Meet David Gelfand—the Division’s Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Litigation

David Gelfand

On August 26, 2013, David Gelfand joined the Antitrust Division as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Litigation. In that role, Gelfand is responsible for overseeing the Division’s litigation efforts and, along with Director of Litigation Mark Ryan, works hand-in-hand with Division staff on matters likely to result in litigation.

Gelfand arrived shortly after the Division filed a lawsuit to block the proposed merger of US Airways and American Airlines and jumped right into his new role. “I love working with folks who have been following particular industries like people here have,” said Gelfand. “There’s nobody on the planet who knows more about the airline industry than people like Bill Stallings, Kathy O’Neill, Bob Young, Dick Doidge, Mike Billiel, and Caroline Laise. It’s a tremendous advantage to work with these folks.”

Once the airline case was resolved, Gelfand settled into a regular routine, helping Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer think about the Division’s litigation agenda. Since arriving at the Division, Gelfand says he has been impressed by the depth of knowledge on industries as varied as telecom, transportation, health care, and software. “I’m really enjoying it. I’m exposed to a range of industries and areas of antitrust,” said Gelfand.

Gelfand was a partner at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton LLP before coming to the Department. After joining Cleary as a general litigator he worked extensively on antitrust matters with former Division Deputy Assistant Attorney General Mark Leddy, whom he came to view as a mentor. Gelfand was drawn to the way antitrust allowed him to work at the intersection of economics and law. He says he is thrilled about the opportunity to work at the Division. “I came to government because I wanted to do public service,” said Gelfand. “Being in a situation where you’re trying to do the right thing—to call balls and strikes—is very exciting.”

In his role as Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Gelfand wants to be a resource for the Division’s litigation staff. Gelfand commended the Bazaarvoice trial team for its outstanding work at trial in the fall of 2013, and said he was looking forward to working with the Division’s many talented litigators during his time here.

Gelfand is a life-long resident of the Washington, D.C. area. Growing up in the District he believes helped shape his interest in practicing law and the government. “It may sound nerdy, but when I was a kid, I would go sit in on sessions of Congress,” said Gelfand. “I remember catching a bus and attending a day of the Watergate hearings, which was inspiring.”

Gelfand received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1987, where he graduated summa cum laude. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1981, where he graduated magna cum laude. In 2003, he was named one of the “45 under 45” best lawyers in America by The American Lawyer.