LOS ANGELES — Paramount has hired antitrust attorney Jeffrey Kessler to help defend its proposed $111-billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. The move comes as the company seeks regulatory approvals in the U.S. and Europe and faces growing scrutiny over expected job cuts and market concentration.

Kessler, co-executive chairman of Winston & Strawn in New York, is considered one of the nation’s top antitrust lawyers. He most recently led the state attorneys’ case against Live Nation, resulting in a win for the states, including California.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has criticized the proposed consolidation, saying it is problematic because it is widely expected to lead to layoffs. More than 5,000 entertainment industry workers have signed an open letter urging Bonta to take action to block the deal.

David Ellison-led Paramount has said it expects the $110-billion deal to close by September 30, 2026. Ellison and his team have pledged to make $6 billion in cuts following the merger. If the deal does not close by that date, Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders will receive a 25-cent-per-share “ticking fee” each quarter until closing. Should the merger fall through due to regulatory issues, Paramount would owe Warner Bros. Discovery a $7-billion termination fee.

Paramount Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim filed paperwork with the U.S. Justice Department in December to seek regulatory approval for the Warner Bros. purchase. Paramount is now waiting for confirmation that the Justice Department will consent to the deal and is also responding to concerns raised by European regulators. UK regulators are preparing to begin their own review, and Paramount has asked the Federal Communications Commission to approve foreign investment in the transaction. A congressional Democrat expressed concern about the merger’s potential effects, saying, “We’re looking at things like higher prices, lower wages, fewer jobs, less quality, less choice, less competition — the things that you look at when you’re looking at an antitrust case and a proposed merger.” Shareholders of both companies have already approved the merger.