He joins from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) antitrust division, where he served as the chief of its healthcare and consumer products section.

Mucchetti served in the antitrust division for 19 years, having starting at the DOJ as a trial attorney. He became assistant chief of the division's healthcare and consumer products section in 2011, rising to section chief in 2012.

As section chief, Mucchetti led a team of approximately 25 attorneys investigating and litigating antitrust matters that involved leading health insurance companies, hospitals and other healthcare providers, as well as companies in the paper and lumber products industries, and major players in the food and beverage sector.

Prior to joining the DOJ, Mucchetti was a lawyer at what is now WilmerHale.

David DiBari, head of the Americas litigation & dispute resolution practice, said: "Companies around the world are operating in a complex environment in which US authorities play a pivotal role. Peter brings extraordinary insight on the DOJ's antitrust enforcement policy and procedures and greatly bolsters the existing team. His depth of knowledge of the US regulatory landscape derives from more than two decades of antitrust litigation, investigations and merger clearance experience. That experience is now a strategic resource for our clients and colleagues in the US and globally. We are delighted to welcome him to the firm."

Mucchetti is the second high‐profile partner focusing on antitrust matters to join the firm in less than a year. Sharis Pozen, who co‐heads Clifford Chance's global antitrust practice, joined in April from General Electric, where she was the company's vice president for global competition law and policy. Pozen also served as the acting assistant attorney general for antitrust at the DOJ. Mucchetti and Pozen joined the firm's US Antitrust Group, which is headed by Tim Cornell and is based in New York and Washington, DC.

Pozen said: "As industries continue to push the boundaries of innovation, competition law is a critical factor shaping the way our clients do business. This is true for US and multinational companies across sectors, and particularly evident in tech‐driven industries such as healthcare. Adding Peter to the team enhances our integrated approach and expands the firm's opportunities to advise our clients on leading antitrust developments. I am thrilled to be working with him again."

Americas regional managing partner Evan Cohen said: "Peter's arrival builds on the impressive growth of our US litigation and antitrust practices in recent years. It also reflects what we are seeing more broadly across the firm, with partners working across practices to provide holistic advice that addresses the complexity of issues our clients are facing." 

Mucchetti added: "My interest in Clifford Chance was sparked by its outstanding reputation for excellence across practices and the breadth of its global legal team. But my decision to join the firm was based on much more. "I am excited to add to Clifford Chance's strong culture of collaboration and problem‐solving for our clients, which are facing ever‐increasing antitrust litigation and regulatory risks globally."