(Law Crossing) Joseph R. Saveri, founder of the Joseph Saveri Law Firm Inc., recently settled an antitrust lawsuit for $324 million against Intel Corp., Apple Inc., Google Inc., and Adobe. The companies agreed not to poach each other’s employees. Joseph Saveri, a co-lead counsel with Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, told The American Lawyer “We have passed a significant milestone. We are busy preparing the case for the trial beginning May 27.”
I asked Mr. Saveri if he planned on going to trial, and what his expectations were. “We agreed to a settlement in April with the remaining Defendants for $324 million. This was a hard fought settlement after months of negotiation and mediation. We are proud and very happy with the result.”
During his career, Mr. Saveri has handled a number of high profile cases. Such cases include a class action lawsuit on behalf of consumers and others against Bayer for exclusionary drug pricing agreements involving the drug Cipro; a class action of direct purchasers challenging a price-fixing cartel against global manufacturers of electrolytic capacitors, a class action of direct purchasers alleging a price-fixing cartel involving TFT-LCD manufacturers; and another landmark class action against De Beers SA, the diamond corporation, for monopolizing the rough diamond trade.
Mr. Saveri has handled numerous groundbreaking and landmark cases. Does he have a case that stands out? He stated:
“You are asking me which child I like the best. I think all of them have been significant because they have advanced the law and we were able to obtain substantial compensation for our clients. I guess what I am the most proud of are the cases in which we have achieved a substantial result in cases that many thought too challenging to pursue. I think the High Tech Employees, Titanium Dioxide and DeBeers cases each fall in that category. Also, Cipro is a case we filed in 2000. We have been fighting for 14 years. If the Supreme Court reverses, I will be proud of the tenacity shown in achieving such a result.”
Joseph R. Saveri specializes in antitrust law as well as complex civil and class action litigation in federal, state, and international arenas. With more than twenty-five years of civil litigation experience, he has handled cases involving numerous industries, which include consumer electronics, cosmetics, paper products, travel and transportation, computer software, computer hardware, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, energy, insurance, and banking and financial services. Representing consumers, individuals, public officials, small business owners, and heads of corporations negatively affected by monopolistic business practices, Mr. Saveri has established himself as one of the nation’s best litigators in the antitrust field.
He has a long track record in the fields of antitrust law and complex litigation. In 1987, Mr. Saveri began his career doing general litigation work at the San Francisco law firm of McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen. In 1992, he joined the plaintiffs’ firm Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, where he founded and developed the firm’s antitrust and intellectual property practice, which he established and chaired. During his 20-year tenure, Mr. Saveri also served as the firm’s managing partner and chair of the firm’s intellectual property and antitrust practice group. In 2012, the practice group was recognized as one of the top five practice groups in California.
Mr. Saveri has continued his work of antitrust law and complex litigation at the Joseph Saveri Law Firm, which he established in May of 2012. Since then, he has provided the highest quality legal work to clients throughout the country. Mr. Saveri is also a frequent author of articles on complex litigation and antitrust issues. Additionally, he frequently lectures on a variety of issues, which includes antitrust and discovery.
From 2010 through 2013, Mr. Saveri served as a Lawyer’s Representative for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. he also has served and serves on several court committees charged with developing programs and rules concerning ediscovery, complex litigation, and a variety of other issues.
Over the years, Mr. Saveri has been awarded with several distinctions. He holds an “AV” (pre-eminent) Martindale-Hubbell rating, which is the highest rating presented to any individual lawyer. Mr. Saveri was recently named a “Super Attorney” by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers publication, as well as a “Northern California Super Lawyer” by [Super Lawyer] magazine from 2006-2014. In 2010 and 2012, the Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition named him one of the “Top Attorneys in Antitrust Law.” Based on a peer and blue-ribbon panel review, Best Lawyers in America listed Mr. Saveri as one of “San Francisco’s Best Lawyers” from 2012 to 2014. He also serves as an author of the California Antitrust Law, which is published by the State Bar of California’s Antitrust and Unfair Competition Section.
Mr. Saveri double majored in History (17th Century England) and Economics while attending University of California, Berkeley. He earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School in 1987.
Mr. Saveri’s Memories and Motivations
Did Mr. Saveri receive any awards, participate in any internship or have other experiences influential in his decision to go into the law? “I come from a family of lawyers. My father was an antitrust lawyer. He was one of the pioneers of class actions in the 1960’s. I grew up around the law, antitrust cases, and the business of law.”
Does he have a most memorable law school experience? “Participating in moot court, which includes moot court on international law issues. I took a regulated industries course by then Judge Scalia.”
How long has Mr. Saveri been an attorney? “26 years.”
Why did he decide to become an attorney? “Part of the reason I decided to become an attorney is due to my background and my family. I grew up around antitrust lawyers and antitrust law. I was interested in economics and in particular antitrust economics in school. I think it is a profession where one can do right and do well. It has also allowed me to be an entrepreneur and small business person.”
What is the best part of Mr. Saveri’s job? “The best part of my job is starting, growing, and operating my business while maintaining a law practice of complex, challenging, important cases.”
What is he known for professionally? What does Mr. Saveri have a knack for? “I am known for handling the highest legal work in a complex area (antitrust law). I have a talent for taking on cases that others wouldn’t take and producing significant results.”
What does he think about the field today? What would he change about it? “I think it is very difficult for young lawyers. It’s hard to see how the model of law school still makes sense. I would change the structure of legal education and training to incorporate ideas and concepts from business school, which includes training regarding leadership and how to organize and manage groups of people.”
If Mr. Saveri were not a lawyer, what would he most probably be doing? “I would be an entrepreneur or maybe running my own restaurant. I love to cook.”
Where does he see himself in five years’ time? “Doing exactly what I am doing today.”
What motivates Mr. Saveri to be an attorney every day? “Pursuit of excellence. I want to be the best. I want a reputation for competency, courage, and honesty.”
Pro Bono Work, Non-Profit Organizations, Serving Court Committees, Writing and Speaking Engagements, and Mr. Saveri’s Mentor and Mentoring Young Lawyers
Does Mr. Saveri handle pro bono work? “I regret it has been very difficult finding time to do that in the first few years of running my new firm. I contribute a fair amount of time to work I have done with the Northern District of California federal court, serving on ad hoc panels writing and creating new policies and procedures. Also, I was a Lawyers’ Representative to the Northern District of California.”
Is he involved with any non-profit organizations? “The De Mairallac Academy. A catholic grammar school formed in the Tenderloin. It provides a solid education and community to children who are facing significant challenges. Providing this opportunity to those who don’t have the same advantages as others is terrific. It is gratifying to see many of the kids go on to high school and college.”
Mr. Saveri serves on a number of court committees charged with developing rules and programs regarding complex litigation, ediscovery, and a variety of other matters. What has he learned while serving on these court committees? He noted:
“I have learned that it is important to contribute one’s time to these efforts because we can help the courts innovate and change rules or procedures for the benefit of litigants, court and counsel. I have also learned that there are very few generalists these days, and as a result, lawyers have much different experiences in their law practices. I also think it is tremendously gratifying to be able to work with other lawyers—from opposite sides of the table or different areas of the law—and to collaborate to create new rules or procedures that advance the interests of all stakeholders.”
Will he continue his writing and speaking engagements? “Absolutely. This is a place where we can try to advance legal and procedural issues from an intellectual perspective. It is important to be a thought-leader. It also gives me a chance to step back and take a broader perspective on the issues and developments that come up in particular pieces of litigation.”
Who was Mr. Saveri’s mentor? Is he a mentor? “My father was my mentor. Now I am trying to pass that on. I hired, trained, and led the antitrust group at my prior firm. Now, I am doing the same with the junior lawyers at the firm.”
(Reporting by Nabeal Twereet)