Every once in a while, I see a piece of antitrust news that makes me happy on a personal level. This happened when I read that Marc Siegel just left the Antitrust Division after a distinguished career and is now a partner at Jones Day in their San Francisco office. Marc worked for 30 years at the Antitrust Division, moving up from trial lawyer to hold various senior leadership positions involving global and domestic criminal cartel enforcement and policy development. I got to know Marc well over the years, particularly when he moved to DC and became the Director of Criminal Enforcement in 2005. Marc was always willing to help out where needed and as a result, he may hold the record for most titles for a Division attorney: Senior Counsel, Criminal Enforcement (2016); Chief, San Francisco Office (2014-2016); Acting Chief, New York Office (2013); Senior Counsel, Criminal Litigation, Washington, D.C. (2010-2012); Director, Criminal Enforcement, Washington, D.C. (2005-2010); Assistant Chief, San Francisco Office (2003-2004); and Trial Attorney, San Francisco Office (1986-2002).
Marc was one of the most respected and well-liked attorneys in the Division. He has a wide range of experience and sharp legal mind that was an asset you could tap on almost any issue. Marc oversaw many of the Division’s most significant matters such as municipal bonds and auto parts (while I was at the Division). More recently, as Chief of the San Francisco Field Office he has been overseeing the international capacitors matter and the many local real estate auction collusion investigation and trials. In my experience, and as was told to me by many other Antitrust Division staff, Marc’s finest quality is that he was always available to talk things out when the stress was at danger level. Marc could not solve every problem but he could convince you not to kill yourself (or someone else) over one. Marc also made many personal sacrifices for the Division, leaving his hometown of San Francisco to spend significant time in Washington D.C., New York City and much other travel. I hope he finds travel on the Jones Day expense account somewhat more tolerable than on the government per diem. Marc–Good luck at Jones Day!
I agree with Bob’s assessment of Marc. I was fortunate enough to be lead attorney on one of Marc’s first trials. I found it very easy to work with him and appreciated how hard he worked. When he was in upper management I always felt that he was more willing to consider the investigative staffs’ prosecution positions then others in upper management.
Marc Siegel is also a really great professor. I had the pleasure of taking an antitrust course with him and two other attorneys from the San Francisco office. Even though he’d never taught a law school course before, Professor Siegel was definitely a natural. He really cared about and was always willing to carve out time to meet with his students. Very happy for him!