Jonathan Sickler

District of Columbia

District of Columbia Bar

Since 2003

Associate

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Current

Current

Daimler, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz In re New Motor Vehicles Canadian Export Antitrust Litigation Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP won a major appellate victory for various U.S. and Canadian Chrysler entities and Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC before the First Circuit Court of Appeals, which dismissed federal injunctive claims and vacated and remanded certification of a damages class consisting of millions of consumers who purchased new motor vehicles. Plaintiffs filed over 100 lawsuits in various state and federal courts beginning in 2003 against number automobile companies alleging that many of the major automobile manufacturers illegally conspired to prevent new vehicles destined for the Canadian market from entering the United States, with the alleged effect of raising new motor vehicle prices in the U.S. This ongoing action is one the largest antitrust class actions in the U.S. with alleged damages of approximately $3 billion. The federal claims were consolidated by the Multi-District Litigation Panel before Judge D. Brock Hornby of the United States District of Maine. In 2006, Judge Hornby certified an injunctive class of new motor vehicle purchasers under the federal Clayton Act. At the same time, Judge Hornby also certified a damages class of new motor vehicle purchasers under the state laws of 23 states, after Weil Gotshal had successfully argued for the dismissal of federal damages claims in 2004. Upon interlocutory appeal of class certification, the First Circuit Court of Appeals found no continuing basis for the injunctive claim and dismissed it, consequently calling into the question the federal court’s subject matter jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims and its personal jurisdiction over the Canadian entities. The First Circuit went on to vacate the certified state damages class, and remanded it to the district court for a more thorough inquiry into the plaintiffs’ theory of antitrust impact, assuming the district court finds a jurisdictional basis by which to keep the remaining claims before it.

Current

Shell Oil Company Oil Industry Salary Exchange Litigation Lead counsel for Shell Oil Company in multi-district putative class action against major oil companies that alleges the defendants exchanged information relating to salaries paid to employees with the effect of lowering salaries in violation of the Sherman Act. Two separate motions for class certification have been defeated. The litigation continues on an individual case basis.

Current

Eastman Kodak Company Acquisition of Creo Inc Secured antitrust clearance from DOJ for Eastman Kodak Company's $980 million acquisition of Creo Inc., a major and expanding competitor. Obtained early termination without divestitures despite the issuance of a Second Request and despite the presence of significant product overlaps. Also obtained competition clearance in five foreign jurisdictions including the EU. Transaction involved two of the leading manufacturers of pre-press equipment and consumables.

Current

Education Media Publishing Group Houghton Mifflin / Harcourt Represented EMPG, parent of leading textbook publisher Houghton Mifflin, in a $4 billion acquisition of a direct competitor, the Harcourt Education, Harcourt Trade and Greenwood-Heinemann divisions of Reed Elsevier. Obtained early termination from the U.S. Department of Justice without divestitures only four months after notifying the government of the transaction.

Current

Florida Rock Industries, Inc. Acquisition by Vulcan Materials Company Secured antitrust clearance from the DOJ for the $4.2 billion acquisition of Florida Rock Industries, Inc. by Vulcan Materials Company. Florida Rock, a leading producer of construction aggregates, cement, concrete and concrete products, operated in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Vulcan Materials Co. is the nation’s foremost producer of construction aggregates and a major producer of other construction materials. We were able to successfully negotiate settlement that required divestiture of a limited number of aggregates quarries.

Harvard University

J.D.

2002

University of North Dakota

B.A.

1999

District of Columbia Bar

Member

2003 - Current