Puja advises clients on a range of antitrust and competition issues. Her practice concentrates on antitrust clearance of mergers and acquisitions, antitrust litigation and non-merger antitrust investigations.

She has been recognized by Chambers USA for the antitrust practice in New York, with clients noting “Puja has a good balance of client knowledge, entrepreneurial approach and awareness of the client's business needs.” She has also been recognized as a “Next Generation Partner” by the Legal 500 for Antitrust: Merger Control and a “Future Leader” by Who’s Who Legal: Competition.
 
Puja advises clients on all aspects of the merger review process, including Second Request investigations before the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission, antitrust risk assessments, SPA aspects, multi-jurisdictional filing analysis, and Hart-Scott-Rodino Act compliance. She also has significant experience in representing clients in complex antitrust litigation matters, from fact and expert discovery, pleadings and motions, to settlement strategy. Puja also counsels clients on complex, high-stakes antitrust issues including competitor collaborations, vertical arrangements, joint ventures and Section 8 interlocking directorate issues. She has worked on dozens of complex cross-border matters in a wide range of industries including pharmaceuticals, financial services, technology, airlines, industrials and food/agriculture. 

Puja currently serves as Co-Vice Chair of the ABA Antitrust Section’s Diversity Advanced Committee and member of NYSBA Antitrust Section’s Executive Committee.

Experience

Representative matters

Private equity fund client in connection with a significant minority investment in the agribusiness space, which was cleared by the DOJ following a Second Request investigation and the European Commission following a pre-notification and Phase I process.

Merz Pharmaceuticals on the In re Namenda Antitrust Indirect Purchaser Litigation, an antitrust class action suit brought against Merz and several other pharmaceutical companies regarding certain generic patent settlements in relation to the Alzheimer’s drug Namenda.

Fresenius Kabi, the global health care company, in connection with the FTC investigation of its proposed USD4.3 billion acquisition of Akorn, Inc., a Chicago-based manufacturer of prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products (abandoned for non-antitrust reasons).

Tullett Prebon plc on its acquisition of the global voice broking business of ICAP plc.

 

 

 

Pro bono

Advising the Center for Reproductive Rights (CfRR) on filing a complaint before the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) against the government of Tanzania challenging a discriminatory policy that barred pregnant girls and adolescent mothers from attending school. In December 2021, just days after CfRR and their local pro bono partner, the Legal and Human Rights Centre, argued their case before ACERWC, Tanzania’s Minster of Education announced that it would be ending its discriminatory policy.

Advising pro bono client on her Violence Against Women Act petition and subsequent citizenship application, a matter for which Puja and the team were recognized by pro bono partner, Her Justice, in their 2020 Commitment to Justice Awards.

 

 

 

 

 

Published Work

  • “Antitrust focus on Private Equity Funds and Serial Acquisitions” CPI Antitrust Chronicle (June 2024), with Elaine Johnston and Ben Stievator
  • "When Is the Social Good an Antitrust Bad?" New York Law Journal (March 6, 2020), with John Roberti
  • "1-800 Contacts FTC Ruling Offers Warnings for In-House Counsel on Online Advertising," Bloomberg Law Insights (March 6, 2019), with John Roberti  
  • "Beware Antitrust Risks In Syndicated Lending," Law360 (Mar. 22, 2017), with Joshua Shapiro
  • "Big Data, Big Market? Defining the Relevant Product Market in Big Data Mergers," Icarus, American Bar Association, Antitrust Section, Media and Technology Committee (Spring 2016)
  • "Striking the Right Balance:  Reconciling the Definition of 'Import Commerce' with the Scope of the 'Direct Effect' Exception Under the FTAIA," American Bar Association, Antitrust Section, Fall Forum 2015 (Nov. 2015), with Erik Raven-Hansen

Speaking Engagements

  • Moderator, Antitrust and Environmental Justice, ABA Antirust Law Section Spring Meeting, April 2024
  • Panelist, Perspectives on Antitrust Career Paths, NYSBA Antitrust Law Section, November 2023
  • Moderator, Private Equity in the Merger Review Spotlight, NYSBA Antitrust Law Section Symposium, January 2021

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Young Lawyer Representative to the ABA Antitrust Section’s Agriculture and Food Committee.

Recognition

Puja has a good balance of client knowledge, entrepreneurial approach and awareness of the client's business needs.
Chambers USA, 2023
Puja Patel is a fantastic legal partner . . . She understands the issues and tries to come up with workable solutions, but is also direct when necessary.
Legal 500, 2023

Awards

  • Rising Star Legal 500 USA – Antitrust: Merger Control
  • Associate to Watch Chambers USA Antitrust - New York
  • "Competition, Future Leader” Who's Who Legal
  • Thought Leaders – Global Elite Who’s Who Legal
  • Shortlisted article for the Antitrust Writing Awards - Concurrences Review and George Washington University Law School Competition Law Center, 2021
  • Her Justice Commitment to Justice Awards 2020 - Legal Team Award

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted: Bar of the State of New York, 2015

Admitted: United States District Courts

Eastern District of New York, 2018 

Southern District of New York, 2018 

Academic

J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2014

B.S., New York University, 2011 

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.