Christopher T. Casamassima is an experienced trial lawyer who focuses his practice on complex business disputes involving antitrust, breach of contract, fraud, trade secrets and other commercial issues. He has achieved significant victories on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of industries, including health care, entertainment, defense and aerospace.
Mr. Casamassima has led the defense for numerous corporate clients facing class action claims, qui tamclaims and other matters involving significant potential exposure. In addition to handling significant litigation matters, Mr. Casamassima provides pre-litigation counseling on contract and antitrust issues to resolve disputes prior to litigation.
Mr. Casamassima has been recommended by The Legal 500 United States, named a Southern California “Super Lawyer” or “Rising Star” 14 times, and was recognized as a Top 20 lawyer under the age of 40 in California by the Daily Journal in 2015.
Mr. Casamassima has been active in the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section for many years, and has served as a vice chair of the Distribution and Franchising, the Privacy and Information Security, and the Cartel and Criminal Practice Committees.
Mr. Casamassima is also a member of the State Bar of California’s Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law and Litigation Sections, the Italian American Lawyers Association, and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Mr. Casamassima has also served on the Board of Directors of the Western Center on Law & Poverty.
Experience :
- Representing Native American tribe in action brought by tribe’s former attorneys, who alleged fraud, interference with contract, RICO and breach of contract claims
- Representing donor-advised charitable fund in dispute brought by donors alleging negligence and fraud in the inducement in connection with a donation
- Defending director of medical technology company in action alleging breach of fiduciary duty for alleged improper dilution of company’s stock
- Represented blood-testing company in class action alleging fraud and other causes of action based on allegations that the blood-testing technology was flawed
- Won summary judgment for pharmaceutical manufacturer in qui tam litigation concerning alleged fraudulent claims submitted to insurers
- Obtained $1 million-plus restitution award for financial services company for amounts expended on attorneys’ fees in connection with investigation into alleged insider trading by employee
- Conducted internal investigation into tribal governance and financial issues for Native American tribe
- Secured confirmation of arbitration award of more than $5 million for Spanish claimant in an arbitration regarding a cosmetics distribution contract
- Represented developer of successful video game franchise in licensing dispute involving fraud and breach of contract claims
- Successfully defended major movie studio in federal and state court class actions brought in connection with a well-publicized data breach
- Successfully defended major movie exhibitor in federal and state actions where other exhibitors allege unlawful clearance agreements and purported circuit dealing in violation of the Sherman Act and state laws
- Obtained favorable settlement for computer memory chip manufacturer facing allegations of conspiracy to boycott plaintiff and misappropriation of trade secrets
EDUCATION :
- JD, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, 2000
- BA, History, University of Pennsylvania, 1997
ADMISSIONS : California, District of Columbia
Cost
Rate : $$$