Government Experience

  • Federal Trade Commission—Executive Assistant to the Chairman, 1975-1981

Education

  • Tulane University, B.A. (1972) (Phi Beta Kappa)
  • Stanford Law School, J.D. (1975) (Stanford Law Review)

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • California (Inactive)

Wm. Randolph Smith

Senior Counsel
wrsmith@crowell.com
+1.202.624.2700

Randy Smith is a trusted advisor on competition matters to numerous companies, large and small. He has served as lead antitrust counsel in some of the most significant transactions in the aerospace, telecommunications, transportation, and chemical industries. He routinely counsels clients in those and other industries regarding business strategies and antitrust compliance. And based on his experience at the Federal Trade Commission, Randy represents clients in government investigations involving standard setting, procurement collusion, and other cutting-edge antitrust issues.

Examples of significant transactions include:

  • AT&T's $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner, Inc., its $67 billion acquisition of DIRECTV, and numerous multibillion-dollar wireless and wireline transactions over three decades.
  • Raytheon’s (formerly United Technologies) $30 billion acquisition of Rockwell Collins, its $16 billion acquisition of Goodrich Aerospace, and multiple jet engine joint ventures dating from 1982.
  • DuPont in its $5.8 billion acquisition of Danisco, the $4.9 billion sale of its automotive and industrial coatings business, and many other chemical industry transactions.
  • Alcoa’s $2.85 billion acquisition of Firth Rixson, its $1.5 billion acquisition of RTI International Metals, plus several other U.S. and international acquisitions since 1995.
  • Enterprise Holdings in its acquisitions of vRide and DEEM, as well as rental car competitor collaborations.

Examples of significant government investigations include:

  • Department of Justice investigations of standard setting, procurement collusion, teaming agreements, information sharing, and Clayton 8 interlocking directorate issues.
  • FTC investigations of tying, exclusive dealing, "patent ambush," and joint venture issues.
  • Third-party representations in FTC investigations of aerospace, advertising, rental car, mining, and other transactions, and DOJ investigations of biotech, online travel, and other transactions.

Randy has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America in the area of antitrust law every year from 2007 to 2022. He has also been named to the Washington, D.C., "Super Lawyers" list each of those years. He is recommended by every significant publication ranking antitrust lawyers, including Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Business Lawyers, Legal Media Group’s Expert Guide to Competition and Antitrust Lawyers, and the Global Competition Review’s GCR 100. Randy is also an Acritas Star, Acritas Stars Independently Rated Lawyers (2016 - 2017, 2019). Prior to joining Crowell in 1981, Randy completed six years of service with the FTC, where his positions included executive assistant to the chairman.

In The News

Randy was featured in Of Counsel, discussing his career, the legal profession, and why he decided to practice in the area of antitrust. Click here to download the interview.



Insights


Speeches & Presentations

  • "Recent Developments in Merger Control," Queen Mary/Crowell & Moring Global Competition Conference, Brussels (May 2014). Moderator: Wm. Randolph Smith.
  • "Antitrust/Intellectual Property Intersection: Practice Pointers," Widener University/DuPont IP Seminar (September 2010). Speaker: Wm. Randolph Smith.
  • "What Happens When the FTC Calls: An Antitrust Primer for Retailers Focused on Pending Mall Consolidation," National Retail Tenants Association Webinar (March 23, 2010). Moderator: Gregory D. Call; Panelists: Robert A. Lipstein and Wm. Randolph Smith.
  • "Collaborate, Consolidate or Die?: Corporate Development and Antitrust Enforcement in a Global Economic Crisis," Crowell & Moring Webinar (September 22, 2009). Co-Presenters: Wm. Randolph Smith and Robert A. Lipstein.
  • U.S. Merger Enforcement In An Economic Crisis: Global Competition Conference (May 15, 2009). Speaker: Wm. Randolph Smith
  • "Antitrust Update," ABA Corporate Counseling Committee Webinar (October 11, 2007). Presenters: Wm. Randolph Smith, Kent A. Gardiner, Jeane A. Thomas, Robert Lipstein, Christopher E. Ondeck, Bridget E. Calhoun, Daniel A. Sasse, Werner Berg and Thomas De Meese.
  • "A Little Bit of Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing: Antitrust Risks for the Unwary," AdvaMed (Medical Device) Conference (September 2007). Presenter: Wm. Randolph Smith.
  • "Trends and Developments in Global Competition Law - International Merger Control," The Interdisciplinary Centre for Competition Law and Policy (ICC) and Crowell & Moring LLP Annual Conference 2007, Queen Mary University of London (May 2007). Presenter: Wm. Randolph Smith.
  • "Antitrust In the Life Cycle of a Deal," Garrett Corporate and Securities Law Institute, Northwestern University School of Law (May 2006). Panelist: Wm. Randolph Smith.
  • "Economics in Merger Control," International Bar Association Annual Meeting, presented with FTC Economics Director and EC Merger Task Force Head (September 2003). Presenter: Wm. Randolph Smith.
  • "Antitrust Trends in the Biotech Industry," BIO 2003 Annual Convention, with FTC Commissioner (June 2003). Panel Moderator: Wm. Randolph Smith.
  • "Antitrust Past, Present and Future," Panel of DOJ and FTC Officials (August 2001). Moderator: Wm. Randolph Smith.
  • "Antitrust and E-Business," 14th Annual Georgetown University Advanced Computer and Internet Law Institute (March 2001). Speaker: Wm. Randolph Smith.
  • "Trial of A Rule of Reason Case," ABA Antitrust Section Spring Meeting (April 1998). Speaker: Wm. Randolph Smith.


Publications



Client Alerts & Newsletters



Press Coverage



Firm News & Announcements

February 17, 2023 Chambers Ranks Eight Crowell Practice Groups and 15 Lawyers in 2023 Global Guide
August 18, 2022 The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Recognizes 54 Crowell & Moring Attorneys, Three Selected as Lawyer of the Year
June 1, 2022 Chambers USA 2022 Ranks 70 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 37 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 18, 2022 Chambers Ranks Seven Crowell Practice Groups and 13 Lawyers in 2022 Global Guide
August 19, 2021 The Best Lawyers in America 2022 Recognizes 53 Crowell & Moring Attorneys, One Selected as Lawyer of the Year
May 20, 2021 Chambers USA 2021 Ranks 63 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 30 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
February 23, 2021 Chambers Ranks Three Practice Groups and Ten Lawyers in 2021 Global Guide
December 18, 2020 Global Competition Review Ranks Crowell & Moring’s Antitrust & Competition Group in "GCR 100"
August 20, 2020 The Best Lawyers in America 2021 Recognizes 46 Crowell & Moring Attorneys, Two Selected as Lawyer of the Year
July 20, 2020 Legal 500 United States Ranks Crowell & Moring in Five Practice Areas in 2020 Guide
April 23, 2020 Chambers USA 2020 Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 21 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 19, 2020 Chambers Ranks Four Practice Groups and Seven Lawyers in 2020 Global Guide
March 16, 2020 Fourteen Crowell & Moring Lawyers Named 2020 Acritas Stars
December 9, 2019 Crowell & Moring Launches Procurement Collusion Strike Force Response Team
September 20, 2019 Super Lawyers Recognizes 82 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
August 16, 2019 The Best Lawyers in America 2020 Recognizes 49 Crowell & Moring Attorneys, Three Selected as Lawyer of the Year
April 29, 2019 Chambers USA 2019 Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 21 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
February 22, 2019 Crowell & Moring's Antitrust Group Listed as "Highly Recommended" in Global Competition Review's 19th Annual "GCR 100"
October 15, 2018 Super Lawyers Recognizes 82 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
August 15, 2018 The Best Lawyers in America 2019 Recognizes 38 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
June 15, 2018 Federal Judge Clears Way for AT&T-Time Warner Merger
May 9, 2018 Chambers USA 2018 Ranks 52 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 24 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 23, 2018 Chambers Ranks Eight Lawyers and Six Practice Groups in 2018 Global Guide
October 31, 2017 Super Lawyers Recognizes 79 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
October 31, 2017 The Best Lawyers in America 2018 Recognizes 40 Crowell & Moring Lawyers
May 26, 2017 Chambers USA 2017 Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Lawyers and 23 Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 22, 2017 Chambers Ranks Nine Lawyers and Five Practice Groups in 2017 Global Guide
November 30, 2016 Super Lawyers Recognizes 71 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Across United States
August 18, 2016 The Best Lawyers in America 2017 Recognizes 38 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
May 27, 2016 Chambers USA Ranks 56 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 19 Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
March 24, 2016 Chambers Ranks Nine Attorneys and Four Groups in 2016 Global Guide
February 2, 2016 Crowell & Moring's Antitrust Group Featured in Global Competition Review's 16th Edition 'GCR 100'
October 30, 2015 21 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2015
October 27, 2015 Super Lawyers Recognizes 90 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
October 7, 2015 Three Crowell & Moring Partners Named National Law Journal's M&A and Antitrust Trailblazers
September 25, 2015 Deal Note: Crowell & Moring Advises UTC on Sale of Sikorsky Aircraft to Lockheed Martin; DOJ Approves Transaction Without Second Request
August 25, 2015 The Best Lawyers in America 2016 Recognizes 39 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
August 19, 2015 Crowell & Moring's Wm. Randolph Smith Named American Lawyer's 'Dealmaker of the Week'
July 21, 2015 Deal Note: Crowell & Moring's Antitrust Group Advises AT&T on Acquisition of DIRECTV, DOJ Will Not Challenge Acquisition
May 19, 2015 Chambers USA Ranks 53 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 20 Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
May 5, 2015 Chambers Ranks 12 Attorneys and Eight Groups in 2015 Global, Europe, and U.K. Guides
January 22, 2015 Crowell & Moring's Antitrust Group Featured in Global Competition Review's 15th Edition "GCR 100"
January 13, 2015 Crowell & Moring Releases Third Annual Litigation Forecast Report and Inaugural Regulatory Forecast
September 30, 2014 Super Lawyers 2014 Recognizes 90 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
September 4, 2014 Crowell & Moring Launches Israel Practice
August 28, 2014 The Best Lawyers In America 2015 Recognizes 40 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
July 1, 2014 25 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2014
May 23, 2014 Chambers USA Ranks 51 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 19 Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
January 31, 2014 Crowell & Moring Among Law360's "Practice Groups of the Year" for Competition, Consumer Protection, and Government Contracts
November 14, 2013 Crowell & Moring Antitrust Group Featured in Global Competition Review's 14th Edition "GCR 100" in D.C. and New York
September 3, 2013 The Best Lawyers In America 2014 Recognizes 41 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
September 1, 2013 Super Lawyers 2013 Recognizes 64 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
June 1, 2013 26 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2013
May 24, 2013 Chambers USA Ranks 45 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 19 Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
April 25, 2013 Crowell & Moring Named Finalist in Global Competition Review's Third Annual "GCR Awards"
December 3, 2012 Crowell & Moring Antitrust Group Featured in Global Competition Review's 13th Edition "GCR 100" in D.C. and New York
September 4, 2012 The Best Lawyers in America 2013 Recognizes 44 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
September 1, 2012 Super Lawyers 2012 Recognizes 42 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
June 7, 2012 Chambers USA Ranks 45 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 18 Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
June 1, 2012 26 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2012
February 1, 2012 Crowell & Moring Antitrust Group Featured in Global Competition Review's "GCR 100" and "New York's Finest" Special Reports
December 15, 2011 Seven Crowell & Moring Attorneys Included in Washingtonian’s 2011 “Top Lawyers” Issue
August 30, 2011 The Best Lawyers in America 2012 Recognizes 43 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
June 10, 2011 Chambers USA Ranks Crowell & Moring Attorneys and Leading Practice Areas Among Best in U.S.
June 9, 2011 Crowell & Moring Antitrust Group Featured in Global Competition Review’s "GCR 100" and "U.S. Government Antitrust" Surveys
June 1, 2011 28 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2011
September 1, 2010 Super Lawyers 2010 Recognizes 36 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
July 1, 2010 28 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2010
June 11, 2010 Chambers USA Ranks 42 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 14 Practice Areas as Among Best In Class
May 1, 2010 Ten Crowell & Moring Lawyers and Nine Practice Areas Ranked in PLC Which Lawyer?
February 1, 2010 Crowell & Moring Antitrust Group Featured In Global Competition Review's Annual "GCR 100" List
September 1, 2009 Super Lawyers 2009 Recognizes 39 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
July 1, 2009 21 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2009
July 23, 2008 16 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2008
June 13, 2008 Chambers USA Ranks 33 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 13 Practice Areas as Among Best In Class
March 28, 2008 Crowell & Moring LLP Antitrust Group Recognized as One of The Elite GCR 100
March 27, 2008 Eight Crowell & Moring Lawyers Ranked In PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook
September 11, 2007 The Best Lawyers in America 2008 Recognizes 34 Crowell & Moring Attorneys
June 21, 2007 Chambers USA Ranks 28 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 13 Practice Areas
April 12, 2007 Seven Crowell & Moring Attorneys Ranked in PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook
April 2, 2007 Crowell & Moring Client AT&T Receives Court Approval For AT&T-SBC Merger Government Settlement
October 27, 2005 Crowell & Moring LLP Client SBC Communications Inc. Receives Clearance From U.S. Department of Justice For Merger With AT&T
August 4, 2005 Crowell & Moring LLP Assists United Technologies Corporation's Pratt & Whitney Division in Obtaining Antitrust Clearance For Acquisition of Boeing's Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power