Antitrust and Competition Litigation

Antitrust claims are increasingly common, and the stakes in competition litigation are incredibly high.
 

Larson’s seasoned trial lawyers are prepared to handle antitrust and competition suits however it serves the best interest of each client—whether that be through swift resolution, at trial, or on appeal all the way up to the US. Supreme Court.

Drawing upon extensive experience handling class actions, intellectual property and patent litigation matters, criminal and civil government investigations, and appeals, our attorneys serve as counsel to companies across all industries to protect their competitive interests.

Larson’s Antitrust and Competition team includes lawyers with decades of experience in all areas of antitrust and competition law. We have litigated cases in jurisdictions across the country and in every federal circuit, trying many to jury verdicts. The Antitrust and Competition team provides, in one integrated unit, the best trial lawyers, economists, and industry experts. We know the law and the process – and we know how to use them to your advantage.

We represent corporations in both asserting and defending antitrust claims under both federal and state laws – no matter if they involve private civil litigation, criminal investigations, trials initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice, or civil investigations and trials brought by the Federal Trade Commission, state Attorneys General, or foreign antitrust authorities.

Larson attorneys have tried antitrust cases involving price fixing, group boycotts, monopolization, market allocation, refusals to deal, and other anticompetitive practices in state and federal courts, and before arbitration panels and international tribunals.

 
  • Representing California property owners in separate group and class action antitrust complaints alleging a group boycott by insurance companies that funneled homeowners in high fire-risk areas into the state’s insurance plan of last resort.
  • Represented Johnson & Johnson in class actions and parens patriae cases brought by 28 State Attorney Generals offices alleging claims of antitrust price fixing and refusals to deal in the sales of prescription contact lenses.
  • Represented two steel corporations as plaintiffs against the major northeastern railroads, alleging antitrust claims of group boycott and monopolization of Lake Erie docks used for the transshipment of raw iron ore. Obtained jury verdict and damages in excess of $600 million, which was upheld on appeal; cert was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Represented a multinational power management company in a civil antitrust jury trial against allegations of monopolization and exclusive dealing in the manufacture and sale of heavy-duty truck transmissions.
  • Represented a healthcare corporation in a class action alleging monopolization of hospital services through the acquisition of another hospital in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.
  • Represented a dental industry professional organization in claims of conspiracy to restrain trade in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
  • Represented an American computer hardware company in an antitrust action alleging an illegal tying arrangement related to computer products and services.
  • Represented a titanium dioxide manufacturer in defense of price-fixing claims under Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
  • Representing a biotechnology and biomedical engineering firm in an investigation and litigation relating to the alleged breach of a merger consent decree.
  • Represented a transport company and an American defense contractor in a group boycott antitrust case against railroads refusing services to non-railroad owned docks on the Great Lakes.
  • Represented a cargo handling company in an antitrust action alleging group boycott by railroad companies of its independent dock on Lake Erie.
  • Represented a class of tobacco farmers in an action against all major tobacco companies for bid-rigging on auctions under Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, resulting in a substantial settlement for the farmers.
  • Defended a major paper and packaging company in a nationwide class action jury trial resulting from the consolidation of several class actions alleging price fixing of corrugated containers.
  • Represented a media services company against various telecommunications company defendants for alleged violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
  • Represented a biotechnology and biomedical engineering firm in a private antirust action alleging monopolization.
  • Obtained acquittal for a major paper and packaging company in a criminal jury trial based on the indictments of 32 companies and individuals alleging a nationwide price fixing conspiracy in the corrugated container industry.