John Holler's practice focuses on helping clients navigate complex antitrust issues. He represents clients across a wide spectrum of industries in government merger and conduct investigations and in civil antitrust litigation. He also counsels clients on a range of antitrust compliance and training issues.
Prior to joining Arnold & Porter, John worked as a trial attorney at the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). While at DOJ Antitrust, he played a key role in nearly a dozen civil antitrust investigations, two merger litigations, and three civil actions paralleling criminal bid-rigging cases.
John maintains an active pro bono practice, focused on representing clients in immigration-related proceedings.
Experience
- Thermo Fisher Scientific in its US$17.4 billion acquisition of PPD.
- Penguin Random House in its US$2.2 billion attempted acquisition of Simon & Schuster.
- Titan America in its US$310 million acquisition of Keystone Cement.
- Intel in securing regulatory approval for a multi-billion investment by an investor.
- Storable in resolving monopolization claim brought by a competitor.
- Penguin Random House in successfully defending against purported class actions alleging that Penguin Random House and other publishers conspired with Amazon to restrain competition in the sale of eBooks and physical books, as well as a Robinson-Patman Act price discrimination claim related to the sale of physical books to booksellers.
- Kroger in successfully defending against federal and state litigation brought by state attorneys general to enjoin a US$4 billion special dividend payment by Albertsons announced concurrently with its proposed merger with Kroger.
- Technology company in advising on developing a compliance and training program regarding HR-related antitrust issues.
Perspectives
May 29, 2026
Antitrust in the Age of Talent Wars: All That In-House Lawyers and HR Departments Need to Know (pdf)
LexisNexis Practical Guidance
December 11, 2025
Food Fight: Trump Administration Targets Food Supply Chain for Antitrust Scrutiny
Advisory
March 31, 2025
Antitrust Agency Insights: Developments at the U.S. Antitrust Enforcement Agencies — First Quarter 2025
Newsletter
January 27, 2022
Back to the Future: The Antitrust Division Looks to the Past to Chart Aggressive New Course
Advisory
Recognition
- U.S. Department of Justice, Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service (2019)
- U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Award of Distinction (2017, 2018)
Credentials
Education
- J.D., with honors, University of Chicago Law School, 2016
- B.A., International Relations, Pomona College, 2011, cum laude
Admissions
- New York
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Government & Military Service
- Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Transportation, Energy & Agriculture Section (2016–2020)
- Intern, U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Chicago Office (2015–2016)
- Honors Paralegal, Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Competition (2011–2013)
Activities
- Vice Chair, ABA Antitrust Law Section, Joint Conduct Committee (2026–present)
- Young Lawyer Representative, ABA Antitrust Law Section, Federal Civil Enforcement Committee (2025–2026)
- Member, NYC Bar Association, Antitrust & Trade Regulation Committee (2023–2025)
- Co-author of Thomson Reuters’ Antitrust Adviser chapter focused on DOJ Antitrust’s civil and criminal non-merger enforcement (2022-present)