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John Carroll is a partner in King & Spalding’s Antitrust & Competition Practice Group in the Washington, D.C. office. For over two decades, John’s practice has focused on civil and criminal antitrust matters, including mergers & acquisitions, strategic counseling and compliance, and global cartel investigations. He represents clients before the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, and international and state antitrust enforcement authorities.

Prior to private practice, John was in the Mergers I Division of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition for several years. While with the FTC, he investigated, challenged, and negotiated settlements in a number of potentially anti-competitive business combinations in the aerospace, technology, consumer products, defense, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries. He received an Award for Meritorious Service for work on merger litigation.

John has been recognized by leading publications such as Legal 500 and Best Lawyers and has held leadership positions in the American Bar Association and American Health Lawyer Association. He frequently speaks and writes on antitrust issues across industries.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., George Washington University

B.A., University of Michigan

District of Columbia

Maryland

Supreme Court of the United States

ABA Antitrust Section, Vice-Chair of the Media & Technologies Committee (2021-2022, 2022-2023)

Top Author


JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards, 2025

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch


Best Lawyers, 2023-2024

Recommended Lawyers – Antitrust


Legal 500, 2022-2025

Leading Lawyer – Antitrust


Legal 500, 2020

Rising Star – Antitrust


Washington Super Lawyers, 2016

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Recognition

Top Author


JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards, 2025

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch


Best Lawyers, 2023-2024

Recommended Lawyers – Antitrust


Legal 500, 2022-2025

Leading Lawyer – Antitrust


Legal 500, 2020

Rising Star – Antitrust


Washington Super Lawyers, 2016

News

In the News · Source: Law360, Bloomberg Law, Global Competition Review, The Deal, Global Legal Chronicle, Thomson Reuters Westlaw Today, The Daily Docket and Corporate Counsel Business Journal

November 17, 2025
Partner John Carroll rejoins the firm’s Antitrust practice in Washington, D.C.

View all

Matters

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Served as lead antitrust counsel for health systems on dozens of transactions that cleared federal and state antitrust reviews.

Led antitrust efforts for VillageMD in achieving antitrust clearance for its $8.9 billion acquisition of Summit Health.

Successfully represented clinically and financially integrated provider networks in nonpublic government investigations.

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Matters

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Served as lead antitrust counsel for health systems on dozens of transactions that cleared federal and state antitrust reviews.

Led antitrust efforts for VillageMD in achieving antitrust clearance for its $8.9 billion acquisition of Summit Health.

Successfully represented clinically and financially integrated provider networks in nonpublic government investigations.

Advising private equity firms, health systems, and physician groups on a variety of antitrust issues, including potential transactions.

Advising pharmaceutical and medical device companies on all aspects of competitor collaborations, including mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures.

Consumer Products & Entertainment

Represents clients in the food & beverage, luxury, technology, retail, and fashion industries on antitrust issues.

Advises entertainment and media companies on antitrust aspects of transactions and commercial activities, such as pricing and distribution.

Represented Energizer Holdings, Inc. on antitrust aspects of it $2 billion acquisition of Spectrum Brands.

Represented Carmike Cinemas in the Department of Justice investigation of their sale to AMC theatres, creating the nation’s largest movie theatre chain.

Energy

Representing a Fortune 500 public company in the energy industry on antitrust aspects of a joint venture with a competitor.

Advising a number of energy companies on a range of antitrust issues related to infrastructure projects, teaming arrangements, and other collaborations.

Successfully represented leading gasoline retailer on achieving FTC clearance for its strategic transaction without enforcement action.

Devised and implemented antitrust compliance strategies for coalitions of energy industry competitors.

Manufacturing

Represented leading chemical and building products companies in transactions and defended them in government investigations.

Represented WestRock Company on antitrust aspects of its $4.9 billion acquisition of KapStone Paper Packaging.

Global Cartel Investigations

Defended multinational companies in criminal investigations alleging antitrust conspiracies.

Represented an executive of international auto parts company in connection with a cartel investigation in that industry.

News

In the News · Source: Law360, Bloomberg Law, Global Competition Review, The Deal, Global Legal Chronicle, Thomson Reuters Westlaw Today, The Daily Docket and Corporate Counsel Business Journal

November 17, 2025
Partner John Carroll rejoins the firm’s Antitrust practice in Washington, D.C.

View all

Matters

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Served as lead antitrust counsel for health systems on dozens of transactions that cleared federal and state antitrust reviews.

Led antitrust efforts for VillageMD in achieving antitrust clearance for its $8.9 billion acquisition of Summit Health.

Successfully represented clinically and financially integrated provider networks in nonpublic government investigations.

See more

Close

Matters

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Served as lead antitrust counsel for health systems on dozens of transactions that cleared federal and state antitrust reviews.

Led antitrust efforts for VillageMD in achieving antitrust clearance for its $8.9 billion acquisition of Summit Health.

Successfully represented clinically and financially integrated provider networks in nonpublic government investigations.

Advising private equity firms, health systems, and physician groups on a variety of antitrust issues, including potential transactions.

Advising pharmaceutical and medical device companies on all aspects of competitor collaborations, including mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures.

Consumer Products & Entertainment

Represents clients in the food & beverage, luxury, technology, retail, and fashion industries on antitrust issues.

Advises entertainment and media companies on antitrust aspects of transactions and commercial activities, such as pricing and distribution.

Represented Energizer Holdings, Inc. on antitrust aspects of it $2 billion acquisition of Spectrum Brands.

Represented Carmike Cinemas in the Department of Justice investigation of their sale to AMC theatres, creating the nation’s largest movie theatre chain.

Energy

Representing a Fortune 500 public company in the energy industry on antitrust aspects of a joint venture with a competitor.

Advising a number of energy companies on a range of antitrust issues related to infrastructure projects, teaming arrangements, and other collaborations.

Successfully represented leading gasoline retailer on achieving FTC clearance for its strategic transaction without enforcement action.

Devised and implemented antitrust compliance strategies for coalitions of energy industry competitors.

Manufacturing

Represented leading chemical and building products companies in transactions and defended them in government investigations.

Represented WestRock Company on antitrust aspects of its $4.9 billion acquisition of KapStone Paper Packaging.

Global Cartel Investigations

Defended multinational companies in criminal investigations alleging antitrust conspiracies.

Represented an executive of international auto parts company in connection with a cartel investigation in that industry.

News

In the News · Source: Law360, Bloomberg Law, Global Competition Review, The Deal, Global Legal Chronicle, Thomson Reuters Westlaw Today, The Daily Docket and Corporate Counsel Business Journal

November 17, 2025
Partner John Carroll rejoins the firm’s Antitrust practice in Washington, D.C.

View all

Credentials

J.D., George Washington University

B.A., University of Michigan

District of Columbia

Maryland

Supreme Court of the United States

ABA Antitrust Section, Vice-Chair of the Media & Technologies Committee (2021-2022, 2022-2023)

Top Author


JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards, 2025

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch


Best Lawyers, 2023-2024

Recommended Lawyers – Antitrust


Legal 500, 2022-2025

Leading Lawyer – Antitrust


Legal 500, 2020

Rising Star – Antitrust


Washington Super Lawyers, 2016

Close

Recognition

Top Author


JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards, 2025

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch


Best Lawyers, 2023-2024

Recommended Lawyers – Antitrust


Legal 500, 2022-2025

Leading Lawyer – Antitrust


Legal 500, 2020

Rising Star – Antitrust


Washington Super Lawyers, 2016