Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton excels at defending high-profile class actions and follow-on claims, particularly within a cross-border context. The firm is lauded for being ‘deeply knowledgeable in numerous industries‘ and ‘incredibly responsive at the right level of specificity for the question at hand.’ Acting for a host of household name companies, George Cary is well versed at the intersection of antitrust with intellectual property and high-technology markets. Massive multi-district antitrust litigation, often relating to monopolization and conspiracy claims, are part of Leah Brannon's portfolio. The recent activity of ‘strong and tough negotiator’ Jeremy Calsyn in antitrust litigation includes price-fixing matters and cases relating to the automotive industry, while former FTC Bureau of Competition director Bruce Hoffman is experienced in defending clients before federal and state courts in class actions and standalone private suits. All mentioned attorneys are based in the Washington DC office, bar Heather Nyong’o, who joined the firm’s Palo Alto office in November 2021 from WilmerHale. Mark Nelson and Alexis Collins left the practice in 2021 for in-house positions.
Civil litigation/class actions: defense in United States
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Other key lawyers:
George Cary; Leah Brannon; Jeremy Calsyn; Bruce Hoffman; Heather Nyong’o; Brian Byrne ; Kenneth Reinker
Testimonials
‘Cleary has a very strong antitrust practice. They are deeply knowledgeable in numerous industries which is essential when providing antitrust guidance. Also, they understand the intricacies of the approval process which enables them to help set realistic expectations of results.’
‘Cleary is incredibly responsive at the right level of specificity for the question at hand. With the premium, it is important to work with individuals that gauge the right level of review and response and not overwork an issue. The responsiveness extends to both small and large matters. Also, Cleary is proactive. They want to enable you to be successful and looks for opportunities to provide indirect guidance and assistance.
‘Brian Byrne is an exceptional partner and represents the firm extremely well.’
‘The antitrust teams and litigation teams are outstanding, and top of their field. The US antitrust group is best in class, with a depth of experience across all areas of practice that is unmatched. They are great at deal, regulatory investigations, and litigation. The general litigation and class action defense work is also best in class. The quality of legal representation and creativity in defense theories, combined with depth of experience, is second to none. They are the go-to firm for bet the company matters and any time the stakes are high.’
‘The firm’s Washington team, led by Jeremy Calsyn is very strong and exceptional. They effectively defended and dismissed the class action claim. Jeremy was a strong and tough negotiator at the settlement discussion and brought us a favorable outcome.’
Key clients
T-Mobile USA
Juul Labs Inc.
Keurig Green Mountain, Inc
Varsity Brands
NSK Ltd
Walgreens BootsAlliance, Inc.
Molson Coors Beverage Company
Fox Corporation
Work highlights
- Representing Juul Labs, Inc. in connection to its a $12.8 billion investment by Altria Group, and in subsequent FTC Part 3 administrative proceedings and private antitrust class actions in the Northern District of California.
- Defending Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. against broad-ranging monopolization claims in massive multi-district litigation involving class, competitor, and distributor cases challenging, among other things, predatory product design and exclusive contracts.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
The antitrust practice at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP handles contentious matters ranging from allegations of price-fixing, monopolization, and coordination in output to industry-wide conspiracy allegations for a vast variety of sectors and clients. Led by Christine Varney, the department is sought after for its experience and success rate in high-stakes civil litigation and class action cases, regularly handling matters at the intersection of antitrust with other areas, such as securities and intellectual property. ‘Standout star’ Kevin Orsini has defended claims on behalf of household names including American Express and Time Warner, while Evan Chesler brings to bear outstanding expertise in bet-the-company cases across a large range of industries. Other names to note are Peter Barbur, whose expertise spans antitrust issues such as securities litigation and other unlawful competition claims, as well as former FTC Assistant Director Daniel Zach who joined the firm at the end of 2021. All mentioned attorneys are located in the firm’s New York office.
Practice head(s):
Christine Varney
Other key lawyers:
Kevin Orsini; Peter Barbur; Evan Chesler; Daniel Zach; Katherine Forrest
Testimonials
‘Cravath has the smartest, most intense litigators in the country.’
‘Kevin Orsini is the standout star at Cravth.’
‘In large multi-defendant cases, Cravath gets the mix of leadership and collaboration right.’
Key clients
Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
American Express Company (“AmEx”)
Biosense Webster, Inc.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
Epic Games, Inc.
Facebook, Inc.
Illumina, Inc.
Morgan Stanley
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
Qualcomm Incorporated
Robinhood Markets, Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing Qualcomm Incorporated and winning a major Ninth Circuit decision vacating a district court ruling that had certified a class estimated to be the size of the entire U.S. adult population.
- Representing Epic Games in two separate antitrust actions against Apple and Google, alleging that the companies are engaged in anticompetitive behavior in the distribution of software applications on mobile devices and in the processing of consumers’ payments for digital content used within mobile apps.
- Representing Robinhood as lead counsel in dozens of lawsuits, including numerous putative class actions, involving antitrust and various other claims arising out of Robinhood’s decision to temporarily restrict trading in certain securities in the face of unprecedented market volatility.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Class actions, private antitrust litigation, and intellectual property-related issues form part of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP‘s antitrust and competition practice portfolio. The firm represents some of the country’s biggest corporations in high-stakes and bet-the-company cases, with particular strengths in the media, entertainment and high-tech sectors. Washington DC-based Stephen Weissman and San Francisco-based Rachel Brass co-chair the department and both handle class actions including monopolization claims and price-fixing in various industries. In Washington DC, Cynthia Richman focuses on antitrust issues pertaining to tying, bundling and other single-firm conduct theories, while Rich Parker represents clients before enforcement agencies and courts in a host of antitrust-related matters. Daniel Swanson, who is active in both the firm’s Los Angeles and Brussels locations, has vast experience in defending clients based on a wide range of alleged conduct, such as monopolization and dominance claims. In April 2022, former Federal Trade Commission Chief of Staff Svetlana S. Gans joined the firm in DC.
Practice head(s):
Rachel Brass; Stephen Weissman
Other key lawyers:
Cynthia Richmann; Rich Parker; Daniel Swanson
Key clients
Apple
McDonald’s
Broadcom
Amazon
Merck & Co., Inc.
Jimmy John’s
Barnes & Noble Education, Barnes & Noble College Booksellers
Kraft and Mondelez
Smithfield Foods
Swisher
Jones Day
Jones Day provides clients with support across the whole gamut of antitrust-related civil litigation and class action. The firm fields a deep bench of litigators with particular strengths in the pharmaceutical, health insurance, auto parts, and technology sectors. Practice head Craig Waldman and class action expert John Majoras are situated in the firm’s Washington DC office in addition to Julie McEvoy, who regularly represents clients against claims brought forward by federal agencies and private plaintiffs. In Cleveland, Michelle Fischer litigates issues including price discrimination, sham petitioning, tying and bundling, as well as price gouging and monopolization. Further key attorneys are healthcare litigation expert Jeffrey LeVee (Los Angeles), former FTC litigation and trial counsel Lin Kahn (San Francisco), and David Kiernan (San Francisco), whose expertise ranges from the technology and healthcare to the energy industry. Paula Render retired at the beginning of 2021.
Practice head(s):
Craig Waldman
Other key lawyers:
John Majoras; Julie McEvoy; Michelle Fischer; Jeffrey LeVee; Lin Kahn; David Kiernan
Key clients
Adient plc
Axon Enterprise, Inc.
Bitmain Technologies Ltd.
Cardinal Health, Inc.
Cargill Meat Solutions, Inc.
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and AK Steel Holding Corp.
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)
Indivior, Inc.
National Beef Packing Company, LLC.
Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Inc.
Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC
SAP SE
Union Pacific Railway Co.
Wells Fargo, National Association
Work highlights
- Obtained a dismissal with prejudice for Bitmain Technologies Ltd. and related entities in a complaint alleging that the entities that control the selection and operation of major cryptocurrencies conspired with one another to restrain competition for new forms of digital currency.
- Successfully defended SAP, one of the world’s leading producers of software for the management of business processes, against trade secret and antitrust claims in a lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California.
- Defending Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC against novel antitrust and consumer protection claims alleging that the company employed a variety of tactics to artificially inflate the price of Lantus, the company’s blockbuster long-acting insulin glargine product.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
A client describes Kirkland & Ellis LLP as the ‘best in business’ in the class action antitrust space, praising the firm for its ‘thoughtful, pragmatic, and effective’ approach. Monopolization, pricing disputes, unfair competition, intellectual property, and price discrimination are among the issues covered by the team and are also Chicago-based James Mutchnik‘s areas of focus. Daniel Laytin, also located in Chicago, represents defendants in high-stakes class action and civil litigation matters across the US. The firm has recently expanded its team with the arrivals of antitrust and competition attorney Andrea Agathoklis Murino and litigation specialist Matthew Wheatley, who both joined the Washington DC office in early 2021 from Goodwin. Christa Cottrell, who also forms part of the firm’s Chicago bench, has litigated complex class actions for clients such as General Motors and Sanderson Farms, among others.
Other key lawyers:
James Mutchnik; Daniel Laytin; Andrea Agathoklis Murino; Matthew Wheatley; Christa Cottrell
Testimonials
‘Kirkland delivers quality class action defense – thoughtful, pragmatic, and effective. Best in the business.’
Key clients
AbbVie, and separately, AbbVie’s affiliate Forest Laboratories
Allergan
Ares Management Corporation
Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association
Hitachi, Ltd.
JELD-WEN, Inc.
LendingClub
Sanderson Farms, Inc.
Tenet Healthcare
The Clemens Family Corp.
Thomson Reuters Corp.
UnitedHealthcare
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
AbbVie, and separately, AbbVie’s affiliate Forest Laboratories
Allergan
Ares Management Corporation
Latham & Watkins LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP's ‘depth and experience distinguishes them from other competitors’ in the antitrust and competition space, according to a client. Class actions and civil litigation are handled with particular expertise in two of the firm’s US locations: Washington DC and San Francisco. Amanda Reeves chairs the department from DC, where the group is well respected for its DOJ and FTC expertise, and Jennifer Giordano engages in cases at both trial and appellate level. On the West Coast, the focus lies on high-tech litigation, where the firm houses a deep bench of specialists including Christopher Yates who regularly represents blue-chip clients and sports organization, as well as Daniel Wall whose experience spans a variety of sectors and unfair competition claims. In March 2021, Ian Conner joined the firm’s DC office, having previously served as director of the Bureau of Competition at the FTC and bringing to bear vast expertise pertaining to the pharmaceutical, technology, and healthcare sectors, among others.
Practice head(s):
Amanda Reeves
Other key lawyers:
Belinda Lee; Jennifer Giordano; Christopher Yates; Daniel Wall; Ian Conner; Al Pfeiffer
Testimonials
‘L&W is known for its strong antitrust team. More recently, they have developed a strong music licensing specialty team.’
‘Top Notch! Could not be more pleased.’
‘Preparation, intellect and follow through. Jenn Giordano is as good as I have worked with, and her communication skills are exceptional.’
‘High marks on bet-the-company litigation. Their relationship with us extends to the C-suite level.‘
‘The firm’s depth and experience distinguishes them from other competititors.‘
Key clients
StarKist
United States Soccer Federation
National Women’s Soccer League
Surescripts
Square, Inc. (Square) and Cash App Investing, LLC (CAI)
Hyatt
Olam International
Oracle America
BMW AG
Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA)
GRAIL
Radio Music License Committee
DoorDash
Cox Enterprises
Ocean Spray Cranberries
Ferrellgas
Sumida Corporation
CCC Intelligent Solutions
Dairy Farmers of America
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP ‘exhibits the highest caliber of professionalism and legal excellence in its civil litigation and defense practice’. The department stands out for its ability to secure wins in key areas of antitrust litigation, including in financial services, hi-tech, pharmaceutical and labor matters such as no-poach agreements. Global practice leader Steven Reed, based in Philadelphia, demonstrates expertise at the trial and appellate levels across the whole range of antitrust matters. In Washington DC, Jon Roellke acts as global deputy practice leader with a particular focus on representing clients in the financial services sector in cases pertaining to price discrimination, exclusive dealing, tying arrangements, and other unfair competition. ‘Thoughtful and practical legal sounding board’ Brian Rocca is specialized in technology and interned-based services in the firm’s San Francisco hub, while clients turn to Philadelphia-based Brendan Fee for issues surrounding vertical restraints, distribution, and pricing issues.
Practice head(s):
Steven Reed; Jon Roellke
Other key lawyers:
Brian Rocca; Brendan Fee; Stacey Anne Mahoney
Testimonials
‘Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP exhibits the highest caliber of professionalism and legal excellence in its civil litigation and defense practice. We have worked with them for many years, and even with attorney retirements or other changes, they have groomed an outstanding successor who is knowledgeable and ready to represent your interests to the fullest. No matter what the time crunch is or sudden last minute legal hurdle or deadline, the job gets done superbly. The firm has our highest recommendation and the commendation of individual members of our association who have used Brian to meet their individual litigation needs.’
‘Brian Rocca, Managing Partner in San Francisco office is a responsive, excellent litigator, extremely gifted in bringing together a dream team of partners and associates to address your changing legal and litigation issues and needs ranging from routine matters to critical trial and appellate work. Whatever the issue area, the firm has a depth of experienced experts to advise and assist you the client. Brian provides sound legal advice and a keen public relations perspective and insight on sensitive matters that you as a client may confront in today’s business and media environment. He is a thoughtful and practical legal sounding board. He and the members of his team have my highest regard.’
Key clients
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana
BMW North America LLC
Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Comcast Cable Communications
Securus Technologies Inc.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Google LLC
Merck & Co. Inc.
Morgan Stanley
Perrigo Company Plc
Qualcomm Incorporated
Realogy Holdings Corp.
Shell Oil Company
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
TDK USA Corp.
Teva Pharmaceuticals
The Clearing House Payments Company, LLC
Tradeweb Markets LLC
Uber Technologies, Inc.
Vyera Pharmaceuticals
Work highlights
- Representing Google in connection with multidistrict litigation that has been centralized in the Northern District of California related to the Android ecosystem.
- Defending Vyera Pharmaceuticals and its Swiss parent company, Phoenixus AG, in a lawsuit filed by the FTC and the attorneys general of seven states (including New York and California) in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, with plaintiffs claiming that Vyera and Phoenixus violated federal and state antitrust laws through various business practices allegedly intended to prevent generic competition to Daraprim, a drug used to treat toxoplasmosis.
- Represented Qualcomm together with co-counsel from other leading firms and obtained a favorable appellate decision for Qualcomm when the Ninth Circuit reversed and vacated the class certification for consumers in this chip sale and IP-licensing antitrust lawsuit, Stromberg et al. v. Qualcomm Inc.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
The antitrust practice at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP excels in individual and class action claims alike, with cases spanning the whole range of defense matters including monopolization, price fixing, bid rigging, and exclusive dealing. Acting for clients such as Amazon, Credit Suisse, and SAP, the group’s expertise extends to a host of industries and multiple jurisdictions in and outside of the US. In Washington DC, Ken Gallo is praised for his ‘impactful blend of practical solutions, legal acumen and technical expertise’ with which he represents clients particularly at the intersection of antitrust with intellectual property. Technology and social media specialist Karen Dunn and Bill Isaacson further form part of the DC team. In New York, Aidan Synnott and Andrew Finch are recommended for their involvement in high-stakes class actions in financial services and the high-tech industry. Bet-the-company expert Rick Rule in Washington DC departed in March 2022 to found his own firm.
Other key lawyers:
Ken Gallo; Karen Dunn; Bill Isaacson; Aidan Synnott; Andrew Finch; Joseph Bial ; Bob Atkins; Craig Benson
Testimonials
‘Joe Bial has always been very helpful and diligent in difficult situations. He understands well about how foreign companies would react to US civil lawsuits and yet keeps cool mind to analyze the dynamics of the case.’
‘When you are faced with a large MDL, it can be daunting to try and organize the defense and try to plot a path out of it. Paul Weiss is able to take care of the day to day management of MDL, make sure all necessary tasks are completed as well as lay out a path to resolution, despite such a goal being years off. If MDL hits, you need a Paul Weiss on your side to manage.’
‘Ken Gallo is the finest lawyer I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I have yet to encounter a legal issue that Ken does not have a recommendation to help manage. It is an impactful blend of practical solutions, legal acumen and technical expertise which I have never found in another lawyer. Craig Benson has done a remarkable job in helping steer our cases while Ken is otherwise engaged. Craig helps to keep everything going seamlessly which is very hard to do.’
White & Case LLP
The antitrust and competition practice at White & Case LLP ‘leaves absolutely no stone unturned, and spares no expense to identify every last piece of useful evidence’ while routinely securing early dismissals and negotiating favourable settlements. Household name corporates turn to the firm to defend monopolization claims, price-fixing, and other unfair competition actions. Mark Gidley leads the global antitrust practice from Washington DC with trial experience in Europe and Asia in addition to the US. Also in DC are Kathryn Mims, who is well versed in bet-the-company and opt-out actions, as well as antitrust heavyweight Christopher Curran. Jack Pace, based in New York, is also recommended for his involvement in high-profile cases in the pharmaceutical and financial services sectors. The department appointed two new partners to its bench in October 2021: Washington DC-based Adam Acosta and Kevin Adam, who is located in Boston; both focus on litigation within the antitrust space.
Practice head(s):
Mark Gidley
Other key lawyers:
Kathryn Mims; Christopher Curran; Jack Pace; Adam Acosta; Kevin Adam; Bryan Gant
Testimonials
‘Talented and knowledgeable, with strong grounding in economics and financial markets. Not to mention its incredibly deep bench in antitrust law.’
‘Mark Gidley is an energizer bunny who can do it all (and does) – endlessly creative, boundless enthusiasm, and fantastic at rallying the troops. And a genius.’
‘The White and Case team is dogged in their pursuit of information, facts, and insights that could help their clients. They leave absolutely no stone unturned, and spare no expense to identify every last piece of useful evidence. They work very hard individually, and also work together well, piecing together their complex cases and arguments as a unit.’
‘Mark Gidley has a different approach than many senior partners I have worked with. He is intensely involved in the details of every analysis, and truly enjoys economics and analytics, such that he works closely with the economics team on his projects. He iterates frequently, managing the analyses, and working towards the optimal outcome for his case and client.’
‘Strong communication, strategic thinking – counsel approaches issues from the perspective of the business.’
‘Fantastic commitment, responsiveness, and value add thinking. Kathryn Mims stands out here.’
‘Bryan Gant is a rock star. He is very responsive and thoughtful in his analysis.’
‘The team has a deep knowledge of pharma and has litigated many of the major cases in the last 10 years. It seems like most of the winning defense strategies you see used in today’s pharma antitrust matters can be traced back to arguments that the White & Case team came up with, and oftentimes won on, in some earlier litigation.’
Key clients
AbbVie
Pfizer
Anthem
Apex Clearing Corporation
Samsung Bioepis
Gilead Sciences
Novasep Holding
FXI Holdings
Boston Scientific affiliate company BTG International
Experian
Forest Laboratories
Hikma Pharmaceuticals
Allergan
Diamond Tools
Nestlé Purina
Toshiba
Xinyi Auto Glass of North America
V5 Technologies
Work highlights
- Secured an early-stage victory in the meme stock antitrust class actions for Apex Clearing Corporation when the court dismissed the complaint for failing to plausibly plead the existence of an antitrust conspiracy between Apex and defendant brokerages and market makers.
- Successfully eliminated all consumer claims and all “product hopping” claims, and secured a precedent-setting defense-side ruling on the evaluation of alleged reverse payment settlements in Namenda for AbbVie (and predecessor company Forest Laboratories) and Merz Pharmaceuticals.
- Obtained a favorable settlement for Pfizer with a class of consumers who allege they overpaid for EpiPens for 5% of alleged damages, likely clearing Pfizer from having to face a jury trial.
Arnold & Porter
With a trial-focused approach Arnold & Porter‘s antitrust and competition practice excels at defending clients before federal and national courts, while at the same time demonstrating a strong track record of being successful in the motion-to-dismiss and summary judgement stages of class actions and civil litigation. The department is led by a Washington DC-based trio consisting of head of global antitrust practice Debbie Feinstein, head of US antitrust practice Jonathan Gleklen , and litigation specialist James Cooper. Also situated in the DC hub are life sciences expert Laura Shores and Anne Davis, who is experienced in representing clients on both sides of the aisle in class actions and opt-out litigation. Scott Lent handles high-profile antitrust matters in sectors such as commodities and pharmaceuticals from the firm’s New York location.
Practice head(s):
Debbie Feinstein; Jonathan Gleklen; James Cooper
Other key lawyers:
Laura Shores; Anne Davis; Scott Lent; Sonia Kuester Pfaffenroth
Key clients
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
Bausch Health Companies
Bayer
Bloomberg L.P.
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Elanco Animal Health
GN Audio
GTL
Koito Manufacturing
Modivcare (formerly known as Providence Service Corporation)
Oakland Raiders
Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Taiyo Yuden
Visa
Yamashita Rubber Co.
Work highlights
- Representing Oakland Raiders in securing dismissal of a federal antitrust lawsuit and a state court action filed by the City of Oakland against the NFL and its 32 teams, alleging that the league ignored its own relocation policies and violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act by approving the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas.
- Representing HarperCollins in the defense against several putative class action antitrust litigations brought against Amazon.com and the five largest US publishers relating to the sale of electronic and print books.
- Representing Sandoz Inc. and its subsidiary Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. in multi-district litigation (MDL), comprising actions brought on behalf of 54 States, private plaintiffs, and several purchasers, alleging that the defendant pharmaceutical manufacturers conspired to fix or raise the prices of, and allocated markets/customers for, hundreds of products.
Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider
Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider sports an antitrust practice that defends blue-chip clients across a number of industries and in civil litigation and class actions, and has recently handled high-profile cases in the foods, technology, and pharmaceutical spaces. New York-based John Harkrider and Michael Keeley, who is based in Washington DC and focuses on the intersection of antitrust with intellectual property, jointly head the department. Also in the firm’s DC hub are Rachel Adcox, John Briggs, and Tiffany Rider, all of whom have extensive experience in the antitrust field including regulatory investigations and follow-on class actions. At the beginning of 2021, there were several partner additions to the practice group: Denise Plunkett joined the New York office from Ballard Spahr LLP, while Daniel Oakes in DC and Craig Reiser in New York were both promoted to partner.
Practice head(s):
John Harkrider; Michael Keeley
Other key lawyers:
Rachel Adcox; John Briggs; Tiffany Rider; Denise Plunkett; Daniel Oakes; Craig Reiser
Key clients
Tyson Foods
Stanley Black & Decker
Alvogen
Momenta Pharmaceuticals
McKesson Corporation
Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thales Group (France)
InstaCart
Shintech Inc. & Shin-Etsu Chemical
Tufts Health Plan
Sunrun Inc.
Cummins Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing Tyson Foods as lead counsel in multiple major treble-damage class action litigations and regulatory investigations alleging industry-wide conspiracies to raise the prices of broiler chickens, pork, turkey, and beef, as well as a conspiracy to depress broiler grower pay.
- Representing Alvogen in a patent infringement and antitrust litigation regarding Indivior’s opioid dependency treatment drug Suboxone Film, and the Generic Drugs MDL.
- Providing strategic direction and support for Google’s defense of a number of related class actions and other private lawsuits regarding Google’s advertising technology business.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
The antitrust and competition law practice at Baker Botts L.L.P. encompasses the full spectrum of antitrust litigation on both sides of the aisle before federal, state and appellate courts. Nationwide private litigation on behalf of corporate defendants and opt-out-litigation are part of the firm’s portfolio, including cases relating to monopolization, price-fixing conspiracies, as well as vertical price and non-price restraints. John Taladay, who is experienced in working closely with the FTC and DOJ, and antitrust, privacy and data security and consumer protection expert Maureen Ohlhausen lead the department. William Lavery is well versed in matters including high-profile bet-the-company cases from industries such as pharmaceutical, healthcare, and technology, which are also covered by senior associate Chris Wilson. Stephen Weissman and Michael Perry left the firm in March 2021, while Taylor Owings joined from the DOJ’s antitrust division in June of the same year. All mentioned attorneys are based in Washington DC.
Practice head(s):
John Taladay; Maureen Ohlhausen
Other key lawyers:
William Lavery; Taylor Owings; Erik Koons; Chris Wilson
Testimonials
‘Terrific communication and follow up. Strong grasp of the law and strategy. Exceptional at budgeting and sticking to it.’
‘Erik Koons — terrific.’
Key clients
Amazon
QVC, Inc.
Caterpillar Inc.
CenterPoint Energy
Qualcomm
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
Halliburton
HEB
Ericsson
Georgia-Pacific LLC (GP Wood Products LLC)
Waste Management, Inc.
American Industrial Partners, LLC (AIP, LLC)
Broadcom
Conversant Wireless Licensing SARL
Eagle Materials
HollyFrontier Corp
Irico Display Devices Co., Ltd.
JSW Steel (USA) Inc. / JSW Steel USA Ohio, Inc.
Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips North America LLC, Philips Taiwan, Limited and Philips do Brasil Ltda.
Liberty Media Corporation
Magellan Midstream Partners LP
Masco Corporation
McDermott International, Inc.
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
Olin Corporation
Royal Dutch Shell
Safariland
Sandoz, Inc.
SSW Partner LP
Sun Pharmaceuticals / Taro Pharmaceuticals
Westlake Chemical Corporation
Zydus Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing QVC, Inc. in litigation filed by actress, entrepreneur, and former QVC vendor, Suzanne Somers, and her affiliated company, SLC Sweet, Inc., alleging violations of Section 2 of the Sherman Act and commercial law claims.
- Representing Irico, a Chinese manufacturer and seller of CRTs, in a significant price fixing action in the U.S.
- Represented Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips North America LLC, Philips Taiwan, Limited and Philips do Brasil Ltda. in a case in which a class of indirect purchasers sued the Philips entities in the Northern District of California in 2007, accusing Philips and other defendants of conspiring with other manufacturers to fix the price of Cathode Ray Tubes commonly used in televisions until the late-2000s.
Mayer Brown
The antitrust and competition practice at Mayer Brown continues to be involved in high-profile cases on the defense side in industries such as agriculture and food, automotive, and healthcare. The firm recently added Gail Levine, formerly deputy director of the Bureau of Competition at the FTC, to its partner roster in Washington DC, where she focuses on the high-tech, healthcare as well as pharmaceuticals and life sciences sectors. She leads the department together with Chicago-based Britt Miller and DC-based William Stallings. Also in DC, Carmine Zarlenga excels at the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property, while Oral Pottinger is well versed in class action discovery and e-discovery.
Practice head(s):
Britt Miller; William Stallings; Gail Levine
Other key lawyers:
Carmine Zarlenga; Oral Pottinger; Andrew Marovitz
Key clients
Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation
Foster Poultry Farms and Foster Farms, LLC
Indiana Packers Corporation/Mitsubishi Corporation
Cermaq Group AS
HSBC
Lear Corporation
Southwest Airlines
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health
Delta Dental
Nestlé, SA
CNH Industrial
CDK Global
The Big Ten Conference
BASF Corporation and BASF SE
Delta Dental Plans Association
Work highlights
- Representing clients in each of the broilers (Foster Farms), turkey (Foster Farms), pork (Indiana Packers), beef (Cargill) and salmon (Cermaq) antitrust cases, which are substantial pending antitrust class actions in the agricultural and food industry.
- Representing Delta Dental Plans Association in a multidistrict litigation in which plaintiffs claim that defendants violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act by allegedly agreeing to “allocate” the dental insurance market into geographic areas and purportedly imposing below-market reimbursement rates on dental providers.
- Representing HSBC Bank plc & HSBC Bank USA, N.A. in a putative class action alleging that financial institutions restrained competition in the trading of supranational, sovereign and agency bonds, as well as in another action alleging that financial institutions boycotted entry of an exchange trading platform in the credit default swaps marketplace.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP sports a blue-chip practice on both sides of its antitrust and litigation department. On the defense side, the firm brings to bear particular expertise at the intersection of antitrust and IP, as well as financial services, the food industry, and technology. Stephen Neuwirth chairs the practice from New York, having secured a number of early dismissals in high-stakes class actions in recent years. In the firm’s Los Angeles hub, Kevin Teruya excels in the securities and commodities space, while Adam Wolfson‘s expertise includes cartel class actions and other antitrust theories. Further key contacts are financial industry experts Steig Olsen and Daniel Brockett in addition to class certification specialist Sami Rashid, all of whom are located in New York. In February 2021, Debra Bernstein joined the firm’s Atlanta office from a previous position at Alston & Bird LLP and is regularly involved in complex price-fixing matters, opt-out cases, and bet-the-company litigation in the antitrust space.
Practice head(s):
Stephen Neuwirth
Other key lawyers:
Kevin Teruya; Adam Wolfson; Steig Olsen; Daniel Brockett; Sami Rashid; Debra Bernstein
Key clients
Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz USA LLC
Trafigura
SoundCloud Inc.
National Association of REALTORS
Entergy Corporation; Entergy Mississippi, LLC; Entergy Services, Inc.; Entergy Power, Inc.
International Business Machines Corp. (“IBM)”; Red Hat, Inc.
Vitol, Inc.
SalMar ASA and Scottish Sea Farms Ltd.
JBS USA
Airbus
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
Dell Marketing, L.P.
Work highlights
- Represented Daimler AG and won complete dismissal of all claims in the German Auto Parts Antitrust Litigation in the Northern District of California, and affirmance of dismissal on appeal.
- Obtained a summary judgment from the state court for Entergy Corporation; Entergy Mississippi, LLC; Entergy Services, Inc. and Entergy Power, Inc. holding that the claims brought by the Mississippi Attorney General were pre-empted by federal energy laws and dismissing them in their entirety.
- Represented the National Association of REALTORS and successfully opposed an application for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction and won motions to dismiss both complaints in the Clear Cooperation Policy litigations.
Shearman & Sterling LLP
The antitrust group at Shearman & Sterling LLP represents clients in class actions and civil litigation pertaining to market allocation claims, monopolization, price-fixing, and unfair competition. The firm is particularly strong in the financial services sector but also sports extensive antitrust litigation expertise in other industries including technology, media and entertainment, healthcare, and agribusiness. David Higbee (Washington DC) leads the department while Adam Hakki (New York) and Patrick Robbins (San Francisco) are also key contacts of the firm’s antitrust bench. In March 2021, technology sector expert Ryan Shores (Washington DC) rejoined the group after a stint at the DOJ. Clients turn to Richard Schwed (New York) in questions of commodity exchange class action and securities litigation as well as finance-related antitrust matters.
Practice head(s):
David Higbee
Other key lawyers:
Adam Hakki; Patrick Robbins; Richard Schwed; Ryan Shores
Key clients
1-800 Contacts
Bank of America
BNP Paribas
Chevron
Intercontinental Exchange
Morgan Stanley
Rubycon
SS&C
Switch
WilmerHale
WilmerHale is regularly involved in antitrust class actions pertaining to monopolization, abuse of dominant position, and price-fixing, among others. Thomas Mueller is the key contact, leading the practice and having practiced antitrust litigation in both Europe and the US. Perry Lange has experience representing clients in a variety of industries including technology, telecommunications, entertainment, financial services, and pharma, while Steven Cherry handles opt-out-cases and follow-on civil litigation in domestic and international matters. In Boston, Mark Ford specializes in defending clients at the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property law. Monopolization specialist Leon Greenfield is also recommended, having represented companies in numerous high-profile appellate cases. All attorneys are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise. Heather Nyong’o departed the firm in November 2021.
Practice head(s):
Thomas Mueller
Other key lawyers:
Perry Lange; Steven Cherry; Mark Ford; Leon Greenfield
Key clients
ELNA Co., Ltd
Salt River Project
Facebook, Inc.
Compañía SudAmericana de Vapores S.A (CSAV)
Banco Santander S.A
T-Mobile US, Inc.
AbbVie, Inc.
Novelis Inc.
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc
Heritage Guitars, Inc.
Cephalon, Inc
ACT – The App Association
Lenovo
Work highlights
- Represented ELNA Co., Ltd. and obtained a favourable settlement in a class action brought by direct purchasers alleging a decade-long cartel between manufacturers of tantalum, electrolytic and film capacitors.
- Representing Salt River Project in a class action alleging that the District’s electricity rate for rooftop-solar customers violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act and other state and federal law claims.
- Representing Facebook, Inc. in a lawsuit brought to fanfare by a group of app developers on behalf of a purported developer class, challenging Facebook’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp and its revocation of access to certain Facebook user data as violative of various antitrust laws.
Winston & Strawn LLP
Winston & Strawn LLP is known for its ‘deep knowledge, experience, and expertise in US antitrust matters, both from a litigation standpoint and from a counselling perspective’. In recent times, the firm has been particularly active in the financial services sector, although its reach spans a variety of industries including technology, food, pharmaceuticals, as well as sports and entertainment. Jeffrey Kessler, who brings to bear expertise at the intersection of antitrust with sports law and intellectual property matters, and Eva Cole , whose clients include corporations and individuals, jointly lead the department from New York. ‘Brilliant, hard-working, standout trial lawyer’ James Herbison, based in Chicago, handles class actions and civil litigation relating to price-fixing, bid-rigging, and other unfair competition issues. In New York, Heather Lamberg represents clients on both sides of the aisle in antitrust litigation, while high-tech expert Susannah Torpey and chair of college sports sub-practice David Greenspan are further names to note in the firm’s New York office.
Practice head(s):
Jeffrey Kessler; Eva Cole
Other key lawyers:
James Herbison; Heather Lamberg; Susannah Torpey; David Greenspan; Michael Mayer
Testimonials
‘In depth subject matter expertise. Strong government connections. Ability to quickly and succinctly deliver practical advice.’
‘I strongly recommend Heather Lamberg in the DC office of this firm. She is very smart to quickly grasp the essence of the matter.’
‘Deep knowledge, experience, and expertise in US antitrust matters, both from a litigation standpoint and from a counseling perspective. The antitrust team at Winston has been incredibly effective in the courtroom during litigation and in providing sound legal advice for navigating complex antitrust issues affecting our business.’
‘They are always available for virtual meetings, turnaround projects/assignments timely, and produce high quality work-product. I have enjoyed working with them and look forward to continued engagement on future matters.’
‘Relentless in their efforts, and peerless industry knowledge and experience; superior trial advocacy and experience.’
‘Jim Herbison is a brilliant, hard-working, standout trial lawyer.’
‘Jeffrey Kessler is the most knowledgeable and effective lawyer in America when it comes to antitrust law in sports. He is also extremely responsive and communicative. He goes above and beyond when he takes a case.’
‘Winston & Strawn was a wonderful partner and guide during a challenging process. The team worked well together, with each individual contributing distinct and valuable expertise. Everyone was cooperative and respectful of the work our team members were balancing, in addition to tasks related to the matter.’
Key clients
Baxter International
Camber Pharmaceuticals
Classes of current and former Div. 1 football and basketball players
Norman W. Fries, dba Claxton Poultry
Delta Dental Insurance Company and affiliates
Discover Financial Services
Englewood Healthcare Foundation
Equifax, Inc.
Harmoni Spice Co. Ltd.
JTEKT Corporation
KSA Lighting & Controls, Inc.
Metaswitch Networks
Monsanto Company
Motorola Solutions
National Football League Players Association (NFLPA)
National Pork Producers Council
North American Soccer League (NASL)
NorthShore University HealthSystem
NTN Corporation
Nuveen, LLC
Panasonic Corporation
PetIQ
Relevent Sports Group
SANYO
Kent Thiry (former CEO of DaVita)
TreeHouse Foods
U.S. Women’s Nation Team (USWNT) [soccer]
Well Fargo
WestRock Corporation
William Morris Endeavor
Zillow Group, Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing Motorola Solutions in a significant antitrust case filed against it by competitor Hytera as well as a parallel class action filed shortly thereafter brought by plaintiffs alleging that the client orchestrated a scheme to monopolize the U.S. market for land mobile radios.
Allen & Overy LLP
The ‘very efficient and pragmatic’ attorneys at Allen & Overy LLP‘s antitrust practice excel at defending clients in the financial services sector as well as in the technology and pharmaceutical space. The firm, which is well regarded in the market for its global reach, has also recently been involved in cases pertaining to the food and automotive industry. In August 2021, the firm added technology and pharmaceutical sector specialist Noah Brumfield, previously at White & Case LLP, to its DC bench. He is praised for being ‘an outstanding antitrust lawyer who deeply understands clients’ business’ and joins New York-based Elaine Johnston as co-head. John Roberti left the firm in March 2022.
Practice head(s):
Elaine Johnston; Noah Brumfield
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very efficient and pragmatic advisors’
‘Full service firm capped with excellent lawyers in all legal areas.’
‘Noah Brumfield is an outstanding antitrust lawyer who deeply understand clients’ business and can provide clients with practical legal advice.’
Key clients
Merz Pharmaceuticals
Samsung SDI
Barclays Bank Plc
BNP Paribas
Robert Bosch
Cargill
Tri-Union Seafoods
Wonderland Company Inc.
Hytera Communications
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP demonstrates particular strengths in the financial services industry, though the firm is also well respected in other sectors, including big tech. Practice head Arthur Burke routinely advises international tech corporations and financial institutions in antitrust litigation matters and is active in both the firm’s New York and Northern California offices. Price-fixing, monopolization and follow-on class actions fall into the area of expertise of Washington DC-based Jarrett Arp. Further key names to note in the firm’s New York hub are civil litigator Paul Mishkin and Sheila Adams, who was promoted to partner in July 2021 and whose clients stem from a variety of sectors such as media and entertainment, pharmaceutical, and technology.
Practice head(s):
Arthur Burke
Other key lawyers:
Jarrett Arp; Paul Mishkin; Sheila Adams
Dechert LLP
Dechert LLP is praised by a client for having a ‘very strong antitrust team, with tremendous depth on the bench and a keen insight on how to deal with the most vexing issues’. The firm handles matters across the whole range of antitrust litigation, including price-fixing and supply-reduction conspiracies as well as monopolization claims and other unfair competition. Specialising in antitrust defense litigation, Philadelphia-based Steven Bizar leads the practice together with Mike Cowie in Washington DC, who is particularly experienced in representing clients from the health care and life sciences industries. Also specialized in life sciences is George G Gordon in Philadelphia, while Shari Ross Lahlou has secured significant wins in tying, exclusive dealing, and cartel matters from the firm’s DC hub. At the beginning of 2022, Philadelphia-based Julia Chapman was elected to partner; she focuses on antitrust and complex commercial litigation in industries such as life sciences, chemicals, and agriculture.
Practice head(s):
Steven Bizar; Mike Cowie
Other key lawyers:
George G Gordon; Julia Chapman; Shari Ross Lahlou
Testimonials
‘Dechert has a very strong antitrust team, with tremendous depth on the bench and a keen insight on how to deal with the most vexing issues clients face. They are particularly strong on the litigation side of antitrust class actions, demonstrating a depth of experience.’
‘Steve Bizar is one of the cornerstones of the practice- a brilliant litigator who gets his hands into the details and knows exactly how to proceed.’
‘George Gordon is a delight to work with- a steady hand with a measured approach and very wise counsel.’
‘Julia Chapman is an up and coming partner who demonstrates knowledge far beyond her years. She is a superstar.’
Key clients
Ascensus, LLC; Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC; and Ascensus College Savings Recordkeeping Services, LLC
Citron Pharma, LLC
Clearon Corporation
Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Fresenius Medical Care
Humana Inc.
Interactive Brokers
Lannett Company, Inc.
Par Pharmaceuticals
Vortex Commercial Flooring
Marriott International, Inc.
Aetna Inc.
Ascensus, LLC; Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC; and Ascensus College Savings Recordkeeping Services, LLC
Citron Pharma, LLC
Clearon Corporation
DTE Energy
Eli Lilly & Company
Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Fresenius Medical Care
Humana Inc.
Interactive Brokers
Lannett Company, Inc.
Occidental Petroleum Corporation/ Occidental Chemical Corporation
Par Pharmaceuticals
Vortex Commercial Flooring
Work highlights
- Successfully defended Marriott International against complaints alleging conspiracies related to keyword advertising bidding; after five days of an antitrust jury trial secured a public apology and highly favorable settlement.
- Defending Occidental Petroleum in a direct and indirect purchaser class action cases alleging a price-fixing and supply-reduction conspiracy involving the major domestic producers of caustic soda.
- Representing Fresenius Medical Care in its defense of claims that they monopolized the market for dialysis services.
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
O’Melveny & Myers LLP focuses its antitrust practice on litigating complex matters including class actions, cartels, and unfair competition. In Washington DC, Ben Bradshaw leads the department together with Ian Simmons, whose expertise spans cartels and cases at the intersection of antitrust with intellectual property. Another name to note in DC is Katrina Robson with experience in the technology, transport, and telecom sectors, among others. New York-based antitrust litigation specialist Andrew Frackman and Stephen McIntyre, who was promoted to partner in January 2021, represent clients in antitrust matters from the firm’s New York and Los Angeles hubs, respectively. In February 2021, Julia Schiller returned to the DC group after having spent three years as counsel to the Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division.
Practice head(s):
Ian Simmons; Ben Bradshaw
Other key lawyers:
Katrina Robson; Andrew Frackman; Stephen McIntyre; Julia Schiller
Testimonials
‘Andy Frackman has significant expertise and experience in the antitrust space. He is a great advocate who incorporates practicality into legal advice.‘
Key clients
AT&T
Bitcoin.com
Capital One Financial
C.R. Bard, Inc.
Endo Pharmaceuticals
Exxon Mobile
Ford Motor Corp.
Global Music Rights
Novartis
Par Pharmaceuticals
Penguin Random House
Realogy Corp.
Royal Bank of Canada
Samsung Bioepis
Samsung Electronics
US Airways, Inc.
Wells Fargo
Work highlights
- Secured a victory of first impression for Bitcoin.com in the Southern District of Florida, where plaintiff had alleged that defendants conspired to “hijack” a cryptocurrency fork that allegedly caused a $4 billion capitalization meltdown and significantly diminished the company’s Bitcoin holdings value.
- Represented DIRECTV in class action claims against DIRECTV, all 32 NFL teams, and the league, alleging that a distribution deal between DIRECTV and the NFL violated the Sherman Act.
- Defending Google in four multi-party antitrust cases, against opponents ranging from game and app developers to consumers and state attorneys general – all of which have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of California.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Technology companies facing complex antitrust litigation issues routinely turn to Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP for their defense expertise. The firm is also well regarded for its advice to other industries such as insurance and automotive. Practice head Jay Jurata specializes in the intersection of antitrust with intellectual property on both a domestic and global level and acts as a longstanding advisor for blue-chip technology corporations. Amy Ray focuses on vertical pricing and distribution issues, while technology and financial services specialist James Tierney and San Francisco-based distribution law expert Howard Ullman are other key contacts. In early 2022, the group expanded with the hires of Eileen Cole from White & Case LLP and Craig Falls, formerly at Dechert LLP, who both add significant antitrust experience in the life sciences sector.
Practice head(s):
Jay Jurata
Other key lawyers:
James Tierney; Amy Ray; Howard Ullman; Eileen Cole; Craig Falls
Key clients
Microsoft Corporation
Delta Dental Plan of California
Continental Corporation
Nanya Technology Corporation
Netflix
Zillow
Fujifilm Corporation
Continental Corporation
ANI Pharmaceuticals Inc.
ACV Auctions, Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing Zillow in defense of a Section 1 antitrust case (REX-Real Estate Exchange, Inc. v. Zillow, Inc., et al.) filed in the W.D. Washington alleging that Zillow and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) are engaging in a horizontal conspiracy to foreclose a discount real estate brokerage from disrupting the typical 6% seller-buyer commission sales model.
- Defending ACV Auctions in a Section 1 price fixing and RICO class action filed in the W.D.N.Y., just days before its Initial Public Offering. The complaint alleges that ACV, which operates a wholesale online auction platform for used cars, conspired with sellers on that platform to submit shill bids in order to drive up prices for the vehicles being auctioned.
- Defending Delta Dental Plan of California and other Delta entities (representing over a dozen of the states in which Delta Dental does business nationally, including New York, Pennsylvania and Texas) in the In re Delta Dental Antitrust Litigation pending before the Northern District of Illinois.
Paul Hastings LLP
The antitrust and competition practice at Paul Hastings LLP consists of a team ‘with breadth of experiences’. At the beginning of 2021, Gary Zanfagna, who previously chaired the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section, joined as new practice head in Washington DC with extensive experience in matters pertaining to global antitrust issues. In New York, Barry Sher and Anthony Antonelli are regularly sought after by clients in the financial services sector, while DC-based Michael Spafford handles cases relating to allegations of price-fixing, collusion, and violations of federal securities, among others. In August 2021, the firm also welcomed Michael Murray from the DOJ to its DC office.
Practice head(s):
Gary Zanfagna
Other key lawyers:
Barry Sher; Anthony Antonelli; Michael Spafford; Michael Murray
Testimonials
‘A solid team with a breadth of experiences brings good perspective to matters.’
‘James “Bo” Pearl is accessible and provides timely, practical advice. Michael Murray brings his government experience to bear on matters with good insights.’
Key clients
Barclays
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Nu Dotco, LLC
Align Technology
Etsy, Inc.
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
Robert Bosch
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Ubisoft
Work highlights
- Representing Barclays Bank PLC and certain of its affiliates (“Barclays”) in In Re SSA Bonds Antitrust Litigation, a putative class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claiming Barclays, and more than 30 other financial institutions, are involved in a global, decade-long conspiracy to fix prices and restrain competition in the $9 trillion SSA bond market.
- Representing Barclays Capital Inc. in Litovich v. Bank of America, et. al. (Case No.: 20-cv-3154), a putative class action lawsuit filed in April 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging a conspiracy to fix prices and restrain competition on odd-lots of corporate bonds (i.e., bond trades less than $1M in par value) sold in the secondary market.
- Representing RBC in LAMP v. Bank of America, et. al. (Case No. 20-cv-1095) filed on April 1, 2020 in the Eastern District of Louisiana, with plaintiffs accusing RBC and two dozen other financial institutions of being involved in a multi-year conspiracy to fix prices and restrain competition on sales of bonds issued by government sponsored entities (GSEs).
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
With ‘a good mix of highly skilled partners, mid-level partners and associates’, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP sports an antitrust practice that defends clients across every major industry with a deep understanding of both the DOJ and FTC. Having opened an office in Brussels in summer 2021, the firm has strengthened its international reach through close collaboration of the Brussels team with the US offices. Sara Razi and John Terzaken in Washington DC, as well as New York-based Peter Guryan head the antitrust and trade regulation practice. Also in New York, Lynn Neuner was recently appointed global co-chair of the firm’s litigation department alongside Jonathan Youngwood, whose expertise spans securities litigation and corporate control in addition to antitrust. DC-based Abram Ellis excels at antitrust matters related to financial instruments, employment issues, and the healthcare industry.
Practice head(s):
Sara Razi; John Terzaken; Peter Guryan; Lynn Neuner; Jonathan Youngwood
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Abram Ellis is a phenomenal advisor – both on day to day advisory matters, but also on complex litigation. He helps us do our business in a more efficient and less risky way. He is a star.’
‘Simpson Thacher is a great value and great resource. Their teams are well staffed with a good mix of highly skilled partners, mid-level partners and associates.’
‘Our company works primarily with John Terzaken. John stands out for his creative thinking and strategic problem-solving skills, which is why he has been trusted to handle some of our most complex matters. By combining his technical knowledge with his DOJ experience, John provides practical guidance for business realities in a way that promotes compliance and leads to business solutions.’
Key clients
Apiture, Inc.
Booking Holdings Inc.
Change Healthcare
Covestro LLC
Cross Country Healthcare
Deutsche Bank
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
McKesson Corporation
Micron Technology, Inc.
Tyson Foods
Work highlights
- Represented and obtained a dismissal with prejudice for Deutsche Bank in a class action alleging banks alleging banks conspired to fix prices in the Mexican government bond market.
- Representing HCA Healthcare, Inc. in class action alleging HCA engaged in anticompetitive tactics.
- Representing Apiture Inc. in class action alleging a no-hire agreement.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
With a strong track record in securing pre-trial victories for defendants, including motions to dismiss and defeating class certification, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP covers a wide range of industries and claims in its antitrust and competition practice. Clients praise the practice group for its ability to ‘truly listen’ and create ‘a solid relation of trust and efficiency.’ Steven Newborn leads the group from Washington DC, where Carrie Mahan is regularly involved in high-stakes class actions and civil litigation, including in the agribusiness, food, and hotel sectors. In New York, Eric Hochstadt is active on the defense side in matters pertaining to monopolization, no-poaching, and price-fixing, while Adam Hemlock is another key contact on the East Coast.
Practice head(s):
Steven Newborn
Other key lawyers:
Carrie Mahan; Eric Hochstadt; Adam Hemlock
Testimonials
‘Firms always require briefing, which can be time- and energy-consuming. With the team at Weil, I had the impression they really get who we are and what we do, what matters to us, our appetite for risk/no risk very quickly. The team truly listens to and hears their client. This creates a solid relation of trust and efficiency as everything is running more smoothly.’
Key clients
BASF Corporation
Bridgestone
Bio-Rad Laboratories
GrubHub
Hilton
H&R Block
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Saks Fifth Avenue
Sanofi
Simon & Schuster
Torrent Pharma
ViacomCBS
Work highlights
- Successfully defended Hilton, resolving a nationwide antitrust consumer class action and a parallel litigation filed against Hilton and other major hotel chains where plaintiffs alleged that defendant hotel companies conspired to eliminate competition for branded keyword search advertising against each other.
- Representing Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in a competitor case for wrongful patent enforcement and anticompetitive adverse to Novartis and Vetter for restraining trade and attempting to monopolize the market for anti-VEGF prefilled syringes in the U.S.
- Representing BASF in an industry-wide class action alleging a group boycott of electronic platforms in the crop inputs industry.
Williams & Connolly LLP
Representing clients exclusively out of its Washington DC office, Williams & Connolly LLP demonstrates particular strengths in antitrust litigation within the pharmaceutical and technology space and sports longstanding relationships with a number of blue-chip corporates. John Schmidtlein, who is specialized in civil and criminal antitrust litigation as well as government investigations, and Jonathan Pitt, whose practice includes representing clients in matters of monopolization, no-poaching, and price-fixing, jointly lead the group. At the intersection between antitrust, intellectual property and the pharmaceutical industry lies the expertise of ‘highly talented litigator’ Benjamin Greenblum. Other key contacts are bet-the-company litigation expert Colette Connor and antitrust and securities litigation specialist Carol Pruski.
Practice head(s):
John Schmidtlein; Jonathan Pitt
Other key lawyers:
Benjamin Greenblum; Colette Connor; Carol Pruski
Testimonials
‘The Williams & Connolly team are excellent advocates, both orally and in writing. Their written work product is fantastic. They are also very knowledgeable about the pharmaceutical industry.’
‘Ben Greenblum is super knowledgeable regarding antitrust/competition law as it pertains to the pharmaceutical industry. He always gives very sound/practical legal advice.’
‘Elite antitrust litigators in the pharmaceutical and technology space. Smart, aggressive, and strategic.’
‘Ben Greenblum is a highly talented litigator with a deep knowledge of the pharmaceutical antitrust laws.’
Key clients
Amazon.com, Inc.
United Therapeutics Corporation
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Par Pharmaceuticals
Celgene/Bristol Myers-Squibb
Bank of America
Endo Pharmaceuticals
Hospira/Pfizer
CVS Pharmacy, Inc. and Caremark PCS Health, LLC
Work highlights
- Serving as lead counsel for Google in the antitrust enforcement actions brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and various State Attorneys General accusing the company of maintaining an illegal monopoly over internet search and search advertising.
- Representing Amazon in class action litigation brought against Amazon and the major book publishers alleging various antitrust claims regarding the distribution and sale of eBooks.
- Representing United Therapeutics Corp. in an antitrust, unfair competition, tortious interference, and contract action involving its drug, Remodulin, which treats a rare condition known as pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP's antitrust department excels particularly in the financial services space, where it counts a number of leading banks and financial institutions among its clients. The firm is also active in the commodities, transports, and e-commerce sectors. Elai Katz, a ‘brilliant jurist with very strong strategic orientation’, leads the team which is 'always on top of the matter and gives clients full confidence’, and recently gained securities, antitrust and commercial lawsuits specialist Edward Moss, formerly at O’Melveny & Myers LLP. Financial sector experts David Januszewski, Joel Kurtzberg, and Herbert Washer are also recommended for their experience in antitrust class actions and civil litigation. All mentioned attorneys are based in New York.
Practice head(s):
Elai Katz
Other key lawyers:
Herbert Washer; David Januszewski; Joel Kurtzberg; Edward Moss
Testimonials
‘Elai Katz is a great lawyer. Knowledgable, smart, thinks outside the box. Simply the best antitrust lawyer out there (or at the very least – the best “how have you not heard of him?” antitrust lawyer out there.’
‘The Cahill litigation team is always on top of the matter and gives me full confidence when working with them.’
‘The team is lean and mean. Very active partner engagement makes the team efficient and effective. Focus on the key items, efficient in execution.’
‘Elai Katz, combines supreme experience and insight with pleasant personality. Old-style litigator in the positive sense; really interested in the law and precedents and able to see around the curve on that basis.’
‘The team is highly knowledgeable and innovative in all aspects of the litigation process – from procedure through arguments on the merits and ending in strategy. We have been working with many firms on cross border class actions and we can say with much confidence that Cahill’s overall capabilities are exquisite.’
‘Elai Katz – Elai has a combination of skills that are very hard to find – he is a brilliant jurist with very strong strategic orientation which enables the client to obtain the most cost effective advice one can find.’
Key clients
Credit Suisse
American Express
1-800-FLOWERS
Envigo International Holdings
Deutsche Bank
JP Morgan Securities
S&P Global
Walmart
ICON plc
Arch Capital Group
Work highlights
- Representing Credit Suisse in a sprawling multi-district litigation where plaintiffs filed over 70 complaints alleging that banks colluded and manipulated USD LIBOR in violation of antitrust laws, RICO, and state laws resulting in billions of dollars in damages.
- Defending Credit Suisse in class action filed in federal court in New York alleging antitrust law violations involving trading in the multi-trillion dollar market for U.S. dollar-denominated supranational, sovereign, and agency (“SSA”) bonds.
- Continuing to represent Credit Suisse in a major foreign exchange antitrust case alleging conspiracies to manipulate FX rates and widen spreads.
DLA Piper LLP (US)
DLA Piper LLP (US) is praised for the ‘incredible depth of its worldwide practice’ and ‘the ability to pool resources from a wide range of attorneys’. Lisa Tenorio-Kutzkey leads the practice from San Francisco with strong capabilities in bet-the-company litigation and multi-jurisdictional cases. David Bamberger, described as a ‘dogged advocate, a brilliant tactician, and a very thoughtful lawyer’, is located in Washington DC and focuses on a wide range of litigation matters relating to antitrust and trade regulation, including class actions. Other names to note in the firms Chicago office are business and antitrust litigators John Hamill and Robby Robertson. Former co-chair of the group Lesli Esposito left the firm in February 2021.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
David Bamberger; John Hamill; Robby Robertson; John Gibson
Testimonials
‘DLA Piper has the incredible depth of its worldwide practice, and the ability to pool resources from a wide range of attorneys.’
‘David Bamberger is one of the finest antitrust litigators in the country. He is a dogged advocate, a brilliant tactician, and a very thoughtful lawyer.’
‘David Bamberger has broad knowledge of the field of antitrust that he can easily convey to clients.’
Key clients
Verra Mobility Corporation
AMN Healthcare (2 matters)
Danielson National Insurance Company
Danieli Corporation
McCormick & Company, Inc.
Komatsu America Corp.
Domino’s Pizza
Pool Corporation
International Franchise Association
American Chemical Society
Gemological Institute of America
World Resources Institute
Work highlights
- Represented Verra Mobility Corporation, in a case where a purported competitor, PlusPass Inc. has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit claiming that a 2018 merger created an illegal monopoly— that exclusive agreements between Verra’s subsidiaries and the RACs have foreclosed competition, and that Verra has foreclosed competition through various strategies to interrupt technology solutions by PlusPass and other high-technology would-be competitors.
- Secured a significant appellate victory on behalf of AMN Healthcare,, in the lawsuit brought under federal and state antitrust laws in which Aya Healthcare alleged a potpourri of claims against AMN in an 80-page complaint seeking more than US$50 million in damages, including claims alleging the use of “no-poaching” restrictions, unreasonable non-compete agreements, exclusivity arrangements, a unilateral refusal to deal, sham litigation, monopolistic acquisitions and cash flow squeezes.
- Represented Danieli Corporation in an antitrust complaint alleging that Danieli conspired with Commercial Metals Company to restrain trade in and monopolize the alleged rebar steel manufacturing market, with the Court dismissing all claims against both Danieli and CMC in May 2021.
Eimer Stahl LLP
Praised by a client for its ‘unparallelled expertise in antitrust matters, coupled with outstanding litigation skills‘, litigation boutique Eimer Stahl LLP represents clients in state and federal courts in a number of high-profile antitrust matters. Chemicals, industrial goods, technology, insurance, and electronics are among the industries covered by the practice which is led by Nathan Eimer, a ‘top-notch litigator with great strategic vision’ as well as antitrust litigation specialist Vanessa Jacobsen. The sector expertise of Michael McCluggage extends to financial services, airlines and equipment manufacturers, among others, while Scott Solberg covers class actions pertaining to allegations such as price-fixing. All mentioned attorneys are based in the firm’s Chicago office.
Practice head(s):
Nathan Eimer; Vanessa Jacobsen
Other key lawyers:
Michael McCluggage; Scott Solberg
Testimonials
‘The Eimer Stahl team has unparallelled expertise in antitrust matters, coupled with outstanding litigation skills. They are a go-to for “bet the company” litigation.’
‘Nate Eimer: A top-notch litigator with great strategic vision. Provides comprehensive legal services with a keen ability to emphasize and understand a client’s needs and objectives. It is rare to find an attorney who provide a legal guidance while seamlessly integrating the company’s internal objectives. Nate Eimer has been an individual we consistently confer with on the company’s most important matters based upon a high level of trust and confidence we have in him.’
‘The combined experience of the team is unmatched. The team has a proven track record and has successfully litigated a number of high stakes matters for several of my companies. In significant litigation, the firms discovery services is critical in managing budgets. The firm also understand how large companies operate and bills with transparency and integrity. In 10 years that I have worked with the team, I have yet to be surprised by a bill or had to dispute a charge.’
Key clients
LG Electronics Inc.
Masonite Corporation
Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Fox Corporation
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
The Dow Chemical Company
Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation
CNA Financial Corporation
Schreiber Foods, Inc.
SK hynix, Inc.
Work highlights
- Represented Apple Inc. against claims of antitrust violations related to performance rights of musical works and counselled Apple as a potential opt-out plaintiff or claimant in other antitrust class actions.
- Represented Masonite Corporation in a significant class action matter alleging price-fixing between Masonite and its principal competitor in the interior molded door industry.
- Representing two unrelated defendants, Winfield Solutions, LLC, a subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, and Federated Cooperatives Limited (in Canada), in multidistrict antitrust litigation alleging an industry-wide conspiracy to boycott online competitors in the market for certain agricultural crop inputs.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
With many of its team members having formerly worked at the DOJ and FTC, the antitrust litigation practice at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is involved in numerous high-profile matters, particularly in the technology space. Eric Mahr spearheads the team with strong expertise in multi-district litigation and is described by a client as a ‘truly excellent antitrust litigator and counselor’. Julie Elmer for whom ‘no case is too daunting’, routinely defends clients in class actions and commercial litigation, while Andrew Ewalt has recently handled matters pertaining to monopolization claims and unfair competition. All mentioned attorneys are based in Washington DC.
Practice head(s):
Eric Mahr
Other key lawyers:
Julie Elmer; Andrew Ewalt
Testimonials
‘Very diligent, efficient, service-minded with a good commercial understanding.’
‘Eric Mahr – exquisite understanding and depth of knowledge regarding antitrust litigation combined with terrific interpersonal skills and commercial understanding.
‘The team is extremely collaborative, working well in a large joint defense group consisting of many firms.’
‘Eric Mahr is a truly excellent antitrust litigator and counselor, and he has a good team working with him. Eric has a great courtroom demeanor and a calm, steady hand through crises. Andrew Ewalt has a deep knowledge of antitrust law and a measured, considerate, and deliberate approach.’
‘Seasoned, fearless, and confident litigators who can tackle an immense project and effectively, methodically cut it down into organized tasks, develop the most effective strategies, and execute efficiently and with a minimum of drama. First class professionals in every respect.’
‘Eric Mahr is the consummate professional -thoughtful, focused, and creative -yet with a fearlessness that is all too rare among high-stakes commercial litigators. His government experience gives him credibility and an edge in court and over his adversaries.
Julie Elmer is a can-do, relentless, and effective litigator who draws on her government experience to craft effective strategies and provide sound client advice. No case is too daunting for her to organize and set on course for a successful resolution.’
Key clients
Cengage
Hachette
Evonik
PepsiCo
United Airlines
Cargill
Universal Music
Work highlights
- Defending Google in In re Google Digital Advertising Antitrust Litigation, a massive multidistrict litigation involving antitrust and deceptive trade practice claims related to the company’s online advertising practices, as well as putative classes of publishers and advertisers, and individual opt-out publishers.
- Secured victories for Cengage at multiple stages during the course of litigation for In re Inclusive Access Course Materials Antitrust Litigation, including successfully staying discovery, achieving consolidation and transfer to the Southern District of New York, and culminating in us winning dismissal of all claims so resoundingly that plaintiffs chose not to appeal.
- Representing Cargill, one of the largest privately held companies in the US, in numerous US class actions stemming from a Canadian Competition Bureau investigation into alleged anticompetitive activity related to the sale of Crop Inputs.
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Hogan Lovells US LLP regularly defends clients in bet-the-company litigation and unfair competition cases, and works closely together with other departments of the firm including employment, intellectual property, and white collar. The practice group is lead by a quartet of attorneys based in Washington DC: Justin Bernick, Benjamin Holt, William Monts, and Charles Loughlin, all of whom have extensive experience representing domestic and international corporations in high-profile matters across a host of industries. Also in DC, Edith Ramirez excels at the intersection of antitrust with privacy and cybersecurity, particularly in the technology and life sciences sectors.
Practice head(s):
Justin Bernick; Benjamin Holt; Charles Loughlin; William Monts
Other key lawyers:
Edith Ramirez
Key clients
UnitedHealth Group
Viatris (formerly Mylan)
Societe Generale
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Takeda
PPG Industries
Multiple Blue Cross Blue Shield plans
Ford Motor Company
AEG
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
Choice Hotels International
Agri Stats, Inc.
Edwards Vacuum
Work highlights
- Achieved a trial victory for Albert Einstein against the FTC regarding a hospital merger.
- Represented Choice Hotels in multiple lawsuits (including putative class actions) challenging restrictions on branded keyword bidding in paid search advertising, obtaining dismissal of a class action and lawsuit brought by online travel agency.
- Succeeded in obtaining summary judgment on behalf of Takeda Pharmaceuticals in a case brought by a competitor alleging that Takeda’s patent lawsuit violated the antitrust law and raising important issues regarding the intersection of intellectual property and antitrust laws in the pharmaceutical industry.
King & Spalding LLP
With an antitrust practice that has an ‘incredible wealth of knowledge’ , King & Spalding LLP routinely represents blue-chip clients across various sectors and industries. Norm Armstrong and Jeffrey Spigel, whose portfolios range from class action cases and civil and criminal antitrust investigations to other unfair competition, jointly lead the group from Washington DC. In Atlanta, Jeffrey Cashdan brings to bear experience in criminal and civil global cartel matters as well as antitrust actions in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and financial industries, among others. Emily Newton, also based in Atlanta, has recently handled cases regarding alleged conspiracies in jurisdictions across the US.
Practice head(s):
Norm Armstrong; Jeffrey Spigel
Other key lawyers:
Jeffrey Cashdan; Emily Newton
Testimonials
‘Great firm. Incredible wealth of knowledge.’
‘Norm Armstrong has first-rate experience that helps him navigate matters others cannot. And he is just such a stellar individual in how he conducts himself. His integrity is above all.’
Key clients
Delta Airlines
BASF Corporation
The Coca-Cola Company
Xerox Corporation
Porsche Cars North America
The Home Depot
Energizer
Peloton Interactive, Inc.
Aaron’s
Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc.
Equifax
Evangelical Community Hospital
Hanesbrands
Deutsche Bank
H.I.G. Capital
Huntington Ingalls Industries
HD Supply
Ochsner Health System
InterContinental Hotels Group
Mueller Water Products, Inc.
Mailchimp
Progressive Casualty Insurance Company
Starwood Energy Group
Tenet Healthcare
Under Armour
Hunter Douglas
Kemira Chemicals Inc.
Sutter Health System
Quikrete Holdings, Inc.
Westrock Company
Emory Healthcare
Queen’s Health System
Viserion Grain, LLC
Work highlights
- Earning a win in a federal court jury verdict for BASF in its antitrust dispute with Ingevity Corp alleging the latter committed antitrust violations.
- Serving as lead counsel to Progressive Casualty Insurance Co., and several related insurance entities, in consolidated antitrust actions alleging a conspiracy to restrain trade among U.S. automobile insurance companies.
- Serving as lead counsel for InterContinental Hotels Group in two antitrust actions alleging a conspiracy among leading hotel brands to fix prices by agreeing to refrain from bidding on other hotel brand names as key words in online search engines.
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
McDermott Will & Emery LLP provides full-spectrum antitrust services for its clients and is particularly well regarded for its expertise in the healthcare sector, although its industry focus also extends to consumer goods, packaging, steel, and technology. Raymond Jacobsen leads the practice from Washington DC, while healthcare and antitrust expert Stephen Wu is located in Chicago alongside ‘outstanding litigator and advocate’ Katharine O’Connor. In early 2021, the firm added a number of new partners to its DC antitrust bench: Justin Murphy, who was previously at the DOJ and focuses on bid-rigging, price-fixing, hiring practices, and market allocations, former Hogan Lovells US LLP partner Andrew Lee, and Lesli Esposito, who joined from DLA Piper LLP (US).
Practice head(s):
Raymond Jacobsen
Other key lawyers:
Stephen Wu; Katharine O’Connor; Lesli Esposito; Justin Murphy; Andrew Lee; Michelle Lowery
Testimonials
‘Katherine O’Connor is an outstanding litigator and advocate. She is also excellent in court and has great strategic experience.’
Key clients
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
Constellation Brands
Amneal / Impax Laboratories
Lockheed Martin
Premier Inc.
Motorola
NGK Insulators, Inc.
Treehouse Foods, Inc.
Ballad Health
Main Line Health
TriHealth
Baxter Healthcare
Kent Thiry (Former CEO of DaVita)
Southern Illinois Healthcare
Permanente Medical Group
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
Geisinger Health
Lake Health
Cedars Sinai Health System
US Anesthesia Partners
Motorola Mobility LLC
Honey Bum
Work highlights
- Representing two defendants, Impax Laboratories and Amneal Pharmaceuticals, in a large antitrust multidistrict litigation in the United States.
- Secured a dismissal for client Allscripts in a case that arose out of a multi-year investigation brought by the Federal Trade Commission.
- Representing Southern Illinois Healthcare, the largest non-profit healthcare system in Southern Illinois that operates three hospitals, healthcare clinics, and ancillary facilities, 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.
McGuireWoods LLP
For McGuireWoods LLP, antitrust litigation constitutes one of its key practice areas, in which the firm represents trade associations, individuals, and corporations in matters including multi-district class actions and indirect purchaser litigation. Allegations of bid rigging, no-poach agreements, market allocation and monopolization form part of the department’s portfolio, led by Chicago-based ‘standout lawyer’ Amy Manning. In Richmond, Howard Feller and Brent Justus are key contacts, while Angelo Russo and Sarah Zielinski are recommended for their antitrust expertise in the firm’s Chicago hub.
Practice head(s):
Amy Manning
Other key lawyers:
Howard Feller; Brent Justus; Angelo Russo; Sarah Zielinski
Testimonials
‘Exceptional leaders in this industry. Amy Manning is a standout lawyer.’
Key clients
Fresenius Kabi
Schneider National Inc.
Argos USA Corp.
CSX Transportation Inc.
Elite Staffing, Inc.
JELD-WEN, Inc.
Work highlights
- Won an appeal for Fresenius Kabi USA LLC, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, in an antitrust matter in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
- Represented transportation company Schneider National in an antitrust lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The case has been favorably settled.
- Defending staffing agency Elite in an antitrust lawsuit brought by the Illinois Attorney General that raises novel questions regarding the scope of the Illinois Antitrust Act.
Morrison Foerster
With a practice group that is active on both sides of the aisle, Morrison Foerster is well equipped to represent clients in multidistrict class actions and follow-on civil litigation pertaining to allegations such as price-fixing, monopolization, no-poaching and wage-fixing. The practice group is led by Washington DC-based trio Jeff Jaeckel, Lisa Phelan, and Alex Okuliar. The latter joined the department as co-chair in early 2021 from the DOJ, and the firm also welcomed David Shaw in spring 2021, formerly at the DOJ. In San Francisco, Eliot Adelson handles complex antitrust litigation for clients from a variety of sectors, and Bonnie Lau is involved in cases with a large international dimension.
Practice head(s):
Jeff Jaeckel; Alex Okuliar; Lisa Phelan
Other key lawyers:
David Shaw; Eliot Adelson; Bonnie Lau; David Cross; Michael Miller
Key clients
Alcon
DNA Genotek
Gary McDonald
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
Hitachi
Matsuo Electric
Murata Manufacturing
Nexstar Media Group
Teradata
Work highlights
- Representing Nexstar Media Group, Inc., a national media company and the largest owner of local television stations in the United States, in an antitrust investigation by the DOJ and follow-on class action litigation related to the broadcast television spot advertisement market.
- Defending Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, a major pharmaceutical company in a multi-district antitrust litigation, consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, relating to alleged price fixing against generic drug makers.
- Acting as lead trial counsel for Matsuo Electric Co., Ltd., a Japanese electric components company, in its defense of price-fixing conspiracy claims regarding capacitors brought by a direct purchaser class, indirect purchaser class, and opt-out plaintiffs filed in the Northern District of California.
Norton Rose Fulbright
The antitrust and competition practice group at Norton Rose Fulbright encompasses the representation of clients from a wide variety of sectors including pharmaceuticals and technology. Robin Adelstein is the key contact, who routinely handles complex class actions and multi-jurisdictional cases before state and federal courts and splits her time between New York and Washington DC. Business dispute expert Michael Swartzendruber in Dallas and Layne Kruse, who is based in Houston and DC, are further names to note. Darryl Anderson excels at the intersection of antitrust with securities and health care litigation in Houston, while DC-based Amanda Wait sports deep knowledge of and close relationships with both the DOJ and FTC.
Practice head(s):
Robin Adelstein
Other key lawyers:
Layne Kruse; Michael Swartzendruber; Darryl Anderson; Amanda Wait
Key clients
Cinemark USA, Inc.
AMC Theatres
Southwest Airlines Co.
Office Depot
Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC (now known as Bausch Health US, LLC), Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (now known as Bausch Health Americas, Inc.), and Oceanside Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (all subsidiaries of Bausch Health Companies, Inc.)
Republic National Distributing Company, Central Liquor Company, L.P. and Best Brands of Delaware, LLC
Santek Waste Services
Mission Pharmacal
Robert Bosch Tool Corp.
Farmers Insurance
Flotek Industries
Landry’s Inc.
Phillips 66
CHRISTUS Health
Texas A&M University 12th Man Foundation
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. (and affiliates/subsidiaries)
Eli Lilly and Company
Work highlights
- Representing an international pharmaceutical company in a case in which plaintiffs allege horizontal price fixing, market allocation and bid rigging among and between manufacturers and sellers of generic pharmaceuticals in putative antitrust class actions that have been consolidated in multidistrict litigation.
- Representing Republic National Distributing Company (second-largest wine and liquor distributor in the US); Central Liquor Company, L.P. and Best Brands of Delaware, LLC in connection with antitrust litigation brought in the Northern District of Oklahoma alleging a per se group boycott, monopolization and attempted monopolization in violation of the Sherman Act and Oklahoma antitrust laws.
- Represented Cinemark USA, Inc., the country’s third largest publicly-traded movie theater company, in a 14 year legal battle against Flagship Theatres of Palm Desert, LLC., where Flagship alleged that Cinemark violated California antitrust laws by engaged in two different forms of “circuit dealing.”
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP‘s antitrust and competition practice group represents clients in matters such as price-fixing investigations, follow-on class action, and direct action litigation with a sector focus in energy, telecoms, and electronics, among others. Roxane Polidora leads the team from San Francisco, focusing on cartel cases in a variety of industries. Also located on the West Coast are unfair competition expert Jacob Sorensen and Andrew Lanphere, whose portfolio includes healthcare and real estate matters. Antitrust and securities litigation are strong suits of San Francisco-based Laura Hurtado, while Michael Sibarium in Washington DC is sought after by both the public and private sectors.
Practice head(s):
Roxane Polidora
Other key lawyers:
Jacob Sorensen; Andrew Lanphere; Laura Hurtado; Michael Sibarium
Key clients
KEMET Corporation and KEMET Electronics Corporation
TOKIN Corporation and TOKIN America, Inc.
24 Hour Fitness
Hotel Tonight, Inc.
Starkist Co.
CRST International, Inc. and CRST Expedited, Inc.
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Lucile Salter Packard
Norwegian Air
Air China
Lehigh Hanson
Work highlights
- Represent KEMET Corporation and KEMET Electronics Corporation, a major American electronics manufacturer of capacitors in antitrust class and direct purchaser actions filed in federal court in San Francisco.
- Representing TOKIN Corporation and TOKIN America, Inc., a Japanese electronics company and its U.S. subsidiary in antitrust class and direct actions filed in federal court in San Francisco in the inductors multi-district litigation.
- Successfully defended IDSA, the world’s leading professional society of physicians, scientists and public health experts who specialize in infectious diseases (including Covid-19 and AIDS), and six physicians sued in their individual capacities against major RICO, antitrust, and fraud claims related to IDSA’s clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.
Proskauer Rose LLP
Proskauer Rose LLP guides clients though all stages of major antitrust disputes and has a solid track record of defending them in bet-the-company antitrust litigation and regulatory investigations. The firm brings to bear a particular focus on the agriculture and food industry as well as the sports sector, where it routinely represents a large variety of professional sports organizations. Colin Kass acts as the practice’s co-head from Washington DC, handling matters ranging from class actions and price discrimination to competitor suits. Also in DC, co-head Christopher Ondeck leads the firm’s price gouging team with strengths in bet-the-company cases.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Wayne Farms
Major League Soccer
Arkema, S.A.
Weyerhaeuser
Grifols S.A.
Butterball, LLC
Daybreak Foods
Cross Country Health Care
United Egg Producers
Power Five athletic conference defendants (Pac 12, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and SEC)
IHS Markit
KB Holdings
Foresight Technology Corp.
Medley Capital
Reed Smith LLP
Reed Smith LLP represents clients in numerous kinds of class actions and civil litigation including matters pertaining to monopolization and unfair competition. The practice counts pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, insurance, financial services, and media technology among its key sectors. Practice head Michelle Mantine and healthcare specialist Will Sheridan are located in the firm’s Pittsburg office. Edward Duffy handles complex antitrust issues from Houston, while Daniel Booker and Debra Dermody are further key contacts in Pittsburg. Fred Egler left the firm in November 2021.
Practice head(s):
Michelle Mantine
Other key lawyers:
Will Sheridan; Edward Duffy; Daniel Booker; Debra Dermody
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
The antitrust and competition team at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP handles and assortment of cases in its defense side practice, including monopoly violations, joint collaborations, and market foreclosures. One of the firm’s specializations lies at the intersection of antitrust and IP, particularly within the technology sector. Mike Scarborough leads the department from San Francisco, placing a focus on matters regarding international cartel investigations, class actions, commercial disputes, and consumer protection matters. Further key contacts are Michael Cohen and Leo Caseria, both in Washington DC. In January 2021, John Carroll joined the DC office from a previous position at King & Spalding LLP.
Practice head(s):
Mike Scarborough
Other key lawyers:
Michael Cohen; Leo Caseria; John Carroll
Key clients
Continental Automotive Systems Inc.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Mastercard International
ESET LLC
Jain Irrigation Inc.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Fuyao Glass America Inc.
ACT, Inc.
San Francisco Association of Realtors
Reynolds & Reynolds Company
Cal Portland Company
Amerifoods Trading Co.
Odem International
Markstein Beverage
Work highlights
- Leading the defense of the Reynolds and Reynolds Company in U.S. antitrust federal investigations, state attorney general investigations, federal multidistrict litigation and federal lawsuits challenging state regulations, all relating to alleged data access disputes in the market for automotive computer system software.
- Represented Samsung Electronics in global patent and standards-related antitrust governmental proceedings and MDL litigation involving Qualcomm.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP routinely defends clients in opt-out litigation and treble-damage class actions as well as against monopolization and unfair competition claims. The firm is also heavily involved in the sports sector where it represents a number of sports leagues in antitrust litigation. Steven Sunshine and Clifford Aronson jointly lead the antitrust and competition practice group from Washington DC and New York, respectively. Boris Bershteyn (New York) and Tara Reinhart (DC) are further key contacts.
Practice head(s):
Steven Sunshine; Clifford Aronson
Other key lawyers:
Boris Bershteyn; Tara Reinhart
Vinson & Elkins LLP
The antitrust team at Vinson & Elkins LLP, praised for having ‘excellent skill and experience in defending antitrust civil litigations’, is regularly sought after by clients in the energy, technology, automotive, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. Darren Tucker spearheads the practice from Washington DC with extensive experience in both domestic and international competition matters including global dominance investigations. Jason Powers and Harry Reasoner are names to note in the firm’s Houston office, while head of the antitrust government investigations team Hill Wellford and cartel and price-fixing specialist Craig Seebald are based in DC.
Practice head(s):
Darren Tucker
Other key lawyers:
Matthew Jacobs; Jason Powers; Harry Reasoner; Hill Wellford; Craig Seebald
Testimonials
‘V&E antitrust group has excellent skill and experience in defending antitrust civil litigations. Its team is concise and fees are reasonable compared with other large law firms.’
‘Craig Seebald and Matt Jacobs are highly experienced in defending antitrust civil litigations, including factual investigations, preparing legal briefs, and settlement negotiations. They are also good at coordinating with foreign lawyers which is important in international cartel cases.’
Key clients
AirTran Airways
HeartBrand Holdings, Inc.
H-E-B, LP
Huntsman International
Phadia US Inc.
Southwest Airlines, Inc.
Magellan Crude Oil Pipeline Company, L.P.
AK Steel Corporation, et. Al – railroad MDL
Google LLC
Hitachi
Wanhua Chemical (America) Co., Ltd.
BlueScope
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.
Work highlights
- Advising Southwest Airlines in multi-district litigation where plaintiffs assert that airlines’ public comments signalled an intention to conspire with other airlines to limit growth in supply, as well as alleging that airlines had an incentive to limit individual growth in favor of overall industry profit.
- Representing shippers from the steel, power generation, chemicals and agriculture industries in antitrust lawsuits alleging that the four largest railroads in the United States conspired to fix prices by establishing rate-based fuel surcharges.
- Represented AirTran Airways, Inc (now owned by Southwest Airlines) in a multi-district antitrust putative class action involving a number of airlines, where plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit alleging that AirTran and Delta conspired to adopt fees for the first checked bag, known as “first bag fees.”
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP sports an antitrust and competition practice that encompasses the representation of companies from a variety of industries in both class actions and multi-district litigation. Corey Roush heads the department with extensive experience in the antitrust space with regular involvement in bet-the-company cases. Pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, technology, and consumer goods are among the sectors handled by Haidee L. Schwartz, while the expertise of C. Fairley Spillman extends to the intersection of antitrust with intellectual property. All mentioned attorneys are based in Washington DC.
Practice head(s):
Corey Roush
Other key lawyers:
Haidee L. Schwartz; C. Fairley Spillman; Gorav Jindal
Key clients
Peabody Energy Corp.
Houchens Industries, Inc.
Mars, Inc./Antech Diagnostics, Inc.
NTT Global Data Centers Americas, Inc. f/k/a RagingWire Data Centers, Inc.
Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC)
Gucci
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
7-Eleven
Work highlights
- Secured a successful result for Antech Diagnostics, Inc., the reference laboratory division of VCA Inc. (which is part of Mars Inc.), in a putative antitrust class action that spanned nearly three years.
Baker McKenzie LLP
Besides specializations in no-poaching practices and at the intersection of antitrust with IP, the antitrust and competition practice group at Baker McKenzie LLP is also involved in cartel investigations and follow-on class actions. Global chair Mark Hamer and North American chair Creighton Macy jointly head the team from Washington DC. Both routinely represent domestic and international clients from a variety of sectors including pharmaceuticals and technology. Further names to note are investigations expert Brian Burke in DC, as well as antitrust specialists Catherine Stillman and Jeffrey Martino in New York.
Practice head(s):
Mark Hamer; Creighton Macy
Other key lawyers:
Brian Burke; Catherine Stillman; Jeffrey Martino
Key clients
Avanci
Bayer AG
Chr. Hansen
Environmental Data Resources
Informa
LaFargeHolcim Ltd.
Medicrea
NHK Spring
Nielsen
PRADA
Quest Diagnostics
Sika AG
Unilever
Zen-Noh Grain Corporation (ZGC)
Ballard Spahr LLP
Monopolization and conspiracy cases form the core of Ballard Spahr LLP‘s antitrust group, which represents clients on both side of the aisle. Leslie John, who has a particular focus on the pharmaceutical and health care industries, leads the practice from Philadelphia, where Jason Leckerman and Stephen Kastenberg are further key members of the team. In New York, James Mitchell is specialized in the securities industry, while Philadelphia-based Edward Rogers handles cases relating to monopolization and conspiracy claims. Denise Plunkett left the firm in January 2021.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Jason Leckerman; Stephen Kastenberg; James Mitchell; Edward Rogers
Testimonials
‘The team worked very well together- the work product reflected team engagement.’
‘Leslie John was laser focused on the legal issues, identifying -as it turned out, correctly- the issues and facts that would matter in court. She built our case on the relevant legal issues and got us an outstanding result.’
Key clients
American Board of Internal Medicine
MarketPlace PHL
Electric Utility Industry Sustainable Supply Chain Alliance
Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Biotech
Partnership for Safe Medicines
Wawa, Inc.
Corteva Agriscience, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Kemp & Assoc., Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline LLC
American Board of Internal Medicine
MarketPlace PHL
Electric Utility Industry Sustainable Supply Chain Alliance
Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Biotech
Partnership for Safe Medicines
Wawa, Inc.
Corteva Agriscience, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Kemp & Assoc., Inc.
GlaxoSmithKline LLC
Work highlights
- Successfully defended the American Board of Internal Medicine against an antitrust class action lawsuit filed by four physicians attacking the very core reason for ABIM’s existence: board certification.
- Defending Corteva and its subsidiary, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., in class actions in which plaintiffs allege a group boycott by the defendants (including other large agricultural companies, wholesalers, and retailers) not to do business with on-line retailers of “crop inputs,” including seeds and various crop protection products.
- Defending Mountaire Farms in a class action in which plaintiffs allege that our client, along with other poultry processors, conspired to fix the wages and benefits for certain workers at poultry plants and also allegedly to unlawfully exchange wage and benefits information.
Cohen & Gresser LLP
Cohen & Gresser LLP ‘punches way above its weight in antitrust litigation and investigation’, according to a client. The firm joins the ranking with a practice that handles class action cases concerning allegations of cartel behavior, monopolization, and other exclusionary conducts. Clients stems from key industries including financial services, consumer products, technology, and pharmaceuticals. The ‘insightful and smart’ Melissa Maxman leads the practice from Washington DC, where Ronald Wick is also a key contact. The firm added class action heavyweight John Roberti, formerly at Allen & Overy LLP to its DC bench in early 2022.
Practice head(s):
Melissa Maxman
Other key lawyers:
Ronald Wick; John Roberti
Testimonials
‘Cohen & Gresser punches way above its weight in antitrust litigation and investigations. They are very creative about getting clients in the door and servicing them.
‘This is a relatively new firm that is bringing excitement and innovation to the practice of law. They want to do well by clients, and they know that will take personalized attention.’
‘DC office and partners have unique combination of plaintiff and defendant litigation experience plus counseling and policy expertise.’
‘Melissa Maxman is a pioneer and one of the leading voices in the Bar. She is insightful and smart – a hidden gem. Ron Wick is cerebral and always comes up with a creative solution.’
Key clients
Goldman Sachs
Gennex
Höegh Autoliners
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Working closely with offices outside the US, the antitrust practice at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP excels at handling matters with an international dimension in addition to its domestic litigation expertise. A duo consisting of Michael Schaper in New York and Ted Hassi in Washington DC jointly lead the practice, both of whom represent clients from various industries including technology and automotive. Also in New York, Erica Weisgerber is active on both sides of the aisle and has recently expanded her focus to COVID-related antitrust legislative developments.
Practice head(s):
Michael Schaper; Ted Hassi
Other key lawyers:
Erica Weisgerber; Leah Martin
Testimonials
‘Responsiveness of the client’s need, in particular, non-U.S. clients.’
‘Good knowledge of mentality of non-U.S. clients.’
Key clients
Peabody Energy Corporation
Arcesium LLC
Clayton Dubilier & Rice and Portfolio Companies
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. and Toyota Canada, Inc.
Armando Kellum
GoDaddy, Inc.
Gogo, Inc.
DBS Bank Ltd.
The Bank of Yokohama Ltd
Ardagh Group
Discovery Communications
Schneider Electric
TPG Capital
Cornerstone Building Brands
Domtar Corporation
Assurant Inc.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
Solenis
Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP
With particular strengths in bet-the-company antitrust cases, Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP represents clients on both sides of the aisle in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, and technology. The firm is involved in a range of antitrust cases, defending clients against allegations including price-fixing, big-rigging, tying, exclusive dealing, and monopolization. The New York-based team is led by Hector Torres, who represents high-profile companies before federal and state courts, and Sheron Korpus, who ‘thinks strategically and has tremendous credibility’. Kevin Arquit left the firm in May 2021 for an in-house position.
Practice head(s):
Hector Torres; Sheron Korpus
Testimonials
‘Sheron Korpus is a formidable opponent and a trustworthy ally. He thinks strategically and has tremendous credibility.’
Key clients
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Ford Motor Company
Pilgrim’s Pride
CenturyLink
Kevin Mulleady
Delicato
Work highlights
- Representing Teva Pharmaceuticals and its US subsidiary Actavis, in defending many antitrust class actions brought by private plaintiffs, as well as an antitrust action brought by 48 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, which are consolidated in an MDL in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania that allege price-fixing of over 100 generic drugs.
- Representing Pilgrim’s Pride in a criminal price fixing investigation by the Department of Justice – Antitrust Division relating to the sales of broiler chicken products in the United States, one of the largest antitrust litigation matters currently ongoing in the U.S.
Ropes & Gray LLP
The services offered to clients by Ropes & Gray LLP span the whole gamut of antitrust litigation matters, from monopolization and unfair competition to price-fixing conspiracies and the intersection of antitrust with intellectual property. Multi-jurisdictional litigation is also part of the department’s portfolio, which is led by Washington DC-based Mark Popofsky and Jane Willis, splitting her time between Boston and DC. Further key names in DC include Chong Park and Samer Musallam, the latter who joined the firm in January 2021 from the DOJ’s antitrust division.
Practice head(s):
Mark Popofsky; Jane Willis
Other key lawyers:
Chong Park; Samer Musallam
Testimonials
‘Unflappable. Calm in the storm. Always thinking two steps ahead. Credible, fair dealing advocates who have cache with courts and adversaries alike.’
‘The individuals in the practice are incredible skilled, have such a depth of expertise. Importantly, they make all of this accessible to clients by partnering well and understanding how companies work. They are thoughtful about how to present their work and the solutions they create, knowing the realities clients face. The individuals I work with are also great human beings – kind, funny, and a delight to work with.’
Key clients
Google Inc.
Charter Communications
Work highlights
- Representing Google as litigation counsel in the DOJ’s monopolization case against Google, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in October 2020, alleging monopolization of various markets involving Internet search.
- Representing State Street and its subsidiary, Currenex, Inc. in a class action on behalf of users of Currenex, an electronic trading platform for foreign exchange transactions.
Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper joins the ranking this year with an antitrust practice that sports particular strengths in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as in defending clients in multidistrict cartel class actions and against monopolization claims. Barbara Sicalides in Philadelphia and New York-based Daniel Anziska, both of whom are routinely involved in handling a wide range of antitrust claims, jointly lead the department. Clients in the healthcare and agricultural industries often turn to Jan Levine, located in the firm’s Philadelphia office, for her expertise in multidistrict class actions. Also in Philadelphia, Robin Sumner is well versed in complex civil litigation and securities law.
Practice head(s):
Daniel Anziska; Barbara Sicalides
Other key lawyers:
Jan Levine; Robin Sumner
Key clients
GlaxoSmithKline pcl
Big Heart Pet Brands (JM Smucker)
United Egg Producers; United States Egg Marketers; United Egg Association
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, inc.; Hikma Labs Inc; West-Ward Columbus Inc.
Centrum Valley Farms; Trillium Farm Holdings, LLC.
Vishay Intertechnology
Creekside Mushroom
Provoco Pinegood Sumneytown, LLC.
Thompson Tractor
Work highlights
- Represented two industry groups against claims of an unlawful conspiracy to reduce the supply and thereby raise the price of eggs in a six week trial.
- Defending Centrum Valley Farms, L.P. and Trillium Farm Holdings, LLC in a putative class action pending in Texas federal court alleging that producers, distributors, and sellers raised prices for eggs after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in violation of the price gouging provisions of Texas’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
- Representing Del Monte (now owned by Smucker) in multidistrict litigation, pending in federal court in California.