Blair Matthews’ practice focuses on a wide range of antitrust matters, particularly in mergers and acquisitions.

Her previous experience includes serving as a legal intern for Commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen of the Federal Trade Commission, as well as in the Office of International Affairs of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Blair joined the firm in 2020 and became a partner in 2025. Prior to joining Cleary, she was an antitrust associate at another international law firm.

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Notable Experience

  • Google in various transactions, including its $5.4 billion acquisition of Mandiant.

  • Figma in U.S. antitrust review of proposed acquisition by Adobe.

  • Sysco Corporation in various transactions, including its purchase of Greco & Sons.

  • FEMSA in the merger of Envoy Solutions with BradyIFS.

  • A leading U.S. natural and organic foods company in its $12.5 billion sale to a French conglomerate.

  • A leading chemical manufacturer in obtaining approval of its $640 million merger following a 2-week trial in D.C. federal court. This ended the FTC's 5-trial win streak in D.C. federal court, and the parties closed.

  • A Fortune 10 healthcare company in the largest healthcare services deal ever and the largest announced deal of 2017 investigated by the Department of Justice.

  • The world’s largest industrial auctioneer in its acquisition of the leading online marketplace for industrial equipment acquisitions following a second request from the Department of Justice.

  • A leading energy company in obtaining the Federal Trade Commission’s approval of an acquisition of a competing natural gas pipeline business following a second request investigation.

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Selected Activities

trigger

Chapter Editor, Antitrust Law Developments, Ninth Edition

Young Lawyer Representative, ABA Antitrust Section, Agriculture and Food Committee 2020

Publications

Co-Author, New HSR Thresholds Announced as February 10 Go Live Date for New HSR Rules Looms: Will Congress or the Courts Intervene and What You Can Do Now, Cleary Gottlieb Alert Memorandum, January 14, 2025

Co-Author, Epic Fail: Why It Is Better to Focus on a Competitive Effects Analysis Than the Failing Firm Defense, Competition Policy International, September 7, 2020 

Author, FTC Facilitates Lively Debate on the Future of Vertical Merger Enforcement, Competition Policy International, November 20, 2018