Global Competition Review (GCR) has honored WilmerHale's Antitrust and Competition Practice with two Litigation of the Year awards for Cartel Defence and Cartel Prosecution. The winners were announced this week at the GCR 7th Annual Awards Ceremony.
 
The firm received the Litigation of the Year – Cartel Defence award for its representation of Denso, an auto-parts manufacturer, through one of the largest cartel investigations in history. Led by Partners Steve Cherry, David Donovan, Patrick Carome and David Molot, the firm has helped Denso obtain settlements in 23 sets of class action suits related to price-fixing claims. The firm also prevented an effort to consolidate 22 of the 23 separate, product-specific cases against Denso into one massive case, alleging that Denso was at the center of a single all-auto-parts conspiracy. 
 
WilmerHale also took home the Litigation of the Year – Cartel Prosecution award for its representation of candy-maker Katjes. The firm, led by its German lawyers and Partner Dr. Stefan Ohlhoff, brought key litigation against a cartel of German sugar producers on behalf of Katjes. The suit was among the first large claims brought against the sugar cartel as several major food producers, including Nestlé, pursued damages claims. WilmerHale's litigation is one of the pilot cases against the cartel.
 
“These honors once again highlight the firm's leading cartel work and antitrust litigation,” said Thomas Mueller, chair of WilmerHale's Antitrust and Competition Practice. “We're thrilled that our work on both sides of the Atlantic is receiving this well-deserved recognition.”