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- Antitrust Litigation
Antitrust litigation has become bet-the-company litigation. Civil litigation can lead to worldwide exposure, with government investigations and (increasingly) civil exposure in other jurisdictions. If you find yourself the target of antitrust action, you need smart, tough litigators in your corner.
Citing our “strong litigation expertise,” Legal 500 ranks Covington among the best firms in the world for antitrust and litigation, and The American Lawyer lists us among its litigation departments of the year.
With more than 400 litigators—six of whom are members of the American College of Trial Lawyers—Covington has decades of litigation experience before U.S. courts, European courts, the EU Commission, and arbitral tribunals around the world.
In re TFT-LCD Antitrust Litigation
Represent Samsung in consolidated antitrust price-fixing and deceptive practice class actions involving liquid crystal displays. Won dismissal of claims valued at more than $3.5 billion, brought by Motorola Mobility against Samsung Electronics and several other manufacturers, shortly before trial.
Washington v. National Football League
Dismissing a purported class action antitrust suit brought by retired players alleging a conspiracy to restrain a market for the sale of their images and likenesses.
In re High-Tech Employee Antitrust Litigation
Representing Pixar in multi-defendant federal antitrust class action litigation alleging an unlawful agreement among certain Silicon Valley firms to limit their recruiting of each other’s employees.
EU Commission defense of Microsoft's Skype acquisition
Represented Microsoft in connection with Cisco’s appeal against the European Commission’s decision to approve Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype.
In re K-Dur Antitrust Litigation
Representing Schering-Plough (now Merck) in multi-district class action litigation challenging so-called reverse payment settlements of pharmaceutical patent litigation. Obtained denial of certification of indirect purchaser class, after which indirect purchasers voluntarily dismissed their case. The team previously defeated the FTC at trial in an action on the same facts, and will now have the opportunity to resolve the direct purchaser portion of the case under a recent Supreme Court decision.
JP Morgan Chase
In obtaining the dismissal of an antitrust class action alleging that a number of credit-card issuers conspired to adopt arbitration clauses in their credit card agreements. 2006 WL 2685082 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 20, 2006).
In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation
Represent Alps Electric in putative class actions alleging price-fixing in the heater control panel market.
In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation - Fuel Injection Systems
Represent Keihin Corporation in putative class actions alleging price-fixing in the fuel injection systems business.
Antitrust Litigation Concerning Obligations to License Technology
Representation of a technology company in antitrust litigation and a related arbitration concerning obligations to license technology.
Bank One and JP Morgan Chase
In securing a stay of antitrust and related class-action claims in deference to arbitration clauses in credit-card agreements. 361 F.Supp. 2d 237 (S.D.N.Y. 2005).
Financial Benchmarks Antitrust Class Actions
Represented a global bank in class actions involving antitrust, commodities fraud, and RICO claims relating to alleged manipulation of financial benchmarks, including the London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR), foreign currency exchange benchmarks, and ISDAFIX®
Hatch-Waxman settlement investigation and class action
AstraZeneca in an FTC investigation and private antitrust class action litigation concerning settlements of Hatch-Waxman patent litigation involving Nexium.
In re Automotive Wire Harness Systems Antitrust Litigation
Representing S-Y Systems Technologies Europe, GmbH, the only defendant dismissed in its entirety from the wire harness price-fixing litigation, which is the lead case in the sprawling Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation pending in Detroit. The court granted motion to dismiss, on personal jurisdiction grounds and did not grant the plaintiffs’ request for jurisdictional discovery.
Motorola Mobility v. AU Optronics Corp., et al.
Covington successfully represented Samsung in a massive set of antitrust price-fixing cases. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that virtually all of the claimed damages were barred by the Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act.
Refining and Marketing Joint Venture Antitrust Challenge
American Petroleum Institute as an amicus curiae in a U.S. Supreme Court case concerning an antitrust challenge to a refining and marketing joint venture.
Samsung Liquid Crystal Display Antitrust Class Actions
Represented Samsung in consolidated antitrust price-fixing and deceptive practice class actions involving liquid crystal displays.
Securing Labor Peace for the NFL
Defended the 2011 lockout against the antitrust claims in Brady v. NFL; negotiated a comprehensive 10-year CBA providing labor peace.
In re On-Line Travel Company (OTC)/Hotel Booking Antitrust Litig., (multidistrict litigation)
Counsel for Expedia in obtaining dismissal of all claims in MDL litigation.
High Profile Section 337 Dispute Between U.S. Steel and the Chinese Steel Industry
Representation of Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. in a trade secret, antitrust and false designation of origin dispute in the International Trade Commission involving processes for making Advanced High Strength Steel. In November 2016, Sturgis Sobin, Derek Ludwin, and James O’Connell were named “Litigators of the Week” by American Lawyer for an initial determination at the ITC on behalf of our client. This was the first price-fixing case in almost 40 years at the agency, terminating U.S. Steel’s antitrust claim.
Wells Fargo Bank Consumer Class Actions
Represented Wells Fargo Bank in consumer class actions under the laws of multiple states challenging fees, disclosures, and other banking practices.
March 31, 2020
LONDON—James Marshall has joined Covington’s Competition Practice in London as a partner. Mr. Marshall advises on all aspects of competition law and sector regulation and regularly counsels clients on merger control, investigations, commercial deals, abuse of dominance, and compliance. He is recommended by Legal 500 in multiple categories and is recognized as a ...
July 29, 2019
WASHINGTON—The National Law Journal has named Covington partner Anne Lee a “DC Rising Star,” recognizing her as one of the “region’s 40 most promising lawyers age 40 and under.” Recently named co-chair of Covington’s Global Antitrust practice, Ms. Lee represents clients in complex commercial and antitrust litigation and has litigated cases at the trial and ...
High Court Bars AIA Patent Challenges By Gov't
June 10, 2019, Law360
Beth Brinkmann is quoted in Law360 regarding Return Mail, Inc.’s Supreme Court victory. Ms. Brinkmann said in a statement that “the court’s decision confirms that federal agencies do not get an extra change to challenge privately held patents under AIA.”
May 8, 2019
LOS ANGELES—The Daily Journal has named Robyn Polashuk, Clara Shin, and Sonya Winner to its 2019 “Top Women Lawyers,” recognizing the “top women lawyers in California.” Ms. Polashuk co-chairs the firm's Communications and Media Industry Group and serves as managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office. Her practice focuses on the licensing and distribution ...
March 25, 2019, Law360
Covington successfully represented Chase Bank USA, N.A. in a case involving misleading credit reports.
Yan Luo Named to Global Data Review's “40 Under 40”
September 19, 2018
BEIJING — Global Data Review has named Covington’s Yan Luo to its inaugural “40 Under 40” list, recognizing the 40 individuals who represent the best and the brightest of the data law bar around the world. Based in the firm’s Beijing office, Ms. Luo advises clients on a broad array of regulatory matters in connection with data privacy, international trade, ...
May 9, 2018
LOS ANGELES—Covington partners Carolyn Kubota, Robyn Polashuk, and Sonya Winner have been named to the Daily Journal’s 2018 “Top 100 Women Lawyers” list, recognizing the “top women lawyers in California.” Based in the firm’s Los Angeles office, Ms. Kubota is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has served as lead counsel on high-profile ...
International Trade Commission Drops US Steel's Antitrust Claims Against Chinese Steelmakers
March 23, 2018, The American Lawyer
Derek Ludwin and James O'Connell are quoted by The American Lawyer in an article examining a decision by the ITC stating that United States Steel cannot bring antitrust claims against 40 Chinese steel manufacturers over alleged price-fixing. Ludwin, who represents Baosteel America with O'Connell and Sturgis Sobin, says that even though Section 337 is not often ...
Covington Named to GCR's Global Elite
January 16, 2018
WASHINGTON—Global Competition Review has once again named Covington to its 2018 "Global Elite," a list of the top 25 antitrust practices worldwide, as well as including the firm in the list of top ten practices globally for both Mergers and Antitrust Litigation. Each year, GCR undertakes extensive analysis of antitrust and competition law groups in 50 ...
June 12, 2017
LOS ANGELES—Covington partners Robyn Polashuk, Clara Shin, and Sonya Winner have been named to the Daily Journal’s 2017 “Top 100 Women Lawyers” list, which recognizes the leading women lawyers in California who “try complex commercial disputes and put together industry-transforming deals.” Managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office, Ms. Polashuk focuses ...
May 10, 2017, Silicon Valley Business Journal
Emily Henn was profiled by Silicon Valley Business Journal as a part of the publication's "Women of Influence" feature, honoring 100 of the most influential business women in Silicon Valley.
April 26, 2017
SILICON VALLEY—Silicon Valley Business Journal has named Covington partner Emily Henn to its annual “Women of Influence” list, honoring “100 of the most influential business women in Silicon Valley.” Ms. Henn serves as co-chair of the firm’s Class Action Litigation Practice, specializing in defending antitrust, consumer, and other types of class actions. Ms. ...
April 7, 2017, Covington Alert
The UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (the “CAT”) has handed down its first class certification judgment in relation to the class actions regime introduced by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (the “Act”). The result? The hearing has been adjourned, with the proposed representative allowed to file and serve an amended Claim Form and revised expert evidence, if so ...
Q&A with Deborah Garza
March 23, 2017, Global Competition Review
Deborah Garza discusses antitrust cartel enforcement ahead of GCR Live Cartels in an interview with Global Competition Review.
Springing forward into a bright future
March 1, 2017, Commercial Dispute Resolution
Elaine Whiteford and Louise Freeman spoke at Commercial Dispute Resolution’s second Spring Competition Litigation Symposium on the EU Damages Directive and are mentioned in an article providing highlights from the event. According to Freeman, lawyers should enable economists to give the best evidence they can, emphasizing that the same lawyers should completely ...
A time of challenge and change
February 15, 2017
John Hall and Deborah Garza are quoted in a Commercial Dispute Resolution article regarding likely litigation challenges in 2017. According to Hall, Covington’s workload is at historic highs, with “no sign of that upward trend abating,” noting that the changing legal and regulatory environment would continue to create demand. Commenting on antitrust and the ...
Confessions of a Scuba Diver
February 14, 2017, Competition Law Insight
Andrea Zulli discusses his career, interests, and competition law in an interview with Competition Law Insight.
BTI Names Nields and Shin "Client Service All-Stars"
February 10, 2017
SAN FRANCISCO—The BTI Consulting Group has named Covington lawyers John Nields and Clara Shin to its 2017 “Client Service All-Stars” list, which recognizes “remarkable attorneys and their ability to rise above all others with the most demanding clients.” Mr. Nields, based in Washington, is a highly regarded trial lawyer and member of the firm’s litigation and ...
Navigating anti-competition enforcement globally
January 31, 2017, Compliance Week
Michael Fanelli and Kevin Coates are quoted in a Compliance Week article examining how companies are navigating the global enforcement landscape. Commenting on global antitrust investigations, Fanelli says, “[Cooperation] involves a real thorough investigation to show you’re doing everything you can to root out the problem.” Applying for leniency may not always ...
Covington makes KWM competition hire
January 17, 2017, Global Competition Review
Louise Freeman and Johan Ysewyn are quoted in a Global Competition Review article regarding Freeman’s arrival to the firm’s European Dispute Resolution practice. According to Freeman, Covington is an exciting firm to join – especially as the firm is “expanding at a phenomenal rate.” She adds, “It’s going to be great fun educating the London market on what is ...
2 Disputes Lawyers Move To Covington Amid KWM Collapse
January 17, 2017, Law360
Alex Leitch and Jeremy Wilson are quoted in a Law360 article regarding the arrival of Craig Pollack and Louise Freeman to the firm’s European Dispute Resolution practice. According to Leitch and Wilson, “The firm’s growing footprint in London is a reflection of client demand that is fueled by the increasingly challenging regulatory and compliance environment, ...
January 16, 2017
LONDON—Craig Pollack and Louise Freeman have joined Covington as partners in the firm’s European Dispute Resolution practice resident in London. Mr. Pollack will also serve as co-chair of the firm’s Global Disputes Initiative with former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and former U.S. Under Secretary of State Alan Larson. Mr. Pollack focuses on complex high ...
Six Covington Lawyers Named Law360 MVPs
January 3, 2017
WASHINGTON—Law360 has named six Covington lawyers as MVPs in their respective practice areas. The awards single out lawyers from across various practice areas based on their “success in high-stakes litigation, complex global matters, and record-breaking deals.” The Covington lawyers recognized as Law360 MVPs are: Shara Aranoff, International Trade. Ms. ...
Sports MVP: Covington & Burling's Derek Ludwin
December 21, 2016, Law360
Law360 selected Derek Ludwin as a 2016 Sports MVP and profiled his work over the past year, including his defense of the U.S. Olympic Committee against an antitrust challenge to its longtime ban on on-field advertising brought by Olympic runner Nick Symmonds through his company, Run Gum. “This is an organization that a lot of us grew up following. It’s the ...
December 5, 2016
WASHINGTON—SportsBusiness Journal has named Doug Gibson and Gregg Levy to its list of the “50 Most Influential People in Sports Business.” Mr. Gibson and Mr. Levy are two of only four lawyers in private practice on the list, which also includes league commissioners and team owners, broadcast industry and sponsor company CEOs, and other high-profile executives in ...
Two Covington Partners on GCR’s Women in Antitrust List
December 2, 2016
LONDON—Global Competition Review has named two Covington partners to its Women in Antitrust list. Now in its fifth year, the report aims to identify and celebrate achievements of elite female antitrust professionals in private practice, as well as expert economists, in-house counsel, enforcers, and academics around the world. Miranda Cole is a partner based in ...
November 18, 2016, The Litigation Daily
Sturgis Sobin, Derek Ludwin, and James O’Connell were named “Litigators of the Week” by The Litigation Daily for an initial determination at the ITC on behalf of Baosteel in the first price-fixing case in almost 40 years at the agency, terminating U.S. Steel’s antitrust claim. According to Sobin, the argument was as much about educating the judge about the ...
September 5, 2016
LONDON—Greg Lascelles has joined Covington as a partner in the European Dispute Resolution practice resident in the firm’s London office. Mr. Lascelles has a broad litigation and arbitration practice covering a variety of industry sectors, with a particular focus on financial services. He advises hedge funds, private equity houses, asset managers, investment ...
Covington Named to GCR's Global Elite
January 15, 2016
WASHINGTON, DC — Global Competition Review has again named Covington to its 2016 “Global Elite,” a list of the top 25 antitrust practices worldwide. Each year, GCR undertakes extensive analysis of antitrust and competition law groups in 50 jurisdictions around the world. In its profile of the firm, GCR calls Covington’s antitrust and competition practice an ...
October 1, 2015, Covington Alert
July 20, 2015, Covington Alert
Covington Honored at GCR Awards 2015
April 20, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, April 20, 2015 — Global Competition Review has selected matters led by Covington lawyers as winners of two 2015 GCR Awards. Litigation of the Year, Cartel Defense was awarded for the defendants’ win in Motorola Mobility v AU Optronics, et al. Covington partners Robert Wick and Derek Ludwin in Washington, DC, and Jeffrey Davidson in San ...
December 22, 2014
WASHINGTON, December 22, 2014 — The Global Competition Review (GCR) has named Covington & Burling to its Global Elite, a list of the top 20 competition practices worldwide, ranking it among the top practices in both Brussels and Washington, D.C. Each year, GCR undertakes extensive analysis of competition law groups in 50 jurisdictions around the world. In ...
December 5, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, December 5, 2014 - For the second time this year, Am Law Litigation Daily named Covington & Burling’s Robert Wick as “Litigator of the Week.” Mr. Wick was honored for convincing the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to reject Motorola's attempt to hold Samsung Electronics and several other of the world’s largest liquid crystal display ...
October 9, 2014, Global Investigations Review
June 7, 2013, Covington E-Alert
Covington Scores Antitrust Defense Victory for Valeant
May 17, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, May 17, 2012 — Covington & Burling scored a major victory recently in an antitrust class action case involving allegations of sham litigation, when the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia granted summary judgment in favor of Covington’s client Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (formerly Biovail Corp.) and co-defendant ...
Covington Lawyers Recognized by D.C. Super Lawyers
May 2, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, May 2, 2012 — D.C. Super Lawyers selected 64 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2012 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects no more than five percent of the total lawyers who practice in Washington based on peer review and the publication’s independent research. Deborah Garza and Robert Long have been named among the “Top 100” for ...
Covington Named to GCR’s Global Elite
February 6, 2012
BRUSSELS, 6 February, 2012 — The Global Competition Review has named Covington & Burling to the Global Elite, a list of the top 20 competition practices worldwide recognised in its annual GCR 100 rankings. The 2012 edition of the publication’s GCR 100 provides extensive analysis of antitrust groups in 41 jurisdictions around the world. In honoring Covington, ...
Award Created in Honor of Covington’s Paul Tagliabue
January 17, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, January 17, 2012 — The Fritz Pollard Alliance has created the Paul J. Tagliabue Award of Excellence in honor of the former National Football League Commissioner and longtime Covington partner and senior counsel. The award goes to a league or team executive who demonstrates the integrity and leadership that Mr. Tagliabue showed in developing ...
August 18, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO, August 18, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP partner Anita Stork has been named to the 2011 “Top 50 Women” list by Northern California Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers rates outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and ...
July 16, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO, July 16, 2010 — Eighteen Covington & Burling LLP lawyers are recognized in the 2010 Northern California Super Lawyers. The annual list by Super Lawyers selects only five percent of the total lawyers in the state based upon peer review and the publication’s independent research. Eleven Covington lawyers were named Northern California Super ...
Covington Secures Victory for NFL in Seventh Circuit
8/19/2008
WASHINGTON, DC, August 19, 2008 — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on August 18 affirmed an unprecedented antitrust ruling granting the NFL member clubs summary judgment on the ground that they constitute a “single entity” whose decisions are essentially immune from challenge under Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Covington & Burling LLP ...
September 6, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, September 6, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP received 115 individual mentions in 38 areas of law in the 2008 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This annual compilation of top US lawyers is based on peer-review surveys and is used as a referral guide in the legal profession. The recipients are as follows: Administrative: E. Edward Bruce and ...
June 5, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 5, 2006 - The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed today that a federal statute, enacted in April 2004 to protect the nation's graduate medical education system, barred allegations of a nationwide antitrust conspiracy to depress the compensation of medical residents. Based on the statute, District ...
David L. Meyer Appointed Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust at the Department of Justice
May 15, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 15, 2006 - Covington & Burling partner David L. Meyer has been appointed Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Enforcement in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Mr. Meyer will oversee three of the Antitrust Division's civil sections. The announcement of Mr. Meyer's new role was made earlier today by Thomas O. ...
Increasing interim measure use stirs consequences debate
PaRR
Johan Ysewyn spoke with PaRR about interim measures in antitrust cases in Europe. Mr. Ysewyn is skeptical of the French measures, saying it appears to be a policy matter that has been “dressed up” in competition law concepts. He warns that the Belgians swift approach should not be held as an example as there is insufficient time for a “decent debate on whether ...
- Am Law Litigation Daily, Sturgis Sobin, Derek Ludwin, and James O'Connell, “Litigators of the Week“ (11/18/2016)

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