Bilal Sayyed represents clients before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) in significant merger, civil and criminal antitrust matters. A significant portion of his practice involves representing investment funds on antitrust and Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act compliance matters. Bilal also represents clients before the FTC in consumer protection and privacy investigations. He also maintains an active amicus and appellate brief writing practice in antitrust litigation and antitrust merger matters.
Prior to joining Cadwalader, Bilal was the Director of the FTC’s Office of Policy Planning (OPP) (2018-2021). In that role, he provided legal and policy advice to the Chairman and Commissioners on antitrust and consumer protection matters and worked closely with the senior and career leadership of the FTC’s Bureaus of Competition, Consumer Protection, and Economics. Under his leadership, OPP initiated and led the Commission’s Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century, and, as a follow-up, initiated and led the Commission’s post-hearing policy and enforcement projects, including the drafting and release of the first joint Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission Vertical Merger Guidelines and the drafting of the Federal Trade Commission’s Commentary on Vertical Merger Enforcement. He also initiated and led a first-of-its-kind inquiry into the acquisition activity of Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook/Meta and Microsoft, for purposes of considering revisions to FTC policy and enforcement efforts with respect to transactions not subject to the reporting and waiting period requirements of the HSR Act. Bilal previously served as an Attorney Advisor to FTC Chairman Timothy J. Muris from 2001 to 2004. In that role, Bilal advised the Chairman on matters involving a wide spectrum of industries, including chemical and mining, petroleum and natural gas, health care and pharmaceutical, defense and transportation, gaming, various consumer products and retail operations, and professional associations and standard-setting organizations.
Bilal has taught antitrust and competition law at the George Mason University School of Law since 2011. Prior to his government service, he was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers, Legal 500, andSuper Lawyers.
Bilal received his B.A. from Case Western Reserve University, and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and the State of New York, as well as before the U.S. District Courts for the District of Colorado and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Second Circuit, the Fifth Circuit, the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Bilal is the host of Rethinking Antitrust, a podcast published by TechFreedom that examines the economics, institutions, law, legislation, and policy goals of antitrust enforcement.
