Barbara’s practice covers the full range of antitrust and competition matters. She routinely handles antitrust litigation, conduct and merger investigations, and counseling, as well as distribution disputes and arrangements, for domestic and international companies.

Her antitrust litigation experience includes a wide range of antitrust claims, such as class action and individual plaintiff actions. Additionally, this experience includes actions challenging agreements among competitors such as price fixing, customer allocation, output restraints, and other similar horizontal agreements, as well as monopolization and claims challenging exclusionary conduct or agreements. She has also defended clients facing price discrimination, overlapping director, and numerous state statutory and common law unfair competition claims.

She has extensive experience responding to government investigations of alleged cartel activity, including price-fixing and market allocation. Most recently, she represented a successful applicant under the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Lenience Program, as well as other nonpublic criminal investigations.

Barbara advises clients on acquisitions and joint venture transactions before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorneys general, and international regulatory agencies. She is also experienced in non-merger civil and criminal antitrust investigations before the enforcement agencies, and defends against antitrust class actions and individual claims. Her counseling practice also involves helping international and domestic companies to minimize or avoid antitrust liability, and to implement effective compliance programs.

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Competition Counseling, and Regulatory Engagements

• Advised clients grappling with complex antitrust and distribution issues in the chemicals, bio-pharmaceutical, building products, flat glass, high tech, and various other industries.
• Counseled various trade or industry groups and joint purchasing organizations regarding compliance, information exchanges, membership restrictions, lobbying, and other matters with potential antitrust risk.
• Represented multinational and domestic companies in connection with transactions related to concentrated and nonconcentrated businesses.
• Advised numerous clients on the restructuring of their distribution networks and contractual relationships to minimize risk of future antitrust challenges.
• Represented one of the largest manufacturers of newsprint in an acquisition investigation.
• Advised an international yeast manufacturer in connection with its purchase of a competitor.
• Represented a major international glass manufacturer in structuring a joint venture with a competitor and handling the Antitrust Division investigation of that transaction.
• Designed and supported the implementation of resale price policies and minimum advertised pricing programs for manufacturers.
• Advised a chemical manufacturer on structuring and analyzing a proposed manufacturing joint venture among competitors.
• Counseled an elevator manufacturer regarding joint bidding with a competitor.
• Designed and implemented compliance training programs and related materials, including online training, mock search warrant exercises, and audits.
• Represented many companies in a wide variety of industries in connection with Hart-Scott-Rodino filings and proceedings, including handling second requests, negotiations with the antitrust regulators, and working with consulting economists.
• Represented companies and individuals in connection with investigations by the Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, and state attorneys general.

Competition Litigation

• Currently defending a seafood manufacturer against claims of price fixing in multidistrict litigation.
• Obtained summary judgment in the 7th Circuit on behalf of a 12-hospital system against Sections 1 and 2 claims based on exclusive contracting practices.
• Defended a real estate developer against sham litigation monopolization claims.
• Defended a manufacturer of capacitors in connection with global government cartel investigations and In re Capacitors Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Cal.).
• Defended a resistors manufacturer in a Department of Justice investigation and putative direct and indirect purchaser class action cases (N.D. Cal.).
• Defended a foam manufacturer in In re Polyurethane Foam Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Ohio).
• Obtained early dismissal on behalf of the largest manufacturer of table-top games against a reseller’s antitrust, RICO, and state common law claims of unfair competition.
• Obtained judgment on the pleadings on behalf of a kitchen products manufacturer against a terminated distributor’s antitrust and tortious interference claims.
• Represented one of the world’s largest glass manufacturers in In re: Flat Glass Antitrust Litigation I and In re Flat Glass Antitrust Litigation II, as well as various related state and federal indirect purchaser antitrust actions.
• Obtained early dismissal of a leading manufacturer and marketer of petroleum and petrochemical products in a class action alleging energy companies and that a supplier entered into a series of exclusive agreements in violation of Sherman Act, Clayton Act, and various state competition laws and tort claims.
• Represented defendants in direct and indirect purchaser price-fixing class actions.
• Defended a major chemical manufacturer in a case charging violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act in connection with a joint venture.
• Defended a major automotive parts wholesaler in a Robinson-Patman Act “mass action” by almost 200 plaintiffs.
• Secured motion to dismiss in favor of the largest table-top fantasy game maker against resale price maintenance and monopolization claims.
• Defended a major international truck manufacturer against a dealer’s claims related to termination under the Robinson-Patman Act and Sherman Act.
• Represented a major French manufacturer of building materials, flat glass, abrasives, and other products in a suit alleging conspiracy to monopolize a technology market.
• Defended a U.K. parts manufacturer in a distributor termination case charging violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act and in the defense of patent infringement claims.
• Defended a U.S. pizza franchiser in class action litigation brought by franchisees charging violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act and various state laws.
• Represented a major electrical equipment manufacturer in defense of Sherman Act and Robinson-Patman Act claims.
• Defended a film distribution and production company in a refusal to deal case charging violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act and Pennsylvania’s film distribution statutes.
• Defended a building products manufacturer in a refusal to deal case charging violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act.

• Chambers USA: Antitrust, Pennsylvania (2023-2025)
• Legal 500 United States: Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense (2022-2025)
• Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2004-2023)
• Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Top 50 Women” (2011-2018, 2023-2025)
• Chambers USA: antitrust law (2021-2022)
• Best Lawyers in America®: Philadelphia Litigation – Antitrust “Lawyer of the Year” (2016, 2019, 2026)
• Best Lawyers in America®: Antitrust Law (2024-2026); Litigation – Antitrust (2011-2026)
• JD Supra, Readers Choice Awards, Antitrust & Trade Regulation (2024)
• Who’s Who Legal: Competition (2017-2020)