Bridget E. Calhoun is a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C. office where she specializes in product risk management issues, consumer protection, and antitrust law. She has recently been named a "Rising Star" in Product Liability by Law360 and a Top Washington Lawyer "Young Gun" by the Washington Business Journal.

Product Risk Management
As co-chair of the Product Risk Management practice, Bridget handles "bet-the-company" government investigations and regulatory enforcement matters in the areas of consumer product safety and consumer protection for her clients.  For example, in her advertising practice, Bridget most recently:

• Successfully challenged certain advertising claims before the National Advertising Division for Kaz USA, Inc., (Exergen Corp. (Exergen Temporal Thermometers), NAD case# 5296 (Mar. 2, 2011).)
• Convinced the FTC not to charge an individual in a false advertising investigation ultimately brought against a high profile dietary supplement manufacturer
• Negotiated a practical consent decree on behalf of an association in a false advertising investigation.

In addition to representing clients whose advertising and marketing practices are being investigated by the FTC or handling NAD challenges, Bridget also regularly advises clients on a full range of consumer protection issues with particular expertise in warranties, advertising, labeling and packaging, and regulatory compliance.    

Bridget is also a leading CPSC practioner who regularly defends companies before the Commission on issues ranging from allegations of failing to report a product safety issue to persuading the Commission to accept an appropriate recall or corrective action (or why no action is warranted).  She works closely with manufacturers, distributors and retailers of consumer products, including children's products and toys, advising them on compliance with applicable regulatory requirements including all aspects of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), such as lead and phthalates limits in children’s products.  She further advises clients to ensure that their labeling and marketing meets all applicable regulatory requirements, minimizes possible product liability risk and promotes consumer safety.

Bridget also works with clients across a broad range of products and industries to identify and analyze potential legal risks associated with new ventures or new products. She then helps them establish legal risk management protocols such as recall policies and early warning detection systems as well as other risk mitigation tools. She advises clients on using protective terms and conditions in contracting with suppliers and customers to mitigate liability exposure. In addition, Bridget regularly provides training seminars to clients on risk management techniques and issues as well as advertising and warranty compliance.

Some of the products on which Bridget has advised in her Product Risk Management practice include:

Antitrust
Bridget's antitrust practice involves counseling and representing clients across a wide range of matters including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, cartel investigations and complex civil litigation. She has particular experience in counseling corporate clients on price discrimination and distribution law such as discount programs, exclusivity, aftermarket policies, and dealer relations. Bridget has represented clients in a number of industries, including telecommunications, transportation and chemicals. Some notable antitrust experience includes:

• Merger counseling and representation for a variety of clients including AT&T Inc. and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
• Defense of an international airline in the air cargo industry in the multi-jurisdictional cartel investigations and follow-on multi-jurisdictional class action litigation.
• Defense of a major corporation in the coatings industry in relation to the grand jury cartel investigation and follow-on multi-jurisdictional class action litigation.
• Defense of a Class I railroad in civil Sherman Act Section 1 multi-jurisdictional class action litigation.
• Defense of a corporate client in a civil monopolization and restraint of trade case in federal court.
• Antitrust compliance audits and trainings for numerous clients.

In addition, Bridget contributes to the firm's pro bono practice with particular focus representing individuals seeking asylum through the immigration law process. She is also active in firm activities including membership on the Firm Life Committee and on the Steering Committee of the Women Attorneys' Network.

Bridget is an active member of the Antitrust Section of the ABA and serves as a Vice-Chair of its Privacy and Information Security Committee. She previously served as a Vice-Chair of its Transportation and Energy Industries Committee. She is a member of the Bars of the District of Columbia, Maryland, the District of Maryland and the Fourth Circuit. She received her A.B. in government and religion from Dartmouth College. She graduated Order of the Coif, earning her J.D. with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she served as the Managing Editor of the Maryland Law Review.

Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Bridget served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Walter E. Black, Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.