Gregory M. Lipper

Gregory Lipper is an associate whose practice includes trial and appellate litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and media and First Amendment issues.  In his criminal practice, Mr. Lipper represents corporations under investigation by agencies such as DOJ and the SEC, and represents individual criminal defendants in both federal and state trial and appellate courts.  Mr. Lipper’s civil-litigation practice centers on products-liability litigation; intellectual-property litigation; the False Claims Act and other anti-fraud statutes; and complex questions of statutory interpretation and constitutional law.  Mr. Lipper also advises corporate and individual clients on First Amendment issues affecting press freedom, politics and elections, and commercial broadcasting and advertising.

A skilled oral advocate, Mr. Lipper recently argued and won a complete reversal in a Title VII appeal in the Third Circuit and first-chaired and won an asylum hearing in federal immigration court.  He also coaches local high-school students competing in oral-argument competitions and has guest lectured college and law-school classes on constitutional law and federal courts.

Representative Matters

• Represents a financial corporation in parallel investigations by a federal grand jury and the SEC, and in related securities class-actions; previously represented a major brokerage firm in parallel proceedings before the SEC and the NASD.
• Represented leading telecommunications investors in high-profile, billion-dollar suit under False Claims Act.
• Represents a major pharmaceutical company in multidistrict products-liability litigation, in federal and state trial and appellate courts, and represents leading pharmaceutical-industry organizations in appellate litigation over federal preemption of products-liability suits.
• Represents the Newspaper Association of America in its efforts, on behalf of a coalition of media organizations, to persuade Congress to enact a federal privilege for newsgathering and the protection of confidential sources.

Pro Bono

• Successfully argued Moore v. City of Philadelphia, 461 F.3d 331 (3d Cir. 2006).  The Third Circuit reversed a grant of summary judgment against three former police officers who were retaliated against after they alerted their supervisors to racial discrimination in Philadelphia’s police department.
• Tried and won an asylum case, in federal immigration court, on behalf of an Eastern-European journalist.
• Counsel of record in a complex criminal appeal in the Sixth Circuit.
• Represented parent in Establishment Clause challenge to Virginia Pledge of Allegiance statute.  Myers v. Loudon County Public Schools, 418 F.3d 395 (4th Cir. 2005).
• Represents author and journalist Asra Nomani and has advised non-profit organizations about media reform in Russia, Serbia, and Iraq.

Memberships and Affiliations

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• D.C. Circuit Historical Society, Mock Oral Argument competition, Volunteer coach of competing high school students

Publications and Speeches

• "Third Circuit Upholds Landmark Win For Preemption Defense Against Drug Lawsuits," Covington E-Alert (4/15/2008), Co-Author
• "Riegel, Kent, and Levine: The Supreme Court Confronts FDA Preemption," Covington E-Alert (2/27/2008), Co-Author
• "Legal Implications of Drug Safety and Risk Management: The Broader Picture," Pharmaceutical Education & Research Institute (December 2007)