Michael Norman Sohn

Mr. Sohn was the longtime Chairman of Arnold & Porter law firm and a nationally recognized expert in antitrust law. In 2008, Sohn was honored at the 30th Anniversary of the Legal Times as one of “30 visionary business leaders who turned the Washington legal community into an international powerhouse.”

Born in 1940 and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Sohn graduated from Stuyvesant High School at the young age of 16. After attending undergrad at Columbia University, Sohn attended Harvard Law School graduating with honors.

After serving in the United States Air Force, Sohn began his legal career at the National Labor Relations Board where he practiced from 1964 to 1969. "I got to argue eight to 10 cases a year in federal appellate courts," he recalled. "I loved it."

He then joined Arnold & Porter and made partner in 1972.

In 1977, Sohn became the General Counsel of the Federal Trade Commission where he was known for his vigorous efforts to keep Commission investigations free from political interference. In a 1980 Washington Post article, Sohn was described as a "Lawyer's Lawyer” who played a major role in protecting the Commission's legislative mandate.

Sohn returned to Arnold & Porter in 1980. He was active in law firm leadership throughout his career there leading firm committees, chairing the firm's antitrust practice and becoming Firm Chairman in 1996. Throughout this time, Sohn also had a busy and broad-based antitrust practice-in litigation, investigations, and merger reviews. During Sohn's tenure as Chairman, the firm launched a first of its kind on-site childcare center, leading Working Mother magazine to honor Arnold & Porter as one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," the only law firm on the list.

In 2010, Sohn retired from Arnold & Porter after 41 years due to mandatory age limitations at the firm. However, he was not ready to slow down, and he joined Davis Polk and Wardwell where he continued to practice antitrust law until the age of 77.

Sohn was a passionate long-time season ticket holder of the Washington football team at RFK Stadium from 1970 through the late 1990s, with a special affinity for Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen.

In later years he became displeased with ownership and cancelled his tickets. As a kid he loved playing stick ball on his neighborhood streets and going to New York Yankee games. He also excelled competitively in basketball, tennis and golf throughout his life.

Michael N. Sohn is survived by his wife Sylvia, daughter Samantha and son-in-law David, son Jonathan and daughter-in-law Devorah and grandchildren Austin, Sydney, Brett, Jordan and Connor. He will also be missed by his beloved dogs Teddy and Gracie.

A service will be held Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 1:00pm at Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral home located at 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016.