Leslie Overton: A Distinguished Leader in Antitrust Law and Workplace Culture
Leslie Overton stands out as a respected leader in antitrust law and a pioneer in shaping workplace culture within the legal profession. With decades of experience spanning private practice, government service, and leadership in organizational inclusion, she has built a reputation for combining deep legal expertise with a commitment to fairness, diversity, and opportunity. Currently serving as Partner and Chief Workplace Culture and Opportunity Officer at Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP, she continues to influence both the legal landscape and the culture of the firms she serves.
This article explores her journey—from her early career to her high-ranking role at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, and her accomplishments in private practice. It highlights her professional milestones, education, honors, and her broader impact on law and leadership.
Early Life and Education
Academic Foundation
Leslie Overton’s path to becoming a recognized authority in antitrust law began with a strong academic background. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. She then pursued her Juris Doctor degree at the University of Michigan Law School, graduating in 1994.
During her time at Michigan Law, she served as a Contributing Editor for the Michigan Law Review, an experience that sharpened her analytical and writing skills and set the stage for her legal career.
Clerkship Experience
Following law school, Overton clerked for the Honorable Anna Diggs Taylor, U.S. District Judge in Detroit, Michigan. This prestigious clerkship provided her with firsthand experience in judicial reasoning, litigation, and courtroom dynamics, forming a critical foundation for her later work in both government and private practice.
Career Journey
Early Years in Private Practice
After her clerkship, Leslie Overton began her career in private practice. She joined Jones Day in Washington, D.C., working as an associate from 1996 to 2000. She later moved to Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP, where she advised clients on antitrust issues in mergers, asset purchases, and financings.
By 2006, she had risen to the rank of Partner at Jones Day, focusing on antitrust and competition law as well as health care matters. During this period, she represented clients before the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and state enforcers in merger and antitrust investigations. She also played a leadership role in the firm’s diversity initiatives, reflecting her long-standing commitment to inclusive workplace culture.
Service at the Department of Justice
A pivotal moment in her career came in 2002, when she joined the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General. In this role, she advised senior leadership on merger investigations, litigation, settlement negotiations, and policy development, with a portfolio that spanned health care, telecommunications, and consumer products.
Her most notable government role came later, from 2011 to 2015, when she served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Enforcement at the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. In this position, she supervised 26 of the Division’s 50 merger challenges from fiscal years 2012 through 2014. These challenges included litigation complaints, consent decrees, and transactions that were abandoned due to antitrust concerns.
Some of the high-profile matters under her supervision included:
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GE/Electrolux merger
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Twin America case
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Bazaarvoice acquisition case
She also acted as Assistant Attorney General in the Department’s successful challenge to American Express’s merchant anti-steering rules, a case that shaped the landscape of antitrust enforcement in the payments industry.
Beyond mergers, Overton managed several criminal antitrust matters and took primary responsibility for the Division’s international policy and engagement as well as its health care antitrust initiatives. Her time at DOJ cemented her as a trusted authority in complex regulatory and enforcement matters.
Return to Private Practice
Following her DOJ service, Leslie Overton returned to private practice as a Partner at Alston & Bird from 2016 to 2019. She continued to focus on mergers, acquisitions, and antitrust compliance, representing clients across diverse industries.
In 2019, she joined Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP in Washington, D.C. Metro Area. Initially serving as Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, she guided the firm’s culture and helped advance opportunities for underrepresented attorneys. In 2025, her role evolved into Partner and Chief Workplace Culture and Opportunity Officer, reflecting her expanded responsibility in shaping organizational culture and ensuring equitable growth for legal talent.
Leadership in Workplace Culture
Champion of Diversity and Inclusion
Throughout her career, Leslie Overton has been a champion of workplace equity. At both Jones Day and Axinn, she served on or led committees dedicated to diversity, mentoring, and inclusion. Her leadership demonstrates that excellence in legal practice must go hand in hand with building environments where talent from all backgrounds can thrive.
Her recognition as a Nation’s Best Advocate: 40 Lawyers Under 40 by the National Bar Association and IMPACT highlighted her as a role model for younger attorneys, particularly those from underrepresented groups.
Commitment to Mentorship
Overton’s influence extends beyond legal practice and into mentorship. She has been recognized for her ability to guide younger lawyers, helping them navigate complex career paths while emphasizing the importance of balance, equity, and resilience in the legal profession.
Recognition and Honors
Leslie Overton has received numerous awards and honors that reflect her influence in both antitrust law and professional leadership:
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Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40 (2010) – Awarded by the National Bar Association and IMPACT.
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Women in Antitrust (2009) – Recognized by Global Competition Review.
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40 Under Forty Leading Competition Lawyers (2008) – Honored by Global Competition Review.
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Best Lawyers in America (2010–2012) – Recognized for excellence in antitrust practice.
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Outstanding Healthcare Antitrust Lawyers (2009) – Named by Nightingale’s Healthcare News.
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The Root 100 (2010) – Selected as one of the top young African American pace-setters and changemakers.
She is also consistently ranked in Chambers USA and featured in The Legal 500 (U.S.), underscoring her continued relevance and respect in the legal industry.
Public Engagements and Speeches
Keynote Addresses
Leslie Overton has been a sought-after speaker at national and international forums. Among her notable addresses are:
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“Non-reportable Transactions and Antitrust Enforcement” at the 14th Annual Loyola Antitrust Colloquium in 2014.
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“International Antitrust Engagement: Benefits and Opportunities” at the Fifth Annual Chicago Forum on International Antitrust Issues in 2014.
These engagements reflect her thought leadership on both U.S. and global competition issues.
Personal Life and Influence
Outside of her professional achievements, Leslie Overton is known for her balanced approach to leadership and personal life. She is married to Spencer Overton, a law professor and election law scholar. Together, they represent a family deeply committed to justice, public service, and education.
Her personal story demonstrates the ability to navigate high-pressure environments while maintaining a commitment to equity and mentorship, making her an inspiring figure for both legal professionals and broader audiences.
Conclusion
Leslie Overton has built a distinguished career at the intersection of law, leadership, and culture. From her impactful role as Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice to her ongoing leadership at Axinn, she has consistently demonstrated integrity, expertise, and vision.
Her legacy lies not only in the antitrust cases she has shaped but also in the workplaces she has influenced—spaces that value fairness, diversity, and opportunity. As a Partner and Chief Workplace Culture and Opportunity Officer, she continues to ensure that the practice of law is both excellent in service and equitable in structure.
For aspiring attorneys, industry leaders, and organizations, Leslie Overton’s journey offers a roadmap: excellence in law must be matched with leadership in culture, and true success lies in shaping both.
