Creighton Macy

Biography

Creighton Macy is the Global Chair of Baker McKenzie's award-winning Antitrust & Competition Practice Group, which is comprised of more than 250 attorneys across 60 offices. Creighton is recognized as a leading global antitrust practitioner and is lauded by clients for, among other things, his "first-rate" practices and always being "laser focused on figuring out the pathway for success."

Creighton has extensive experience representing clients in a wide variety of antitrust matters, including mergers & acquisitions, investigations by the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, private litigation, and counseling on issues such as antitrust compliance. Before joining the Firm, Creighton served as Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel in the DOJ Antitrust Division, working as a senior advisor to the Assistant Attorney General on civil and criminal antitrust enforcement and policy matters, as well as budget and personnel issues. During Creighton's time at the DOJ, the Antitrust Division undertook an unprecedented volume of high-profile civil and criminal matters.

Creighton began his career as a Trial Attorney in the Litigation III and Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture sections of the Antitrust Division, working on a number of notable merger and civil non-merger investigations and cases. Before rejoining the Antitrust Division as its Chief of Staff, he was a member of another global law firm's antitrust practice, where he advised clients on a wide range of US and international antitrust issues.

Creighton is consistently and globally recognized for his market-leading antitrust practice with respect to high-stakes transactions, investigations, and compliance and counseling work. For example, clients have noted that Creighton 'shines above the rest' due to his first-rate cartel and merger control-related practice and "is among the hardest working antitrust lawyers out there - he is laser focused on figuring out the pathway for success."

Creighton also frequently speaks and publishes articles relating to a variety of antitrust issues, and has been recognized many times for his contributions and thought-leadership on these issues.

Creighton is a long-standing leader in the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section. He currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board on Section Reserves. In previous roles, he served as Reporter of the Presidential Transition Task Force, Chair of the Trade, Sports, and Professional Associations Committee, and Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers Task Force. He is highly involved in mentoring programs, including with the Antitrust Law Section, as well as Marquette University Law School, where he previously served as the DC Representative of the Alumni Board.

Creighton graduated from Marquette University, where he was an NCAA Division I Academic All-American tennis player. During his time at Marquette, he was awarded the Athletic Department's Cura Personalis award by his peers, as well as several leadership awards. Creighton is a long-time mentor to current and former Marquette University athletes and more recently, he was named the Athletic Department's Young Alumnus of the Year Award.

Practice Focus

Creighton advises clients on all aspects of the antitrust regulatory and litigation process. He has significant experience in a diverse range of sectors such as software, media, semiconductor, financial services, agriculture, chemical, pharmaceutical, construction, transportation, sports, consumer goods, aviation, music, and motion pictures.

Representative Legal Matters

Since joining the Firm, an example of matters that Creighton has worked on are:

Advised Nielsen Holdings on its approximately USD 10 billion sale to a Buyers Consortia.
Advised Sika AG on its approximately USD 6 billion acquisition of MBCC Group.
Advised H. Lundbeck A/S on its approximately USD 2.5 billion acquisition of Longboard Pharmaceuticals.
Advised Rio Tinto on its approximately USD 700 million acquisition of a 50% equity stake in Giampaolo Group's Matalco Inc. business.
Advised CSL Seqirus on its approximately USD 4.3 billion collaboration with Arcturus.
Advised H. Lundbeck A/S on its approximately USD 1.95 billion acquisition of Alder BioPharmaceuticals.
Advised Galapagos NV on its approximately USD 5.1 billion collaboration with Gilead Sciences Inc.
Advised Bayer AG on its approximately USD 4 billion acquisition of Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc.
Advised The Nielsen Company on its approximately USD 2.7 billion sale of Nielsen IQ to Advent International.
Advised Cineplex on its approximately USD 2.8 billion acquisition by Cineworld.
Advised Sika AG on its approximately EUR 2.5 billion acquisition of Parex S.A.
Advised Bayer AG on its approximately USD 2 billion acquisition of Vividion Therapeutics, Inc.
Advised Numab Therapeutics on its approximately USD 1.25 billion sale of Yellow Jersey Therapeutics.
Advised Chr. Hansen Holding A/S on its approximately USD 530 million acquisition of UAS Laboratories LLC.
Advised Snowflake on its approximately USD 800 million acquisition of Streamlit.
Advised Nuance on the sale of its approximately USD 400 million Document Imaging business to Kofax.

Professional Honors

Awards and Representative Professional Honors:

Named Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers Guide 2025
Lawyer of the Year, nominee, Global Competition Review (2024)
Named Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America (2025)
Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (2023, 2024, 2025)
The 40 Under 40, recognizing "The Best of the Future of the Legal Profession," Bloomberg Law (2022)
Thought Leader for Competition, Who's Who Legal (2022, 2023, 2024)
Global Leader for Competition, Who's Who Legal (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Marquette University, Athletic Department Young Alumnus Award (2021)
Rising Star for Antitrust Litigation, Super Lawyers (2018-2023)
Top 40 Under 40 Competition Lawyer, 2020 edition, Global Competition Review (2020)
Lawyer of the Year, Under 40 nominee, Global Competition Review (2019, 2022)
Future Leader for Competition, Who's Who Legal (2016-2020)
Winner of Best Business Article, Antitrust Writing Awards (2020)
Winner of Best Academic Article, Antitrust Writing Awards (2019)

Representative Practice Rankings:

Ranked 4th in Global Elite Rankings, GCR 100 (2024)
Ranked 1st in Cartels, GCR 100 (2024)
Ranked 4th in Non-cartel Defense, GCR 100 (2024)
Ranked 5 in Merger Control GCR 100 (2024)
Band 2 in Competition/Antitrust, Chambers Global 2023

Professional Associations and Memberships

American Bar Association - Antitrust Law Section, Advisory Board on Section Reserves
Marquette University Law School, Alumni Board - past-Board Member and Washington, DC Representative

Admissions

District of Columbia~United States (2011)
Virginia~United States (2008)
Wisconsin~United States (2008)

Education

Marquette University (JD, cum laude) (2008)
Marquette University (BA, cum laude) (2004)

Languages

English

Contributor, "Talking M&A: Competition Complexities," Talking M&A podcast series, 20 November 2023

Publications

Co-author, "Filling the Gap – Enforcement Efforts Following the Pause in FCPA Cases," Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 9 April 2025
Co-author, "United States: 2024 HSR Notification thresholds announced," Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 24 January 2024
Co-author, “United States: DOJ and FTC issue final merger guidelines,” Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 20 December 2023
Co-author, “United States: DOJ and FTC ramp up enforcement against interlocking directorates,” Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 15 September 2023
Interview, "How I Made Practice Group Chair: 'Surround Yourself With a Strong, Deep Team and Deploy That Team Often,' Says Creighton Macy of Baker McKenzie," Law.com, 7 June 2023
Co-author, “United States: DOJ and FTC propose new merger guidelines," Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 20 July 2023
Co-author “United States Antitrust authorities propose revisions and additions to the premerger notification process,” Baker McKenzie InsightPlus 29 June, 2023
Co-author, “United States: Antitrust Division agrees to mid-trial settlement to resolve merger challenge,” Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 10 May 2023

Co-author “United States: SCOTUS upholds district court’s jurisdiction over challenges to SEC and FTC actions,” Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 18 April 2023
Co-author “United States: DOJ Withdraws ‘Safety Zones’ for Information Exchanges,” Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 8 February 2023
Co-author, "United States: 2023 HSR Notification Thresholds Announced," Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 27 January 2023
Co-author, "President Biden Signs Omnibus Spending Package with Antitrust Law Changes, Including Dramatic Increases in US Filing Fees for Large Mergers," Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 5 January 2023
Co-author, "United States: Federal Trade Commission Expanding Scope of Unfair Competition under § 5 of the FTC Act," Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 15 November 2022
Co-author, "United States: Increased DOJ Scrutiny of Interlocking Directorates Spurs Board Resignations," Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 25 October 2022
Co-author, "United States: 2022 HSR Notification Thresholds In Force," Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 24 February 2022
Co-author, "United States: Overhaul of Merger Guidelines Under Consideration and Public Comments Solicited," Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 07 February 2022
Co-author, "United States: President Biden issues Executive Order to promote Vigorous Antitrust Enforcement in Key Markets," Baker McKenzie InsightPlus, 12 July 2021
Co-author, "Global Competition Law and Labor - The Battle Continues in the Market for Talent," Baker McKenzie Client Alert, 27 April 2021
Co-author, " COVID-19 and Antitrust: What You Need to Know about How U.S. Federal and State Regulators Are Responding," Baker McKenzie Insight, 26 March 2020
Co-author, " COVID-19 and Antitrust Law Global Update," Baker McKenzie Insight, 25 March 2020
Co-author, "COVID-19 AND ANTITRUST LAW: Avoiding Legal Risks in a Time of Uncertainty," Baker McKenzie Insight, 17 March 2020
Co-author, "The Antitrust Compliance Handbook: A Practitioner's Guide," American Bar Association, 6 December 2019
Co-author, "Antitrust Compliance and Pricing Algorithms," Bloomberg Law, December 2019
Co-author, "Procurement Collusion Strike Force and Implications for US Companies and Beyond," Baker McKenzie Client Alert, 27 November 2019
Co-author, "Antitrust Compliance in the Digital Sector," TMT Sector Report, Baker McKenzie, March 2019
Co-author, "Antitrust: Empowering Compliant Sales," Business Law Today, March 2019
Co-author, "Key Issues in Antitrust and Trade Association Compliance, ABA SAL Spring Meeting, 12 February 2019
Co-author, "Practical Law--Buyer Cartel or legitimate buying group? How to stay on the right side of the law," Thomson Reuters, January 2019
Co-author, "How to Create and Continuously Improve Your Antitrust and Anti-Corruption Compliance Program," Bloomberg Law, 12 September 2018
Co-author, "M&A Antitrust Compliance - Issues before Signing and Pre-closing," Business Law Today, 19 April 2018
Co-author, "When Merger Reviews Turn Criminal," Deal Points, Vol. XXII, Issue 3, Fall 2017
Co-author, "Advising Companies as an In-House and Competition Lawyer," Corporate Counsel, Section of Litigation, Fall 2017
Co-author, "Keys to Compliance: Antitrust Issues Before Signing and Pre-Closing," Deal Points, Vol. XX, Issue I, Winter 2015
Co-author, "Keys to Compliance: Practical Antitrust Issues Involving Trade Associations," Corporate Counsel, Vol. 30, No. 1, Fall 2015
Contributor, Annual Review of Antitrust Law Developments, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, 2012-2014
Contributor, The Merger Review Process: A Step-by-Step Guide to U.S. and Foreign Merger Review, Fourth Edition, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, 2012
Co-author, "Joint Bidding for Corporate Control: The Antitrust Framework," The Threshold, Vol. XII, No. 1, Fall 2012
Co-author, "Coverage Denied: Recent Cases Denying Coverage Under a 'Personal and Advertising Injury' Clause for Parties Alleged to Have Engaged in Price Fixing Conduct," 59th Annual Antitrust Law Spring Meeting, No. 197, Spring 2011

Presentations

Speaker, "The Rules of the Game: The New Merger Guidelines," Hal White Antitrust Conference, 5 June 2023
Session Chair and Moderator, "Algorithmic Collusion: The Future of Enforcement," ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting, 30 March 2023
Session Chair and Moderator, "Pathways to Leadership," 2022 ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting, 5 April 2022
Panelist, "Key Global Trends and Considerations in Antitrust and the Technology Sector," 2021 Tech Talk Silicon Valley / Global TMT Industry Group / Technology Deals, Integration and Antitrust - What You Need To Know, 21 September 2021
Panelist, "X International Conference for Multinationals," Trench Rossi Watanabe, 25 August 2020
Co-panelist, "Key antitrust compliance issues in the TMT industry," Baker McKenzie TMT Talk, 15 July 2020
Moderator, "The Trade Association Roundtable: Practical Issues," Antitrust Law Virtual Spring Meeting, 12 June 2020
Panelist, 14th Annual Conference on Trends and Developments in Global Competition Law in Brussels (Zoom), Baker McKenzie, 15 May 2020
Co-speaker, "COVID-19 and Its Impact on Antitrust in the TMT Sector," Baker McKenzie TMT Talk Podcasts, 5 May 2020
Speaker, Merger Control: A Changing and Challenging Landscape Seminar; Panel: Nascent or Killer Acquisitions; Queen Mary University, London, England, 26 February 2020
Panelist, Developments in Antitrust Enforcement and Emerging Issues, Baker McKenzie Annual Compliance Conference — Trade Sanctions, Export Controls, Anti-Bribery and Corruption, and Antitrust Update, Washington, DC, 11 December 2019
Moderator, "Trade, Sports & Professional Associations: Fall Townhall," ABA Section of Antitrust Law, 24 October 2019
Speaker, "The Data Dilemma: Risks and Opportunities in the Digital Economy," Annual Corporate Compliance Conference (Antitrust, Anti-bribery, Sanctions, Export Controls, Customs and Brexit), London, 23 September 2019
Speaker, "Antitrust and Consumer Protection Compliance in the Global Technology Sector," Tech Talk Silicon Valley, 19 September 2019
Panelist, "Monthly Antitrust Update, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Corporate Counseling Committee," Washington, DC, 18 December 2018
Panelist, "Could Antitrust Regulators Change the Silicon Valley Landscape," Santa Clara, CA, 13 September 2018
Moderator, "Trade, Sports, and Professional Associations: What 2018-2019 Brings," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 29 August 2018
Moderator, "Antitrust Exemptions in Sports," ABA SAL/Legal Talk Network, Park City, UT, 8 August 2018
Panelist, "Antitrust Compliance in M&A," Strafford, Washington, DC, 1 August 2018
Moderator, "Perspectives and Practical Guidance from In-House," American Bar Association, Section of Antitrust Law, Washington, DC, 16 July 2018
Panelist, "The Role of The Individual, GCR Brussels Live," Global Competition Review, Brussels, Belgium, 10 July 2018
Moderator, "Practicing as an Antitrust and Sports Lawyer," American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law, Washington, DC, 23 May 2018
Moderator, "College Sports--Beyond Pay," ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Spring Meeting, Washington, DC, 11 April 2018
Panelist, "Effective Techniques in M&A Due Diligence," Baker McKenzie, Washington, DC, 14 March 2018
Co-chair, "What's Hot in Antitrust," and Moderator of Issues in Merger Control and Moderator of Issues in Antitrust Compliance, Baker McKenzie/Association of Corporate Counsel, Palo Alto, CA, 1 March 2018
Co-chair, "The Impact of Innovation on Merger Control" and Moderator, "The Impact of Innovation on Remedy Design ("how to fix the potentially unfixable")," Baker McKenzie/Mlex, New York, NY, 1 November 2017
Moderator, "Perspectives and Practical Guidance from In-House Counsel," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 12 October 2017
Moderator, "Trade, Sports, and Professional Associations: What 2017-2018 Brings," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 29 September 2017
Moderator, "Views from Antitrust Division Alums: A Roundtable Discussion," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 20 July 2017
Panelist, "Healthcare Enforcement: Navigating Priorities of the Current Administration," Association of Corporate Counsel program, Miami, FL, 1 June 2017
Moderator, "Antitrust Counseling on Trade Associations: Practical Guidance from In-House," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 23 May 2017
Moderator, "Antitrust Careers: Trade, Sports, and Professional Associations," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 24 February 2017
Panelist, "Views from the DOJ," ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Master's Course VIII program, Williamsburg, VA, 29 September 2016
Moderator, "The Sports Report: Sports, Consumer Protection, and Antitrust -What's Hot in 2016!" ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 17 March 2016
Moderator, "Antitrust Counseling on Trade Associations: From the In-House Perspective," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 28 October 2015
Moderator, "The Sports Report: Sports, Consumer Protection, and Antitrust -What's Hot in 2015!" ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 16 June 2015
Moderator, "Antitrust and the NCAA: The O'Bannon Litigation on Appeal," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 26 March 2015
Moderator, "The Sports Report: Sports, Consumer Protection, and Antitrust - A Year in Review," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 19 February 2015
Moderator, "Antitrust and the NCAA: The O'Bannon Litigation and More," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 05 December 2014
Moderator, "Issues Around the Globe Involving Payment Systems, Hot Topics in the US and EU," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 22 October 2013
Panelist, "Cartel and Criminal Antitrust Practice Series: Quarterly Criminal Update for October 2012 - January 2013," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 25 January 2013
Panelist, "Recent Antitrust Developments in the Health Care and Pharmaceuticals Markets: October and November 2012," ABA Section of Antitrust Law program, Washington, DC, 06 December 2012