Leo Caseria

Leo Caseria is a partner in the Antitrust and Competition Practice Group in the Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles offices.

Areas of Practice

Leo advises companies on antitrust issues in civil litigation, government investigations, mergers and acquisitions and proposed or contemplated business strategies. He has litigated numerous antitrust cases in federal and state courts, including cases based on alleged price-fixing, market allocation, boycott, monopolization and attempted monopolization. He also has experience in consumer protection issues relating to price gouging.

Leo has obtained orders from several courts dismissing or significantly limiting antitrust claims against clients in industries such as automotive data management systems, consumer telescopes, consumer electronics and cement and concrete. His antitrust litigation experience includes trial and appeal.

Leo is also knowledgeable regarding price gouging laws. He has led the defense of several companies targeted in price gouging investigations by state attorneys general or local district attorneys in multiple states. The products involved in the investigations Leo has handled include food, water, and consumer goods.

In addition, Leo regularly advises companies regarding the requirements under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act, prepares numerous HSR filings and works with economists to prepare submissions and presentations to government antitrust enforcers regarding proposed transactions. Leo represents clients before the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission in connection with government antitrust investigations.

Leo serves as Co-Chair of the Books and Treatises Committee of the American Bar Association's Section of Antitrust Law. He frequently edits or contributes to the Section’s antitrust handbooks, and also authored articles for SCOTUSblog and the New York Law Journal. He has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and in Legal 500.

Honors

•Next Generation Lawyers, Legal 500, 2019
•Antitrust, Legal 500, 2015, 2017, 2019
•Southern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2018-2019

Insights

Articles

•Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Vitamin C and the Future of U.S. Antitrust Enforcement Against Chinese Companies
The Legal 500 - Cartels Country Comparative Guide, 04.03.2019
•HSR and Antitrust Considerations for Private Equity Firms in M&A Transactions
CPI Antitrust Chronicle, 01.2018
• Opinion analysis: A class action waiver in an arbitration agreement will be strictly enforced under the Federal Arbitration Act, SCOTUSblog, June 21, 2013
• Argument recap: Can arbitration agreements with class action waivers survive in the face of the effective vindication doctrine? SCOTUSblog, March 4, 2013
• Argument preview: Under what circumstances are arbitration agreements with class action waivers enforceable? SCOTUSblog, February 22, 2013
• Challenge to Alleged Restraints on Baseball and Hockey Programming Survive Motion to Dismiss, Sports Litigation Alert, December 28, 2012
• Using Prior Expert Testimony Requires Extra Effort, New York Law Journal, July 18, 2011

Antitrust Law Blog Posts

• Coronavirus Sparks Changes to Premerger Notification Process at the FTC, March 16, 2020

• Higher Filing Thresholds for HSR Act Premerger Notifications and Interlocking Directorates Announced, January 26, 2018
• Antitrust Claims Against Telescope Manufacturer Ningbo Sunny Dismissed and Shot into Space, October 16, 2017
• Higher Filing Thresholds for HSR Act Premerger Notifications and Interlocking Directorates Announced, January 20, 2017
• Maximum Civil Penalties for HSR Violations to Increase to $40,000 per Day, June 30, 2016
• Higher Filing Thresholds for HSR Act Premerger Notifications and Interlocking Directorates Announced, January 21, 2016
• SD3 v. Black & Decker (U.S.), Inc. - District Judge Axes Complaint Alleging Table Saw Safety Standards Conspiracy, August 4, 2014
• Dang v. San Francisco Forty Niners - Consumers can challenge Reebok's exclusive NFL apparel deal based just on a market of garments bearing NFL team logos, August 7, 2013
• American Express Co. v. Italian Colors Restaurant: A class action waiver in an arbitration agreement will be strictly enforced under the Federal Arbitration Act, June 25, 2013
• Challenge To Alleged Restraints On Baseball And Hockey Programming Survive Motion To Dismiss And Advance To The Next Round Of Litigation, December 19, 2012
• Supreme Court Will Now Hear Two Appeals Concerning Class Arbitration, December 14, 2012
• Supreme Court to Address Enforceability of Arbitration Agreements and Class Action Waivers Yet Again, November 19, 2012
• In re American Express Merchants' Litigation - Plaintiffs Survive Three Rounds In The Second Circuit, But Can They Survive The Supreme Court? February 7, 2012
• Wal-Mart v. Dukes: Implications For Antitrust Class Actions, July 11, 2011
• AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion - What Does It Mean For Class Arbitration And Class Actions In Federal Antitrust Cases?, May 13, 2011
• Blue Skies For Continental Airlines In Bid To Join Star Alliance, August 12, 2009
• Plaintiffs Granted Leave to Amend Complaint Alleging Monopolization of Grapes Under Walker Process Theory, April 13, 2009
• Complaint Alleging Conspiracy to Fix LTL Freight Fuel Surcharges Dismissed, March 6, 2009

Antitrust Books and Handbooks

•Editor, Handbook on Antitrust in Technology Industries, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, 2017
•Editor, State Action Practice Manual, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Third Edition, 2017
•Editor, Antitrust Evidence Handbook, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Third Edition, 2016
•Editor, Handbook on the Scope of Antitrust, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, 2015
•Contributor, 2012 Annual Review of Antitrust Law Developments, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, 2013
•Senior Editor, Handbook on Multijurisdictional Competition Law Investigations, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, 2010

Media Mentions

•Dealmakers: Wheel manufacturer wheels into deal with Sheppard Mullin’s counsel
Daily Journal, 06.04.2019
•Sheppard Mullin represented MHT Luxury Wheels on the deal
Global Legal Chronicle, 05.23.2019
•No Evidence of California 'Cement Cartel' Conspiracy, Judge Rules
Daily Journal, 03.14.2018
•Apple, Samsung Fight Qualcomm Bid For Confidential Deal
Law360, 03.07.2018
•Car Dealer Software Antitrust Suits Consolidated In Ill
Law360, 02.01.2018
•Sheppard Mullin Helps Surveillance and Defense Industry Service Providers Combine in $180M Deal
Daily Journal, 01.09.2018
•Sheppard Mullin Guides Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. In Generate Capital’s $200M Capital Raise
Daily Transcript, 12.26.2017
•Electronic Vehicle Registration Co. Alleges Antitrust Scheme
Law360, 05.02.2017
•ZEAVION Holding's $127.5 million acquisition of Gymboree Play & Music
Law360, 07.01.2016
•Monster Beverage Corp.'s $690 million acquisition of American Fruits and Flavors
Law360, 02.26.2016
•Sheppard Mullin Represents Diodes in Its $400 Million Acquisition of Pericom Semiconductor
Corporate Counsel, 09.04.2015

Speaking Engagements

• Joint Conduct 101: Information Exchange, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, Joint Conduct Committee, October 20, 2016