Overview

Ellen Jakovic is of counsel in Kirkland’s Antitrust Practice Group. Prior to 2021, Ellen was a partner and headed the Firm’s Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act (HSR) filing practice. Ellen advises clients on the antitrust aspects of complex mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, and has particular experience with the HSR pre-acquisition reporting requirements.

Ellen has significant experience with international and cross-border transactions. She regularly advises clients on global clearance strategy and coordinates U.S. and international merger control filings and clearance efforts.

Ellen has secured antitrust clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and/or foreign merger control authorities for transactions in a variety of industries, including defense, engineering, pharmaceuticals, construction products, information systems and networking, retail groceries, food service distribution, chemicals, and educational publishing. Ellen also has experience with investigations by federal and state antitrust enforcement authorities, private and government antitrust litigation, trade associations, and general antitrust counseling. She regularly advises private equity firms and public and private companies, among other clients.

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Thought Leadership

Publications

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Buyouts by Ginsburg, Levin, and Rocap (contributor, FTC Pre-Acquisition Notifications Rules - Hart-Scott Rodino Act)

Structuring Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Entrepreneurial Transactions by Levin and Rocap (contributor, Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Filing for Acquisition)

ABA Section of Antitrust Law, “Premerger Notification Practice Manual,” (5th ed. 2015) co-editor, (4th ed. 2007) contributor

“Hart-Scott-Rodino Act Implications for Exclusive Technology Licenses,” Technology Law Notes, Vol. 12, No. 3, Spring 1995 (co-authored with J. Mark Gidley)

Seminars

Panelist, “Best Practices in Pro Bono: Supporting Pro Bono More than Volunteering, the Impact of Individual and Institutional Giving,” Washington Council of Lawyers, May 23, 2023

Panelist, “Women Leaders: Initiatives and Collaboration for Authentic Advancement,” Women’s Bar Association of D.C. Well-Being Conference, March 30, 2023

Panelist, “Reflections on 50 Years of Title IX in Athletics and Beyond,” Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP Celebration of Women’s History Month, March 22, 2023

Panelist "Hart-Scott-Rodino: 2011 Amendments to the Rules, Form and Instructions," presented by Strafford Publications, Inc. (telephonic conference), August 17, 2011

Moderator "A Conversation with the FTC Premerger Notification Office Staff – Update on the 2011 HSR Form Changes," presented by the ABA Mergers & Acquisitions Committee, September 12, 2011

"Preparing the HSR Form," FTC Premerger Notification Office Back to Basics Workshop, Washington, D.C., October 23, 2008

Panelist, "The Nuts and Bolts of Completing an HSR Form," Lesson III of the ABA Antitrust Practicum Brown Bag Series (telephonic conference), November 28, 2007

"International Merger Control in Cross-Border Transactions," Sixth Semi-Annual Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor Conference and Expo, New York City, June 18, 2003

"US Merger Control Process," EU/US Merger Control Seminar, White & Case LLP Hamburg and Frankfurt, Germany, October 17-18, 2002

Recognition

Woman Lawyer of the Year, The Women’s Bar Association, 2024

Lawyer of the Year, The Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2019

The Hon. Annice M. Wagner Pioneer Award, The Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2014

Outstanding State Chair Award, The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 2013

The Distinguished Alumni Award, The Doane Stuart School, 2013

The Right Reverend David Standish Ball Distinguished Trustee Award, The Doane Stuart School, 2006

DC Bar Frederick B. Abramson Award for Co-Sponsorship of the Family Court Self-Help Center Pilot Project (accepted on behalf of the Women’s Bar Association), 2003

Named a “Washington, D.C., Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine, 2014–2020

Recognized in The Legal 500 U.S. for Antitrust, 2014

Memberships & Affiliations

Professional Activities 

District of Columbia Bar, Immediate Past President, 2023–present; President, 2022–2023; Board of Governors, 2021–present, 2004–2010; Study Committee on the Access to Justice Commission’s Publicly Funded Initiatives, 2006–2007; Retrospective Review Advisory Committee to the DC Courts’ Standing Committee on Fairness and Access to the Judiciary, 2002–2003; DC Corporation Counsel Search Committee, 2002–2003

DC Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, 2014–2020; Secretary, 2016–2017

DC Bar Pro Bono Program (now Pro Bono Center), Pro Bono Committee 2022–present; Presidents’ Reception, Development Committee, 2022–present, 2005–2012, 2014–2016; Chair, 2006

Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, President, 2002–2003; President-Elect, 2001–2002; Treasurer, 2000–2001; Treasurer-elect, 1999–2000; Board of Directors, 1999–2004; Co-Chair, Working Parents Forum, 1998–2001; Co-Chair, Centennial Committee 2014–2017

Women’s Bar Association Foundation, President, 2006–2008; Vice President, 2005–2006; Board of Directors, 2001–2002, 2003–2009

Bar Association of the District of Columbia, Life Member; Board of Directors, 2007-2015; Chair, Judicial Reception, 2004–2005, 2010–2011

The Barristers, President, 2007-2008; Vice President, 2005–2006; Secretary, 2004–2005; Executive Committee, 2008–2009; Annual Dinner Committee, 2006-present

Council for Court Excellence, Board of Directors, 2003–2005, 2010–present; Justice Potter Stewart Award Selection Committee, 2014–2020, 2022–present

American Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, 2017–present

Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, Benefactor Fellow; National Immediate Past Chair, 2020–2021; Chair, 2019–2020; Chair-Elect, 2018–2019; Secretary, 2017–2018; DC Chapter Chair, 2011–2013; Vice Chair, 2009–2011; Secretary, 2007–2009

Washington Foreign Law Society, Board of Directors, 2003–2006; Co-Chair, Gala Dinner Planning Committee, 2003–2004; Diplomatic Reception Planning Committee, 2001–2002

Whitman-Walker Clinic’s Legal Services Program, “Going the Extra Mile” Reception, Steering Committee, 2006–2009

National Association of Women Judges, Host Committee & Volunteer Coordinator, 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner, 2003

The Counsellors

American Bar Association, Antitrust Section

Community Activities

National Cathedral School, Washington, D.C., Governing Board Chair, 2019–2021; Member, Governing Board, 2014–2021; Chair, Governance Committee, 2017–2019; Chair, Advancement Committee 2015–2017; Chair, Annual Fund, 2012–2014

Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, Washington, D.C., Governing Board, 2019–2021

St. Albans School, Washington, D.C., Governing Board, 2015–2017

The Doane Stuart School, Albany, NY, Board of Trustees, 2001–2019; Secretary, 2001–2015

CCBC Children’s Center, Washington, D.C., Chair, Parent Board, 2000–2002

Harvard Club of Washington, D.C., Board of Directors, 2003–2006; Schools & Scholarships Committee

Friends of Harvard Softball, Board of Directors, 2014–2020

Dartmouth Family Leadership & Fundraising Committee, 2017–2021

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 1985Massachusetts
  • 1986New York
  • 1986District of Columbia

Courts

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

Education

  • Harvard Law SchoolJ.D.1985

    Member, Board of Student Advisers

    Instructor, Legal Research Training

  • Harvard UniversityA.B.magna cum laude1982

    Phi Beta Kappa

    Harvard Softball, First Team All-Ivy League Selection

    Harvard Women’s Soccer, Leslie Gray Poole Memorial Award