Justin Bernick defends clients in antitrust lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the United States. He helps clients resolve the most challenging antitrust and competition issues, from large class actions to high-stakes government investigations.
Bernick has won major victories at trial, including as lead trial counsel in DOJ's lawsuit challenging ASSA ABLOY's $4.3 billion acquisition of the HHI division of Spectrum Brands in 2023. He also prevailed at trial in DOJ's challenge to the $13 billion merger of UnitedHealth Group and Change Healthcare in 2022, and the FTC's challenge to Thomas Jefferson University's acquisition of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network in 2020--the FTC's first hospital merger trial loss in decades.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2027 | Antitrust Litigation & Investigations |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers | 2026 | Antitrust Litigation & Investigations |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2026 | Antitrust Litigation & Investigations |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers | 2025 | Antitrust Litigation & Investigations |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2025 | Antitrust Litigation & Investigations |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2024 | Antitrust Litigation & Investigations |
| Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2022 | Antitrust Litigation & Investigations |
Bernick leverages his knowledge of economics and the law to achieve pretrial success. He has litigated dozens of the largest class actions in the country in recent years, defeating antitrust claims at summary judgment and at class certification. Bernick litigates a wide range of issues, including mergers and acquisitions, price fixing, market allocation, vertical and horizontal agreements, and monopolization, as well as related contract, business tort, and intellectual property claims.
Bernick represents companies in DOJ, FTC, and state investigations, assisting clients in responding to subpoenas, civil investigative demands, second requests, and other government requests for information. He counsels clients regarding a wide range of antitrust issues. Bernick's expertise spans various industries, including healthcare providers and payors, pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, hospitality, entertainment, automotive, and tech.
Dedicated to pro bono, Bernick led a team in 2018 that successfully restored asylum rights to a nationwide class of migrant children separated at the southern border.
Bernick began his career as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert G. Doumar of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.