Faegre Drinker announced today that Heather Burke has joined the firm’s litigation practice as a partner in the San Francisco office. Burke joins from a global law firm where she was the Silicon Valley office executive partner and a member of the global competition and antitrust group.
Burke’s arrival follows the addition of former federal prosecutors Carolyn Fitzhugh McNiven and Brittany Fisher in San Francisco last fall, further bolstering the firm’s growing litigation team.
Burke provides counsel in the areas of antitrust, intellectual property and class actions, and has extensive trial experience in high-stakes litigation. Her work often includes defending companies in grand jury investigations, civil and criminal investigations, and multidistrict parallel class action, opt-out and state attorneys general lawsuits. In addition to counseling on alleged violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, Section 7 of the Clayton Act and Section 5 of the FTC Act, she also advises on state-specific antitrust regulations, including California’s Unfair Competition Law and the California Cartwright Act, where nuances in local enforcement and legal precedents require tailored approaches.
“Heather’s breadth of experience helping clients navigate the complexities of competition law and ensuring compliance with regulations makes her a formidable addition to our litigation team,” said William Connolly, leader of the firm’s litigation group. “Her practice across the health care, pharmaceutical, insurance, and technology sectors will bolster our industry capabilities.”
Outside of her trial work, Burke represents clients in connection with investigations before governmental regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, and counsels clients on antitrust regulatory hurdles in their mergers and acquisitions. Her extensive experience in negotiating with regulatory agencies ensures that clients are well-positioned to avoid costly legal challenges while achieving their business objectives.
“Heather’s sophisticated work in the technology space aligns with the firm’s strong presence in the sector in California,” said Cheryl Orr, San Francisco office leader. “Her commitment to client relationships and collaboration makes her an exciting addition to our Bay Area team.”
Burke earned her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Boston College and her Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law.
With its team of litigators — including nine Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, former United States Supreme Court clerks, members of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, and former federal prosecutors and government agency officials — Faegre Drinker’s litigation group is equipped to provide comprehensive on-the-ground support wherever disputes involving clients may arise.