New York Women in Antitrust Group

The New York Women in Antitrust Group is a professional network for women antitrust practitioners in the New York area. Founded over two decades ago, the New York Women in Antitrust Group now serves over 200 members consisting of in-house counsel, law firm partners and associates, consultants, academics, economists, government attorneys, and more.

The goal of this community is to facilitate the professional growth and advancement of women in antitrust law through networking and mentoring opportunities, discussion regarding ongoing developments in competition and consumer protection law, and education about business development and professional practice. 

Robins Kaplan Partner and Antitrust and Trade Regulation Group Co-Chair Kellie Lerner serves as Chair of the New York Women in Antitrust Group. Kellie has nearly two decades of experience litigating high stakes antitrust disputes on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in federal courts throughout the country. 

The New York Women in Antitrust Group is deeply committed to facilitating professional growth and advancement of women in antitrust law. We hold regular social and professional development events throughout the year. See below for a complete list of our previous events.

To join the New York Women in Antitrust group, please contact Audra O’Rourke at AORourke@RobinsKaplan.com.

Previous Events

The New York Women in Antitrust Group Presents: A Conversation With The Office of the New York Attorney General’s Deputy Antitrust Bureau Chief, Amy McFarlane and Antitrust Associate, Ellen Jalkut
October 26, 2023 | New York, NY
Hosted by Kellie Lerner, Co-Chair of the Antitrust Practice Group at Robins Kaplan LLP and Keira Campbell, Chief Antitrust Counsel at American Express, Amy will discuss her career trajectory and the Bureau’s current antitrust enforcement priorities. Amy McFarlane, the Deputy Bureau Chief of the Antitrust Bureau of the New York State Office of the Attorney General, works on a wide variety of civil matters and has extensive expertise on competition in health care markets. She began her antitrust career at the Washington, D.C. office of an international law firm, where her practice focused on transactional matters and complex litigation, often for pharmaceutical industry clients. She subsequently clerked for the Honorable Frederic Block of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She serves as a Vice-Chair of the U.S. Comments & Policy Committee of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Section, and is an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law at New York University School of Law and a Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School. She received her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2003 and her A.B. from Brown University in 1998.

The New York Women in Antitrust Group Presents: A Networking Lunch at Le Rock
June 13, 2023 | New York, NY
Featuring lunch and a guided discussion about how we can support one another, sponsored by Burford Capital’s The Equity Project and hosted by Kellie Lerner, Co-Chair of the Antitrust Practice Group at Robins Kaplan LLP and Keira Campbell, Vice President & Chief Antitrust Counsel of American Express. Aviva Will, Burford Capital’s Co-COO, will discuss The Equity Project, an award-winning initiative to improve diversity in the business of law by providing an economic incentive for change in leadership in commercial litigation and arbitration. Since launching The Equity Project in 2018, Burford has committed over $100 million to finance commercial litigation and arbitration led by women and racially diverse attorneys.

The New York Women in Antitrust Summer Social
August 9, 2022 | New York, NY
Please join us for a New York Women in Antitrust Summer Social on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET at McKittrick Hotel’s outdoor garden rooftop, Gallow Green.

The New York Women in Antitrust Group Presents: Best Practices in Remote Lawyering
May 3, 2022 | Remote
A discussion on best practices for remote lawyering. Our goal for this meeting is to share the collective wisdom we have acquired over the last two years as we have transitioned to a virtual legal environment.

New York Women in Antitrust Group Spotlight Series: How To Have Difficult Conversations
November 18, 2021 | Remote
The New York Women in Antitrust Group was pleased to host Dr. Yvette Erasmus for a workshop titled “How to Have Difficult Conversations.” The tools provided in this workshop helped participants gain the confidence and clarity they need to address emotionally charged situations and other hot-button issues.

New York Women in Antitrust Group Spotlight Series: Lessons Learned in Life and Law (Session 3)
October 14, 2021 | Remote
In these virtual gatherings, a member in her first decade of practice interviewed a seasoned practitioner about her personal and professional growth in the profession, as well as her perspective on the future of antitrust law. This session featured interviewer Lauren Weinstein of MoloLamken LLP and interviewee Barbara Hart of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.

New York Women in Antitrust Group Spotlight Series: Lessons Learned in Life and Law (Session 2)
June 10, 2021 | Remote
In these virtual gatherings, a member in her first decade of practice interviewed a seasoned practitioner about her personal and professional growth in the profession, as well as her perspective on the future of antitrust law. This session featured interviewer Lauren Duxstad of Winston & Strawn and interviewee Rachel Brandenburger of Hogan Lovells.

New York Women in Antitrust Group Spotlight Series: Lessons Learned in Life and Law (Session 1)
March 11, 2021 | Remote
In these virtual gatherings, a member in her first decade of practice interviewed a seasoned practitioner about her personal and professional growth in the profession, as well as her perspective on the future of antitrust law. This session featured interviewer Hamsa Mehendranathan of Constantine Cannon and interviewee Martha (Meg) Gifford of the Law Office of Martha E. Gifford.

New York Women in Antitrust Group Panel: A Conversation with Women in Government Antitrust Enforcement
May 28, 2020 | Remote
Women antitrust enforcers reflected on their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists discussed how their paths led them to their respective agencies, their current cases, and how they are surmounting challenges during this unprecedented time. Moderated by Kellie Lerner of Robins Kaplan, this panel included Elinor Hoffmann, Acting Chief, Antitrust Bureau, Office of the Attorney General, New York, NY; Susan Raitt, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission; and Carrie Syme, Assistant Chief, U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, New York Office.

New York Women in Antitrust Group Panel: Views from Women In-House Counsel
January 29, 2020 | New York, NY
The New York State Bar Association Antitrust Law Section was proud to present a panel, co-chaired by Mary K. Marks of Davis Polk and Hollis Salzman of Robins Kaplan, which featured women in-house counsel who shared their career perspectives.