William Cavanaugh is Co-Chair of the firm. His areas of concentration include antitrust, intellectual property and commercial litigation.
Mr. Cavanaugh recently served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the United States for Civil Enforcement in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. During his time in Washington, Mr. Cavanaugh directly supervised the Division’s work on a number of high-profile matters including the Google Book Search settlement agreement and the Ticketmaster and Live Nation merger.
A skilled trial attorney with extensive experience in both state and federal courts as well as in arbitration, Mr. Cavanaugh has served as national and trial counsel in several large multiparty antitrust and fraud litigations in federal and state courts across the United States. His clients include major pharmaceutical, medical device and financial services companies.
Mr. Cavanaugh’s trial experience includes securing defense verdicts in a multi-billion dollar antitrust class action, civil fraud class actions and representing a plaintiff medical device manufacturer in back-to-back jury verdicts of $325 million and $271 million in patent infringement cases against two competitors. He has also successfully tried a number of Hatch-Waxman patent cases and represented a number of major health care companies in arbitrated contract disputes.
Mr. Cavanaugh has been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Chambers USA has recognized him in the area of Intellectual Property and Euromoney/Institutional Investor's
Benchmark: America's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys has listed Mr. Cavanaugh as a "Litigation Star" for New York. He has been listed in
The Best Lawyers in America® for Antitrust Law and Commercial Litigation.
Representative Matters
Antitrust
Secured summary judgment for defendant pharmaceutical manufacturer in antitrust case arising out of ANDA settlement agreement.
Secured directed verdict on behalf of large U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturer in multi-defendant Sherman Act class action trial and argued appeal before Seventh Circuit on behalf of all manufacturers.
Defended pharmaceutical company in antitrust jury trial involving four different plaintiff groups arising out of ANDA patent litigation and product "switching".
Represented plaintiff in antitrust action involving alleged tying agreements for cancer drugs, including one week bench trial on preliminary injunction.
Defending major financial institution in ongoing antitrust litigations involving network services for credit and debit cards, and ATM fees.
Defended pharmaceutical company in antitrust cases arising out of ANDA patent litigation.
Advised corporate and trade group clients on a wide range of antitrust issues, including distribution rights, resale pricing, promotional programs and information exchanges.
Intellectual PropertySecured judgment for plaintiff following bench trials on validity and inequitable conduct against ANDA applicant for drug selling $4 billion annually.
Secured judgment for plaintiff following jury trial on patent validity and bench trial on inequitable conduct; case settled for $157.5 million.
Jury verdict in favor of brand name pharmaceutical manufacturer in patent infringement case against ANDA applicant.
Represented brand name drug manufacturer in multiple patent infringement case against ANDA and 505b(2) applicants.
Represented plaintiff in back-to-back jury verdicts of $325 million and $271 million in patent infringement actions against two competitors of medical device company.
Defense verdict in patent infringement jury trial involving defendant's coronary stents.
Secured six-figure settlement from competitor pharmaceutical manufacturer based on damage claim stemming from preliminary injunction which delayed client’s introduction of new product.
Defense verdict in patent infringement jury trial involving oral contraceptive.
Defense verdict in patent infringement and antitrust jury trial involving flooring products.
Commercial LitigationSecured dismissal of FCA
qui tam against pharmaceutical manufacturer involving off-label promotion of pharmaceutical product.
Following bench trial, secured dismissal of fraud and state consumer class action claims against pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Defending major pharmaceutical manufacturer in multiple actions brought by State Attorneys General involving "AWP" issues, including multiple trials.
Successfully represented medical device company in 75-day arbitration involving fraud and contract claims arising out of divestiture of product line.
Defended former Commissioner of Baseball in copyright and fraud action in which plaintiff sought to publish unauthorized biography.
Successfully defended celebrity in jury trial of civil assault and battery claims resulting in 20¢ judgment against client.
Represented Office of the Commissioner of Baseball in disciplinary proceedings and successfully defended related litigations involving George Steinbrenner and others.
Defended large brokerage firm in federal securities and RICO actions involving Eurobond offerings, master limited partnerships and other security underwritings.
Secured reversal in the Second Circuit of district court order dismissing declaratory judgment complaint brought by a major insurer against a Fortune 50 oil company.
Represented prominent New York law firm in fraud and malpractice lawsuit.
Represented health care company in litigation and arbitration.