Paramount Appoints Former Trump Antitrust Chief Makan Delrahim as Chief Legal Officer Amid Media Merger

Makan Delrahim, who served as the head of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division during President Trump's first term, has been appointed chief legal officer at Paramount Global following its merger with Skydance. Delrahim, previously a partner at Latham & Watkins LLP where he advised Skydance during the $8 billion acquisition, will oversee all legal, regulatory, compliance, and public policy matters at Paramount starting October 6. The merger and Delrahim’s appointment have drawn scrutiny from House Democrats investigating the merger approval process under the Trump administration. Paramount CEO David Ellison praised Delrahim’s strategic expertise and longstanding collaboration with Skydance. Delrahim expressed enthusiasm about joining Paramount during a transformative period for the media industry, emphasizing his experience at the intersection of law, policy, and innovation. His hiring also comes amid reports that Paramount may pursue an acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which could present regulatory challenges.