Dennis McWeeny, PhD

Dennis McWeeny is a Manager in the Antitrust and Competition Practice. He specializes in the economic analysis of complex antitrust matters, including multinational mergers and acquisitions, as well as matters involving allegations of monopolization and attempted monopolization. Dr. McWeeny has worked on antitrust matters in a variety of industries, including air transportation, insurance broking, music streaming, wireless communications, agriculture, chemical manufacturing, amusement parks, payment cards, oil and gas, automotive dealers, digital advertising, and big tech. He has led teams of consultants and economists through all phases of antitrust investigations and litigation. Dr. McWeeny has also supported experts and attorneys at three high-profile antitrust trials in recent years: US v. Google (Search), US v. JetBlue and Spirit, and US v. Google (Ad tech). His dissertation research analyzed antitrust issues in the airline industry.

PhD, Economics, University of Wisconsin–Madison

MS, Economics, University of Wisconsin–Madison

BS, Economics and Mathematics (highest distinction), University of Iowa

• In In re Dealer Management Systems Antitrust Litigation, supported the expert on behalf of CDK Global to review and evaluate liability opinions of multiple plaintiff expert reports and analyze the conduct of CDK and Reynolds to assess the merits of plaintiffs’ allegations.
• On behalf of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the matter United States et al. v. Google LLC (Ad tech), supported the expert’s analysis of claims that Google illegally maintained monopolies in the markets for publisher ad servers, ad exchanges, and advertiser ad networks for open-web display advertising. A decision in the case is pending.
• On behalf of JetBlue Airways in United States et al. v. JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines, led the team supporting the expert’s analysis of the likely competitive effects of the proposed merger between JetBlue and Spirit. 
• On behalf of the DOJ in United States et al. v. Google LLC (search), supported the expert’s analysis of claims that Google illegally maintained monopolies in the markets for general search services, search advertising, and general search text advertising. 
• On behalf of Pacific Surf Designs in the matter Pacific Surf Designs, Inc. v. WhiteWater West Industries, Ltd., et al., supported the liability expert’s analysis of claims that WhiteWater illegally maintained a monopoly in the market for thin sheet wave machines (a type of surfing simulator) in the amusement park industry. The jury found in favor of the expert’s proposed market definition.
• On behalf of insurance broker Willis Towers Watson during its proposed merger with Aon, assisted the client with responses to the Second Request issued by the DOJ. Developed econometric analyses addressing product market definition and the likelihood of unilateral effects for groups of targeted customers. Assisted with presentations to staff at the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. 
• On behalf of Evonik in its litigation with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its proposed merger with PeroxyChem, supported the testifying expert in analyzing the likely competitive effects of the merger. 
• In an intellectual property matter involving music royalty payments, processed and analyzed daily stream counts for tens of millions of tracks of music, with a focus on the entry of new tracks and the distribution of their plays over time.