Ian R. Conner

Ian Conner, former Director of the Bureau of Competition at the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), advises multinational companies in antitrust and competition matters, including merger control, government investigations, and class action litigation. Mr. Conner brings a unique skillset and knowledge base to his clients, drawing on his nearly two decades of experience, at both federal antitrust enforcers and in private practice, to develop innovative legal approaches to address complex antitrust issues. He has significant experience in the pharmaceutical, technology, oil and gas, retail services, telecommunications, transportation, and healthcare industries. Mr. Conner served as the Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition from 2019-2021, and as Deputy Director from 2017-2019. As Director, he oversaw nearly 300 lawyers and staff in bringing merger and civil non-merger enforcement matters during the most active enforcement fiscal year since 2000. During his tenure, the FTC issued the Vertical Merger Guidelines in conjunction with the DOJ, and initiated a proposed rulemaking and reexamination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act (HSR) rules. Mr. Conner began his career as a Trial Attorney in the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), which he joined through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. He also served as a Special Assistant US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, where he first-chaired trials in federal court. He has held various leadership positions within the ABA Section of Antitrust Law, including as the Vice Chair of the Mergers & Acquisitions Committee (2017-2019), Vice Chair of the Civil Practice and Procedure Committee (2014-2017), and Founder and Co-Chair (2010-2012) and Chair (2012-2014) of the Agriculture & Food Committee. Mr. Conner was an adjunct professor at William & Mary School of Law, where he taught the “Antitrust & Mergers” course from 2008 to 2010.