Fenwick Announces Plans to Open Washington, DC, Office; Expands Regulatory Practice with Partners Thomas Ensign and Melissa Duffy
Washington, DC (August 31, 2021) – Fenwick today announced its plans to open an office in Washington, DC, and welcomed two more DC-based partners, Thomas Ensign and Melissa Duffy, to its growing regulatory team.
Fenwick is concentrated on serving the technology and life sciences industries and is purpose-built to meet the evolving needs of businesses in these sectors. The expansion of a regulatory-focused group and office in Washington, DC, positions the firm to continue to advance the business strategies of clients at the fore of innovative technologies.
Ensign is an experienced and sophisticated antitrust advisor with a proven track record for scaling a successful U.S. antitrust practice at his prior firm. Duffy is an international trade lawyer with substantial experience advising companies in both strategic cross-border transactions and regulatory compliance. Their arrivals follow that of new antitrust partner Steve Albertson, who joined Fenwick earlier this month. The three will be part of Fenwick’s existing regulatory group and will help establish Fenwick’s regulatory position in DC and grow the office.
“Our tech and life sciences clients are driving another strong year for the firm, continuing our tremendous growth over the past few years,” said Fenwick chair Richard Dickson. “We are continuing to invest in strategic areas to better serve our clients, and we're excited to have Tom and Melissa join with Steve on the ground in DC to expand and broaden our regulatory capabilities. We look forward to adding additional talent in Washington, DC.”
“Fenwick's strong regulatory practice is an investment in the future. We are committed to meeting the needs of our rapidly growing tech and life sciences clients,” said Fenwick corporate chair Alan Smith. “Tom and Melissa are excellent and necessary additions to serve our clients’ increasing demand for complex regulated M&A and cross-border financing transactions.”
Ensign advises technology and life sciences clients on the full range of antitrust issues, including intellectual property agreements, distribution arrangements, joint ventures and other competitor collaborations and pre-merger notification requirements in the U.S. and international jurisdictions. He handles Hart-Scott-Rodino Act reviews of mergers and acquisitions, and advises clients in civil and criminal antitrust investigations of alleged anticompetitive conduct. He regularly appears before the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the State Attorneys General Offices.
Duffy focuses her practice on international trade matters, and is well-versed in trade controls and national security requirements for cross-border transactions. She advises on export controls, sanctions, trade policy, programs under the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), regulation of emerging technologies, digital trade, CFIUS and national security issues involving U.S. agencies as well as internal investigations and compliance matters involving civil and criminal aspects.
“Fenwick is on an impressive growth trajectory, with an incredible roster of tech and life sciences clients,” Ensign said. “I am excited to join forces with Fenwick to help build out a team and platform that delivers sophisticated regulatory solutions for the world’s most innovative high-growth technology companies.”
“Fenwick’s platform presents enormous opportunities to grow my trade regulation practice,” Duffy said. “I’m honored to be part of the team that will establish and grow Fenwick’s position in Washington, DC, from the ground up.”
Fenwick was founded in Silicon Valley to serve technology and life sciences clients. It has offices in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Seattle, New York, Shanghai and now Washington, DC.
About Fenwick
Fenwick provides comprehensive legal services to leading technology and life sciences companies — at every stage of their lifecycle — and the investors that partner with them. We craft innovative, cost-effective and practical solutions in areas ranging from venture capital, public offerings, joint ventures, M&A and strategic relationships, to intellectual property, litigation and dispute resolution, taxation, antitrust and employment and labor law. For more than four decades, Fenwick has helped some of the world's most recognized companies become and remain market leaders. For more information, please explore fenwick.com.