John M. Nannes Biography

John M. Nannes is Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice since March 28, 1998.  He is responsible to Joel I. Klein, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division.  Nannes supervises the Computers & Finance, Civil Task Force, Transportation, and Energy & Agriculture sections.  He is also responsible for most civil non-merger matters in the Division.

He came to the DOJ from the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where was a law partner of Bob Bennett, President Clinton's lawyer in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit, and in matters pertaining to the Special Prosecutor's investigation.  He replaced Lawrence R. Fullerton, who resigned.

Nannes was associated with the Washington, DC, office of Skadden Arps from 1977 through 1998.  Skadden Arps' biography of Mr. Nannes described his work as follows:

"He has handled numerous mergers and acquisitions reviewed by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. He has represented air carriers in a number of significant transactions involving transfers of international routes and asset acquisitions that were reviewed by the Departments of Justice and Transportation. He has also represented motor and rail carriers in acquisitions and joint ventures reviewed by the Department of Justice and the Surface Transportation Board. ... In addition ...   Mr. Nannes has represented parties in government investigations and treble-damage actions in the securities, ocean shipping, rail, and freight forwarder industries. Mr. Nannes has represented various companies in agency and court proceedings involving
application of antitrust concepts to traditionally regulated industries."

Work history:

• Law clerk to Judge Roger Robb, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
• Law clerk to Justice William H. Rehnquist, U.S. Supreme Court.
• Special Assistant to former Assistant Attorney General Thomas Kauper, Antitrust Division, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1975-1977.
• Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, 1977-1998.

Memberships and Activities:

• Bar Associations of the District of Columbia, Michigan, and New York.
• Chairman of the D.C. Circuit Advisory Committee on Procedures.
• Member of the Committee for the District of Columbia Bar's Public Service Activities Corporation.
• Trustee of the Supreme Court Historical Society.
• Chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee of the Antitrust Section of the
  American Bar Association, 1987-1991.
• Vice President of the Association of Transportation Practitioners, 1987-1990.
• He taught antitrust at Georgetown University Law Center as an Adjunct
  Professor (1979-1981 and 1983-1984) and most recently as a Distinguished Visitor from Practice.

Education:

• University of Michigan, B.B.A., With Highest Distinction, 1970.
• University of Michigan Law School,  magna cum laude, 1973.  (Order of the Coif, Articles Editor of the Univeristy of Michigan Law Review.)

Sources: Skadden Arps; U.S. Department of Justice; Martindale Hubbell.

Other Resources.

• Story: John Nannes Appointed to Antitrust Division, 4/3/98.
• Martindale Hubbell Entry on Skadden Arps.