has substantial experience navigating compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, including leading multiple responses to DOJ and FTC investigations and second requests. He has also represented clients navigating the divestiture process following a DOJ or FTC consent decree.
On global deals, Mr. Wise has often coordinated merger control filings for the European Commission and other foreign regulators, including ensuring consistency with respect to timing and substantive analysis.
Similarly, Mr. Wise has successfully defended clients responding to allegations of anticompetitive practices. This includes handling complex litigation arising under the Sherman Act and state unfair competition laws, defending clients involved in civil class action claims, and representing companies in negotiating and responding to Civil Investigative Demands and subpoenas from the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.
Mr. Wise also counsels domestic and international clients on antitrust compliance issues, prepares antitrust policies and training materials, assists with internal audits, and provides strategic advice relating to antitrust regulatory issues. He has been published on several topics, including merger review of high-technology deals and regulatory limitations on pre-closing conduct.
Mr. Wise has been identified as a Rising Star in antitrust by Super Lawyers and The Legal 500.
The Legal 500 described Mr. Wise as “very responsive” and “able to fully grasp the issues and how to resolve them.”
Recognitions
- The Legal 500 USA, Rising Star, Merger Control (2020-2022)
Education
- George Washington University, J.D. (with honors), 2007 (Moot Court Board, Mock Trial Board and staff member of the AIPLA Quarterly Journal)
- Washington University in St. Louis, B.A. (cum laude), 2004
Representations
- An international service provider in a pending U.S. government investigation into potential anticompetitive practices and the development of a global antitrust compliance program
- Integrated DNA Technologies in its sale to Danaher
- Samsung Electronics in the international merger control review of its $8 billion acquisition of Harman International Industries, Inc.
- A global apparel company in developing a worldwide competition law compliance program covering practices in North and South America, Europe, and Asia
- Shuanghui International Holdings Limited, China's largest meat manufacturer, in the worldwide antitrust review of its acquisition of Smithfield Foods, Inc., the largest pork producer in the U.S., a cash merger valued at $7.1 billion
- Gannett Co., Inc. in connection with antitrust review of its merger with Belo Corp., a leading broadcast television company, a transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion
- Jack Cooper Holdings Corp. in the antitrust review of its acquisition of competitor Allied Systems Holdings, a deal valued at $135 million
- Barrington Broadcasting Group LLC in the antitrust review of its sale of 18 television stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. for $370 million
- MetroPCS Communications in the antitrust review of its reverse merger with T-Mobile USA, valued at over $10 billion
- Samsung in the international antitrust review of the sale of its hard disk drive business to Seagate for approximately $1.4 billion
- National Association of Music Merchants in a class action brought under Section 1 of the Sherman Act involving guitars and other musical instruments
- Arch Coal in its $761 million acquisition of the Jacobs Ranch mine in the Southern Powder River Basin from Rio Tinto
- Multibillion-dollar international corporation in conducting an antitrust compliance audit across its U.S. businesses
- Navteq in the antitrust review of its $8.7 billion merger with Nokia
Engagement & Publications
- Michael Wise and Noah Pinegar, Tronox, Cristal Merger Review Underscores Need For Reform, Competition Law 360 (Sept. 26, 2018)
- C. Scott Hataway, Michael S. Wise, Noah B. Pinegar, and Sabin Chung, U.S. Merger Control in the High-Technology Sector, The Merger Control Review 9th (Sept. 2018)
- Speaker, Hart-Scott-Rodino Act: Best Practices to Avoid Risks and Pitfalls, The Knowledge Group (Webcast, Nov. 15, 2017)
- Contributor, Handbook on Antitrust in Technology Industries, American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law (2017)
- Thomas Brown and Michael Wise, U.S. Merger Control in the High-Technology Sector, The Merger Control Review 8th (Sep. 2017)
- Speaker, Reducing Costs in Multilingual Discovery, International Legal Technology Association (Apr. 2017)
- Scott Hataway and Michael Wise, U.S. Merger Control in the High-Technology Sector, The Merger Control Review 7th (Aug. 2016)
- Speaker, Hart-Scott-Rodino Act (HSR): A Practical Guide in Minimizing the Risk of Investigation and Punitive Damages in 2014, The Knowledge Group (Webcast, Nov. 19, 2014)
- Scott Hataway and Michael Wise, The Antitrust Review of the Americas 2015 - United States: Mergers, Global Competition Review (Sept. 2014)
- Scott Hataway and Michael Wise, The Antitrust Review of the Americas 2014 - United States Mergers: Striking a Balance, Global Competition Review (Sept. 2013)
- Should You Settle With The FTC In A Section 5 Case?, Competition Law360 (May 2, 2012)
Involvement
- Member of the Legal Advisory Committee for CAIR Coalition, the primary source of legal assistance for detained immigrants (adults and children) in the D.C. metropolitan area
- Member of the Bar in the District of Columbia and Virginia
- Admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the District Court for the District of Columbia