Washington DC
Phone +1.202.739.5343
Fax +1.202.739.3001
1111 Pennsylvania Ave. NW//Washington, DC 20004-2541//United States
Ryan Kantor’s practice focuses on federal and state government antitrust investigations, antitrust litigation, and counseling on antitrust and competition issues. He represents clients before the US Federal Trade Commission, US Department of Justice (DOJ), state attorneys general offices, and in federal and state courts. Ryan previously served as assistant chief of the Healthcare and Consumer Products section in the DOJ’s Antitrust Division.
During his more than 10 years with the DOJ, Ryan played key roles in several of the Antitrust Division’s most high-profile investigations and enforcement actions. He led the investigation of the proposed merger of two of the largest health insurers in the United States, resulting in the division successfully challenging the proposed merger in federal court. Ryan received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, the department’s second highest award for performance, for his work on this matter. Ryan also managed the investigation of the proposed merger of two of the other largest US health insurers, also resulting in the division successfully challenging the proposed merger in federal court. In addition, Ryan was a key member of the prosecution team that challenged the proposed merger of two of the largest mobile wireless telecommunications services providers. During his tenure at the DOJ, Ryan led or managed major investigations involving a diverse set of industries, including retail products, wood and paper products, packaging products, telecommunications and technology, office and consumer products, health insurance, hospitals, pharmacies, and pharmacy benefit managers. For his work on these matters, Ryan received the Assistant Attorney General Award of Distinction three times.
As assistant chief of the Healthcare and Consumer Products Section, he managed more than two dozen lawyers responsible for investigating and prosecuting merger and non-merger matters in the healthcare, retail and consumer products, and pulp, paper and timber sectors.
Ryan frequently speaks on antitrust issues at national conferences.
He previously served as a law clerk to Judge Paul S. Diamond of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Selected Representations
Representative investigations and litigation while at the DOJ
Successful challenges in federal court to proposed mergers of four of the five largest US health insurers
Two enforcement actions challenging hospitals’ allocation of territories for marketing of healthcare services; resolved by decree that prevents the parties from continuing the conduct
Enforcement action challenging hospital system’s use of steering restrictions in contracts with health insurers
Enforcement action challenging chiropractic associations fixing prices between competing chiropractors in negotiations with health insurers; resolved by decree that prevents the parties from continuing the conduct
Enforcement action challenging a health insurer’s use of “most favored nation” clauses; action dismissed after state legislature banned use of the clauses
Enforcement action challenging proposed merger of paper manufacturers; resolved by divestiture of two paper mills
Merger between manufacturers of fiberboard wood products abandoned after DOJ expressed concerns about the transaction’s likely anticompetitive effects
Merger between manufacturers of strandboard wood products abandoned after DOJ expressed concerns about the transaction’s likely anticompetitive effects
Enforcement action challenging merger of containerboard manufacturers; resolved by divestiture of manufacturing plants
Enforcement action challenging proposed merger of mobile wireless telecommunications services providers; merger abandoned prior to trial
Merger between manufacturers of office and consumer products abandoned after DOJ expressed concerns about the transaction’s likely anticompetitive effects
Enforcement action challenging dairy processor’s acquisition of fluid milk processing plants; resolved by divestiture of fluid milk processing plant
Enforcement action challenging merger of bread manufacturers; resolved by divestiture of brand and manufacturing assets
Awards and Affiliations
Named, Modern Healthcare’s “Largest Healthcare Firm” (2016–2020)
Recommended, Antitrust: Merger control, The Legal 500 US (2020)
Recommended, Antitrust: Cartel, The Legal 500 US (2019)
Recommended, Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense; Merger Control, The Legal 500 US (2019)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Competition, Law360 (2018–2020)
Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service (2017)
Assistant Attorney General Award of Distinction (2013, 2015, 2017)
Admissions
District of Columbia
New York
Clerkships
Clerkship to Judge Paul S. Diamond of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2004 - 2005)
Education
Harvard Law School, 2003, J.D., cum laude
London School of Economics and Political Science, 2000, M.S.c., Sociology, with merit
University of Michigan, 1999, B.B.A., Finance, with High Distinction
