Joe Wayland left Simpson Thacher in 2010 to join the DOJ as its Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Enforcement in the Antitrust Division. In April 2012, he became the acting head of the Antitrust Division. While working at the DOJ, Joe Wayland led policy initiatives against potential patent misuse and competition issues arising from health care consolidation. He also represented the Antitrust division in DOJ in its negotiations with foreign competition authorities including all major agencies in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Joe’s stint at the DOJ also saw him serving as the antitrust division’s chief trial counsel and he led the agency’s trial team to win its first successful litigation challenge in eight years.
Kevin Arquit, Head of Simpson Thacher’s Antitrust Practice said, “Joe offers a depth of remarkable trial experience, both on behalf of the government and in private practice, which will greatly benefit our clients facing potential challenges to their mergers and acquisitions.”
Before joining Simpson Thacher in 1988, Wayland had served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Columbia Law School. Speaking on his return to Simpson Thacher, Wayland said, “I am happy to once again be a part of Simpson Thacher’s highly-regarded antitrust team … The opportunity to serve the government in a senior capacity provided me with unparalleled opportunities and a wealth of knowledge that I hope will serve our clients well as they face new and evolving enforcement and consumer protection initiatives.”