Michael Ponzoli

Practice Areas

Antitrust Practice

Complex Business Litigation

Career

Experienced commercial litigator Michael Ponzoli represents clients in federal and state courts in complex business litigation cases, focusing on plaintiff-side antitrust litigation.

Michael’s antitrust practice focuses on cartels in restraint of trade. In those matters, he has represented clients in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, retail grocery products, and railroads. He often represents clients seeking individualized relief rather than participating in class-action litigation, generally through claims centralized in federal multidistrict litigation.

Michael has resolved many other commercial matters for clients, including business torts, contract disputes, securities fraud cases, and class action defense. In addition, he has represented law firms and attorneys facing claims of malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentation, and other claims in connection with their professional services.

Michael takes the time to gain a thorough understanding of his clients’ businesses -- how they operate, their practices, priorities, and personnel. With that knowledge, he advises clients with a consistent eye to their overall business goals.

With a well-rounded perspective gained from representing both plaintiffs and defendants, Michael sees both sides of issues and readily prepares cases with that experience in mind.

Professional Memberships

The Florida Bar

The District of Columbia Bar

American Bar Association

Personal

Admissions:

Florida

Experience

Representative Matters:

Handling ongoing multidistrict litigation against the major U.S. beef producers (Cargill, JBS, National Beef, and Tyson), alleging the producers engaged in a conspiracy to depress the price they paid for fed cattle while simultaneously stabilizing the price at which they sold beef products. In re Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation (D. Minn.).

Representing clients in ongoing multidistrict litigation against major U.S. producers of pork (Tyson, Smithfield, Clemens, Hormel, Seaboard, and Triumph). The claim centers on these producers using public signaling statements and direct communications to enter into an agreement to restrict the supply of hogs and thereby fix pork prices. In re Pork Antitrust Litigation (D. Minn.).

Handling ongoing multidistrict litigation against all of the Class 1 freight U.S. railroads (BNSF Railway Company, CSX Transportation, Inc., Norfolk Southern Railway Company, and Union Pacific Railroad Company) alleging these carriers conspired to coordinate their rail fuel surcharge programs as a mechanism for imposing supracompetitive total price increases on their shipping customers nationwide. Rail Freight Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Litigation (No. II) (D.D.C.).

Representing clients in ongoing nationwide litigation against the major producers of broiler chickens in the United States (including Tyson, Pilgrim’s Pride, Harrison, Keystone, Koch, Mountaire, OK Foods, Peco, House of Raeford, Sanderson, and Simmons). The claim centers on these producers using public signaling statements and direct communications to reduce broiler chicken production in the United States. In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Ill.).

Education