Sean P. McConnell

Partner

  • Sean P. McConnell
  • Phone: +1 215 979 1947

    Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    30 South 17th Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19103-4196
    USA

Sean P. McConnell, chair of Duane Morris' Antitrust division of the Trial Practice Group, has represented numerous clients in their most high-stakes and sophisticated antitrust disputes. Mr. McConnell represents U.S. and international clients on the full range of antitrust matters, from counseling and compliance, to defense of bet-the-company class actions and private litigation, to government investigations, to the competitive aspects associated with mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and other collaborations. While his representations and experience span numerous industry sectors, Mr. McConnell has deep experience in the life sciences, healthcare, and technology spaces, including artificial intelligence.

Chambers USA has identified Mr. McConnell as an “up-and-coming antitrust practitioner who is commended for his representation of clients in sophisticated class actions.” Chambers also described Mr. McConnell as “good on his feet” with a “really good presence in court” and an ability to “quickly understand the key issues of the case and how to present it.” Mr. McConnell has litigation experience against the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and private litigants in over a dozen federal district courts, U.S. courts of appeal, and before the Federal Trade Commission. He has also successfully resolved disputes in arbitration and mediation. He also writes and lectures extensively on cutting-edge antitrust issues, and his antitrust analysis is regularly cited by leading legal publications, including Law360, Global Competition Review, mLex, and Law.com.

Mr. McConnell is a 2009 graduate of Villanova University School of Law, where he was a member of the Villanova Law Review, and he is a 2005 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Finance.

Areas of Practice

  • Antitrust and Competition

  • Complex Commercial Litigation

  • Mergers and Acquisitions

Representative Matters

    Antitrust and Competition

  • Represented Exacta Systems in the sale of the company to Churchill Downs, Inc. for $250 million and led the antitrust team for Exacta. 

  • Lead counsel for a leading fragrance manufacturer in three consolidated putative class actions pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey involving alleged federal antitrust law violations.

  • Lead antitrust counsel to biotech company regarding multi-million dollar sale to private equity.
  • Lead U.S. antitrust counsel to global diversified technology and textile company with U.S. regulatory issues related to international transaction.

  • Lead U.S. antitrust counsel for a leading fragrance manufacturer in its multi-billion dollar merger with DSM.

  • Defending leading generic pharmaceutical supplier in over a dozen putative class actions in multidistrict litigation involving price-fixing and other federal and state anticompetitive claims.

  • Serving as lead antirust counsel to a vertically integrated cannabis enterprise in its acquisition of three separate manufacturers, cultivators, and distributors of cannabis.

  • Counseling provider of water, waste, and energy management services with antitrust aspects related to joint venture with competing firm.

  • Representing leisure travel services provider with antitrust aspects related to multiple business combinations.

  • Serving as lead antitrust counsel to e-commerce platform in $138 million sale.

  • Representing ventilation products provider with antitrust aspects of business combination.

  • Defending prosthetic device supplier against antitrust claims brought by the FTC related to consummated transaction.

  • Counseling producer of chemical compounds with antitrust aspects of business combination.

  • Defended a leading provider of travel commerce marketplace services against claims of monopolization and horizontal and vertical conspiracies in federal district court, resulting in a settlement the client found favorable.

  • Assisted a major U.S. airline complete a successful merger in the face of an intense DOJ and Congressional review of the transaction as well as through litigation in federal court.

  • Represented an office supply retailing company through an eight-month investigation by the FTC and the Attorneys General of several states, obtaining unconditional clearance of a merger.

  • Assisted a global technology filtration company craft a challenge to an FTC antitrust divestiture order in a U.S. court of appeals.

  • Counseled a supermarket operator through a negotiated consent decree with the FTC relating to a proposed transaction.

  • Defended an integrated media company against a lawsuit brought by the DOJ in federal district court challenging a proposed transaction.

  • Represented truck and equipment dealers in a series of class action cases involving claims of bid rigging and price-fixing of automotive component parts.

  • Represented physicians in a case involving claims arising from an alleged tying agreement.

    • Complex Commercial Litigation

  • Counseled a hedge fund through a lengthy investigation by the SEC and helped the client achieve a satisfactory settlement.

  • Represented a biotech firm against trade secret misappropriation claims by a pharmaceutical company.

  • Defended leading software company against allegations by California Office of the State Controller concerning the failed implementation of software.

  • Represented former shareholders of self-storage facilities company in a dispute over the terms and conditions of an operating agreement.

  • Defended leading retail danceware provider against claims arising from a contractual dispute.

  • Represented aviation services company in a dispute over the terms and conditions of a lease agreement.

  • Defended a transportation services company against claims relating to the failed implementation of software.

  • Represented former shareholders of laboratory services company in a dispute over the terms and conditions of a purchase agreement and escrow agreement.

  • Defended leading financial services company and won dismissal of claims involving a dispute over a deposit agreement.

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Education

  • Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, J.D., 2009
    - Editor and Staff Writer, Villanova Law Review
  • University of Notre Dame, B.B.A., 2005

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Partner, 2019-present
    - Associate, 2015-2018

  • Dechert LLP
    - Associate, 2010-2015
  • Homeless Advocacy Project
    - Attorney, 2009-2010

Honors and Awards

  • Listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, 2024

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2023 and 2024

  • Listed in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars

  • Recognized as part of 2014 Antitrust Team of the Year by Chambers USA

No aspect of these rankings has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • Malvern Preparatory School Board of Trustees, 2023-present

  • Malvern Preparatory School Alumni Board, 2011-2021

  • Notre Dame Club of Philadelphia

  • University of Notre Dame Sorin Society

Selected Publications

Media Hits

  • Quoted, “Big Law and Big Sports: More Money, Law Firms and Work,” The American Lawyer, June 24, 2024
  • Quoted, "Discover/Capital One Antitrust Review Illustrates Unpredictable Path for Election-Year M&A –Advisors," Mergermarket, Dealreporter and PARR, April 29, 2024
  • Quoted, “The Biggest Antitrust Developments So Far In 2023,” Law360, July 25, 2023
  • Quoted, "FTC's Microsoft Lawsuit Targets Vertical Expansions," The Legal Intelligencer, December 14, 2022
  • Quoted, "Will 'Swifties' Alter DOJ's Ticketmaster Investigation? It's Not Just Price That's the Problem," Legaltech News, November 21, 2022

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "NAM Webinar on Final FTC HSR Pre-Merger Rules," National Association of Manufacturers, November 8, 2024
  • Speaker, "Antitrust-Employment Intersection," Duane Morris Institute (DMi) Webinar, November 13, 2024
  • Speaker, "The Future of Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) and College and Professional Sports," Duane Morris Intellectual Property Webinar, April 25, 2024
  • Speaker, "Antitrust Compliance in Labor Markets: Don’t Trust Your Instincts Alone," Duane Morris Institute (DMi), Webinar, March 28, 2024
  • Presenter, "Antitrust Compliance in Labor Markets: Don’t Trust Your Instincts Alone," Duane Morris Institute (DMi) Webinar, November 9, 2023
  • Co-presenter, "Significant Antitrust Developments: New Premerger Notification Requirements and Merger Guidelines," National Association of Manufacturers, August 3, 2023
  • Speaker, “The Future Is on The Clock: The Evolution of Sports and Technology,” Duane Morris, April 27, 2023
  • Speaker, "Antitrust Compliance in Labor Markets: Don’t Trust Your Instincts Alone," Duane Morris Institute (DMi), Webinar, January 26, 2023
  • Speaker, "Best Practices for Preventing and Defending Against Antitrust Claims," Greater Philadelphia Association of Corporate Counsel, August 6, 2019