Wilson Sonsini Expands Elite Antitrust Practice with Prominent Attorneys Bonnie Lau and Brian J. Smith

Each Brings Extensive Experience in Class Action and Complex Litigation, Government Investigations, and Enforcement Proceedings

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, is pleased to announce the addition of prominent antitrust attorneys Bonnie Lau and Brian J. Smith as partners in the firm’s Regulatory and Compliance Department. Lau, who joins from Morrison & Foerster, will be based in San Francisco, while Smith, formerly with K&L Gates, will be in Chicago. Both will provide comprehensive counsel on complex antitrust litigation, government investigations, and compliance issues.

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Bonnie Lau, Partner, Wilson Sonsini

The additions enhance Wilson Sonsini’s Antitrust and Competition practice, responding to client demand and further cementing the firm's reputation as an industry leader. Recent key hires include Maureen Ohlhausen, former Federal Trade Commission (FTC) acting chair and commissioner, and Jamillia Ferris, former Department of Justice (DOJ) antitrust official and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) senior advisor, who co-lead the practice. Additionally, Taylor Owings, former chief of staff at the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, and Matthew McDonald, former FTC Mergers IV Division attorney, have recently joined the firm. With Lau and Smith, the practice now boasts over 70 attorneys, many with extensive regulatory and enforcement experience from former roles in U.S. and international competition agencies.

Lau, who previously co-led the San Francisco Litigation Department at her former firm, is a dynamic trial attorney with a strong track record of successfully representing clients in class actions, multidistrict litigations, and enforcement actions, while also managing international competition investigations and enforcement issues. She has represented clients across various industries—including technology, manufacturing, media, telecommunications, healthcare, and financial services—under government scrutiny or facing allegations of anticompetitive conduct.

Lau has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict, including serving as lead trial counsel in a high-stakes antitrust class action jury trial involving over $1 billion in potential exposure. She has represented companies in antitrust and related complex litigation, handling cases involving price-fixing, wage-fixing, no-poach conduct, output suppression, monopolization, refusal to deal, predatory pricing, and group boycotts. Additionally, she has prosecuted antitrust counterclaims in patent infringement and intellectual property (IP) matters. Lau is also well-versed in representing clients in complex litigation and alternative dispute resolution matters involving unfair competition, RICO, TCPA, and IP claims.

"Bonnie’s background in managing complex, multi-industry matters will greatly benefit our clients," said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. "Her entrepreneurial drive, strong reputation, and loyal client base make her an ideal fit for the firm. Most importantly, she has a deep understanding of her clients' businesses and is fully committed to helping them succeed. We are excited to welcome her and Brian as the latest additions in a series of high-profile attorneys joining our firm."

Lau is praised by clients as a "masterful strategist" who is able to "deliver pragmatic and business-focused advice," and as a "fantastic lawyer” who is “detail-oriented and able to manage complex matters with ease and good humor" (Chambers USA). Her work has garnered numerous accolades, including being named one of the "Top 100 Lawyers in California" by the Daily Journal in 2022 and 2024 and a "Top Antitrust Lawyer" in 2021, 2022, and 2024. She is Chambers ranked for Antitrust – California and won the "Antitrust/Competition Lawyer of the Year" award at Euromoney America’s Women in Business Law Awards in 2021.

Lau is committed to mentoring other attorneys and promoting excellence throughout the legal profession. She currently serves as co-chair of the Women’s Leadership Network for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and vice chair of the ABA Antitrust Section’s Women Connected, and formerly chaired the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity (LCLD) Alumni Executive Council. In recognition of her efforts, Lau was named to the National Association of Women Lawyers' (NAWL) Rising List for 2022 and was selected by Chambers Diversity and Inclusion as a finalist for "Lawyer of the Year" in 2022.

"I was drawn to Wilson Sonsini because its standout antitrust practice is known for its outstanding track record, top-tier talent, and client service mindset," said Lau. "I’m proud to be part of such an exceptional team and excited to help drive the practice’s growth while shaping its future success."

Smith, formerly a partner in the Antitrust, Competition, and Trade Regulation, as well as the Investigations, Enforcement, and White-Collar groups, at his previous firm, focuses on complex commercial litigation, corporate criminal defense, domestic and internal investigations, and antitrust counseling. His extensive experience includes representing clients in government antitrust investigations and enforcement actions by the DOJ Antitrust Division, the FTC, and state attorneys general.

Smith frequently represents clients in antitrust class actions, multidistrict litigations, and other complex commercial cases in both federal and state courts. His practice covers a broad range of competition issues, such as price-fixing, bid-rigging, market/customer allocation, monopolization, and other trade restraints. Smith regularly advises clients on the antitrust aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, helping them navigate U.S. merger clearance and providing guidance on horizontal and vertical mergers, gun-jumping, and integration planning.

Smith has led numerous domestic and global internal investigations for major corporations across various industries. He regularly represents both corporations and individuals facing federal and state grand jury subpoenas, cross-border investigations, and enforcement actions.

Smith’s practice also involves advising clients on antitrust compliance to mitigate risks, including assisting U.S. and multinational corporations with establishing and maintaining compliance programs and conducting regular training for executives and employees. His knowledge extends to the healthcare sector, where he advises on competition matters, including collaborations, information exchanges, and hospital-physician group acquisitions.

Smith has been recognized on the Illinois Rising Stars list for Antitrust Litigation (2021–2023) and is listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America for Antitrust Law (2024). He also serves as vice chair of the ABA Antitrust Section's Trial Practice Committee and previously served as vice chair of its Civil Practice & Procedure Committee.

"Brian’s litigation experience, leadership within the ABA Antitrust Section, and strong relationships with our attorneys make him a tremendous asset," said Jeff Bank, partner and co-chair of the Antitrust Litigation practice at Wilson Sonsini. "His deep knowledge of complex antitrust issues and collaborative approach will integrate seamlessly into our cross-practice, cross-office teams while positioning him as an excellent mentor within the firm. Together, Brian and Bonnie will add great value to the representation of our clients."

Outside of his legal practice, Smith is dedicated to pro bono work, including representing minors in guardian ad litem proceedings, petitioners before the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission, and individuals in immigration appeals before the Eighth Circuit. He has also drafted legal white papers for a nonprofit lobbying against human trafficking, served as amicus curiae in a criminal appeal before the Third Circuit, and acted as court-appointed counsel in § 1983 prisoner cases in the Southern District of Illinois.

"I’m excited to join the skilled team at Wilson Sonsini, dedicated to resolving complex litigation, deals, and investigations for market-leading, innovative companies across some of the most competitive sectors, including technology, life sciences, and financial services," said Smith. "I look forward to leading clients through the shifting antitrust environment and addressing novel issues with my new colleagues."

Wilson Sonsini’s Antitrust and Competition practice is consistently ranked among the top antitrust practices globally by sources such as Global Competition Review, Chambers, and Law360. Known for its expertise across a wide range of mandates, many involving cutting-edge antitrust issues, the team has achieved significant success for its clients, handling everything from complex agency-facing antitrust matters to high-profile and reputationally sensitive antitrust litigation. Recent highlights include securing the dismissal of antitrust claims against Continental Tire in multidistrict price-fixing litigation, securing a favorable settlement for Azurity Pharmaceuticals to resolve a years-long sham litigation claim, and continuing to represent Mylan in high-stakes civil litigations as both a plaintiff and a defendant. Over the past 18 months, the team has also led multiple transactions across diverse geographies and industries to successful outcomes, including HashiCorp’s $6.4 billion acquisition by IBM, driving coordinated advocacy before the FTC, the UK Competition and Markets Authority, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission; Run.ai’s acquisition by NVIDIA, involving the first Article 22 referral post-Illumina; Hawaiian Airlines' successful clearance of its $1.9 billion acquisition by Alaska Airlines after a DOJ Second Request and review by the U.S. Department of Transportation; and Vizio’s antitrust work on its $2.3 billion acquisition by Walmart.

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini’s services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has more than 1,000 attorneys and 18 offices in 17 technology, business, and regulatory markets across the United States, China, and Europe. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.

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