Brian Rafkin
Senior Counsel
Areas of Focus
- Antitrust & International Competition
- Antitrust Mergers & Acquisitions
- Antitrust Counseling
- Antitrust Litigation
- Brian is a senior counsel in the firm’s antitrust/competition practice.
Brian is a former Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division attorney who represents clients in mergers and antitrust investigations before the DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a range of industries, including energy, health care, manufacturing, chemicals, airlines, technology, semiconductors and various other industries.
Brian has substantial experience leading clients through challenging merger investigations, from initial deal assessment and negotiation to antitrust agency investigation and through litigation and trial, if necessary. In particular, Brian has developed a niche in defending companies in litigated merger challenges brought by the government. He represented chemical producer PeroxyChem in its trial victory against the FTC in its attempt to block the $640 million sale of PeroxyChem to Evonik. He also represented General Electric in Electrolux/General Electric, Monsanto in Deere/Monsanto and Phoebe Putney hospital in Phoebe Putney/Palmyra Park.
Brian also leads Akin’s Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) practice, including advising on HSR reportability issues and preparing and submitting HSR filings. He also routinely advises on antitrust compliance issues, such as interlocking directorates, information exchanges, distribution and franchising, dominant firm conduct and joint ventures.
Prior to joining Akin, Brian was an antitrust associate at two prominent D.C. law firms. Brian also served as a trial attorney at the DOJ Antitrust Division – Defense, Industrials & Aerospace section.
EducationJ.D., University of Florida College of Law, magna cum laude, 2008
B.A., Duke University, 2005
J.D., University of Florida College of Law, magna cum laude, 2008
B.A., Duke University, 2005
Bar AdmissionsDistrict of Columbia
Florida
District of Columbia
Florida
- The Legal 500 US, Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense, 2023; Antitrust: Merger Control, 2022-2024.