Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer has hired a former top EU government official who was previously head of the European Commission’s antitrust department – a move that comes at a time when antitrust, trade, data privacy and foreign investment issues are dominating headlines.

Alexander Italianer, a former secretary-general of the European Commission and director-general of the competition department, is joining Arnold & Porter as senior international policy adviser in the firm’s global law and public policy practice. He will be based in the firm’s Brussel’s office.