Trade Associations
Crowell & Moring's Antitrust Group provides associations with counseling and advocacy on all antitrust issues in conjunction with its full-service Trade Association practice. We represent more than 75 international, national, and local nonprofit organizations on a continual basis, and many others on a project-by-project basis. Our clients include trade associations, professional societies, foundations, education groups, philanthropic organizations, and other nonprofits and similar entities.
As outside antitrust counsel to associations, we regularly provide antitrust training to Board members and staff, and represent associations in litigation or government investigations involving antitrust issues. We also assist associations in structuring standard-setting programs, information exchanges and statistical reporting programs, certification programs, limits on non-member access to products and services, member accreditations and similar association activities.
Examples of recent representations include the following:
- Represent an industry association in the steel products antitrust class action litigation
- Serve as outside general counsel to several trade associations, including:
- the Committee of Chief Risk Officers
- the National Association of Nuclear Pharmacies
- the Bi-National Softwood Lumber Council
- the Cable Fire Research Association, the Communications Cable & Connectivity Association
- the Helicopter Association International
- Provide ongoing antitrust compliance training for numerous associations in the petrochemical, aviation, health care, and manufacturing sectors
- Represent several associations responding to government investigations in the agricultural sector
A major differentiator for Crowell & Moring is the size and depth of both our Trade Association and Antitrust practices individually, and the benefits that we realize in bringing both groups together. Our attorneys are well-versed in the substantive and industry issues faced by our clients, whether they involve health care, government contracts, aviation, international trade, or other areas of the law. Our goal is to combine our substantive knowledge in our clients' industries with our overall association legal experience so we can craft creative solutions that address our clients' needs.
We regularly publish articles, chapters, and books in the association and nonprofit field. We hold seminars and training sessions on current legal developments including our Association Law Breakfast Series that covers current legal areas of interest to associations. In addition to the attorneys in our group, we have a team of staff professionals dedicated to providing important non-legal services to our clients, such as meeting planning and coordination, accounting, member services, and similar association-related services. In short, our deep expertise and practical service offerings allow us to provide full-service solutions to our trade association clients.
For more information about our trade associations antitrust practice, please contact Christopher Ondeck.