Joe Krauss is among the leaders in advising clients on antitrust issues and requirements raised by their M&A transactions. With over 30 years of experience, including one third of it with the U.S. government, Joe brings not only a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role at Hogan Lovells, but vision as well — anticipating and helping clients solve a range of cutting-edge challenges so they can get their deals done quickly and efficiently.

Joe has advised clients on large and small deals, in the U.S., as well as international, and deals in a wide range of industries. He knows that the best way to advocate for your deal is to know your business — how it works and "what makes it tick" — and to know your industry. He brings a practical eye to find the best facts and legal arguments that will get your deal cleared with as minimal interference and delay as possible.

Joe is plugged into antitrust policy-makers through his 11 years at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and knows the pulse of how agency staff and management are viewing transactions. He is trusted by the agencies — staff and management know him and know that he is a straight-shooter. Joe is regularly asked to assist or opine on proposed policy changes — he was called on to comment on the 2010 Horizontal Merger Guidelines before they were adopted, and has been asked by the DOJ to serve as divestiture trustee.

Joe is also plugged into international merger enforcement and antitrust policy, and has been invited to speak at numerous conferences around the world and has assisted competition agencies in several countries in their development and enforcement of antitrust law and policy. Joe is a nongovernmental advisor to the Mergers Working Group of the International Competition Network (ICN).