Tom Dahdouh’s Legacy in Antitrust Law

Tom Dahdouh will be the first to tell you he’s an “antitrust nerd.” When he talks about antitrust law, it’s with the enthusiasm of someone who truly loves what he does.

Over the course of his 33-year career at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Tom dedicated himself to public service and the enforcement of federal antitrust, consumer protection, and privacy laws. Most recently, he served as Attorney Advisor to former FTC Chair Lina M. Khan.

His passion for advancing antitrust law and ensuring a fair, competitive marketplace is one of the many reasons he was honored as the Antitrust Lawyer of the Year at this year’s Golden State Institute, hosted by the Antitrust and Consumer Protection Section of California Lawyers Association.

Tom was drawn to public service well before he attended law school.
“I was the second person in my family to go to college,” he said. “I felt very much that I wanted to impact social change in the public interest.”

That drive to make a difference ultimately led him to pursue a law degree, where he discovered a deep fascination with antitrust law. After graduating and completing a brief stint working for federal judges, he joined the FTC, where he worked on cases that helped shape modern antitrust and consumer protection law.

During his tenure, the FTC tackled mergers, monopolies, and deceptive business practices that affected millions of consumers nationwide. Those experiences, Tom says, deepened his appreciation for the importance of independent agencies in enforcing the law. In recent years, he has grown increasingly concerned about political efforts to erode that independence.

“I believe very strongly that these independent agencies, like the Federal Trade Commission, play a very important role because they have multi-member bodies,” he explained. “Congress structured the institution to have this commission with members of both parties, so they have the ability to argue, dissent, have separate statements, and raise concerns. Up until [the current administration], they couldn’t be fired.”

Tom warns that without independence, the FTC’s ability to enforce laws fairly and predictably would be compromised. If enforcement becomes political, he cautions, the potential for corruption and abuse of power increases exponentially.

“We could really open Pandora’s box to corruption on a scale we’ve never seen before and abuse of power, abuse of company and individual constitutional rights like we’ve never seen before.”

Now retired from the FTC, Tom continues to advocate for the independence of regulatory agencies as a Public Interest Fellow at the American Antitrust Institute. Over the past year, he has also visited law schools across the state, representing CLA as Antitrust Lawyer of the Year. In his talks with students, he impresses upon prospective lawyers the importance of defending independent institutions as vital checks on power and safeguards of democracy.

For Tom, retirement hasn’t meant stepping away from the mission that’s defined his career; it’s simply given him a new way to serve. Whether speaking to students, mentoring young attorneys, or continuing his advocacy through the American Antitrust Institute, Tom remains guided by the same conviction that first drew him to law: that fairness, accountability, and independent institutions are essential to a healthy democracy. His story is a reminder that one person’s dedication to public service can leave a lasting impact on both the legal profession and the people it protects.