Biography
Billy’s primary area of practice is antitrust law. Since joining V&E in 2003, Billy has represented clients before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and States Attorneys General in a wide range of industries including energy (E&P, midstream , generation, transportation, storage and marketing), petrochemicals, health care, technology (computers, information services, semiconductors, radio frequency identification, aerospace, telecommunications equipment), machine tools, auto parts, hydrocarbon trading, retailing, food manufacturing, industrial liquids, pharmaceuticals, paper products, and others. Billy has also assisted many clients appearing before competition authorities around the world, including the European Commission and authorities in Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine and others.

Billy’s merger work has involved cutting-edge issues involving multi-jurisdictional merger review, and mergers of partially owned companies, joint ventures, master limited partnerships, private equity and hedge funds along with strategic acquisitions. Billy has a successful record in persuading the agencies not to challenge mergers or not to issue second requests.

Billy has represented many clients (both buyers and sellers) before CFIUS, including companies involved in technology, telecommunications, E&P companies, and petrochemicals. Billy has also obtained CFIUS clearance for government-owned clients.

In addition, Billy has been worked with clients in antitrust litigation and agency investigations involving price fixing, monopolization, state action immunity, Noerr Pennington immunity, and distribution issues such as exclusive dealing, tying, and resale price maintenance. Some of the more notable intellectual property antitrust issues in which Billy has been involved include exclusionary payments in patent settlements, Walker Process claims, abuses of standard setting organization rules, and refusals to license intellectual property. Prior to joining V&E, Billy served six years at the FTC, three of which as Deputy Assistant Director. Billy also participated in FTC litigation involving mergers and anticompetitive conduct.