Story perspectives

Judge Lets Paramount’s Kessler Lead $110B Warner Deal Defense

5/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

A judge approved co-executive chair Jeffrey Kessler’s request to represent Paramount Global in a suit over its $110 billion Warner Bros. acquisition.
The team, led by antitrust official Makan Delrahim and DOJ antitrust official David Gelfand, includes lawyers from Latham & Watkins, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, and Winston & Strawn.
Consumer lawyers filed a motion for an injunction, arguing merger would reduce competition in streaming, news and theatrical distribution, while Jeffrey Kessler called it “baseless” and “scaremongering.”

1 of 1

Story summary

A judge approved co-executive chair Jeffrey Kessler’s request to represent Paramount Global in a suit over its $110 billion Warner Bros. acquisition.
The team, led by antitrust official Makan Delrahim and DOJ antitrust official David Gelfand, includes lawyers from Latham & Watkins, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, and Winston & Strawn.
Consumer lawyers filed a motion for an injunction, arguing merger would reduce competition in streaming, news and theatrical distribution, while Jeffrey Kessler called it “baseless” and “scaremongering.”