Over the past two decades, when companies have faced difficult global cartel investigations, United States Department of Justice antitrust investigations, antitrust class actions, and complex antitrust cases at the intersection of antitrust and patent law, Stefan M. Meisner has guided clients through their most challenging legal issues. In all these situations, Stefan has assisted clients in developing clear strategies with practical steps to ensure clients achieve results consistent with their priorities.
Stefan serves clients in a variety of industries, including heavy manufacturing, health care, consumer products, defense and aerospace, high tech, semiconductors, hospitals, alcoholic beverages, steel, mining, and aggregates.
Stefan has extensive experience practicing before the DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission in a variety of criminal, civil, and merger investigations. In addition, he has managed matters before international agencies, such as the European Commission, the Canadian Competition Bureau, the South African Competition Tribunal, the Japan Fair Trade Commission, Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense, and others. Stefan has coordinated the global strategy for clients defending multijurisdictional cartel investigations.
Stefan has extensive experience defending clients in private civil litigation as well, representing them in multidistrict litigation in antitrust class action matters at trial and appellate courts throughout the United States. He also represents clients defending antitrust and competition cases brought by competitors and other individual plaintiffs.
Applying his understanding of clients’ business and legal priorities, Stefan also provides tailored compliance counseling and helps clients proactively address potential risk areas when designing comprehensive compliance programs.
To develop efficient and effective solutions for businesses facing issues with electronic discovery and the management of electronically stored information, Stefan advises clients on e-discovery issues in the litigation and regulatory arenas. He counsels clients on developing effective strategies for managing electronic records in light of evolving standards on the preservation and production of electronic documents and data under the U.S. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Stefan also has extensive experience with investigations that involve forensic examination of electronic media and data.
Recognition
- Global Competition Review
- The Legal 500, 2019
- Washington Super Lawyers, 2012 – Present
Affiliations
- Member, The Sedona Conference®, Working Group on Electronic Document Retention and Production
Representative Matters
- Representing a Japanese automotive parts manufacturer in the antitrust multi-district litigation relating to automotive parts following DOJ investigation and resolution.
- Defended a chocolate confectionery company in a class action price fixing litigation, winning summary judgment.
- Defended Static Control Components, Inc. in a copyright, Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and patent infringement action, including assertion of patent misuse defense, obtaining favorable jury verdict after five-week trial, successful Sixth Circuit appeal, and favorable decision from U.S. Supreme Court.
- Defended a power tools manufacturer, achieving a motion to dismiss with prejudice related to charges of conspiring with other suppliers not to license the plaintiff’s technology and to manipulate certain safety standards.
- Obtained merger clearance in multiple jurisdictions for defense contractor’s acquisition.
- Defended a medical device manufacturer in antitrust counterclaim raised in a patent infringement case, winning summary judgment against allegations of “technological tying” of insulin pumps and related disposable infusion “sets.”
- Defended a semiconductor company in antitrust counterclaim raised in a patent infringement case, winning motion to dismiss against allegations that the patent holder knew its patents were invalid at the time the plaintiff filed its infringement suit.
- Obtained regulatory clearance in multiple complex acquisitions, often involving Second Requests, for numerous clients.
Speeches & Presentations
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"The Antitrust Docket in 2022," The Government Investigations & Civil Litigation Institute's Seventh Annual Meeting
(November 9, 2021).
Moderator: Stefan Meisner. Speakers: Alexis J. Gilman.
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"Antitrust Enforcement in Labor Markets: Navigating Risks and What to Expect in 2021 and Beyond," GCR/Lexology Webinar
(September 28, 2021).
Speakers: Juan A. Arteaga, Stefan M. Meisner, and Megan L. Wolf.
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"Antitrust Investigations 101: Back to Basics," Investigations: Readiness and Response Webinar Series
(April 28, 2021).
Presenters: Juan A. Arteaga, Stefan M. Meisner, Megan L. Wolf, and Daniel L. Zelenko.
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"Transition 2021: Antitrust in a Biden Administration: Back to the Future?" Crowell & Moring Webinar
(December 4, 2020).
Presenters: Alexis J. Gilman, Stefan Meisner, Jeane A. Thomas, and Megan L. Wolf.
Publications
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"DOJ Withdraws “Safety Zones” for Information Sharing and Other Collaborations,"
Antitrust Law Alert
(February 6, 2023).
Contacts: Stefan M. Meisner, Shawn R. Johnson, Alexis J. Gilman, Olivier N. Antoine, Troy A. Barsky, Ashley (Lee) McMahon
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"DOJ Makes Good on Its Vow to Bring More No-Poach Prosecutions,"
Antitrust Law Alert
(April 2, 2021).
Contacts: Stefan M. Meisner, Megan L. Wolf, Daniel L. Zelenko, Ashley (Lee) McMahon, Kate M. Watkins
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"DOJ Brings First Criminal Charges for Collusion in Labor Markets,"
Antitrust Law Alert
(December 11, 2020).
Contacts: Daniel L. Zelenko, Megan L. Wolf, Stefan M. Meisner, Shawn R. Johnson, Alexis Victoria DeBernardis, Alexis J. Gilman
Press Coverage
Firm News & Announcements