Elyssa joined Clifford Chance at the end of 2021, stepping into the role of Senior Associate within the Global Antitrust Group based in Washington, DC. She left the firm in September 2024 to join RTX (the rebranded entity following the merger of Raytheon and UTC), as Director and Senior Counsel, in Antitrust & Competition Law.
Elyssa joined Clifford Chance at the end of 2021, stepping into the role of Senior Associate within the Global Antitrust Group based in Washington, DC. She left the firm in September 2024 to join RTX (the rebranded entity following the merger of Raytheon and UTC), as Director and Senior Counsel, in Antitrust & Competition Law.
Her arrival at Clifford Chance coincided with the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning the recruitment and onboarding process was conducted entirely remotely. Despite these challenges, the team’s warmth and professionalism made a strong impression on her:
“ Everybody worked so well together and really cared about the team and making sure people were trained properly. It was a very good group to join. ”
Elyssa was inspired to join the firm in part by her admiration for Sharis Pozen, who was tasked with expanding the group in the US.
“ I knew Sharis from years before and she’s one of the people that I admire, especially in the world of antitrust. I just jumped at the chance to work with her and the group at large. ”
Fond memories include late nights collaborating with fellow associates, bonding over both work and life outside the office.
Her time at Clifford Chance was marked by standout experiences, like travelling to Brussels and Portugal for conferences, and the unforgettable night when the team “basically took over” a karaoke bar in Brussels. Another highlight was a chance encounter with author Stephen King, who was a witness in a high-profile antitrust trial.
“ I turned the corner and there’s Peter [Mucchetti]… and he was standing right next to Stephen King. I’m such a fan girl—I love The Shining and Carrie—and I just couldn’t believe I was chatting with him. ”
Elyssa’s career path has never followed a traditional route. She began her legal career with the US government at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), before moving into private practice at Clifford Chance.
“ Usually, you start at a firm and then move to the government. I did the opposite. I wanted to be a very well-rounded antitrust attorney, and I ultimately wanted to work for a company and help them grow. ”
At the FTC, she focused on mergers and acquisitions in sectors like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, aerospace, and technology. The move to Clifford Chance broadened her perspective, exposing her to new industries and complex, multi-jurisdictional matters:
“ I was the lead Senior Associate for a merger dealing with confectionary - candy and gum. You learn about agriculture, industrials, fashion—there are so many nuances in each sector. ”
These experiences prepared her for her current role at RTX, where she enjoys being part of company strategy and working closely with the mergers and acquisitions team.
“ I’m learning a ton about what businesses deal with day-to-day, not even necessarily legal things. It’s like drinking out of a fire hose whenever you start a new job, and it always takes at least a year to feel like you know something. ”
Looking ahead, Elyssa highlighted major trends affecting the antitrust landscape. She notes a shift towards non-traditional business arrangements—partnerships, minority investments, and teaming agreements—which are gaining traction over the more cumbersome joint ventures.
“ That seems to be the way of the future because a joint venture itself is very large, cumbersome and risky to take on. Especially in industries where you have to be cutting edge, you’ve got to work fast. ”
Artificial intelligence is also front of mind:
“ The antitrust agencies in the US are all over the AI initiatives and task forces. They’re going to look at dominance in data, server farms, land, electricity, water, and the baseline for large language models and whether the creators are creating an LLM that’s exclusionary to new entrants. That will be ripe for challenges in the future. ”
Elyssa advocates for exploring different paths and not being afraid to try new things, even if they seem unrelated to law initially.
“ I didn’t actually grow up wanting to be a lawyer. I wanted to be a diplomat, a wartime photographer, or work on Capitol Hill. I took all these wildly different internships… You learn a lot, you learn what you like to do but you also learn what you don’t want to do. ”
She emphasises the importance of building a broad skill set:
“ You’re better served if you’re as well-rounded as you can be. Try not to be pigeonholed in one thing. Sit down at least once a year and say, ‘I haven’t done that yet—maybe I’m afraid to do it but just take it and learn from it and become better for it. ”
Elyssa remains closely connected to her Clifford Chance colleagues, meeting up regularly and attending conferences.
“ We’re still in the same city, we see each other a fair amount, we keep in touch and that’s just so important. I look forward especially to the ABA Spring Meeting every year because then I get to see everybody from Europe… I miss those guys. ”
Her journey is a testament to the value of curiosity, adaptability, and lifelong learning—qualities that serve both lawyers and clients in a rapidly changing world.
