Connor Ahearn

Senior Counsel | He/Him/His

Overview

Connor Ahearn is a senior counsel in Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C. office and is a member of the firm’s Antitrust and Competition Group. Connor’s practice involves counseling clients on a wide range of antitrust issues, including compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, identifying and coordinating foreign merger control filings, and evaluating and advising on competitive issues associate with mergers, acquisitions, and competitor collaborations.

Before attending law school, Connor worked in federal government affairs, helping non-profits, higher education institutions, and businesses navigate Congress and federal agencies in order to advance their goals.

Connor received his J.D. from the University of Virginia, where he was on the editorial board of the Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal. Connor double majored in economics and government at the College of William and Mary, where he graduated cum laude.

Connor is an active member of Crowell's LGBTQ Affinity Group.

Career & Education

    • College of William & Mary, B.A., cum laude, 2010
    • University of Virginia, J.D., 2017
    • College of William & Mary, B.A., cum laude, 2010
    • University of Virginia, J.D., 2017
    • District of Columbia
    • Virginia
    • District of Columbia
    • Virginia

Connor's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 02.13.26

Recent Developments in U.S. Merger Enforcement: HSR Rule Overturned and Leadership Changes at DOJ Antitrust Division

In October 2024, the FTC adopted a final rule that substantially modified the HSR form, requiring new categories of information and documents. The final rule was the most significant overhaul of the HSR premerger notification requirements in decades. The new requirements imposed additional time and expense on merging parties, with the FTC estimating that the new form would likely take triple the amount of time to complete than the previous form. Numerous groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sued to challenge the rule....

Representative Matters

  • Representing DIRECTV as antitrust counsel in its proposed acquisition of the DISH video distribution business from EchoStar, including leading the merger review process before DOJ and providing strategic counsel and advice in connection with the transaction.
  • Representing United Technologies in connection with its $135 billion merger with The Raytheon Company, which The Deal named its 2020 "Deal of the Year," its $30 billion acquisition of Rockwell Collins, and its $16.5 billion acquisition of Goodrich.
  • Advising DuPont De Nemours on international merger control notification obligations. 
  • Representing Gwinnett Health System in its merger with Northside Hospital.
  • Representing United Technologies in its $30 billion acquisition of Rockwell Collins.

Connor's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 02.13.26

Recent Developments in U.S. Merger Enforcement: HSR Rule Overturned and Leadership Changes at DOJ Antitrust Division

In October 2024, the FTC adopted a final rule that substantially modified the HSR form, requiring new categories of information and documents. The final rule was the most significant overhaul of the HSR premerger notification requirements in decades. The new requirements imposed additional time and expense on merging parties, with the FTC estimating that the new form would likely take triple the amount of time to complete than the previous form. Numerous groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sued to challenge the rule....

Connor's Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 02.13.26

Recent Developments in U.S. Merger Enforcement: HSR Rule Overturned and Leadership Changes at DOJ Antitrust Division

In October 2024, the FTC adopted a final rule that substantially modified the HSR form, requiring new categories of information and documents. The final rule was the most significant overhaul of the HSR premerger notification requirements in decades. The new requirements imposed additional time and expense on merging parties, with the FTC estimating that the new form would likely take triple the amount of time to complete than the previous form. Numerous groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sued to challenge the rule....