Freshfields successfully advised Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE) in securing a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), clearing the path for HPE’s $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks to close last week. Freshfields has acted as lead global regulatory counsel on the transaction since it was announced in January 2024, advising on antitrust and foreign direct investment approvals in more than a dozen jurisdictions.  In the US, Freshfields advised HPE on the DOJ’s investigation of the transaction and subsequent litigation filed in January 2025, as well as on the settlement, which preserves the benefits of the transaction while allowing the transaction to close immediately.

HPE announced its agreement to acquire Juniper in January 2024. In January 2025, the DOJ filed suit to block the acquisition with a trial set to begin on July 9. The settlement was reached on June 27, twelve days before the scheduled start of trial.

The cross-border Freshfields antitrust team was led by partners Jenn Mellott, Julie Elmer, and Alan Ryan. The team also includes antitrust partners Mary Lehner, Jan Rybnicek, Thomas Janssens, Martin McElwee, Rikki Haria, and Ninette Dodoo, and special counsel Christine Laciak.