Nicholas S. Cheolas

Nick is a strategic antitrust litigator who advises clients on complex competition issues, merger strategies, and regulatory compliance within the digital economy. His 15 years of experience in high-stakes investigations and litigation includes serving five years with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division.

Prior to joining Wiley, Nick served in the DOJ Antitrust Division, including as Counsel to the Director of Civil Enforcement. In that role, Nick advised Division leadership on enforcement strategy and policy across more than 50 matters, coordinated civil enforcement efforts across sections, and worked closely with economists, technologists, and agency partners.

As a Trial Attorney in the Antitrust Division’s Technology and Digital Platforms Section, Nick played a key role in one of the agency’s landmark monopolization cases relating to a tech company’s digital advertising technology business, leading teams during both the investigation and trial stages. Nick also led and contributed to a range of high-profile civil antitrust merger and conduct matters, working closely with other federal, state, and international competition enforcers.

In private practice, Nick represented corporate clients in antitrust litigation and counseling matters involving monopolization and price-fixing claims, competitor collaborations, information sharing, and merger reviews. His combined experience spans virtually all industries – with an emphasis on digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI), financial services, health care, and life sciences – and a broad spectrum of antitrust and competition issues under the Sherman Act and Clayton Act.

Representative Matters

At DOJ:

• Advised Antitrust Division leadership on civil enforcement strategy and enforcement decisions across a wide range of merger and non-merger matters.
• Represented the United States in a landmark monopolization case involving digital advertising technology, leading teams at both the investigation and trial stages.
• Contributed to investigation and enforcement strategy for the United States in a major monopolization case involving ticketing and venue-access markets.
• Key member and leader of DOJ teams in two of the Antitrust Division’s highest‑profile monopolization cases.
• Led and supported teams of attorneys, economists, and experts in antitrust merger and non-merger investigations involving digital platforms, AI, software, and other emerging technologies.
• Coordinated with other federal, state, and international competition agencies on policy matters and parallel investigations.
• Authored and contributed to Antitrust Division statements of interest to provide guidance and direction to federal courts in private antitrust litigation.
• Organized Antitrust Division training program on the 2023 Merger Guidelines and other recurring civil investigation issues.
• Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated dozens of Civil Investigative Demands and Second Requests in civil antitrust investigations.

In private practice:

• Represented federal government entities in antitrust litigation involving price-fixing and benchmark manipulation.
• Represented class of airline passengers in antitrust litigation involving price and capacity restrictions.
• Represented manufacturer of optical disk drives in antitrust class actions alleging bid-rigging.
• Represented jukebox manufacturer and trade association in antitrust litigation involving anticompetitive agreements and group boycott.
• Represented truck transmission manufacturer in antitrust litigation involving monopolization and exclusive dealing agreements.
• Represented pharmaceutical company in a three-week international arbitration involving licensing/breach of contract allegations.

Professional Experience

• U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division
  • Trial Attorney, Technology and Digital Platforms Section (2020-2025)
  • Counsel to the Director of Civil Enforcement (2023-2024)
• Antitrust Senior Associate and Counsel, Corporate Law Firm (2016-2020)
• Business Litigation Associate, Corporate Law Firm (2011-2016)