Gregory M. Lipper

Gregory Lipper is an associate whose practice includes trial and appellate criminal and civil litigation, as well as media and First Amendment issues.  In his criminal practice, Mr. Lipper represents corporations and individuals in grand jury and regulatory investigations and individual criminal defendants in both trial and appellate courts.  Mr. Lipper’s civil litigation centers on products-liability and intellectual-property cases; litigation involving the securities laws, False Claims Act, and other anti-fraud statutes; and complex questions of statutory interpretation and constitutional law.  Mr. Lipper also advises clients on a range of newsgathering and First Amendment issues.

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

Representative Matters

• Represents a major financial institution in multiple proceedings arising out of accounting irregularities in the subsidiary of a recent acquisition. The representation includes defense of federal grand jury and SEC investigations, litigation of securities class actions, and pursuit of insurance coverage.
• Represented corporate executive in SEC insider-trading investigation.
• Represented a major pharmaceutical company in multidistrict products-liability litigation.
• Represents the Newspaper Association of America in its efforts, on behalf of a coalition of media organizations, to persuade Congress to enact a federal newsgathering privilege. Also performs pre-broadcast review of news reports for a group of television stations and advises their reporters on newsgathering and defamation issues.
• Represented leading telecommunications investors in high-profile, billion-dollar suit under False Claims Act.

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.
• Represented criminal defendants in trial courts in Montgomery County, Maryland.
• Represents criminal defendant in direct appeal of conviction and death sentence.
• Represented parent in Establishment Clause challenge to Virginia Pledge of Allegiance statute.  Myers v. Loudon County Pub. Sch., 418 F.3d 395 (4th Cir. 2005).
• Represented author and journalist Asra Nomani and 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

• "Understanding Labeling Changes from a Liability Perspective," Pharmaceutical Education & Research Institute (July 2008)
• "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