Antitrust Law

Practice Overview

For over 45 years, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. has advocated on behalf of clients impacted by illegal business operations. Our antitrust team has prosecuted national and global cartels on behalf of businesses injured by anticompetitive conduct. We have obtained billions in settlements and verdicts for our clients and classes. Our clients include businesses across the country that have been injured by domestic or global cartels.

Since 1890, when Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, protecting and promoting a competitive economy has been a bedrock American principle. The United States and many states have adopted laws and regulations to protect the free and open markets and prohibit unfair competition. Companies that disregard these laws injure not just the companies with which they compete for business but the consumers who rely on their goods and services. Enforcement of antitrust laws helps to promote healthy competition and, therefore, robust economies.

LGN’s Antitrust Lawyers

LGN’s antitrust experts are leaders in the field. Our team members serve in a variety of leadership positions: serving on the Board of Directors and Advisory Board of the American Antitrust Institute, President and past President of the Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws (COSAL), the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section, the Antitrust Law Advisory Board of Strafford Publications, and the American Bar Association Antitrust Section’s Committees such as the Membership & Diversity Committee. We also have served as contributing authors to national and international antitrust law treatises and other publications, including the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Developments publication. We have participated in the Federal Practice Committee for the District of Minnesota and Merit Selection Panels for the District of Minnesota and are members of the Sedona Conference.

Breadth and Depth of Antitrust Litigation

Enforcing antitrust regulations requires thorough investigation, development of creative strategies, and dealing with statutes across different jurisdictions. The attorneys at LGN lead high-stakes antitrust litigation challenging collusion, such as bid-rigging agreements, price-fixing, exchanging pricing information among competitors, and horizontal market division, including agreements not to compete. We also challenge illegal monopolies and attempts to monopolize, illegal joint ventures, and other conduct that unreasonably restrains trade and violates federal and state antitrust and fair competition laws.

Praise for our Antitrust Team

For over 40 years, our antitrust team has fought for fair markets and open competition that has led to recovering billions of dollars in damages on behalf of injured class members. Our antitrust team is experienced in pre-lawsuit investigations, complex discovery issues, including e-discovery, expert discovery, Daubert motions, trials, and all other aspects of cutting-edge antitrust litigation.

Courts have repeatedly praised our antitrust team. For instance, U.S. District Judge John Gleeson (ret.) described us as “highly experienced practitioners in complex litigation generally and antitrust litigation specifically.” Precision I, 2013 WL 4525323, at *16; Precision II, 2015 WL 6964973, at *8 (“The settlement amounts proposed here attest to Class Counsel’s abilities.”). U.S. District Chief Judge Ruben Castillo (ret.) recognized not only “the outstanding result obtained for the Class” but also “the quality of work product and quantity of work” we performed. In re Potash Antitrust Litig. (II), Case No. 1:08-cv-06910, Doc. No. 589 at 2 ¶ 5.

LGN leads complex cases in federal courts across the country, including:

Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation (Northern District of Illinois) (Co-Lead Counsel)
Pork Antitrust Litigation (District of Minnesota) (Co-Lead Counsel)
Turkey Antitrust Litigation (Northern District of Illinois) (Co-Lead Counsel)
Beef Antitrust Litigation (District of Minnesota (Co-Lead Counsel)
Generic Drugs Antitrust Litigation (Eastern District of Pennsylvania) (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)
Packaged Seafood Antitrust Litigation (Southern District of California)
Crop Inputs Antitrust Litigation (Eastern District of Missouri) (Co-Lead Counsel)
Surescripts Antitrust Litigation (Northern District of Illinois) (Co-Lead Counsel)
Wood Mountain Fish LLC, et al., v. Mowi USA, et al. (Southern District of Florida) (Co-Lead Counsel))
Staley, et al. v. Gilead Sciences, Inc., et al. (Northern District of California) (Plaintiffs Executive Committee)

Current Cases

HVAC EQUIPMENT ANTITRUST LITIGATION

LGN is investigating claims on behalf of purchasers of HVAC equipment who may have paid artificially inflated prices. The lawsuit, Berg v. Robert Bosch, LLC, et al., alleges that leading HVAC equipment manufacturers conspired beginning in 2020 to increase the prices paid by residential and commercial purchasers across the United States. If you purchased HVAC equipment for your home or business since 2020, you may have been affected. Click here to learn more.

Optimal Blue Antitrust Litigation

LGN represents a class of plaintiffs who entered into a residential mortgage for their primary residence with one of the companies who originate mortgage loans (“Loan Originator Defendants”) listed below. The lawsuit alleges that Optimal Blue, a mortgage information sharing program, and Loan Originator Defendants unlawfully agreed to use software created by Optimal Blue in order to artificially inflate mortgage prices for home purchasers across the United States. Click here to learn more.

Construction Equipment Rental Antitrust Litigation

LGN filed an antitrust class action lawsuit on behalf of individuals and businesses nationwide who have rented construction equipment. The lawsuit alleges that beginning in or around March 31, 2021, the prices that the plaintiffs paid to rent construction equipment was artificially inflated as a result of a conspiracy between the largest construction equipment rental companies in the United States. The lawsuit alleges a conspiracy not only between these rental companies, but also with Rouse Services LLC and its parent, RB Global, with whom the rental companies have been sharing competitively sensitive, non-public data to coordinate pricing and maximize rental prices. Click here to learn more.

PVC Pipe Antitrust Litigation

Lockridge Grindal Nauen (“LGN”) has been appointed co-lead counsel in a lawsuit filed on behalf of purchasers of PVC municipal water pipe and electrical conduit (collectively, “PVC Pipes”). Prices for PVC Pipes have been historically high for the last several years. Purchasers of PVC Pipes such as municipalities and contractors have been shouldering the burden of these high prices, paying more for the PVC Pipes they need to complete critical infrastructure and electrical projects. LGN has investigated the markets for PVC Pipes and determined that PVC converters (manufactures) used the COVID-19 pandemic as cover for illegal price-fixing and need to be held accountable. Click here to learn more.

Admixtures Antitrust Litigation

Lockridge Grindal Nauen is prosecuting an antitrust class action alleging that the world’s largest manufacturers of concrete and cement additives conspired with each other to increase the prices they charge for those construction chemicals. The defendants and potential defendants accused of conspiring to fix the prices of their admixtures are: Sika, Saint-Gobain Group, Master Builders Group, and Euclid Group. Click here to learn more.

PayPal Antitrust Litigation

Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP has been appointed as co-lead counsel in a lawsuit the Firm has filed on behalf of consumers against PayPal concerning anticompetitive agreements between PayPal and all eCommerce merchants that accept PayPal as a method of payment. The lawsuit alleges that PayPal’s Anti-Steering Rules have caused consumers to pay more than they ordinarily would have for their e-commerce transactions, in violation of federal antitrust and other laws. Click here to learn more.

Shale Oil Antitrust Litigation

On behalf of businesses nationwide, LGN has filed a lawsuit alleging that beginning in or around January 2021, the prices that businesses nationwide have paid for gasoline and diesel fuel have been artificially inflated as a result of a conspiracy between the largest shale oil producers in the United States. The lawsuit alleges a conspiracy not only between those producers, but also with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, commonly referred to as OPEC. Click here to learn more.

Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation

LGN is co-lead counsel for a class of direct purchasers of broiler chickens in the United States. We allege that broiler producers colluded to restrain production and otherwise raised prices for broilers sold in the United States. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before the Honorable Thomas Durkin. Click here to learn more.

Southwest Dairy Farmer Antitrust Litigation

Dairy cooperatives like DFA and Select play a vital role in the Southwest dairy industry, as the overwhelming majority of dairy farmers are members of, and market their milk through, these cooperatives. The cooperatives then market the milk to be processed and bottled for fluid or other uses, such as in cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and milk powder.

Beginning in at least January 2015, the prices that Southwestern dairy farmers received for the raw Grade A milk they produced have been remarkably low, often below the farmers’ costs to produce the milk. The lawsuit alleges that DFA and Select began coordinating after the rates paid to Southwestern dairy farmers reached high prices in 2014. Click here to learn more.

In re Pork Antitrust Litigation

LGN is co-lead counsel for a class of direct purchasers of pork in the United States. We allege that pork integrators colluded to restrain production and otherwise raised prices for pork sold in the United States. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota before the Honorable John R. Tunheim. Click here to learn more.

In re Beef Antitrust Litigation

LGN is co-lead counsel for a class of consumer purchasers of beef in the United States. We allege that beef packers colluded to restrain production and otherwise raised prices for beef sold in the United States. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota before the Honorable John R. Tunheim. Click here to learn more.

In re Turkey Antitrust Litigation

LGN is co-lead counsel for a class of direct purchasers of turkey in the United States. We allege that turkey producers colluded to restrain production and otherwise raised prices for turkey sold in the United States. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before the Honorable Virginia M. Kendall. Click here to learn more.

Generic Drugs Antitrust Litigation

LGN is a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for a class of end payer purchasers of certain generic prescription drugs. We allege that manufacturers conspired to fix the prices of almost 200 different generic drugs. The action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania before the Honorable Cynthia Rufe. Click here to learn more.

Salmon Antitrust Litigation

LGN is co-lead counsel for a class of indirect purchasers of farm-raised Atlantic salmon and salmon products sold in the United States. Our complaint alleges that the Defendant, salmon producers, engaged in extensive anticompetitive conduct to fix, maintain, and raise the price of farmed Atlantic salmon and related salmon products. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida before the Honorable Rodney Smith. Click here to learn more.

STALEY et al. v. GILEAD SCIENCES, INC. et al.

Attorney Heidi Silton is a member of the Plaintiffs Executive Committee representing a class of end-payor purchasers who indirectly purchased, paid, and/or provided reimbursement for some or all of the purchase price for any CART drug. It is alleged that companies engaged in anticompetitive conduct, including alleged unlawful agreements with competitors, to prevent generic HIV treatments from entering the market. This conduct resulted in higher prices paid and prevented those living with HIV access to affordable treatments. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California before Judge Edward Chen and Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler.

Packaged Seafood Antitrust Litigation

LGN represents end payer plaintiffs who allege that seafood producers colluded for more than a decade to raise prices and restrict the supply of packaged tuna across the United States. The cases are pending in the United States District for the Southern District of California before the Honorable Chief Judge Dana M. Sabraw. Click here to learn more.

Fragrance Antitrust Litigation

In April 2023, Lockridge Grindal Nauen filed an antitrust class action on behalf of our clients and a proposed class alleging that the world’s largest fragrance manufacturers colluded to entered into an unlawful agreement to increased prices charged to Plaintiff and the Proposed Class for Fragrances. Here, Fragrances are defined as chemical or aroma compounds that are added to consumer goods to impart a pleasant order to the finished product and deliver a pleasant experience to the end user. Click here to learn more.

Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation

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Shale Oil Antitrust Litigation

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Background

Gasoline and diesel fuel prices have been at historically high prices for the last...View More

Southwest Dairy Farmer Antitrust Litigation

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Background

Dairy cooperatives like DFA and Select play a vital role in the Southwest dairy in...View More

PayPal Antitrust Litigation

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BACKGROUND

Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP has been appointed as co-lead couns...View More

HVAC Equipment Antitrust Litigation

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Background

Settled Cases

In re Peanut Farmers Antitrust Litigation, No. 2:19-cv-00463 (E.D.V.A.)

Settled: 2021

LGN represented America’s peanut farmers in a lawsuit alleging that the three largest peanut shelling companies conspired to reduce the price they paid farmers. Less than two years after filing the lawsuit, LGN recovered $102.75 million to fully resolve the case.

PRECISION ASSOCIATES, INC., ET AL. V. PANALPINA WORLD TRANSPORT (HOLDING) LTD., (FREIGHT FORWARDER ANTITRUST LITIGATION)

Settled: November 2016

LGN served as co-lead counsel for a class of direct purchasers of freight forwarding services. Freight forwarders, also known as third-party logistics providers, organize and transport items via air, ship, rail, and truck, both nationally and internationally, and assist with customs clearance, warehousing, and ground services. We alleged that defendants conspired to fix and inflate charges or prices for freight forwarding services. We obtained over $400 million in settlements for the class.

TFT-LCD (FLAT PANEL) ANTITRUST LITIGATION

Settled: February 2013

LGN represented direct purchaser plaintiffs who alleged that sellers and distributors of TFT-LCD Products in the United States conspired to maintain and raise prices of LCD products. The venue for this case was in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California before the Honorable Susan Illston. The case settled for $473 million after plaintiffs took the case to trial against one major producer and obtained the jury’s verdict for the plaintiffs.

POTASH ANTITRUST LITIGATION (II)

Settled: June 2013

LGN was Co-Lead Counsel for direct purchaser plaintiffs and obtained $90 million in settlements for persons and businesses in the United States who purchased potash in the United States from potash producers.

PLASMA-DERIVATIVE PROTEIN THERAPIES ANTITRUST LITIGATION

Settled: April 2014

LGN represented plaintiffs who alleged that manufacturers of blood plasma derivatives immunoglobulin and albumin colluded to restrict the supply, thereby increasing the prices of those blood therapies. The venue for this case was in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division before Judge Joan B. Gottschall. The case settled for $128 million.

CATHODE RAY TUBE (CRT) ANTITRUST LITIGATION

Settled: June 2017

LGN represented direct purchasers of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and related products, who allege that the major CRT producers conspired to maintain and raise CRT prices in the United States. The venue for this case was in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California before the Honorable Jon S. Tigar. The case settled for $224.2 million.

OPTICAL DISK DRIVE ANTITRUST LITIGATION

Settled: April 2016

LGN represented direct purchasers who allege that producers and sellers of optical disk drives (ODDs) conspired to maintain and raise prices of ODDs sold in the United States. The venue for this case was in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California before the Honorable Richard Seeborg. The case settled for $74.9 million.

KIRK DAHL, ET AL., V. BAIN CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC, ET AL., (THE PRIVATE EQUITY ANTITRUST LITIGATION), NO. 07-CV-12388 (D. MASS.)

Settled: March 2015

LGN served as co-counsel on behalf of shareholders in this action against the nation’s largest private equity firms who colluded to restrain competition to suppress prices paid to shareholders of public companies in connection with leveraged buyouts. After nearly seven years of hard-fought litigation, the court approved several settlements totaling $590.5 million. The aggregate settlement is the largest antitrust class action settlement involving market allocation in which no government antitrust action was taken.

REFRIGERANT COMPRESSORS ANTITRUST LITIGATION

Settled: May 2014

LGN represented plaintiffs who alleged that manufacturers of refrigerator compressors and compressor products illegally fixed the prices of those products. This case was venued in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan before the Honorable Sean F. Cox. This case settled for approximately $30 million.

Publications & Presentations

LGN Antitrust Publications

The Case for Interim Statements: Perspectives on Juror Comprehension, Engagement, and Trial Efficiency (American Bar Association Antitrust Magazine) Volume 39, Issue 2 (April 21, 2025), Brian D. Clark, Kyle Pozan, and Susan Macpherson, authors.
Forced Arbitration is a Bar to the Effective Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws, (The Official Journal of Minnesota Women Lawyers) Volume LXXI, Issue IV (June 28, 2021), Heidi Silton and Jessica Servais, authors.
Animal Science: The US Supreme Court’s Interpretation of Foreign Law Asserted by Foreign Governments in Competition Law Cases, 12 Global Competition Litigation Review no. 2, at 45 (2019) Heidi Silton, Craig Davis and Kasia Kokoszka, authors.
DOJ Civil Antitrust Practice and Procedure (American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law) (2016), Heidi M. Silton, contributor.
The Discovery Evolution of European Commission Competition Law Documents, 9 Global Competition Litigation Review no. 3, at 96 (2016), Heidi M. Silton and Craig S. Davis, authors.
New English Court Limitations On Discovery May Be In Conflict With European Union Courts, 9 Global Competition Litigation Review no. 1, at R4 (2016), Heidi M. Silton and Craig S. Davis, authors.
Annual Review of Antitrust Law Developments (American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law), Craig S. Davis, contributor (2014).
Trending Methods of International Service of Process:@elusivedefendant #youcanrunbutyoucan’thide #HagueConvention, 31 No. 19 Westlaw Journal Computer and Internet 1 (February 27, 2014), Heidi M. Silton, author.
A Conspiracy of Note (and your withdrawal should be too), American Bar Association Journal — Law News Now (March 2013), Heidi M. Silton, author.
Private Enforcement of Antitrust Law in the United States, Edward Elgar Publishing (UK) (October 2012), Joseph Bruckner, contributing author.
Pfleiderer AG v. Bundeskartellamt: A Step Forward in Efforts to Obtain Discovery From European Commission Antitrust Proceedings, 19 No. 6 Westlaw Journal Antitrust 1 (Sept. 8, 2011), Heidi M. Silton, co-author.
International Handbook On Private Enforcement Competition Law Edward Elgar Publishing (UK) (December 2010), Joseph Bruckner, contributing author.

LGN Antitrust Legal Presentations

“Leveling the Playing Field: Farmers and Antitrust Enforcement”, American Agricultural Law Association (November 6, 2021), Brian Clark & Arielle Wagner.
“Improving Diverse Talent Retention Through Corporate and Law Firm Partnerships”, Twin Cities Diversity in Practice (August 11, 2021) Heidi Silton, moderator.
Fireside chat with Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter on recent antitrust initiatives, (July 14, 2021), Heidi Silton, moderator.
“Class Actions in the Digital Age,” American Antitrust Institute (June 2020), Brian D. Clark, speaker.
“2019 Antitrust Round Up: Information Exchange: Is Sharing Really Caring?,” Minnesota State Bar Association Antitrust Section CLE (June 28, 2019), Brian D. Clark, panel member.
“Getting a Seat at the Table and What to do Once You’ve Obtained Your Seat: Tips for Women Lawyers” Practicing Law Institute’s (PLI) Women Lawyers in Leadership (January 26, 2018), Heidi Silton, speaker
“Antitrust Issues In Private Enforcement Actions Against Agricultural Industries,” The American Antitrust Institute, Private Antitrust Enforcement Conference (November 7, 2017), W. Joseph Bruckner, speaker and moderator.
“Examining Rule 34,” Sedona Conference WG1 Mid-Year Meeting (May 5, 2017), Brian D. Clark, speaker.
“Fundamentals – Consumer Protection” American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section Annual Spring Meeting (March 28-31, 2017), Heidi M. Silton, speaker and panelist.
The Cambridge Antitrust Litigation Forum (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017), W. Joseph Bruckner, speaker and panelist.
“The Proof is on My Phone: Dealing with Discovery in the Era of Social Media & Smart Phone Apps,” Legal Services State Support CLE (August 25, 2016), Brian D. Clark, speaker.
“Of Cloning And Cheese Conspiracies: An Update On Private Civil Agricultural Antitrust Litigation,” presented at the American Agricultural Law Association in Charleston, South Carolina (October 23, 2015), Craig S. Davis, speaker.
Pitfalls of Class Action Notice and Claims Administration, presented at Practicing Law Institute’s Class Action Litigation Conference (July 9, 2014), Karen Hanson Riebel, speaker.
The American Bar Association, Civil Practice and Cartel & Criminal Practice Committees, program on the Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act (May 14, 2014), W. Joseph Bruckner, speaker and panelist.
“Hot Topics in Obtaining Discovery in Foreign Countries” at the University of Minnesota Law School as part of an Electronic Discovery Seminar (March 4, 2014), Heidi M. Silton, speaker.
The American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section Annual Spring Meeting (April 10-12, 2013), W. Joseph Bruckner, speaker and panelist.
“Hot Topics in Antitrust Law” at a Minnesota Women Lawyers CLE (January 18, 2012), Heidi M. Silton, speaker.
Hypotheticals for Practical Application” at the MSBA CLE on Antitrust Law Issues in Intellectual Property Litigation and Licensing (May 25, 2011), Heidi M. Silton, speaker.

Contact

Antitrust violations can arise in a variety of settings. If you are unsure of whether an action constitutes prohibited anticompetitive behavior, the trained eye of an experienced lawyer can help.

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