Bruce Blefeld

Bruce A. Blefeld is a trial lawyer who concentrates his practice on antitrust litigation and other complex commercial litigation matters. He has successfully defended a large chemical company in a criminal antitrust price fixing investigation brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; after a lengthy investigation, the government closed the matter with no enforcement action recommended.

Bruce also has successfully defended a major global health care device and supply company in a $1 billion antitrust suit; he defended the largest health care group purchasing organization (GPO) in a $600 million antitrust suit.

Bruce was a key member of the trial team that prevented Hexion Specialty Chemicals from terminating its $6.5 billion agreement to acquire his client’s company; after trial, the case settled when Hexion and its majority owner paid the client $1 billion.

Bruce has also defended ERISA cases involving putative class action claims and represented companies in connection with breach of contract, tortious interference, and patent infringement claims arising out of domestic and international transactions.

He also regularly provides antitrust counseling and guidance to health care providers, major pharmaceutical companies, and joint ventures involving competitor collaborations.

Education :

• University of Texas at Austin, School of Law, J.D.
• University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A.

Professional Admissions & Qualifications : Texas

Court Admissions :

• U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court – Southern District of Texas
• U.S. Court of Appeals – District of Columbia Circuit
• Texas State Court

Professional Affiliations :

• Council: Antitrust and Business Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas
• Member: Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas, 2010-2011
• Vice Chair: ABA Antitrust Section’s Business Torts and Civil RICO Committee, 2011-2012
• Member: Editorial Board of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Section, 2010
• Member: American Bar Association, Antitrust Section

EXPERIENCE :

• Antitrust
  • Defending an international ocean shipping carrier in a criminal antitrust investigation brought by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice
  • Successfully defended a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer against Sherman Act Section 1 and 2 antitrust claims in the S.D.N.Y.
  • Successfully defended a large chemical company in a criminal antitrust price fixing investigation brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; after a lengthy investigation, the government closed the matter with no enforcement action recommended
• Business Litigation
  • Obtained, after trial in Delaware Chancery Court, a judgment for a major specialty chemical company that prevented Hexion Specialty Chemicals from terminating its $6.5 billion agreement to acquire his client (2008 WL 409466); after trial, the case settled when Hexion and its majority owner paid his client $1 billion
  • Defended a computer manufacturer in a class action suit in Beaumont, Texas relating to allegations of a defective computer component; his client was dismissed from the suit; co-defendant Toshiba settled for more than $2 billion
  • Represented a major engineering and construction company in a breach of contract and fraud suit against Westlake relating to the construction of a polyethylene plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana; obtained a multimillion dollar settlement for his client
  • Defended a national bank against class action allegations concerning its processing of its customers’ checks; plaintiffs non-suited their claims after the court granted his client special exceptions to all of plaintiffs’ claims