Ten lawyers from U.S. national law firms Constantine Cannon and Robins Kaplan have joined forces to create a new firm focused on antitrust matters, as lawsuits over competition and consumer protection increase.
They have named the new firm Shinder Cantor Lerner, led by attorneys Jeffrey Shinder, Matthew Cantor, and Kellie Lerner, with offices in Washington, D.C., and New York.
The firm’s leaders, known for their plaintiffs-side class action work, told Reuters on Tuesday that now is an “important” time to leave their larger firms and build a new venture from the ground up. They highlighted the recent surge in antitrust actions and emphasized that the evolving legal landscape benefits consumers.
“We aim to help shape the law in ways that protect innovation while leveling the playing field for consumers and small businesses,” the trio stated in an email.
They are bringing a “substantial number of matters” with them to the new firm and plan to represent both plaintiffs and defendants in court cases.
The leadership team has spearheaded major antitrust battles for years. Notably, they represent merchants and others in multibillion-dollar litigation accusing Visa and Mastercard of overcharging transaction fees. They also recently persuaded a U.S. appeals court to revive a lawsuit accusing a major hospital system in California of inflating insurance premiums for consumers.
Constantine Cannon and Robins Kaplan expressed their well-wishes for their former colleagues in separate statements. Constantine Cannon added that they would continue to collaborate with the new firm on ongoing cases and future projects. A representative from Robins Kaplan did not immediately comment.
Shinder Cantor Lerner plans to expand to around 20 attorneys within a year.
