Earlier this month, Joseph Wayland stepped down as the acting head of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, and has now announced he will be joining Simpson Thacher & Bartlett as partner.
Wayland joined the Antitrust Division in 2010 as its deputy assistant attorney general for civil enforcement. He was appointed to lead the division in April. During his tenure with the DOJ, he oversaw several key mergers and acquisitions challenges, notably preventing H&R Block Inc.’s attempted acquisition of TaxAct in the Antitrust Division’s first successful litigated merger challenge in eight years. He also led a successful challenge to AT&T Inc.’s planned acquisition of T-Mobile USA Inc., and helped the DOJ reach compromises on several other merger deals.
After announcing his departure from his DOJ post, Wayland told the Wall Street Journal Law (WSJ) Law Blog: “It’s time for me to go. I’ve been serving on borrowed time for some time.”
Sources told the WSJ at the time that they expected Wayland to return to Simpson Thacher, where he was a litigation partner for more than 20 years before joining the Justice Department. Wayland will be returning to the firm’s litigation practice.
Simpson Thacher Executive Committee Chairman Pete Ruegger said in a statement that he was "pleased to welcome Joe back to the firm."
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