The investigation and criminal prosecution of domestic and international cartels among horizontal competitors has been a top priority of the Antitrust Division, as well as the European Community, Canada, and increasingly other jurisdictions.  It is a booming area of practice--and potential exposure--in both the United States and Europe.  The Firm's lawyers have extensive experience in handling grand jury investigations, trying criminal antitrust cases, and coordinating the handling of cartel investigations in multiple jurisdictions.

Gibson Dunn is recognized as one of the leading players in international cartel representations and is capable of coordinating legal strategy and representing cartel investigation targets both in the U.S. and in Brussels.  One of the co-chairs of the practice group, Gary Spratling, was the highest ranking career official in the Antitrust Division, where he had responsibility for the supervision of all criminal investigations, including all international cartel investigations.  The Firm's experience in this area is extensive.  For example, Gary Spratling, Dan Swanson and Jarrett Arp have represented parties involved in more than a dozen leniency matters and nearly 20 international cartel investigations during the last three years alone.

A number of the Firm's antitrust partners--including Joe Warin and Joel Sanders--have served as prosecutors, and numerous Gibson Dunn lawyers have represented defendants in a wide range of grand jury investigations and criminal trials in numerous industries, including chemicals, bread and bakery products, vitamins, telecommunications, transportation, electronics, securities, construction, and entertainment.