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Germany: Deutsche Bahn wants $3B for cartel damages

 |  November 30, 2014

Reports say Germany state-owned railway Deutsche Bahn has sued several airlines for more than $3 billion in damages on allegations of cartel behavior.

Air France, British Airways, Deutsche Lufthansa and Qantas Airways are among the 13 companies accused of forming a cartel to hike air freight costs. Deutsche Bahn’s allegations follow the guilty pleas submitted by more than 20 companies accused of colluding to raise fuel and securities surcharges between 2000 and 2006. The companies faced government crackdowns for the conspiracy within the US, EU, South Korea, Australian and others.

Deutsch Bahn has now filed two suits in the US and Germany to obtain damages from the airline cartel. Reports say the airlines have already settled for more than $1 billion in settlements from class actions cases stemming from the federal antitrust investigations.

Full content: Wall Street Journal

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Top Antitrust Expert Joins Cravath from Paul Weiss Top Antitrust Expert Finch Joins Cravath from Paul Weiss

Top Antitrust Expert Joins Cravath from Paul Weiss

 |  January 21, 2025

Andrew Finch, a prominent figure in U.S. antitrust law and former top official at the Justice Department during the first Donald Trump administration, has made the move to Cravath, Swaine & Moore from rival firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Finch, who most recently co-chaired the antitrust practice at Paul Weiss, is set to join Cravath’s litigation department as a partner in New York.

According to Reuters, Finch’s tenure at the Justice Department, where he served as principal deputy assistant attorney general and acting assistant attorney general in the antitrust division between 2017 and 2019, underscores his expertise in the field. His work in government, alongside his clients at Paul Weiss, including Spirit Airlines, Uber, and Mastercard, makes him a valuable addition to Cravath’s team. At Cravath, Finch will focus on advising clients on antitrust investigations, litigation, and merger reviews, according to the firm’s announcement.

In a statement, Faiza Saeed, Cravath’s presiding partner, highlighted Finch’s credentials, noting that his experience “will be invaluable to our clients as they navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment.” Saeed’s comments reflect the growing demand for expert guidance in the fast-evolving antitrust landscape.

The news of Finch’s departure from Paul Weiss comes just after the inauguration of President Donald Trump for his second term, a timing that adds another layer of significance to the move. A Paul Weiss spokesperson expressed well wishes to Finch, acknowledging his contributions to the firm.

Cravath’s decision to bring Finch aboard is part of a broader trend where the firm, historically known for promoting from within, has increasingly looked outside for top-tier talent. In recent years, Cravath has recruited several former government officials, including a trio of regulatory experts in 2022 to open a new office in Washington, D.C. This follows the 2022 hire of Noah Phillips, a former commissioner at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission during the Trump administration, who now co-chairs Cravath’s antitrust practice alongside Christine Varney, a former U.S. assistant attorney general for antitrust under the Obama administration.

Source: Reuters