A market economy works best when every business has the opportunity to compete freely and fairly. Business competition should give consumers the best products at the best prices.

Antitrust violations occur when one or more companies try to prevent lawful competition, resulting in higher prices and less consumer choice. These activities can include price fixing, discriminatory pricing, a boycott by a manufacturer or supplier, or a refusal to supply a particular good or service unless another product is also purchased.

SRK has played a prominent role in many significant antitrust actions, including:

• co-lead counsel in In re Linerboard Antitrust Litigation (E.D. Pa.), which settled for $202 million;

• co-lead counsel for end-payors in In re Relafen Antitrust Litigation (D. Mass.), where a tentative settlement for $75 million is currently before the court (total settlements from all purchasers exceeded $400 million);

• co-lead counsel for direct purchasers in Stop and Shop Supermarket Co. v. SmithKline Beecham Corp. (E.D. Pa.), which settled for $100 million.

• executive committee member for end-payors in In re Buspirone Antitrust Litigation (S.D.N.Y.), which settled as to all claims by purchasers, state attorneys general, and the Federal Trade Commission, for $670 million.

• co-lead counsel for the New Jersey state action in In re Lorazepam & Clorazepate Antitrust Litigation (D.D.C.), which settled as to all indirect purchasers and state attorney generals nationwide for $147 million.

Currently, our lawyers are playing leading roles in a number of antitrust and consumer protection cases against pharmaceutical companies for attempting to prevent competition from low cost generic drugs.