Robert D. Jacobs, Member

Robert D. Jacobs is co-chairman of the Firm's Antitrust and Trade Regulation Group where he counsels corporate clients on a variety of antitrust questions, with particular emphasis on federal, state and foreign antitrust and regulatory aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Jacobs works extensively with investment bankers, hedge funds and investment partnerships on a wide range of legal, legislative and regulatory issues, and was recognized by the Washington Post as one of the "most prominent" practitioners in his field.

Before entering private practice in 1976, he was a Senior Trial Attorney with the Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission (1971-1976) where he was awarded a "Certificate of Commendation" for exemplary performance. Mr. Jacobs has also assisted in preparing the "Premerger Notification Practice Manual" for the Antitrust Law Section of the American Bar Association.

Bar Memberships

• District of Columbia

Professional/Civic Activities

• American Bar Association (Antitrust Law section)

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of the United States
• United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
• United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Education

• 1971 - J.D., American University, Washington College of Law (with honors; Editor/member, American University Law Review)
• 1968 - B.A., University of Massachusetts

Honors

• Washington Law Reporter Award and Certificate of Outstanding Service

Thomas A. Belles, Member

Thomas A. Belles is a partner in the Firm's Merger Arbitrage Group. Tom counsels the Firm's merger arbitrage clients regarding the antitrust, regulatory and corporate aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Tom has developed a detailed understanding of federal, state and foreign antitrust law and enforcement policy, including Hart Scott Rodino (HSR) issues, as a result of his twenty years of practice in this area. Tom possesses substantial regulatory expertise and follows closely regulatory developments in the energy, telecommunications, and cable and broadcast, fields. He regularly counsels clients regarding state corporate law, federal securities law issues, the Exon-Florio Act (CFIUS), Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and other regulatory schemes pertinent to mergers and tender offers.

Prior to joining the Firm in 1985, Tom was a trial attorney with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Tom also served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Areas of Concentration

• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Trade Regulation

Bar Memberships

• District of Columbia

Education

• 1981 - J.D., Duke University School of Law (with distinction; Member, Duke Law Journal)
• 1978 - B.A., George Washington University (with distinction)

Contact

• Phone: (202) 424-7652
  Email: