Antitrust Lawyer Named to Top Spot at Federal Trade Commission

(June 16, 1998)  John D. Graubert, an antitrust lawyer from the Washington DC law firm of Steptoe and Johnson, and major Democratic Party contributor, has been named Deputy General Counsel of the Federal Trade Commission.  The FTC is increasing its antitrust regulatory activity.  On June 8 the FTC brought a major new administrative antitrust action against chip maker Intel.

According to Federal Election Commission filings, Graubert was a major contributor of money to the Democratic National Committee and Democratic candidates in the 1996 election cycle.  He contributed over $10,000 to the DNC, and lesser amounts to Democratic House and Senate candidates, including Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and DC Delegate Eleanor Norton.

Graubert worked for Steptoe and Johnson from 1982 up until this appointment.  He started as an associate, and became a partner in 1989.  He specialized in regulatory issues including antitrust, labor, environmental law and transportation.   His practice has included administrative proceedings before the Federal Trade Commission, Interstate Commerce Commission, and other federal and state agencies, as well as antitrust and commercial litigation in federal courts.

Graubert was a law clerk to Judge Joe M. Ingraham, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Temporary Emergency Court of Appeals.  In 1981, Graubert received his J.D. from Georgetown University, where he served as Articles and Notes Editor for the American Criminal Law Review.  He received his B.A., cum laude, from Williams College in 1978.

He is admitted to the Bar in New York (since 1982) and the District of Columbia (since 1983).

Graubert's supervisor will be FTC General Counsel, Debra Valentine, who is also an antitrust lawyer.