Our attorneys have represented businesses in antitrust, unfair competition, trade regulation and trade secret litigation under federal and state statutes in a variety of areas: pharmaceuticals, crude oil production, refining and marketing; gasoline transportation and marketing; glass production and sale; trucking and freight forwarding; airlines; sugar refining and marketing; banking; venture capital; aircraft technology; agricultural marketing; cosmetics; computer hardware and software; laser technology; biotechnology; retail grocery. We have also represented consumers in class actions challenging business actions.
We have assisted clients in civil and criminal investigations and cases brought by local federal or state prosecutors, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, and the California Department of Justice. Our work also includes antitrust (Cartwright Act), indirect purchaser, trade secret, unfair competition and unfair trade practices matters in California courts.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
- Azizian v. Federated Department Stores: RBGG was co-counsel for the lead defendant, the cosmetics company Estee Lauder, in a state court antitrust action, which was settled as a nationwide federal class action. RBGG represented Estee Lauder both at trial and on the successful appeal. See Azizian v. Federated Dept. Stores, 499 F.3d 950 (9th Cir. 2007).
- Centers for Elders Independence v. Biovale Corporation: The firm successfully represented purchasers and resellers of prescription drugs in a major price-fixing case against leading drug companies.
- NextCard Inc.: RBGG served as lead counsel in representation of this internet bank in various state and federal court litigation matters, including securities, antitrust, intellectual property, breach of contract, and employment disputes.
- Computer Education Managers Association: We provided antitrust counselling to CEMA.
- In re Coordinated Pretrial Proceedings in Petroleum Products Antitrust: We were among the key attorneys in the successful representation of defendant Union Oil Corporation of California in multiyear antitrust proceedings concerning oil and gas production, pricing, and sales.
- Rebney v. Wells Fargo Bank: We successfully represented classes of banking customers in two appeals, the first of which found objectors to two settlements concerning bank checking account fees lacked standing to appeal and, largely in dicta, found no fault with the settlement, and the second of which upheld the award of attorneys’ fees after the settlement. See Rebney v. Wells Fargo Bank, 200 Cal. App. 3d 1117 (1990), and 232 Cal. App. 3d 1344 (1991).
- Wahl v. State Farm Insurance Company: We successfully helped conclude a settlement of a case in San Francisco Superior Court on behalf of auto policyholders who were improperly charged for their policies, securing money for policyholders, a change in practices, and substantial attorneys’ fees.