Theodore Voorhees Jr.

Partner

tvoorhees@cov.com
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Covington & Burling LLP
1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-2401
Tel: 202.662.5236


 

Practices

Industries

Education

  • Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D., 1974
  • Harvard University, A.B., 1971

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia


Theodore Voorhees is a litigation partner in the firm's Washington, DC office and a member of the Antitrust and Consumer Law Practice Group.

Antitrust and Consumer Protection - Mr. Voorhees' antitrust practice encompasses counseling and litigation, with particular emphasis on pricing and distribution arrangements in the United States, and counseling trade associations on antitrust compliance matters.  He became a member of the Council of the Antitrust Section of the American Bar Association in 2001, and was appointed the Section's Publications Officer in 2004, Section Delegate in 2006, and International Officer in 2009.  Mr. Voorhees has served as one of the co-teachers of the firm's antitrust seminar at the University of Virginia School of Law since the early 1980s.

On consumer protection matters, Mr. Voorhees has represented clients in proceedings before the Federal Trade Commission on advertising and marketing matters and the Consumer Product Safety Commission on product safety matters.  He has also represented clients in connection with consumer class action proceedings filed under state consumer protection and unfair business practices statutes.

Product Liability - Mr. Voorhees' practice also encompasses product liability and toxic tort matters, including both counseling and litigation with particular emphasis on mass tort litigation and trade association liability.  He has counseled clients on product liability and risk assessment in the software, mining, medical devices, construction equipment, pharmaceutical, chemical, food, and beverage alcohol industries.  Mr. Voorhees has lectured at numerous conferences on a broad range of product liability issues including the growing controversy over the causes of the obesity epidemic, harms caused by computer viruses and similar cyber attacks, strategies for peripheral defendants facing an upsurge of filings in asbestos litigation, and product liability risks facing trade associations that lobby the government on health and safety matters.

Representative Matters

  • Antitrust advisor to numerous clients on pricing policy issues following Supreme Court Leegin decision.
  • Antitrust advisor to air freight industry client on market access issues.
  • Counsel to pharmaceutical company in defense of antitrust price fixing claims brought against all major US manufacturers in state court in California.
  • Antitrust advisor to automobile industry client in connection with issues presented by joint venture. 
  • National counsel to trade associations on antitrust, product liability, marketing and related matters.
  • National coordinating counsel for professional society in multi-state welding toxic tort litigation and for medical device manufacturer in orthopedic product liability litigation. 
  • National coordinating counsel for trade association in multi-state vinyl chloride toxic tort litigation.
  • Counsel to biotech company in successful defense of wrongful death litigation arising out of a clinical trial conducted in Illinois

Honors and Rankings

  • GCR Who's Who Legal, Competition Lawyers & Economists (2010)
  • PLC Which Lawyer 2009 Yearbook, for Competition/Antitrust, Life Sciences/Product Liability, and Dispute Resolution (rated as "Leading Individual")
  • Best Lawyers in America for Product Liability Litigation and Antitrust Law (2008-2010)
  • PLC Life Sciences, Which Lawyer? for Product Liability (2008-2009)
  • Chambers USA Guide for Products Liability (2006-2009)
  • Practical Law Company's Cross-border Life Sciences Handbook, Recommended rating for his industry litigation and antitrust expertise (2006-2009)
  • Practical Law Company's Cross-border Competition Handbook, Recommended rating in competition and antitrust expertise (2006-2009)
  • Practical Law Company's Dispute Resolution Handbook, Highly Recommended rating as both a product liability and an antitrust litigator (2003-2004; 2004-2005; and 2005-2006)
  • Global Counsel 3000, rated as one of eight "highly recommended individuals" for Litigation and Arbitration (2001)

Pro Bono

  • Represented prison inmates in parole hearings.
  • Provided counseling to advocacy organizations for the elderly in connection with the drafting and publication of a book advising custodial grandparents of their rights and available government resources to assist in caring for their grandchildren. 
  • Has represented numerous pro bono clients in civil rights and housing litigation. 

Memberships and Affiliations

  • ABA Section of Antitrust Law
    • International Officer (2009-2010)
    • Section Delegate (2006-2008)
    • Publications Officer (2004-2006)
    • Council Member (2001-2003)
    • Vice-Chair of the Editorial Board for the Antitrust Law Developments (4th ed. 1997)
    • Editor-in-Chief for the ABA's Annual Review of 1993 Antitrust Law Developments 
  • University of Virginia School of Law, Co-Teacher of antitrust seminar since the early 1980s

Publications and Speeches

  • "Private Enforcement of Antitrust Law: The U.S. Approach to Creating Incentives and Making Corrections," Belgrade International Antitrust Conference (May 2010)
  • "The Leegin Decision and It's Aftermath," American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law, Spring Meeting (April 2010)
  • "The Legend of Price Fixing By US Trade Associations," Panel Presentation, American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law, Spring Meeting (3/25/2009)
  • "FTC Releases Report on Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents," Covington E-Alert (8/1/2008)
  • "Practical Implications of Leegin For the Alcohol Beverages Industry," National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (March 2008)
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