US firms Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Foley & Lardner have both made senior antitrust hires in Washington DC to bolster their competition benches.

Skadden has hired James Fredericks and Foley has hired Mark Grundvig, both join as partners at their respective firms from the Department of Justice where they led the Washington criminal II section of its antitrust division.

Fredericks joins Skadden’s global antitrust and competition group, where he will bring expertise in a range of antitrust investigations and prosecutions, advising clients on actions brought by government enforcement agencies, such as price fixing, bid rigging, market allocations and criminal monopolisation, among other areas.

Steve Sunshine, head of Skadden’s global antitrust and competition group, said: “Jim’s senior role at DOJ and knowledge of agency practices and enforcement priorities will enable him to effectively counsel and defend clients facing high-stakes criminal antitrust investigations. He is a strategic thinker and has overseen some of DOJ’s highest-profile cartel matters. Jim can use that insight and experience to provide invaluable advice to our clients around the globe.”

Fredericks spent more than 20 years at the DOJ, most recently as chief of the Washington criminal II section, which he led for six years. He also had spells as a trial attorney before becoming assistant chief of the antitrust division’s appellate section in 2014. The Skadden role is his first time in private practice.

He said: “Skadden’s global platform uniquely positions us to meet clients’ needs as investigations expand across borders. I anticipate a strong alignment of my skills with Skadden’s antitrust and white collar defence and investigations practices, and look forward to counselling our clients as they navigate an increasingly complex global regulatory and enforcement landscape.”

Grundvig, meantime, joins Foley’s antitrust and competition practice group after an almost 25-year career in the public sector. He will provide a similar suite of expertise as Fredericks is bringing to Skadden, having been assistant chief of the Washington criminal II section.

Elizabeth Haas, chair of Foley’s antitrust and competition practice, said: “Mark’s extensive experience handling antitrust investigations and prosecutions at the DOJ enhances our ability to help clients navigate the constantly changing antitrust enforcement landscape. His arrival immediately deepens our antitrust bench strength and the services we provide to our clients.”

Grundvig worked alongside Fredericks for six years in the criminal II section, having previously been assistant chief of the Washington criminal I section. He also spent more than nine years as a trial attorney and earlier in his career spent more than two years as a counsel in the US Senate in its judiciary subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights. This is also his first role in private practice.

He said: “Foley’s national platform, sector-aligned focus and impressive roster of antitrust litigators attracted me as I looked to take the next step in my career.”