About Ernest
Ernest Eric Elmore advises clients on the full spectrum of antitrust and competition matters, including merger clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, government investigations, antitrust litigation and competition policy issues. He brings more than three decades of experience from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where he most recently served as senior antitrust counsel and played a key role in the agency’s approach to complex and cutting-edge antitrust enforcement matters.
He also has significant experience coordinating with state attorneys general and many of the leading international competition authorities, including the European Commission, the UK Competition and Markets Authority, the Japanese Federal Trade Commission and the South Korea Federal Trade Commission.
During his time at the FTC, Eric held positions in the agency’s Premerger Notification Office and the Bureau of Competition’s Mergers I and Mergers II Divisions, and as attorney advisor to FTC Commissioner Mozelle W. Thompson. He also served as a special assistant US attorney in the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where he handled more than 30 bench and jury trials involving criminal and civil enforcement matters.
Eric is involved in the antitrust bar through his leadership roles in the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Section and the National Bar Association. Eric also serves as a trustee for Cornell University.
Experience
Advised on the FTC’s challenge to the proposed US$24.6 billion merger of Kroger and Albertsons, involving issues related to horizontal merger enforcement, labor market competition and competitive effects analysis.
Played a key role in the FTC’s challenge to Meta’s proposed acquisition of Within Unlimited, a landmark matter addressing potential competition theories and antitrust enforcement in emerging technology markets.
Advised on the FTC’s challenge to the proposed joint venture between Peabody Energy and Arch Coal, involving significant questions concerning competition in energy markets and industrial sectors.
Negotiated structural and behavioral remedies in complex transactions and coordinated with competition authorities in the EU, the UK, Japan and South Korea on cross-border merger reviews.
Led and advised on merger investigations and enforcement matters across the technology, healthcare, energy and manufacturing sectors.
Credentials
Education
- Cornell Law School, J.D., 1989
- Cornell University, B.A., 1986
Admissions
- New York, 1991
Courts
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships & Affiliations
Chairman, Jewels Heritage Project, Inc., a nonprofit entity that seeks to build a memorial in Ithaca, New York, to honor the first African American intercollegiate fraternal organization in the US, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Member, American Bar Association
Member, National Bar Association
Recognitions
FTC Outstanding Team Award for the following cases
Cardinal Health/Bergen Brunswig and McKesson/AmeriSource
Polypore/Daramic
Tronox/Cristal
Peabody/Arch Coal
Meta/Within
Expertise
Services
- Antitrust & Competition
Speaking Engagements
Moderator, “99 Problems: Antitrust Under Trump 2.0,” National Bar Association (NBA) Annual Convention, August 2026.
Speaker, “Tips for Success as an In-House Counsel,” American Bar Association (ABA) Antitrust Law Section, February 2023.