Rising Stars

Firms To Watch: Cartel

Milbank‘s cartel practice was bolstered by the 2022 arrival of leading antitrust lawyer Adam Di Vincenzo, based in Washington DC. Vincenzo regularly represents clients in bet-the-company cartel litigation, while practice head Fiona Schaeffer, in New York, represents clients in FTC and DOJ investigations with particular expertise in transatlantic matters. Experienced litigator Richard Parker arrived from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in April 2023.

Cartel in United States

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

With its ‘outstanding depth and experience at dealing with cartel matters’, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton remains a market-leading team for both civil and criminal cartel work, representing major US and multinational clients in major multidistrict cartel litigation and high-stakes government investigations. Jointly headed by Leah Brannon, who advises clients in investigations by both domestic and non-US antitrust authorities, and Jeremy Calsyn, praised for his ‘exceptionally good‘ all-round antitrust capabilities, the team represents corporates and individuals from the pharma, telecoms, and tech industries. Seasoned litigator Heather Nyong’o, based in San Francisco, focuses on antitrust enforcement with strong first-chair experience in representing multinationals and executives in investigations and litigation, both domestically and internationally, while Elaine Ewing serves as regular antitrust counsel to clients with a focus on transactional antitrust matters. Other key members of the team include San Francisco’s George Cary, a seasoned antitrust litigator, as well as Brian Byrne, who divides his time between Washington and San Francisco and advises on cross-border transactional and enforcement matters. Kenneth Reinker, Dave Gelfand, Daniel Culley, and counsel Elly Bennett are other names to note. Unless otherwise stated, all lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

Leah Brannon; Jeremy Calsyn


Other key lawyers:

Heather Nyong’o; Elaine Ewing; Kenneth Reinker; Elly Bennett; Dave Gelfand; Daniel Culley; George Cary; Brian Byrne


Testimonials

‘Mr. Jeremy Calsyn is exceptionally good. He is very sensitive to the client’s needs.’

‘Jeremy Calsyn provides extremely practical advice that adeptly balances business needs with a realistic risk assessment.’

‘The team has outstanding depth and experience at dealing with cartel matters, for companies and for individuals. They have credibility and trust with the regulators (DOJ in particular in this case), which allows them to gauge extremely well how best to navigate an investigation with the government and advise on seeking leniency, fighting, etc.’

Key clients

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.


Fox Corporation


Work highlights


  • Representing Walgreens Boots Alliance in a class action in the ED PA alleging price-fixing claims against distributors of generic pharmaceuticals.
  • Representing Fox Corp. in the resolution of a DOJ investigation into information sharing related to local television advertising sales, resulting in no fines and no admissions of wrongdoing; and in the defense of a related class action lawsuit.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Counting a bevy of high-profile US and multinational actors in the food, tech, and pharma industries among its clients, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP‘s antitrust team has a market-leading cartel defense offering in both domestic and international litigation. San Francisco’s Rachel Brass co-heads the practice and focuses on representing international and domestic clients in federal, state, and Supreme Court appellate litigation. Over on the East Coast, co-head Stephen Weissman, a former Deputy Director for the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, represents clients in civil and criminal DOJ and FTC investigations. On the international front, Jeremy Robison and former DOJ prosecutor Scott Hammond serve as bridge counsel for multinational companies involved in cartel investigations in jurisdictions outside of the EU and the US. Other key members include Cynthia Richman, who has extensive experience with cartel-related grand jury investigations by the DOJ and international authorities. Unless otherwise stated, all mentioned lawyers are in Washington DC. Adam Di Vincenzo left the firm in June 2022.

Practice head(s):

Rachel Brass; Stephen Weissman


Other key lawyers:

Jeremy Robison; Cynthia Richman; Scott Hammond


Key clients

LIV Golf


Apple


McDonald’s


Merck & Co., Inc.


Jimmy John’s


Kraft and Mondelez


Smithfield Foods


Novartis AG


Swisher


Panasonic Corporation and Panasonic Corporation of North America


Hogan Lovells US LLP

The cartel team at Hogan Lovells US LLP represents both domestic and multinational clients in major high-profile cartel proceedings, with a successful track record in representing clients in criminal investigations and related civil litigation. The team represents clients from a range of sectors, including the life sciences, automotive manufacturing, and tech industries on a multijurisdictional basis. The practice is headed by former DOJ official Katie Hellings, who leverages her experience leading multiple major cartel investigations during her time at the Antitrust Division to handle investigations by the DOJ, FCA, and global antitrust agencies. Counsel Daniel Shulak advises companies in criminal investigations and follow-up litigation, including representing clients in cross-border investigations by multiple enforcement agencies. Senior associate Melissa Levitt‘s broad practice focuses on criminal proceedings as well as federal and state-level litigation. All mentioned lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

Katie Hellings


Other key lawyers:

Brian Eyink; Dan Shulak; Melissa Levitt


Testimonials

‘Professional. Reliable. Engaged. Set expectations and fully execute.’

‘Katie Hellings and Brian Eyink are consummate professionals. Their knowledge, engagement, communication, and tireless work provide me with confidence and clarity.’

Key clients

PPG Industries


IBM


Multiple Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans


Celgene


Ford Motor Company


Dell


Amcor


AEG


Marvell Technology Group


Albert Einstein Healthcare Network


BMW


Volkswagen


Latham & Watkins LLP

With a strong presence on both coasts, Latham & Watkins LLP has a market-leading cartel defense practice that runs the gamut of civil and criminal litigation, government investigations, and follow-on enforcement proceedings. Its client roster includes corporates and individuals from a diverse range of industries, including automotive manufacturing, food production and processing, and retail. The firm also benefits from its significant agency expertise and deep governmental relationships, with several of the team’s members having extensive former experience from the DOJ and the FTC. Notably, April 2022 saw Makan Delrahim, former Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ Antitrust Division, joining the firm’s Washington DC office. Also in DC is practice co-head Amanda Reeves, while New York’s Elizabeth Prewitt, a seasoned cartel defense litigator known in particular for her work on financial services cartel investigations, rounds out the firm’s East Coast team. On the West Coast, practice co-head Belinda Lee, based in San Francisco, represents multinationals in civil and criminal cartel litigation before global regulators and courts. Other key names from the San Francisco office include Niall Lynch, a recognized antitrust litigator with significant experience from the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, as well as Ashley Bauer, whose practice focuses on regulatory investigations and follow-on litigation.

Practice head(s):

Amanda Reeves; Belinda Lee


Other key lawyers:

Elizabeth Prewitt; Niall Lynch; Ashley Bauer; Makan Delrahim


Testimonials

‘The team is well-rounded and unusually well-positioned to handle both criminal and civil cartel matters.’

Key clients

Fanatics, LLC


StarKist Co.


BMW AG


Olam International


Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.


Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.


Work highlights


  • Successfully extracting a poultry industry sales executive from a high-profile criminal antitrust case in which the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division alleged a total of ten poultry processing executives were involved in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products.
  • Representing StarKist Co. in connection with a DOJ criminal investigation and civil MDL litigation.
  • Representing Fanatics in a pair of purported class actions filed by distributors and consumers of NFL licensed products alleging that Fanatics violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act relating to its license to manufacture, distribute, and sell NFL products.

White & Case LLP

White & Case LLP‘s cartel team regularly represents corporates and individuals in high-profile civil and criminal cartel proceedings, including bet-the-company litigation for major pharmacy industry players. Clients from a range of jurisdictions and industries, including life sciences, financial services, and auto parts, seek the firm out for its cartel defense capabilities as well as its expertise in multijurisdictional litigation and investigations. The firm is a litigation powerhouse with a remarkably strong track record in disposing civil and criminal claims in court or on appeal, both in the US and in global cartel cases. The team, based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated, is headed by significantly experienced cartel litigator Mark Gidley. He is supported by Peter Carney, whose practice focuses on healthcare and pharma-related antitrust litigation, as well as Christopher Curran, whose litigation and defense of an amnesty agreement was the first of its kind. Trial attorney J. Frank Hogue is regularly involved in enforcement proceedings and class action defense. Adam Acosta  is a litigator focusing on complex antitrust litigation and government investigations, while New York-based Robert Milne and Raj Gandesha also receive praise for their antitrust expertise.

Practice head(s):

Mark Gidley


Other key lawyers:

Peter Carney; Robert Milne; Adam Acosta, Raj Gandesha; Christopher Curran; Frank Hogue; Erin McNamee; George Paul; Michael Kendall


Testimonials

‘Robert Milne and Raj Gandesha form a good antitrust team.’

‘Robert Milne, a great antitrust counsel.’

Key clients

Apex Clearing Corporation


Gilead Sciences


Vanderbilt University


Crédit Agricole


Itron


EpiPen


Gerber Products Company


Hikma Pharmaceuticals


Experian PLC


Toshiba


Nestlé Purina PetCare


Pfizer


AbbVie (formerly Forest Laboratories ) and Merz Pharmaceuticals


Samsung Bioepis


Boston Scientific


Work highlights


  • Representing Apex in the antitrust class actions challenging the front-page suspension of all stock trading by Apex on the New York Stock Exchange of the three “meme stocks.”
  • Represented Gilead against the various plaintiff groups, winning dismissal of all claims of an alleged overarching conspiracy to monopolize HIV therapies, dismissal of certain activist plaintiffs (including the lead plaintiff), and dismissal of plaintiff Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
  • Representing Vanderbilt University in a high-profile antitrust class action pending in Chicago accusing 16 major U.S. universities of illegally colluding to limit student financial aid.

WilmerHale

Offering significant agency experience, multijurisdictional capabilities, and a successful record in in avoiding prosecutions and fines for its clients, the cartel team at WilmerHale is well-placed to advise clients across industries on cartel proceedings, as well as representing them in litigation. Thomas Mueller, based in Washington DC, heads the practice, focusing on global cartel enforcement matters with particular emphasis on issues with transatlantic implications. Steven Cherry, also in DC, has an impressive track record representing individuals and companies in federal and state-level cartel investigations. David Gringer heads the firm’s New York antitrust practice and has extensive previous experience from the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. Gringer specializes in complex antitrust litigation, most notably acting for the University of Pennsylvania in ongoing litigation relating to the alleged participation of a group of elite US universities in a price-fixing cartel designed to limit student financial aid. Los Angeles’ Nana Wilberforce handles internal investigations and litigation with a particular focus on price-fixing allegations, assisting clients through investigations, and negotiating leniency agreements with both US and international authorities.

Practice head(s):

Thomas Mueller


Other key lawyers:

Nana Wilberforce; David Gringer; Steven Cherry


Testimonials

‘The team at WH works like a real team. They are always coordinated. Their expertise is very well known and their availability is 24/7.’

‘Steve Cherry: team leader and head of our long-term relationship with WH. Steve is always available, his opinions are very meditated and easy to understand. Facilitates all difficult choices and turns them into easy ones.’

Key clients

University of Pennsylvania


Compañía SudAmericana de Vapores (CSAV)


Arnold & Porter

The Washington DC-based team at Arnold & Porter draws on the team’s significant agency experience to offer a strong antitrust litigation practice, advising major domestic and multinational clients on the full range of antitrust issues across a wide range of sectors, including life sciences, publishing, financial services, and auto parts. The firm has a strong record in successfully guiding clients throughout large and complex government investigations and follow-on civil enforcement proceedings. The antitrust team is jointly headed by Debbie Feinstein and Jonathan Gleklen, while Andre Geverola leads the firm’s cartel investigations practice. Geverola, a ‘deeply experienced cartel practitioner who brings an unmatched skillset and exceptional judgment,‘ is the former leader of the Antitrust Divisions criminal program whose practice focuses on criminal cartel litigation, compliance, and government investigations. James L. Cooper is another standout cartel litigator who is currently representing the University of Chicago in ongoing class action litigation concerning an alleged cartel conspiracy among a group of elite US universities to limit student financial aid. Other key names include Sonia Kuester Pfaffenroth and Laura Shores, who specialize in representing clients from the life sciences industry and in complex monopolization and price-fixing proceedings, respectively.

Practice head(s):

Debbie Feinstein; Jonathan Gleklen; Andre Geverola


Other key lawyers:

James Cooper; Laura Shores; Sonia Kuester Pfaffenroth


Testimonials

‘The team combines deep expertise in all things antitrust with an experienced cartel team led by an accomplished former leader of the Antitrust Division’s criminal program that makes Arnold & Porter well-suited for complex cartel investigations and litigation.’

‘Andre Geverola stands out for his ability to translate his insights and experience from his time as the Antitrust Division’s first Director of Criminal Litigation – particularly with regard to litigation – into deft strategy in the most complex and novel investigations and litigation.’

‘Exceptional cartel practice that can handle any representation.’

‘Andre Geverola is a deeply experienced cartel practitioner who brings an unmatched skillset and exceptional judgment to any issue clients face.’

Key clients

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP


Bausch Health Companies


Bayer/Bayer Crop Science


Bloomberg L.P.


Bristol-Myers Squibb


GTL


HarperCollins


Koito Manufacturing


Norfolk Southern


Nucor


Oakland Raiders/Las Vegas Raiders


Penguin Random House


Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc.


Taiyo Yuden


University of Chicago


Visa


Work highlights


  • Representing Bayer Crop Sciences, in defense of putative class action litigation alleging a conspiracy by major agricultural product manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers to refuse to supply crop inputs (including seeds, fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides) to online retailers.
  • Representing Taiyo Yuden, a major Japanese materials and electronics company, in follow-on civil actions arising from a US Department of Justice investigation into possible cartel conduct in the market for inductors.
  • Representing Sandoz Inc. and its subsidiary Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. in multi-district litigation comprising actions brought on behalf of 54 States, private plaintiffs, and several purchasers, alleging that the defendant pharma manufacturers conspired to fix or raise the prices of, and allocated markets/customers for, hundreds of products.

Baker Botts L.L.P.

Baker Botts L.L.P. is a destination practice for high-stakes cartel investigations and defense, representing major corporate clients from the Big Tech, pharma, and food processing industries in civil and criminal litigation, investigations both internal and governmental, as well as advising them on overall policy issues and compliance. The team is co-headed by John Taladay and Maureen Ohlhausen. Taladay, an extensively experienced cartel lawyer with a strong record in securing successful outcomes for his clients, leads the firm’s criminal cartel practice, while Ohlhausen takes point on civil antitrust investigations with a focus on price-fixing and filing investigations. Former DOJ attorney Taylor Owings has particular experience in antitrust issues relating to the digital economy and intellectual property matters, while Erik Koons‘ practice focuses on bet-the-company antitrust litigation. Another key litigator is monopolization specialist Joseph Ostoyich, while Chris Wilson and Stacy Turner handle civil and criminal cartel investigations. All mentioned lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

John Taladay; Maureen Ohlhausen


Other key lawyers:

Taylor Owings; Erik Koons; Christopher Wilson; Stacy Turner; Joseph Ostoyich


Testimonials

‘Provides outstanding tactical advice and defends our company in significant and material litigation.’

‘John Taladay, Erik Koons, Christopher Wilson, Stacy Turner: All are smart, hard-working, provide great leadership and advice, and are responsive, tactical, and strategic in their defense of their clients.’

Key clients

Amazon


Meta (Facebook)


Google


FedEx


Ericsson


QVC, Inc.


Celanese Corporation


Qualcomm


Royal Dutch Shell


UnitedHealth Group Incorporated


Caterpillar Inc.


Broadcom


Georgia-Pacific LLC (GP Wood Products LLC)


Mandiant


CenterPoint Energy


Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips North America LLC, Philips Taiwan, Limited and Philips do Brasil Ltda.


ALDI, Inc.


HollyFrontier Corp


Sandoz, Inc.


Halliburton


Waste Management, Inc.


American Industrial Partners, LLC (AIP, LLC)


Conversant Wireless Licensing SARL


Sun Pharmaceuticals / Taro Pharmaceuticals


Westlake Chemical Corporation


Zydus Pharmaceutical, Inc.


Eagle Materials


Irico Display Devices Co., Ltd.


JSW Steel (USA) Inc. / JSW Steel USA Ohio, Inc.


Liberty Latin America Ltd.


Magellan Midstream Partners LP


Masco Corporation


McDermott International, Inc.


National Association of Boards of Pharmacy


Olin Corporation


HEB


Safariland


SSW Partner LP


Raxium, Inc.


RWJBarnabas Health, Inc.


Envista Holdings Corporation


CMC Materials, Inc.


Energy Tranfer LP


Work highlights


  • Representing Sun Pharmaceuticals and Taro Pharmaceuticals in In re: Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing Antitrust Litigation.
  • Representing Olin Corporation in several antitrust class action lawsuits filed on behalf of purported direct and indirect purchasers of caustic soda.
  • Representing ALDI as an opt-out plaintiff in the In re Pork Antitrust Litigation MDL.

DLA Piper LLP (US)

DLA Piper LLP (US)‘s cartel team represents corporate and individual clients from the pharma, insurance, and tech industries in criminal cartel litigation and governmental and regulatory investigations. The team regularly represents multinational clients before both domestic and international competition authorities and regulators, reflecting the firm’s ability to draw on its global network and multijurisdictional expertise. Lisa Tenorio-Kutzkey, a former DOJ prosecutor with significant expertise in bet-the-company criminal cartel litigation and investigations, leads the team from San Francisco. Los Angeles-based trial attorney John Gibson represents healthcare and tech clients in high-profile cases in California, while Houston’s Allissa Pollard focuses on corporate investigations. In Chicago, of counsel Michael Pullos focuses on multi-district litigation concerning price-fixing and monopolization. The arrival to the San Francisco office of Jessica Heim and former federal prosecutor Matthew Jacobs from Vinson & Elkins LLP in February 2022 further bolstered the firm’s investigations practice.

Practice head(s):

Lisa Tenorio-Kutzkey


Other key lawyers:

John Gibson; Matthew Jacobs; Jessica Heim; Allissa Pollard; Michael Pullos


Key clients

Danielson National Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Catalina Holdings (Bermuda) Ltd.


Maxell


Work highlights


  • Representing Danielson National Insurance Company  in a putative class action where the plaintiffs allege a 15-year conspiracy between nearly 20 sureties in the bail bond industry and two former executives, to fix the premium price of bail bonds and suppress the advertisement of rebates in California.

Jones Day

Jones Day is involved in a range of domestic and global cartel litigations and investigations, with a particular focus on the healthcare, pharma, energy, and tech industries. The firm’s client base, which includes both domestic, multinational, and international corporates, reflects the team’s cross-border antitrust capabilities, a particular strength of the practice. Significant government agency experience is another strength, with multiple members of the team having served with the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and the FTC. Overseen by Washington DC-based antitrust head Craig Waldman, its California office also includes Eric Enson, an experienced cartel litigator who defends clients against price-fixing allegations in complex international cartel investigations. Julie McEvoy and John Majoras are also key names in DC - McEvoy, a former Deputy Associate Attorney General, specializes in civil and criminal antitrust matters with a focus on defending clients against federal civil litigation. Majoras is a go-to counsel for multinationals, regularly representing clients in international cartel investigations and follow-on litigation.

Practice head(s):

Craig Waldman


Other key lawyers:

Julie McEvoy; John Majoras; Eric Enson


Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP has an active cartel practice that frequently sees the team representing clients from a broad range of industries on the full range of cartel issues, with price-fixing, monopolization, generic drugs, and proteins being key areas of expertise. The team is experienced in both government cartel investigations and related litigation, both in the US and abroad. James Mutchnik, Daniel Laytin, and Christa Cottrell are key members of the firm’s antitrust cartel practice. Mutchnik, an experienced litigator based in Chicago, represents corporate and individual clients in antitrust defense matters before federal and state courts and investigative agencies. Laytin and Cottrell, also in Chicago, specialize in civil and criminal cartel litigation and in complex commercial litigation, respectively. The firm’s significant governmental agency experience, exemplified by former Antitrust Division Head of Media, Entertainment and Communications Scott Scheele, was further expanded in 2022, when Elyse Dorsey, former Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division, and Molly Kelley, also formerly at the DOJ, joined the firm. Scheele and Dorsey are based in Washington DC, while Kelley is in Chicago.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Laytin; James Mutchnik; Christa Cottrell


Other key lawyers:

Molly Kelley; Elyse Dorsey; Scott Scheele


Testimonials

Kirkland’s antitrust lawyers are incredibly smart, well-versed in legal developments and have the backing of Kirkland’s broader teams of top caliber associates and partners.

Key clients

AbbVie


Belcan


Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association


Jeld-Wen


Sanderson Farms, Inc.


Teva Pharmaceuticals


The Clemens Family Corporation


UnitedHealth Group


Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Led by ‘outstanding attorney’ Clayton Everett Jr, the practice at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP regularly represents a bevy of high-profile corporates in global and domestic cartel investigations and enforcement actions before both US and international antitrust agencies. Everett, praised for his ‘mastery of antitrust law,’ takes the lead on complex and precedent-setting criminal cartel trials from his base in Washington DC, securing immunity and leniency for clients in multijurisdictional investigations and litigation. In addition to significant government agency expertise, the team also has considerable industry-specific expertise, having represented clients from the pharma, electronics, energy, and automotive industries. In Silicon Valley, former DOJ and federal prosecutor Mark Krotoski is a prolific cartel litigator, with a successful track record arguing appeals before federal circuit courts. Boston’s Daniel Savrin represents corporations and executives in criminal antitrust and civil enforcement matters, specializing in consumer protection issues at the state and federal levels.



Practice head(s):

Clayton Everett, Jr.


Other key lawyers:

Mark Krotoski; Daniel Savrin


Testimonials

‘This team combines subject matter expertise, experience with government agencies, and a record of trying cases that makes it top in class in the antitrust space.’

‘Clay Everett – Clay exhibits a mastery of antitrust law, sees angles on factual issues in light of his legal knowledge, and is a strong advocate in the courtroom.’

‘Their team is very minimal and efficient.’

‘J. Clayton Everett, Jr. is an outstanding attorney. He is not only strategic, precise, and responsive, but also has a deep understanding of industries and international business customs/protocols.’

Key clients

BMW Group


Morrison Foerster

With a client roster that includes major corporations and individuals from the healthcare, tech, and financial services sectors, Morrison Foerster offers strong in-house experience from governmental agencies, with team co-chair Lisa Phelan‘s lengthy tenure as a senior DOJ enforcer standing out as a notable example. Phelan, a leading authority in criminal antitrust matters, takes the lead on major criminal investigations and litigation, representing multinational clients in high-profile international cartel actions. David Cross is another key litigator with a focus on monopolization and price-fixing matters. Co-chair Alexander Okuliar and David Shaw also have significant in-house experience from the Antitrust Division, specializing in civil enforcement and government-facing antitrust matters, respectively, while Megan Gerking leverages her experience as a DOJ trial lawyer to successfully represent healthcare and energy companies in criminal antitrust investigations. Eliot Adelson, based in San Francisco, focuses on cross-border cartel work, while Bonnie Lau, also in San Francisco, is an active litigator with an emphasis on multidistrict litigations. Unless otherwise stated, all lawyers are based in Washington DC.


Practice head(s):

Alexander Okuliar; Lisa Phelan


Other key lawyers:

Eliot Adelson; David Cross; David Shaw; Megan Gerking; Bonnie Lau


Key clients

Target


UPS


Salesforce


Tencent Holdings Limited


Clorox


Etsy


Unity Software


Axalta Coating Systems


Matsuo Electric Co, Ltd.


McGrath RentCorp


Glenmark Pharmaceuticals


SoundCloud


ON Semiconductor


DSP Group, Inc.


ShowingTime.com


Teradata


SoftBank Group Corp. & Arm Limited


Nexstar Media Group, Inc


Ceres


Tiz Inc. d/b/a Provi


Tractable.ai


Restoration Hardware


Fujitsu


Work highlights


  • Representing Provi in an antitrust case filed in the federal district court in Illinois that alleges Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and Republic National Distributing Company have conspired in a group boycott and monopolization to eliminate competition.
  • Representing Nexstar Media Group, Inc  in an antitrust investigation by the DOJ and follow-on class action litigation related to the broadcast television spot advertisement market.
  • Representing Matsuo Electric Co in its defense of a price-fixing cartel class action.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP‘s ‘very diligent and highly capable‘ cartel practice has a deep and experienced bench with past agency experience, including several former senior DOJ antitrust officials and trial lawyers. The New York-based team is especially adept in representing clients in the financial services industries, counting major banks, financial service providers, and financial institutions among its key roster of clients. Litigation, both criminal and civil, is a major strength of the firm, which also handles high-profile government investigations concerning bid-rigging and price-fixing. The team is jointly led by former DOJ official Andrew C. Finch, Brette Tannenbaum, and Aidan Synnott, who regularly act on complex multijurisdictional regulatory investigations and litigation. Other senior names in the team include Joe Bial, an acclaimed litigator who acts on high-stakes international cartels and monopolization cases, and Ken Gallo, a seasoned trial lawyer with particular expertise in antitrust and intellectual property disputes.


Practice head(s):

Andrew Finch; Aidan Synnott; Brette Tannenbaum


Other key lawyers:

Joseph Bial; Kenneth Gallo


Testimonials

‘The team led by Joe Bial is very diligent and highly capable to navigate our clients through complex implications of DOJ’s cartel investigations and the ensuing civil litigation. They understand the unique needs and corporate cultural and structural differences of foreign companies and always try to take those into account as much as possible.’

‘Joe Bial stands out in his knowledge and experience in handling complex cartel matters and a go-to person when it comes to a critical decision of our clients without sacrificing any great detail of facts and the big picture of the investigations at the same time.’

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP‘s highly active practice represents clients on multiple major new and ongoing cartel matters, leveraging the deep in-house experience of the team to represent clients in international and domestic investigations and subsequent litigation. Internal investigations, leniency applications, and multijurisdictional compliance programs are particular strengths of the group. The practice is jointly overseen by Washington DC-based John Terzaken, DC’s Sara Razi, as well as Peter Guryan in the New York office. Terzaken, the former director of criminal enforcement at the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and a leading name in the field, concentrates on market sector investigations and litigations across all major industries with an emphasis on financial services and fintech. Razi is a former senior official at the FTC, while Guryan formerly served as a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division. Jeffrey Knox, also based in DC, advises multinational corporations and independent board committees in high-stakes investigations by the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, and other federal and state enforcement regulators. Another key DC name is Abram Ellis, who regularly acts on follow-on cartel litigation.

Practice head(s):

Peter Guryan; Sara Razi; John Terzaken


Other key lawyers:

Abram Ellis; Jeffrey Knox


Winston & Strawn LLP

Winston & Strawn LLP is particularly well-known for its cartel litigation capabilities, and the team routinely defends executives and corporates in cartel trials and enforcement proceedings. The team has successfully secured favorable outcomes for its clients in a range of high-profile cartel matters, including the broiler chicken, auto parts, and cathode ray tube investigations. The practice is jointly headed by Eva Cole and Jeffrey Kessler, based in the firm’s New York office. Cole is an experienced cartel litigator whose practice principally focuses on international cartel investigations, acting for clients in a wide range of jurisdictions, while Kessler takes the lead on complex antitrust litigations before the Supreme Court. Also in New York is Jeffrey Amato, who advises on multijurisdictional investigations. Chicago-based litigator Jim Herbison has a highly active practice, most notably leading on cases in the broiler chicken sector, while Washington’s Heather Lamberg handles internal investigations as well as counselling on cartel-related compliance matters.

Practice head(s):

Jeffrey Kessler; Eva Cole


Other key lawyers:

Jeffrey Amato; Jim Herbison; Heather Lamberg


Key clients

Panasonic Corporation


NTN Corporation


Hitachi Metals


Cangrejeros Baseball Club LLC


Corning Inc.; Corning International Kabushiki Kaisha


JTEKT Corporation; JTEKT North America Corporation; Koyo France SA; Koyo Deutschland GmbH


Nippon Seiki


Norman W. Fries, Inc. (d/b/a Claxton Poultry Farms)


Rabobank Cooperative


WestRock CP, LLC; WestRock RKT Co.; and WestRock Co.


Camber Pharmaceuticals


Equifax, Inc.


Work highlights


  • Representing Claxton Poultry Farms in In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, and defended related criminal indictments against Claxton and two executives, securing complete acquittals for both.
  • RepresentedPanasonic Corp. and related entities in the In re CRT Antitrust Litigation, successfully resolving the indirect purchaser class claims via a favorable settlement, which was upheld by the Ninth Circuit and denied Supreme Court review in 2022.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

Working closely with the firm’s white-collar and broader antitrust groups, the cartel team at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has a strong record in civil and criminal cartel defense, having successfully represented individuals and corporates in high-profile, complex investigations, litigation, and enforcement proceedings. Arthur Burke, based in New York, oversees the overall team and advises on antitrust investigations and litigation, including past and ongoing government investigations into price-fixing and alleged no-poach agreements. The New York team also includes Paul Mishkin, whose practice focuses on antitrust litigation concerning alleged price-fixing in the financial sector, and Sheila Adams, another experienced litigator with a focus on civil litigation in the pharma, manufacturing, and entertainment industries. In Washington DC, seasoned litigator Jarrett Arp defends US and international corporations and individuals in cartel investigation and follow-on litigation in a wide variety of jurisdictions. Tatiana Martins, Angela Burgess, and Greg Andres are other key names to note, all based in New York. Kenneth Wainstein and Neil MacBride left the firm in 2022.


Practice head(s):

Arthur Burke


Other key lawyers:

Jarrett Arp; Angela Burgess; Paul Mishkin; Tatiana Martins; Greg Anders; Sheila Adams


Linklaters LLP

Linklaters LLP represents clients from a wide variety of industries, including financial services, pharma, and tech. Representing both corporates and individuals, the firm is particularly well-placed to advise on cross-border work and global cartel investigations. Noted for its global reach, the practice benefits from its large global network to advise on multijurisdictional cartel matters. The team is now jointly headed by Antonia Sherman and former DOJ antitrust prosecutor Douglas Tween. Sherman, based in Washington DC, advises on antitrust-related M&A and compliance matters, while New York’s Tween takes point on cartel matters with a particular emphasis on regulatory investigations and criminal and civil parallel litigation. Also in New York, Tom McGrath defends clients in price-fixing investigations and private litigation.

Practice head(s):

Douglas Tween; Antonia Sherman


Other key lawyers:

Tom McGrath


Testimonials

‘Doug Tween is a former antitrust prosecutor who knows cartel defense inside and out – very committed and practical’

Key clients

Kelkoo Group


State Street Corp.


NatWest/RBS


Société Générale


Strides Pharma


Tate & Lyle


Work highlights


  • Defending generic pharma manufacturer Strides Pharma, Inc. in the In Re Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing Antitrust Litigation in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
  • Representing Société Générale and SG Americas Securities in multiple lawsuits pending in the Southern District of New York relating to allegations that the defendants conspired to fix the prices of foreign exchange instruments in the global foreign exchange market through manipulating FX benchmarks rates and widening bid-ask spreads.
  • Representing the NatWest entities in connection with a putative class action brought in the District of New Mexico alleging a 15-year conspiracy among NatWest, nine other major bank group liquidity providers, as well as non-dealer defendant to manipulate the credit default swap auction price.

O'Melveny & Myers LLP

Adept at handling both civil and criminal cartel proceedings and litigation, as well as government and regulatory investigations, the cartel team at O'Melveny & Myers LLP  advises corporations and individual executives in notable cartel investigations, including the chicken broiler, auto parts, and DRAM cases. Jointly headed by Ian Simmons, an experienced litigator with particular focus on multi-district litigation, and Ben Bradshaw, both based in Washington DC, the team advises on the full range of cartel-related issues, including price-fixing, monopolization, and internal investigations. Also in DC are counsels Scott Schaeffer, whose practice focuses on US and global antitrust regulatory investigations, and the ‘excellent‘ Brian Quinn, a criminal cartel defense specialist. In San Francisco, Michael Tubach and former federal prosecutor Anna Pletcher focus on criminal cartel litigation and government investigations, and recently co-led the joint defense group in the case of a former CEO of a major US chicken producer as part of the chicken broiler investigation.


Practice head(s):

Ian Simmons; Ben Bradshaw


Other key lawyers:

Anna Pletcher; Michael Tubach; Scott Schaeffer; Brian Quinn


Testimonials

‘A deep bench of excellent lawyers, who not only excel professionally but are wonderful collaborators. A great team!’

‘Partners Michael Tubach and Anna Pletcher are extraordinarily superb practitioners, and wonderful colleagues to work with. They are extremely knowledgeable about the law, and also tremendously effective in Court.’

‘Counsel Brian Quinn is also excellent professionally, and great to work with. His organizational skills are extremely impressive.’

Key clients

Leoni AG


Work highlights


  • Defended the former CEO of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, the second largest chicken producer in the United States, in a closely watched criminal antitrust trial in the District of Colorado—achieving a complete acquittal for the executive and his co-defendants in July 2022.
  • Representing a US company in a DOJ investigation into potential anti-competitive conduct related to solicitation and hiring of employees in the industry.

Ropes & Gray LLP

Ropes & Gray LLP combines its global reach, litigation expertise, and the  governmental agency experience of its bench, providing a full-service cartel offering with particular emphasis on both governmental and internal investigations. Healthcare is a particular area of expertise for the team, who represents healthcare companies and pharma manufacturers in cartel-related investigations and litigation. The team also regularly acts for clients in the tech and financial services industries. Michael McGovern, based in New York, co-leads the team, focusing on high-stakes criminal defense litigation, while Mark Popofsky  oversees the team from Washington DC. Veteran antitrust enforcer Samer Musallam, also in DC, represents clients through all phases of cartel-related litigation, and also advises on domestic and international investigations. Former FTC trial attorney Chong Park rounds out the DC office, representing corporates and individuals in various agency proceedings.

Practice head(s):

Mark Popofsky; Michael McGovern


Other key lawyers:

Samer Musallam; Chong Park


Key clients

Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, plc


State Street Bank and Trust Company


Work highlights


  • Representing Mallinckrodt in lawsuits brought by a coalition of state attorneys alleging a conspiracy to inflate and manipulate the prices of dozens of generic drugs.
  • Representing State Street and its subsidiary, Currenex, Inc. in a putative antitrust, RICO and fraud class action brought on behalf of users of Currenex, an electronic trading platform for foreign exchange transactions.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Clients seek out Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP‘s cartel team for its strong cartel litigation capabilities, having successfully represented a number of corporates and individual executives from a range of industries in major US civil and criminal cartel proceedings. The tech industry is a particular area of expertise for the firm,  as is real estate and food. Leo Caserio now heads the team from Washington DC, regularly acting for clients in international cartel proceedings and government investigations, and has broad industrial experience, including consumer electronics and automotive parts. Michael Cohen, also in DC, is an active cartel defense litigator currently representing executives at Reynolds & Reynolds in the ongoing tuna canning cartel investigation. Mike Scarborough  and Dylan Ballard left the firm in January 2023. Ann O’Brien, formerly at Baker Hostetler, joined the firm’s DC office in February 2023.

Practice head(s):

Leo Caseria


Other key lawyers:

Michael Cohen; Ann O’Brien


Key clients

Continental Automotive


Reynolds & Reynolds Company


ESET LLC


Jain Irrigation Inc.


Fuyao Glass America Inc.


San Francisco Association of Realtors


Work highlights


  • Representing Continental Automotive Systems Inc., who sued three large holders of patents essential to practicing the 2G, 3G and 4G cellular standards, accusing them of colluding via patent pool Avanci LLC to artificially inflate royalties.
  • Representing Reynolds and Reynolds Company in antitrust federal investigations, state attorney general investigations, federal multidistrict litigation and federal lawsuits challenges state regulations, all relating to alleged data access disputes in the market for automotive computer system software.

Vinson & Elkins LLP

With an impressive client roster that spans a range of industries, including the chemicals, techn, automotive, pharma, and transportation sectors, the team at Vinson & Elkins LLP is noted for its strength in handling cross-border and international civil and criminal proceedings. Recent notable work includes representing Hitachi in the DOJ’s investigation into the auto parts industry, as well as representing Google in several investigations by Taiwanese and South Korean authorities. The team is jointly led by Darren Tucker and Hill Wellford, who both have significant in-house experience from the FTC and the Antitrust Division, respectively, and who take the lead on DOJ and FTC proceedings and governmental investigations. On the litigation front, Alden Atkins represents clients in domestic and international criminal and civil cartel matters and arbitrations, with Houston’s Jason Powers  also playing a key role on this front. Mike Scarborough and Dylan Ballard joined the firm from Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in January 2023, further strengthening the firm’s San Francisco office. Unless otherwise stated, lawyers are in Washington DC.


Practice head(s):

Darren Tucker; Hill Wellford


Other key lawyers:

Alden Atkins; Craig Seebald; Jason Powers; Mike Scarborough; Dylan Ballard


Key clients

Google LLC


Hitachi


Wanhua Chemical (America) Co., Ltd.


AirTran Airways


Targa Resources Corp.


BlueScope


Southwest Airlines, Inc.


Calumet Specialty Products


Maxell, Ltd. And Maxell Corporation of America


Riverstone


Switchback II Corporation


Enable Midstream Partners, LP


Group 1 Automotive, Inc.


ioneer Lrd.


The Sinclair Companies


Liberty Oilfield Services Inc.


ZenBusiness


Direct Energy


Noble Energy, Inc.


Plains All American


Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.


Vida Capital, Inc.


National Association of Chain Drug Stores


Oregon Dental Service d/b/a Delta Dental of Oregon


Delta Dental Plan of Wyoming d/b/a Delta Dental of Wyoming


United States Steel Corporation


Lukoil Pan Americas LLC


Foster Poultry Farms


HeartBrand Holdings, Inc.


H-E-B, LP


Huntsman International


Phadia US Inc.


Magellan Crude Oil Pipeline Company, L.P.


AK Steel Corporation, et. Al – railroad MDL


Allen & Overy LLP

Allen & Overy LLP leverages its overall antitrust team to provide a solid cartel offering with an emphasis on defense, representing clients in the electronics, financial services, and food processing industries in criminal grand jury investigations and litigation. Noah Brumfield co-heads the practice from its Washington DC office. His practice focuses on antitrust-related cross-border transactional matters, monopolization allegations, and no-poach grand jury investigations. New York-based co-head Elaine Johnston has a broad antitrust practice, with significant experience advising on antitrust issues in a range of industries, including tech, pharma, and natural resources.

Practice head(s):

Noah Brumfield; Elaine Johnston


Other key lawyers:

Hugh Hollman


Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider

Boutique firm Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider is noted for its ‘near-total focus on antitrust‘ and full-service cartel offering, notably acting for Tyson Foods in the DOJ’s criminal investigation into the chicken broiler sector. The cartel practice is jointly headed by New York-based John Harkrider and Washington DC’s Michael Keeley, while Tiffany Rider has a strong record in defending companies and individuals in international cartel cases, focusing on criminal cartel investigations and follow-up litigation. Daniel Oakes takes point on the litigation side, representing domestic and foreign corporate clients in multidistrict conspiracy and monopolization claims. Former Antitrust Division prosecutor James Attridge joined the firm in September 2022, strengthening the team’s government experience. Unless otherwise stated, all lawyers are based in Washington DC.


Practice head(s):

John Harkrider; Michael Keeley


Other key lawyers:

James Attridge; Tiffany Rider; Dan Oakes; Rachel Adcox


Testimonials

‘The team offers the full breadth of services relevant to cartel work, including deep DOJ enforcement experience as well as experience in follow-on civil litigation.’

‘James Attridge is a rising star in the cartel bar. He has served in various roles at DOJ, providing him with a unique perspective in cartel cases.’

‘Outstanding cartel practice that can handle any representation.’

‘Jimmy Attridge is an exceptional cartel lawyer who help clients navigate any issue before the enforcement authorities.’

‘Axinn is a firm that is well-known for antitrust, and has one of the largest antitrust practice groups in the US.’

‘Tiffany Rider leads their group, is very experienced and practical. Dan Oakes is an excellent junior partner. Rachel Adcox is also very good. I think their hire of Jimmy Attridge out of the DOJ Antitrust Division was a missing piece for them, bringing recent DOJ experience.’

‘Axinn is unique in its near-total focus on antitrust as a firm, with the incredible depth of bench that comes with that focus.’

Key clients

AmTrust


Tyson Foods


Work highlights


  • Represented AmTrust Financial in connection with New York State Attorney General investigation into potential no-poach agreements in the title insurance industry.
  • Representing Tyson Foods in a DOJ criminal investigation of broiler chicken producers.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP

McDermott Will & Emery LLP stands out for its strength in the healthcare and life sciences sector, acting for major healthcare providers, insurers, and biotech clients in a range of cartel investigations and litigation, including cross-border investigations by international antitrust authorities. Raymond Jacobsen leads the team from Washington DC, an experienced antitrust lawyer with a focus on litigation. Joel Grosberg, also in DC, focuses on government antitrust investigations before the DOJ and the FTC and has notable agency experience from the FTC. In Chicago, Stephen Wu specializes in healthcare-related antitrust, while litigator Katharine O’Connor has significant experience in labor market litigation concerning alleged no-poach agreements.

Practice head(s):

Raymond Jacobsen


Key clients

Southern Illinois Healthcare


Voyant Beauty LLC


Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.


Constellation Brands


Work highlights


  • Representing Southern Illinois Healthcare, in a civil antitrust litigation filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois by Marion HealthCare, a competing ambulatory surgery center.
  • Represented Allscripts in a multi-year investigation brought by the Federal Trade Commission.

McGuireWoods LLP

The cartel team at McGuireWoods LLP handles national and international cartel investigations, guiding clients thorough all phases of investigations as well as follow-on litigation. The firm routinely represents individual executives and private companies in high-profile criminal investigations and civil and criminal defense proceedings. Mark Kinghorn, based in Charlotte, chairs the firm’s antitrust regulatory practice, while Amy Manning leads on the litigation side, defending companies and senior executives in DOJ investigations, in addition to handling leniency applications and civil litigations. Angelo Russo is an experienced antitrust litigator with an emphasis on government enforcement and private cartel litigation, while Sarah Zielinski advises on antitrust and consumer protection issues. In Richmond, Brent Justus has a broad antitrust practice with a focus on cartel litigation before federal courts. Unless otherwise specified, lawyers are based in Chicago.


Practice head(s):

Mark Kinghorn; Amy Manning


Other key lawyers:

Angelo Russo; Sarah Zielinski; Brent Justus


Miller & Chevalier Chartered

Miller & Chevalier Chartered has an active civil and criminal cartel litigation practice, representing individuals and companies in high-profile, ongoing cartel investigations in a variety of industries. The firm is particularly active in the pharma and food processing sectors, representing CEOs and senior executives in the chicken broiler and generic pharma bid-rigging and price-fixing investigations by the DOJ. The practice is headed by Washington DC-based duo Kirby Behre and Lauren Briggerman. Behre is a seasoned litigator and former federal prosecutor who regularly defends clients in criminal cartel cases, while Briggerman takes point on investigations, both domestic and international. Litigator Andrew Wise, also in Washington DC, is another key member of the team.

Practice head(s):

Kirby Behre; Lauren Briggerman


Other key lawyers:

Andrew Wise


Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP stands out for its expertise in finance-, tech- and consumer electronics-related antitrust cases, counting major industry actors such as Microsoft and Sonos among its clients. Amy Ray now heads the firm’s overall antitrust group, representing clients across the financial services and fintech industries in US and international contentious and non-contentious cartel matters, while former DOJ official Jim Tierney takes point on tech-related matters. The firm expanded its life sciences, regulatory, and private litigation capacities with the arrival of Eileen Cole, Craig Falls, and Anna Aryankalayil from Dechert LLP in 2022. Russell Cohen and former practice head Jay Jurata left the firm in 2023. All mentioned lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

Amy Ray


Other key lawyers:

Jim Tierney; Eileen Cole; Craig Falls; Anna Aryankalayil


Key clients

Microsoft Corporation


Delta Dental of California


Sonos Inc.


Cerence


Continental Corporation


Gary Merlino Construction Company


Investment Company Institute


Work highlights


  • Representing Microsoft as a third party in the DOJ and state AG investigations into potentially anticompetitive monopolization by Google of online search, digital advertising or related products and services; Epic’s lawsuit against Google, including related consumer class actions and the State AG lawsuit concerning Google Play; and enforcement against Meta by the US FTC and litigation by private putative class representatives.
  • Representing Sonos in conjunction with litigation and multiple trans-Atlantic antitrust investigations into alleged anticompetitive conduct by both Google and Amazon related to smart speakers.
  • Representing Cerence as a third party in multiple trans-Atlantic antitrust investigations and/or litigation into Google concerning potential anticompetitive conduct related to voice assistants.

Shearman & Sterling LLP

Shearman & Sterling LLP represents corporate and individual clients in domestic and international cartel investigations as well as civil litigation, with notable expertise in transatlantic matters. The firm has a particularly strong offering within the financial sector, counting major US and international financial institutions and financial services providers among its clients. Washington DC-based David Higbee and Djordje Petkoski co-head the team alongside San Francisco’s Patrick Robbins. Higbee is a former Antitrust Division litigator and frequently acts on matters before the DOJ and the FTC, and Petkoski’s practice focuses on criminal and internal investigations. Robbins specializes in criminal cartel litigation and has a strong record in successfully defending individual executives in governmental investigations.

Practice head(s):

David Higbee; Djordje Petkoski; Patrick Robbins


Key clients

Bank of America


BNP Paribas


Morgan Stanley


Rubycon


Work highlights


  • Representing the third largest Japanese electrolytic capacitor maker, in civil litigation brought by classes of direct and indirect purchasers and multiple direct-action plaintiffs.
  • Achieved a major victory for Bank of America Mexico, S.A. in a putative antitrust class action in the Southern District of New York concerning the market for Mexican Government Bonds.
  • Achieved a victory on behalf of Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill Lynch International in a putative antitrust class action in the Southern District of New York alleging price fixing in the primary and secondary markets for European Government Bonds.