Mr. MacLeod guides domestic and international corporations through investigations, approvals and challenges of mergers and acquisitions. He has obtained FTC and Antitrust Division clearance of numerous acquisitions and joint ventures in a range of industries, including medical devices, grocery products, defense contracting and steel manufacturing. Mr. MacLeod also has assisted clients with protecting interests threatened by consolidation in industries ranging from accounting to travel services, and has served as special counsel for a government investigation of one of the world’s largest manufacturing mergers.
Mr. MacLeod represents companies in advertising, antitrust and intellectual property disputes before the state and federal courts, the FTC and the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. His notable cases include monopolization and conspiracy claims, the FTC's first unfairness trial in 20 years, and the FTC's first preliminary injunction action in an ad substantiation case.
In addition, Mr. MacLeod counsels and defends companies and trade associations on pricing, advertising, distribution, intellectual property licensing and competitor relations. In his work with trade associations and their members, he has fought onerous regulations and advocated sensible policies on competition, biotechnology, health and privacy. In his work on privacy and security, he has defended the practices of major retailers, manufacturers and financial companies.
Mr. MacLeod previously served as director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, which is the chief federal prosecutor of unfair and deceptive advertising. In this position, he also served as the U.S. delegate to a committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, where agency heads of Europe, Australia and Japan develop policies for financial regulations, product safety and international advertising. Mr. MacLeod also previously held positions as advisor to the assistant attorney general of the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division; director of the FTC's Chicago regional office; and attorney advisor to the FTC chairman.
Memberships & Associations
American Bar Association, Consumer Protection OfficerProfessional Activities
International Chamber of Commerce, Competition and Consumer Policy Commissions, U.S. Antitrust Modernization Task Force, ChairUnited States Council for International Business (USCIB), Competition and Consumer Policy Committees
Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Consumer Policy Task Force, Vice Chair
Community Activities
Ripon College, Ripon, Wisc., trusteeHonors & Awards
Selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America in the Advertising Law, Antitrust Law and Litigation - Antirust areas, 2007-2012.
Recommended in US Legal 500 for his work in the Data Protection and Privacy area, 2011.
Recognized as a leading attorney in Antitrust Litigation practice area by Washington D.C. Super Lawyers, 2011.
Recognized as one of 114 attorneys nationwide who set the standard for superior client service and exemplary legal representation in the BTI Consulting’s annual survey of Fortune 1000 companies, 2008.
