Rising Stars

Civil litigation/class actions: plaintiff in United States

Berger Montague

Berger Montague is an ‘excellent firm for plaintiff side antitrust work’, acting across a range of industries from financial services to pharma and poultry products, and representing individuals, education and sports organizations and companies on cases including price-fixing, market allocation and no poach litigation. The practice is jointly headed by attorneys in Philadelphia including: Eric Cramer who regularly acts as co-lead counsel in significant antitrust class actions, recently focusing on representation for claims of anticompetitive practices in the healthcare, retail and agriculture fields; David Sorensen who concentrates his practice on antitrust and environmental class actions and is well-versed with representing direct purchasers of prescription drugs; and expert in pharmaceutical antitrust matters Caitlin Coslett, who focuses on complex antitrust economic and expert issues, class certification and litigation at the trial and appellate court level. Also in Philadelphia, Michael Dell’Angelo offers extensive experience in cases alleging monopolization and price-fixing especially in matters affecting financial instruments. Also noted are antitrust class action specialist Joshua Davis in San Francisco and Robert Litan in Washington DC, who offers significant experience in antitrust litigation particularly from the economic perspective. Since the end of 2022 Merrill Davidoff and Martin Twersky are no longer at the firm.

Practice head(s):

Eric Cramer; David Sorensen; Caitlin Coslett


Other key lawyers:

Michael Dell’Angelo; Joshua Davis; Robert Litan; Andrew Curley


Testimonials

‘Berger Montague is an excellent firm for plaintiff side antitrust work.’

Key clients

Chip-Tech, Ltd.; eIQ Energy, Inc.


Duane Lewis, Larry Dean Lewis; Thomas Moran


N.M. State Investment Council by and through the Office of the Attorney General of New Mexico


FX Primus Ltd.


ArcBest Corporation (dba ABF Freight System, Inc.)


Direct Purchasers Class in In re Opana ER Antitrust Litigation


Haff Poultry, Inc.


Fusion Elite All Stars; Fuel Athletics d/b/a Spirit Factor LLC; Stars & Stripes Gymnastics Academy


Henry, et al. v. Brown University, et al.


J M Smith Corp. d/b/a Smith Drug Company


Rochester Drug Co-Operative, Inc


City of Brevard, North Carolina; Buncombe County, North Carolina; City of Asheville, North Carolina; Madison County, North Carolina


Work highlights


  • Representeda class of direct purchasers of electrolytic and film capacitors in a damages case.
  • Represented hundreds of thousands of purchasers of financial instruments linked to the price of gold in a  lawsuit which alleged that the five defendant banks conspired to suppress the PM Gold Fix.
  • Represented plaintiffs in filing the first complaint alleging that Endo and Impax violated Section 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act by entering into an unlawful reverse payment, as set forth in Actavis, to settle patent infringement litigation.

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC sports ‘one of the most sophisticated plaintiff-side antitrust class action practices in the country’ standing out for its ‘depth of experience’. The team is well known for developing precedent setting and high-stakes antitrust cases prior to any government investigation with recent litigation spanning the healthcare, food processing/poultry and banking sectors. The practice is jointly headed up by complex litigation specialist and former DOJ antitrust division trial lawyer Benjamin Brown and Brent Johnson, who also leads the firm’s new case investigations and offers extensive experience in handling claims under sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act including anticompetitive behavior and restraints in labor markets. Another key attorney is New York-based Sharon Robertson, who is well-versed with matters concerning the pharmaceutical industry. Richard Koffman is also noted and litigates cases on behalf of plaintiffs impacted by corporations that allegedly engage in price-fixing and monopolization among other anticompetitive conduct. Daniel Silverman prosecutes in support of consumers, businesses and employees in various industries and offers expertise in econometrics analysis in antitrust cases, while John Dominguez in Florida is ‘very knowledgeable and has excellent judgment’. Kit Pierson is also noted, while Daniel Small acts as an of counsel to the firm. Unless stated otherwise, all lawyers mentioned are based in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

Benjamin Brown; Brent Johnson


Other key lawyers:

Sharon Robertson; Richard Koffman; Daniel Silverman; John Dominguez; Kit Pierson; Daniel Small


Testimonials

‘Cohen Milstein has one of the most sophisticated plaintiff-side antitrust class action practices in the country. They are one of a handful of firms that can go head-to-head with any defendant or law firm, and their depth of experience in antitrust class actions is as good as any plaintiff-side firm in the country.’

‘I have worked closely with John Dominguez at Cohen Milstein. John stands out because of the extent of his experience prosecuting antitrust class actions for plaintiffs. He is very knowledgeable and has excellent judgment.’


Work highlights


  • Represented plaintiffs in UFCW & Employers Benefit Trust v. Sutter Health et al, a closely watched antitrust class action against Sutter Health, one of the largest healthcare providers in California, alleging the restriction of hospital competition through anticompetitive contracting practices with insurance companies.
  • Represented the direct purchaser class plaintiffs in In re Ranbaxy Generic Drug Application Antitrust Litigation in which the court granted final approval to a $485 million global settlement to resolve claims against Ranbaxy in this MDL under antitrust, federal RICO, and state consumer protection statutes for allegedly manipulating the FDA’s generic drug approval process to block competitors from coming to market and forcing purchasers to pay supracompetitive prices for three products: Diovan, Nexium and Valcyte.
  • Represented consumers in In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation in which the court granted final approval to settlements totaling $181 million with six poultry producers.

Hausfeld LLP

The ‘skilled’ and ‘deep bench of lawyers’ at Hausfeld LLP excel in leading class action litigation, and landmark trials pertaining to various antitrust matters including monopolization, nationwide conspiracies to manipulate compensation levels, and cartel damage claims. The practice is active in the big tech, food, manufacturing and automotive sectors, with a client roster featuring multinational corporations such as Stellantis, as well as purchaser classes and individual plaintiffs. In New York, practice head Scott Martin is praised as an ‘all-star’ lawyer, offering extensive trial experience across both federal and state courts and is well versed in complex multidistrict actions concerning pricing, distribution and non-compete agreement related claims. Michael Hausfeld, based in Washington DC, has successfully represented individuals and classes in cases involving monopolization, tie-ins, exclusive dealing and price fixing. In San Francisco are Christopher Lebsock and Megan E. Jones , who focuses on recovery of damages for companies who are impacted by antitrust cartels. Also in DC are Brian Ratner and Melinda Coolidge who often advises significant players in various industries including pharmaceutical, transportation and retail, and Swathi Bojedla who is also noted by peers. Gary Smith, ‘a practical and effective litigator’ is situated in Philadelphia. Bonny Sweeney departed from the firm in July 2022 to join the DOJ.

Practice head(s):

Scott Martin


Other key lawyers:

Michael Hausfeld; Megan E. Jones; Brian Ratner; Melinda Coolidge; Christopher Lebsock; Reena Gambhir; Swathi Bojedla; Gary Smith; Arthur Bailey


Testimonials

‘I have found the Hausfeld team to be skilled lawyers that, while being aggressive litigators, uphold high ethical standards.’

‘Gary Smith is a very smart lawyer, that is a very skilled advocate, who, while representing his clients’ interests vigorously, takes his professional and ethical obligations seriously.’

‘The team have lots of expertise and experience. Aggressive litigators in representing their clients, but reasonable and professional in all dealings no matter what. On the cutting edge of e-discovery, a leader in this area. They do a good job in giving responsibility and opportunities to more junior lawyers.’

‘The top-notch Hausfeld team has broad experience in cartel damages litigation and manages to feed on this experience for the benefit of its clients. There is hardly any obstacle they have not faced before and there are always pragmatic solutions found. They are particularly easy and pleasant to work with and have a diverse team that puts in all the extra efforts needed at any time.’

‘Founding partner Brian Ratner stands out in an already amazing team. He combines vast legal knowledge with a very good business acumen and sense for what really matters in a given situation. He is a sharp out-of-the-box-thinker and extremely pragmatic where appropriate. Working with him is a privilege.’

‘This is an amazing team that is extremely responsive and knowledgeable. They have a deep bench of lawyers who focus on the main points and not satellite litigation issues. The practice consists of former defense counsel who know the typical defense tactics.’

Gary Smith is a pleasure to worth with. He is creative and intellectually nimble in crafting antitrust theories and legal arguments. He is also practical and effective litigator.

Scott Martin is an all-star lawyer.

Key clients

Puerto Rico


Louisiana Pacific


CRH


Phhhoto Inc.


District of Columbia Attorney General


Stellantis


PepsiCo


BMW


MolsonCoors


Trammo


Peabody Energy


Suzuki Motor Corporation


TMS


CONSOL Energy


SIMS Metal Management


Praxair (now Linde)


Deutsche Bahn


American Honda Motor Company


Suez Environmental SA


Hertz Europe


Metro AG


GKN


Renault


U.S. Silica Company


Lotte


Work highlights


  • Acted for plaintiffs in In re Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation.
  • Represented plaintiffs in In re Disposable Contact Lens Antitrust Litigation.
  • Acting for plaintiffs in In re Broiler Chicken Grower Antitrust Litigation (No. II).

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is especially strong in antitrust matters on both sides of litigation in the financial services arena and at the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property law. Recent work has involved bond and gold market manipulation, opt out class actions, no poach conspiracies in the engineering field and boycotts. The practice is led by a trio of lawyers including class certification expert Sami Rashid in New York who frequently represents both corporate plaintiffs and defendants in relation to price manipulation and inflation claims especially in the financial industry, and John Potter, who is based in San Francisco and focuses on civil litigation in a wide array of matters including healthcare, unfair competition and white-collar criminal defense. In New York, Daniel Brockett is a well-regarded trial lawyer with a strong practice in plaintiff antitrust, securities and commodities work. In Los Angeles, Kevin Teruya specializes in antitrust, unfair competition and intellectual property litigation while Adam Wolfson has handled both individual competitor and class antitrust actions in the big tech space against clients such as Amazon. Also of note is the ‘exceptional’ Steig Olson in New York who has developed the firm’s financial industry antitrust practice. Ethan Glass left the firm in March 2022.

Practice head(s):

Sami Rashid; John Potter


Other key lawyers:

Daniel Brockett; Kevin Teruya; Adam Wolfson; Steig Olson; Kathleen Sullivan


Testimonials

‘Steig Olson is exceptional. He has driven significant progress in an otherwise intractable multi-party case worth billions of dollars.’

‘From the first meeting, the team has been thoughtful and aggressive in pursuing out interests.’

‘Kathleen Sullivan is amazing. She won a huge appeal for us. Steig Olson is tireless in supporting our matters and has been a stalwart since we engaged Quinn Emanuel. He has presented to our GC and other senior executives on complex cases. He is articulate, poised and smart.’

Key clients

Compañía Minera Dayton (CMD) and a settlement class of investors in gold and gold-related instruments


The City of Philadelphia and a proposed class of municipalities and 501(c)(3) entities that issued variable rate demand obligations


Allianz GI, Anchorage Capital, the AP funds, BlackRock, BlueCrest, Brevan Howard, CalSTRS, Erste Abwicklungsanstalt, Norges Bank, PFA, PIMCO, Portigon AG, Mass PRIM, and SEI Trust Company


Edmar Financial Company, LLC Irish Blue & Gold, Inc.


Torus Capital LLC; Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System; Orange County Employees Retirement System; Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association; Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association; and proposed class of investors in stock loans


Public School Teachers’ Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago, and the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association


A proposed class of aerospace engineers


Salix Capital U.S. Inc., Prudential Core Short-Term Bond Fund, Prudential Core Taxable Money Market Fund, City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, Darby Financial Products and Capital Ventures International


Intuit


A proposed class of consumers that used major bank ATMs


Alcoa Corporation, BASF Corporation, Campbell Soup Supply Company LLC, Duke Energy, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Hyundai Motor America, Inc., Kia Motors America, Inc., AP Møller – Mærsk A/S, Mercedes-Benz USA, Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc., Shell Chemical LP, Olin Corporation, and numerous others


Klein et al.


AliveCor


SaurikIT


Proposed classes of purchasers of goods sold on the Amazon marketplace


In re Delta Dental Antitrust MDL (class representatives and a proposed class of dentists nationwide)


LIV Golf, Inc.; LIV Golf players


Work highlights


  • Represented a plaintiff class in securing an $81 million pre-class certification settlement with Credit Suisse.
  • Representing De Coster et al, in securing along with its co-counsel, a denial of Amazon’s motion to dismiss in the Frame-Wilson matter ensuring the case will proceed into discovery.
  • Acted for Compañía Minera Dayton and a settlement class of investors in gold and gold-related instruments and settled for $152 million.

Robins Kaplan LLP

Robins Kaplan LLP has a ‘respected’ antitrust practice with ‘superb litigators’ particularly spanning the transportation, technology, financial services, and healthcare fields. Recent work has involved conspiracies of price-fixing, bid rigging, market allocation and other anticompetitive behavior. The team is led by a quartet of attorneys including the New York-based ‘brilliant litigator’ Kellie Lerner who is ‘knowledgeable and very highly respected’, is responsible for identifying and initiating new antitrust actions and offers representation to both plaintiffs and defendants. The other co-heads are based in Minnesota and include: the ‘collegial and smart’ Stacey Slaughter who handles complex litigation and represents various clients including consumers and investors; Craig Wildfang, who has acted in several private civil antitrust actions and counseled clients in industries including insurance and agricultural commodities; and Stephen Safranski whose practice focuses on representing major national clients in antitrust, unfair competition, trade regulation and consumer protection matters. In New York, the ‘formidable’ William Reiss ‘has masterfully led many antitrust class actions’. Also in New York are key attorneys Thomas Undlin and Meegan Hollywood, who has been described as ‘one to watch’. Aaron Sheanin left the firm to join the DOJ as a trial lawyer in June 2022.

Practice head(s):

Craig Wildfang; Kellie Lerner; Stacey Slaughter; Stephen Safranski


Other key lawyers:

William Reiss; Thomas Undlin; Meegan Hollywood


Testimonials

‘Robins Kaplan’s New York antitrust team stands head and shoulders above other plaintiff-side practices. They are superb litigators and are extremely knowledgeable about antitrust issues beyond straightforward topics raised in the typical class action price fixing cases. They get great results for their clients (plaintiffs and defendants) and are well respected by the entire antitrust bar.’

‘Kellie Lerner is superb. She is an effective and brilliant litigator, knowledgeable and very highly respected. Clients are lucky to have her on their side. Opponents have deep respect and admiration for her outstanding abilities. Meegan Hollywood stands out as one to watch, having handled many high-stakes class actions. Bill Reese has masterfully led many antitrust class actions. He is known to defense lawyers as a formidable opponent.’

‘Meegan Hollywood and Kellie Lerner are a pleasure to work with.’

Key clients

A class of more than 10 million U.S. merchants who accept Visa and Mastercard credit cards and debit cards for the purchase of goods and services.


A class of consumers and businesses that indirectly purchased or leased new vehicles in the U.S. not for re-sale which contain certain enumerated automotive parts (end-payor plaintiffs).


A class of purchasers of disposable contact lenses in the United States that were subject to minimum retail pricing policies imposed by the four largest contact lens manufacturers.


A proposed class of entities that purchased television advertising time from one or more defendants.


Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota; Indirect purchasers of the life-saving drug Daraprim.


A proposed class of entities who bought or sold gold, silver, platinum, and palladium futures and options contracts on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and Commodity Exchange, Inc. (COMEX).


Oxbow Carbon & Minerals LLC


A proposed class of end-user indirect purchasers of hard disk drive suspension assemblies.


Chatom Primary Care


A proposed class of persons or entities that purchased K-Cups directly from Keurig. K-Cups® (“K-Cup”) are single-serve portion packs of coffee specifically designed to be brewed in Keurig’s K-Cup brewers.


A proposed class of ranchers and industry trade groups alleging price-fixing in the cattle market.


A proposed class of broiler chicken growers.


A proposed class of poultry processing plant employees.


Principal Funds, Inc.; Principal Variable Contract Funds, Inc. (Principal entities)


Work highlights


  • Advised a class of more than 10 million U.S. merchants who accept Visa and Mastercard credit cards and debit cards for the purchase of goods and services.
  • Advised a class of consumers and businesses that indirectly purchased or leased new vehicles in the U.S. not for re-sale which contain certain enumerated automotive parts (end-payor plaintiffs).
  • Advised a class of purchasers of disposable contact lenses in the United States that were subject to minimum retail pricing policies imposed by the four largest contact lens manufacturers.

Susman Godfrey LLP

Susman Godfrey LLP regularly prosecutes claims for unlawful conspiracies such as price-fixing, monopolization and market allocation. Its client roster features companies, individual plaintiffs and/or classes of individuals in a multitude of industries including but not limited to pharma, transportation, telecoms, hospitality and tech. The practice is co-led by California based co-managing partner of the firm Kalpana Srinivasan, who is highly regarded in the IP and antitrust space, co-managing partner and trial specialist Neal Manne in Houston who services clients such as Walmart and Vitol, and Marc Seltzer, in California, who has recently acted in complex and high-stakes litigation for end-user consumer and business plaintiffs concerning anticompetitive behavior claims in the auto parts, real estate and telecoms industries. In New York, Bill Carmody’s practice involves high-profile litigation representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Situated in the firm’s Houston office is James Southwick, who litigates for public and private entities in trials across the country, taking on industry titans in cases concerning allegations of price-fixing and monopolization claims. Also in Houston is another key commercial trial and appellate attorney, Alex Kaplan, who acts in disputes, international arbitrations and also counsels clients on investigation matters.

Practice head(s):

Kalpana Srinivasan; Neal Manne; Marc Seltzer


Other key lawyers:

Bill Carmody; James Southwick; Alex Kaplan; Barry Barnett


Key clients

Vitol, Inc.


Walmart


Chevron


Veeva Systems


Insignia Systems


Westlake Chemical Corp.


Plaintiffs in NFL Antitrust Litigation


Plaintiffs in Telescopes Litigation


Plaintiffs in In: re: LIBOR Antitrust Litigation


Plaintiffs in In Re: Auto Parts


Work highlights


  • Represented Walmart in a high-profile antitrust matter involving claims by Walmart against more than a dozen chicken producers for conspiring to control the supply and pricing of broiler chicken products in the United States.
  • Representing a class of 14,900+ flexible-premium universal life insurance policyholders, who were subjected to Genworth’s cost of insurance rate increase.

Boies Schiller Flexner LLP

Boies Schiller Flexner LLP regularly represents plaintiffs and defendants in antitrust litigation, particularly in high stakes plaintiff-side international pricing cases, class actions and opt-out matters. Recent plaintiff-side representation has involved lawsuits against leading companies such as the Blue Cross Blue Shield litigation and acting on behalf of online publishers against Google involving claims of restricting advertising competition. New York based Philip Korologos is a complex litigation specialist and co-heads the team with Washington DC’s James Denvir , a significantly experienced trial lawyer who has acted in bet-the-company lawsuits and government investigations. In New York, managing partner David Boies  has recently handled high-profile class actions. General litigator in DC Hamish Hume leads on many matters across an array of industries. Also in DC is Michael Mitchell, who represents both plaintiffs and defendants in multidistrict litigation and before federal and state agencies. Stuart Singer in Florida has experience in price-fixing and cartel conspiracy cases as well as opt out litigation.

Practice head(s):

Philip Korologos; Jim Denvir


Other key lawyers:

David Boies; Hamish Hume; Michael Mitchell; Stuart Singer


Key clients

Class of BCBS Subscribers


Class of EpiPen Consumers


Delta Airlines


Anesthesia Associates of Ann Arbor


United Healthcare Services, Inc.


Genius Media Group, Inc.


The Nation Company


The Progressive, Inc.


Domino Foods, Inc.


General Electric


Work highlights


  • Represented plaintiffs in their success against the Blue Cross and Blue Shield health plans, one of the largest settlements recovered in an antitrust case that was not the subject of any government enforcement by the federal or state antitrust authorities.
  • Secured a total of $609 million in settlements for purchasers of the EpiPens after bringing a class action against Pfizer and Mylan for conspiring to inflate the cost of the life-saving allergy treatment.
  • Representing online publishers in a landmark antitrust suit against Google alleging that the search engine has unlawfully stifled advertising competition and harmed publishers.

Joseph Saveri Law Firm

Joseph Saveri Law Firm particularly excels in advice and representation in disputes with a particular specialism in antitrust, class action and civil matters. The team acts in claims relating to price fixing, no poach agreements and illegal reverse payments on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers in the sports, pharmaceuticals, and technology industries. Founding partner, Joseph Saveri is noted in the market for his role as lead or co-counsel in reverse payment pharma, no poach employment, and sports monopolization matters. Ronnie Seidel Spiegel is well versed in the representation of direct purchasers and end-consumers, managing all stages of litigation from filing through to trial. Cadio Zirpoli has been involved in large electronic antitrust cases, but also covers other industries such as agriculture, transportation and banking. Promoted to partner in February 2023, Christopher Young is another key lawyer, focused on antitrust class actions with an expertise in pre-trial matters. All of the above heads of team are based in San Francisco. Steven Williams left the firm in November 2023.

Practice head(s):

Joseph Saveri; Ronnie Spiegel; Cadio Zirpoli; Christopher Young


Key clients

In Re Capacitors Antitrust Litigation: Class of direct purchasers of capacitors used in electronic devices.


In re Interior Molded Doors Indirect Purchaser Antitrust Litigation: Proposed indirect purchaser plaintiffs class of individuals and companies who purchased interior molded doors from defendants JELD-WEN, Inc. and Masonic Corporation.


In re Restasis (Cyclosporine Ophthalmic Emulsion) Antitrust Litigation: Representing end-payor plaintiffs in an antitrust class action filed against Allergan, Inc., for an alleged scheme to delay generic competition to Allergan’s blockbuster Restasis drug.


In re EpiPen Marketing, Sales Practices and Antitrust Litigation: RICO class and several state antitrust classes of EpiPen consumers.


Hunter v. Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.: Former Mission Essential employees who allege illegal no-poach hiring agreements violated U.S. antitrust law.


Patane v. Nestle Waters North America, Inc.: Class of consumers of Nestlé’s Poland Spring brand “100% Natural Spring Water” bottled water product line.


Cung Le v. Zuffa, LLC: Professional mixed martial arts fighters against Ultimate Fighting Championship.


In re Outpatient Medical Center Employee Antitrust Litigation: Potential class of senior-level employees of Surgical Care Affiliates, United Surgical Partners International, and at least one other unnamed healthcare service provider.


In Re Xyrem (Sodium Oxybate) Antitrust Litigation: Plaintiff and a potential class of other purchasers are insurers, health and welfare plans, and consumers seeking relief from indirectly paying for and/or providing reimbursement for purchases of Xyrem.


Short Squeeze Trading Litigation: Proposed class of retail investors.


In re Juul Labs, Inc. Antitrust Litigation: Direct purchaser plaintiffs in e-cigarette antitrust lawsuits.


Jones v. Varsity Brands: Proposed class of competitive cheer families.


Giordano v. Saks Incorporated: Former Saks sales professionals who sought employment opportunities with other defendants.


In re Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing Antitrust Litigation: End-payor plaintiffs and its client, the Self-Insured Schools of California, and similarly situated U.S. consumers and insurers.


Scola v. Facebook, Inc., No. 18CIV05135 (San Mateo County Sup. Ct.): Class of content moderators against Facebook, which allegedly failed to ensure workplace safety procedures for moderators’ exposure to users’ graphic videos, images, and broadcasts.


Jane Doe v. YouTube, Inc.: Plaintiff and a proposed nationwide class of content moderators.


J. Doe 1 and J. Doe 2 v. Github, Inc.: Plaintiffs and proposed class of open-source programmers.


DeMartini v. Microsoft Corporation: Plaintiffs and proposed class of electronic-gaming consumers


Andersen v. Stability AI Ltd.: Plaintiffs and proposed class of artists and stakeholders


Work highlights


  • Represented a class of direct purchasers of capacitors used in electronic devices, who allege that over 20 defendants formed a global price-fixing cartel and conspired to fix, raise, and stabilize prices in the multi-billion-dollar market for aluminium, tantalum, and film capacitors.
  • Represented end-payor plaintiffs as co-lead counsel in an antitrust class action filed against Allergan, Inc., that alleges a scheme to delay generic competition and extend its monopoly in the market for Allergan’s blockbuster Restasis drug through a series of fraudulent and anticompetitive acts.
  • Representing a proposed class of indirect purchaser plaintiffs consisting of individuals and companies that purchased interior molded doors (IMD) from defendants JELD-WEN, Inc. and Masonic Corporation.

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP regularly advises companies, governments and consumers affected by anticompetitive behavior. The team particularly stands out for leading labor related antitrust litigation concerning no poach agreements and wage-fixing as well as claims of price-fixing, monopolization and market allocation in various industries including high-tech, pharma and consumer products. Head of the antitrust practice Brendan Glackin has significant experience in civil and criminal antitrust litigation, focusing particularly on price fixing and cartel claims. Lin Chan often represents purchaser plaintiffs in antitrust litigation, recently acting as co-lead counsel representing consumers in the nationwide telescopes antitrust litigation which involves allegations of price-fixing and monopolization. The ‘excellent plaintiff side antitrust lawyer’ Dean Harvey assists consumers and small businesses in challenging antitrust conspiracies such as price-fixing as well as representing workers in labor antitrust cases. Eric Fastiff offers commercial litigation expertise, particularly class action and competitor litigation pertaining to conspiracies to restrain competition and manipulate prices. David Rudolph is another key attorney. All the above-mentioned lawyers are based in San Francisco.

Practice head(s):

Brendan Glackin


Other key lawyers:

Lin Chan; Dean Harvey; Eric Fastiff; David Rudolph


Testimonials

‘Dean Harvey is an excellent plaintiff side antitrust lawyer.’

Key clients

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees District Council 37 Health & Security Plan


Class of purchasers of telescopes in the U.S


The Hospital Authority of Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees District Council 37 Health & Security Plan


Class of Surgical Care Affiliates Medical Center employees across the U.S.


American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees District Council 37 Health & Security Plan


Representatives for purchasers of bail bonds in California


The Charles Schwab Corporation and several of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds and the Bay Area Toll Authority


Purchasers of medium and heavy trucks in the European Union from 1997-2011


American consumers of mobile wireless carrier services


Patients of HCA Healthcare/ Mission Health in North Carolina


Zelle LLP

The team at the plaintiff-side antitrust boutique litigation firm Zelle LLP excels in the individual recovery actions for corporate plaintiffs and antitrust class actions on behalf of purchaser plaintiffs. The firm also advises a select group of Fortune 500 companies including Verizon and handles third party discovery work. Co-chairing the practice is the Oakland based managing partner Judith Zahid, who has experience in representing plaintiffs in cases concerning pay-for-delay agreements, price-fixing and monopolization cases and a growing expertise in the pharma and healthcare sector. Also co-chairing the practice is James Robertson Martin in Washington DC, who offers a varied litigation experience which includes representing corporations, financial institutions and federal agencies in cartel, monopolization and opt-out price-fixing class action litigation. In DC, Jennifer Duncan Hackett handles antitrust litigation and compliance counseling for clients in the financial services and life sciences space, as well as a variety of commercial industries. In Oakland Christopher Micheletti is noted for his of all stages of the litigation process, and his representation of individual and business plaintiffs in group boycott, market allocation and monopolization claims while Qianwei Fu acts in international antitrust matters affecting consumers and opt-out claimants in antitrust cartel and monopolization claims.


Practice head(s):

Judith Zahid; James Robertson Martin


Other key lawyers:

Jennifer Duncan Hackett; Christopher Micheletti; Qianwei Fu; Eric Buetzow


Testimonials

‘Judith Zahid from Zelle LLP is an excellent plaintiff side antitrust lawyer.’ 

Key clients

FDIC


Freddie Mac


United HealthCare Services, Inc.


Verizon


Pacific Surf Designs


OptumRx


Work highlights


  • Representing United HealthCare Services Inc, the largest third-party payor in this MDL, in three individual antitrust matters against the makers of nearly 200 generic pharmaceutical drugs, alleging a widespread price-fixing and market allocation conspiracy.
  • Representing Freddie Mac and the FDIC as receiver for 39 closed banks in the LIBOR antitrust litigation, accusing the world’s largest banks of unlawful interest rate manipulation.
  • Representing Verizon in its third-party discovery obligations arising out of the U.S.-based matters filed against Google for various alleged antitrust violations.

Berman Tabacco

Specializing in antitrust and securities litigation, the ‘extraordinary team’ at the class action and litigation boutique Berman Tabacco is well-versed in handling claims of anticompetitive conduct such as market allocation agreements, price-fixing and patent misuse. Its client roster features companies, public pension funds and individual consumers across industries including pharmaceuticals and finance. Founding partner of the San Francisco office, Joseph Tabacco, ‘a brilliant attorney’ who often acts as lead counsel in antitrust class action and securities litigation, co-heads the practice with Todd Seaver, who litigates both antitrust and financial manipulation-related matters. Matthew Pearson primarily focuses on antitrust, securities and consumer protection litigation and assists clients interested in litigating internationally. All the attorneys mentioned are based in San Francisco.

Practice head(s):

Joseph Tabacco; Todd Seaver


Other key lawyers:

Matthew Pearson; Patrick Egan; Carl Hammarskjold


Testimonials

‘The team is experienced, reliable, reachable and professional. In complex litigation their research, analysis and recommendations are comprehensive. They actively involve the client in their strategy and are able to explain the most complex legal issues in this field so that laypersons can understand and make decisions. Their work with experts on the details of extraordinarily complex damages analyses is exceptional. While the strengths and the skills at the top are unparalleled, those strengths also extend down into the next generation of partners and senior associates.’

‘This is an extraordinary team from the top down. Joe Tabacco is a brilliant attorney with time tested strengths and a reputation for excellence. He and his firm assemble the necessary teams and each member of the team brings strengths to any issue. These are talented advocates who temper that advocacy with hard earned pragmatism. Using this team we have been successful in complex matters recovering hundreds of millions of dollars.’

Key clients

Orange County Employees Retirement System


California State Teachers’ Retirement System


Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System


Electrical Workers Pension Fund Local 103, I.B.E.W. and Local 103, I.B.E.W. Health Benefit Plan


New England Carpenters Health Benefits Fund


Bogard Construction, Inc.


Teamsters Western Region & Local 177 Health Care Plan


San Bernadino County Employees Retirement System


Work highlights


  • Represented individual consumers in federal (In re New Motor Vehicles Canadian Export Antitrust Litigation) and California state (In re Automobile Antitrust Cases I & II) class actions alleging major automakers unlawfully conspired to stop the export of less expensive new Canadian vehicles from entering the United States.
  • Representing Orange County Employees Retirement System in Dennis, et al. v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., et al, that alleged defendants conspired to manipulate the Australian Bank Bill Swap Reference Rate (BBSW) and the prices of BBSW-based derivatives, which settled in the total amount of $185.875 million.
  • Representing California State Teachers’ Retirement System in Sullivan v. Barclays PLC et al.

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP  is known to clients as the ‘highest quality commercial litigation boutique’. The team offers experience in a broad range of antitrust litigation and government investigation matters pertaining to claims of exclusive dealing, tying, monopolization and price-fixing. The practice also stands out for representing Fortune 500 companies as plaintiffs in opt-out litigation. The ‘powerful litigator’ Philip Iovieno in New York, co-chairs the group, and offers significant experience in federal and state courts, recovering damages for corporate victims of antitrust violations including price-fixing cartels. Also co-chairing the practice is Brian Wallach  in Washington DC. Another key attorney is New York based Nicholas Gravante who heads the commercial litigation practice, focusing on securities and antitrust litigation.

Practice head(s):

Philip Iovieno; Brian Wallach


Other key lawyers:

Nicholas Gravante


Testimonials

‘This group is the highest quality commercial litigation boutique inside a prestigious law firm with abundant resources. The group is aligned with their clients not only on the cases they expertly litigate but they are aligned with and understand the business implication that litigation has on the companies they serve. They are as apt to provide counsel on the business ramifications of litigation as they are on the likelihood of an amenable settlement in a case.’

‘Phil Iovieno is a powerful litigator with the perfect mix of aggressive litigation and a soft-spoken voice, keen emotional intelligence and empathy. I would trust him on the most important company litigation.’

Key clients

McDonald’s Corporation; Costco Wholesale Corporation; BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.; Sherwood Food Distributors, L.L.C. and Harvest Meat Company, Inc.; Darden Restaurants, Inc.; PJ Food Service, Inc. (Papa John’s); Jetro Holdings, LLC (Restaurant Depot); Quality Supply Chain Co-Op, Inc. (a Wendy’s cooperative); Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.; Gordon Food Service, Inc.; Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. (Panda Express); and others


BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.


Rumble, Inc.


Kraft Heinz Foods Company; BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.; Jetro Holdings, LLC (Restaurant Depot); Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.; McDonald’s Corporation; Target Corporation; Quality Supply Chain Co-Op, Inc. (a Wendy’s cooperative); Gordon Food Service, Inc.; Sherwood Food Distributors, L.L.C. and Harvest Meat Company, Inc.


AngioDynamics, Inc.


HSG Unlockd Media, Inc. Liquidation Trust


Kraft Heinz Foods Company and Aramark Food and Support


Work highlights


  • Representing more than a dozen opt-out plaintiffs in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit in connection with an alleged multi-faceted price-fixing scheme.
  • Representing BJ’s Wholesale Club as plaintiff in an ongoing antitrust litigation matter.
  • Representing AngioDynamics as plaintiffs in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit against a market competitor.

DiCello Levitt

The antitrust team at DiCello Levitt is a ‘well-respected’ and ‘premier plaintiffs practice’. The team offers experience in high-profile litigation across the pharmaceutical, poultry and financial services sectors concerning allegations of pay-for-delay and no poach agreements, price manipulation and monopolization, also representing governmental entities. Practice head Gregory Asciolla is highly regarded in the market and represents businesses and health and welfare funds in class actions challenging price fixing cartels and other anticompetitive behavior. Karin Garvey is another key attorney, who has experience in acting on both sides of multi-jurisdictional cases and class actions involving price-fixing, financial benchmark manipulation and monopolization claims. Robin van der Meulen is an ‘excellent litigator’, Matthew Perez is currently litigating several pay-for-delay antitrust actions in the pharmaceutical industry. Associate Jonathan Crevier is also noted. The team has expanded with the arrival of Brian Hogan in Chicago, bolstering experience in monopolization and cartel litigation across a range of industries including agriculture and transportation. Unless otherwise stated, all the attorneys mentioned above are based in New York.

Practice head(s):

Gregory Asciolla


Other key lawyers:

Karin Garvey; Robin Van Der Meulen; Matthew Perez; Jonathan Crevier; Brian Hogan


Testimonials

‘The practice took interest in the civil litigation and put resource into evolving the complaint. In comparison with another firm there was a clear understanding of the type of business that is involved, how it works and the competitive atmosphere.’

‘Greg Asciolla and Jonathan Crevier worked very well with us and guided us through the processes to the hearing and resolution of the case. These representatives wanted the best achievable solution to the case.’

‘Greg Asciolla and his team have built a premier plaintiffs’ practice and they are extremely well-respected across the antitrust bar.’

Key clients

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 Welfare Fund


Jones Planting Co. III


Electrical Workers Pension Fund Local 103 I.B.E.W.


Kathryn Anne Radek, Lauren Hayes, and Janine Cherasaro


731 Pharmacy Corp. d/b/a Ivan Pharmacy


Holmes County Bank and Trust


City of Boston Credit Union


State of New Mexico


The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.


Work highlights


  • Appointed co-lead counsel in a major antitrust no-poach case involving the aerospace engineer labor market.
  • Settled mid-trial with a branded drug manufacturer in a major pay-for-delay case involving the drug Opana.
  • Entered into two early icebreaker settlements that provided significant cooperation in a major price-fixing case involving European government bonds.

Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.

Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. offers a ‘broad plaintiff class action practice’ which concentrates on antitrust class and individual actions across a variety of industries including pharmaceuticals, food, finance and construction. The ‘experienced and strategic’ head of team, Robert Eisler is located in the firm’s Wilmington office, and is well-versed in antitrust class actions in numerous industries and securities and derivates litigation. In New York, Barbara Hart is very active in plaintiffs’ litigation and often represents institutional investors in securities and antitrust litigation. Senior counsel Chad Holtzman in Wilmington is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Robert Eisler


Other key lawyers:

Barbara Hart; Chad Holtzman


Testimonials

‘G&E has a broad plaintiff’s class action practice. The antitrust practice is solid. This is a reliable and experienced group.’

‘Robert Eisler has solid antitrust experience and is a very experienced and strategic thinker.’

Work highlights


  • Acted in the $2.67 billion Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement, one of the largest monetary recoveries in an antitrust class action, where the firm represented insurance subscribers.
  • Acting as co-lead counsel on behalf of end-payor plaintiffs in an antitrust class action concerning Seroquel XR (Extended Release Quetiapine Fumarate).
  • Acting as co-lead counsel on behalf of a class of end-payor plaintiffs in a case alleging that certain defendants including Pfizer participated in an anticompetitive scheme to maintain Pfizer’s market exclusivity of Lipitor.

Kirby McInerney LLP

The ‘smart group of antitrust attorneys’ at the financial litigation boutique Kirby McInerney LLP excels in the representation of plaintiffs in antitrust litigation concerning the manipulation of complex financial instruments. The firm also offers experience in matters spanning the poultry, technology and pharmaceutical industries. Heading up the team is David Kovel, who stands out for his expertise in antitrust and securities litigation in various courts. Co-managing partner Daniel Hume often advises institutional investors and financial institutions in antitrust class actions. Thomas Elrod is a ‘top-notch litigator’. Karen Lerner is a ‘stand-out lawyer’ that regularly litigates complex class actions and advises on corporate governance. The firm has recently grown its offering, as in March 2022 it opened a new office in Chicago and hired Anthony Fata from Cafferty Clobes Meriwether & Sprengel LLP, who is also located in Chicago and has significant experience in complex financial matters including claims concerning commodity, securities and antitrust law. All the attorneys mentioned are based in New York unless otherwise specified.

Practice head(s):

David Kovel


Other key lawyers:

Daniel Hume; Karen Lerner; Anthony Fata; Thomas Elrod; Andrew McNeela; Anthony Maneiro


Testimonials

‘Very creative team well versed in complex trading matters.’

‘David Kovel and Thomas Elrod are both top-notch litigators who are deeply committed to their clients and cases.’

‘I am aware of Kirby McInerney’s antitrust class action practice. It consists of a solid group of antitrust attorneys.’

Key clients

New Mexico State Investment Council


FTC Capital GMBH


Metzler Investment GmbH


Atlantic Trading USA, LLC


Ranchers-CattlemenActionLegal Fund


Port 22


Kohl Trading


Rock Capital Markets


M+N Trading


Alpine Special Treatment Center, Inc.


Work highlights


  • Acting as lead counsel on behalf of the New Mexico State Investment Council alleging that leading credit default swap (CDS) dealers took part in a more than decade-long, multibillion-dollar scheme to manipulate the benchmark prices used to value credit default swap contracts at settlement.
  • Acting as co-lead counsel on behalf of FTC Capital GmbH, Metzler Investment GmbH, and Atlantic Trading USA, LLC in In re Libor-Based Financial Instruments Antitrust Litigation and serving as court-appointed co-liaison counsel for all class actions in the multi-district LIBOR manipulation litigation.
  • Acted as lead counsel on behalf of Kohl Trading in In re JPMorgan Treasury Futures Spoofing Litig., an antitrust case alleging that JPMorgan unlawfully and intentionally manipulated U.S. Treasury Futures or Options on U.S. Treasury Futures traded on United States-based exchanges.

MoginRubin LLP

The class action boutique MoginRubin LLP specializes in antitrust and competition law and stands out for its experience in cases involving conspiracies to trade information, monopolize, fix interchange fees and control supply as well as matters that involve an interplay of antitrust and privacy. Its work crosses a variety of industry sectors including tech, financial services and healthcare. The team is jointly headed up by antitrust and unfair competition litigation expert Daniel Mogin in San Diego who also has acted in steering and executive committees for multidistrict litigation; and trial lawyer and competition law policy advocate Jonathan Rubin in Washington DC who has represented plaintiffs and defendants in matters about anticompetitive conduct and monopolization in the finance and technology sectors among others. Also noted are associates Timothy LaComb and Joy Sidhwa, who offer expertise in electronic document discovery and trial preparation. Jennifer Oliver left the firm in November 2022.


Practice head(s):

Daniel Mogin; Jonathan Rubin


Other key lawyers:

Timothy LaComb; Joy Sidhwa


Work highlights


  • Acted as plaintiffs’ counsel in a case alleging illegal collusion in the digital advertising markets by Defendants Facebook and Google, in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act.
  • Acted as plaintiffs’ counsel in class action case alleging breach of more than 40 million consumers’ personal information.
  • Representing class of dentists and orthodontists against major manufacturers in the removable dental aligners market and the hand-held digital intraoral scanners market.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Representing both plaintiffs and defendants, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP assists with litigation concerning claims of price-fixing, restrictive agreements, and other conspiracies such as group boycotts, acting for plaintiffs in the construction, sports and aviation fields. In Washington DC is key attorney William Isaacson who has tried cases on both defense and plaintiff sides. Andrew Finch who splits his time between New York and Washington is co-chair of the Antitrust group and focuses on both criminal and civil antitrust investigations and litigation. Also in New York are William Michael , who offers significant experience in antitrust litigation, appellate matters and investigations, while Jacqueline P. Rubin  handles a range of complex commercial litigation matters.



Other key lawyers:

William Isaacson; Andrew Finch; William Michael; Jacqueline P. Rubin