Rahul Rao brings deep experience in antitrust enforcement, litigation, and competition policy. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition and as Managing Assistant Attorney General in the Washington State Attorney General’s Antitrust Division. In those roles, he led high-profile merger investigations and litigation across sectors including technology, labor, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, private equity, and consumer goods, and played a key role in major enforcement actions involving vertical and horizontal mergers, portfolio effects, and private-equity acquisitions.
Rahul was a principal contributor to landmark FTC policy initiatives, including the 2023 Merger Guidelines, 2025 HSR rule changes, and Section 5 enforcement, and helped shape the agency’s approach to competition in emerging markets such as AI and digital platforms. In private practice, he advises clients on merger clearance, government investigations, and compliance strategies, drawing on his unique insight into federal and state enforcement priorities. He is a frequent speaker and thought leader on antitrust policy and enforcement trends.
