Clifford Chance offices in Washington, D.C. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

Clifford Chance is strengthening its competition offerings in the U.S. with the hire of Department of Justice veteran Peter Mucchetti, who led the health care and consumer products section of DOJ's antitrust division.

Mucchetti joins Clifford Chance's Washington, D.C., office as a partner. He spent the last 19 years with the government, starting as a trial attorney at the DOJ and rising to become assistant chief of the health care and consumer products section in 2011, before taking the top position in the unit the following year.

"Companies around the world are operating in a complex environment in which U.S. authorities play a pivotal role. Peter brings extraordinary insight on the DOJ's antitrust enforcement policy and procedures and greatly bolsters the existing team," David DiBari, head of Clifford Chance's Americas litigation and dispute resolution practice, said in a statement.

Peter Mucchetti, with Clifford Chance.

As chief, Mucchetti led a 25-attorney team in investigating and litigating antitrust matters that involved leading health insurance companies, hospitals and other health care providers, as well as companies in the paper and lumber products industries and food and beverage businesses.

He was not immediately available to talk about his move Monday, but said in a statement that his interest in joining Clifford Chance was sparked by its "outstanding reputation for excellence across practices and the breadth of its global legal team."

Mucchetti is Clifford Chance's second high-profile competition hire of the last year in the United States in the last year. In April 2019, the firm added former Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom partner Sharis Pozen.

Pozen was the acting assistant attorney general for antitrust at the Department of Justice for nine months in 2011. While there, she oversaw the DOJ's efforts to block telecommunications company AT&T's proposed $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile.