J. Douglas Baldridge is chair of Venable’s Washington Litigation Group, encompassing the Washington, DC and Virginia offices. A first-chair litigator, Doug has tried numerous complex cases to verdict, including a victory on behalf of a generic drug maker in the first test of what limits may be placed on reverse payment antitrust deals in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in FTC v. Actavis (In Re: Nexium (Esomeprazole) Antitrust Litigation).
Doug represents major U.S. corporations in the pharmaceutical, technology, consumer products, fuel, and other industries; entertainers and other celebrities; real estate developers; publishers; shareholders; and other clients in high-stakes litigation.
Doug serves as general counsel for duPont Publishing, which distributes magazines under the duPont Registry brand in the United States and 54 other countries.
Experience :
- Defended, as lead trial counsel for a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer, against claims under the Sherman Act, arising from an alleged “reverse payment” settlement of patent litigation in the District of Massachusetts. Obtained a highly favorable settlement with end payors, including insurers and consumers, during a complex multi-week jury trial (In re Solodyn Antitrust Litigation)
- Defended a Fortune 10 consumer products company against claims under the Sherman Act, culminating in a three-month jury trial involving retail marketing, category management, rebates, and exclusive dealing
- Defended a Fortune 20 beverage manufacturer against claims under the Sherman Act and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), arising from termination of a dealership, culminating in a five-month jury trial
- Defended a coal producer merger candidate against a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Clayton Act Section 7 merger challenge, defeating the FTC, and resulting in consummation of the merger (Arch Coal, Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission)
- Represented Taylor Swift in a landmark, high-profile sexual harassment lawsuit, adverse to an on-air radio personality, resulting in a jury verdict for Ms. Swift on all claims and defenses (Mueller v. Swift)
- Prosecuted libel claims in the Irish High Court on behalf of an international celebrity (Elin Nordegren Woods v. Dubliner Media, Ltd.)
- Defended, as lead trial counsel on behalf of online advertisers and commercial bulk emailers, against actions brought under state “SPAM” and consumer protection statutes, resulting in a unanimous jury verdict on all claims after a three-week trial
- Represented a major financial services company in an FTC investigation and related claims alleging “aiding and facilitating” liability under the FTC Act, resulting in closure of the FTC investigation
- Defended patent infringement claims involving a method patent for compressing and downloading audio and visual data (Global Patent Holdings LLC v. The Boca Raton Resort & Club)
- Defended an international publisher against claims under the Copyright Act, involving rights to artwork used on magazine covers (duPont International v. Lajos)
- Represented a pension fund in the liquidation of a $500 million commercial real estate portfolio, involving all aspects of liquidation, and complex business and bankruptcy issues (Potomac Equity Portfolio L.P.)
- Represented plaintiff-shareholder in a start-up energy conversion company, in securities fraud litigation under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act (Frank Carlucci v. Envion)
- Defended a member of the board of directors against class action claims under Section 11 of the Securities Exchange Act (In Re Wilmington Trust Securities Litigation).
Education :
- J.D. cum laude George Washington University Law School 1987
- B.A. magna cum laude Florida State University 1984
Bar Admissions : Florida, District of Columbia, New York, Washington, Virginia
Court Admissions :
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Professional Memberships :
- Adjunct professor, American University School of Law, Trial Practice and Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Board member, Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs
Cost
Rate : $$$