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    Global Problem Solving from Covington: Deal with Complex Problems Anywhere in the World

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Derek Ludwin

Partner

Washington +1 202 662 5429

New York +1 212 841 1065

English
  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Derek Ludwin is a leader of Covington’s Antitrust Litigation and Sports Practice Groups and advises clients around the world on high-stakes litigation, transactions, investigations, licensing, and compliance issues.

    Derek has significant experience helping clients successfully navigate complex, multi-district litigations and challenging government investigations, and has built a record of achieving positive outcomes. He also advises clients in structuring and securing regulatory clearance for major transactions, and is frequently sought out for guidance when clients are considering significant acquisitions, ventures, licensing arrangements, and other transactions with potential antitrust issues. Derek regularly represents the National Football League, as well as leading businesses in a variety of industries.

    Recognized by Chambers in both the antitrust and sports fields, Derek is recommended for his counseling skills, his focus on client interests, his pragmatic approach to favorably and promptly addressing disputes and regulatory clearances, and his ability to work effectively with both business and in-house legal teams.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Represented Matthews International Corporation, a global provider of memorialization products, industrial technologies, and brand solutions, on antitrust matters related to the sale of its interest in SGK Brand Solutions. The deal is valued at approximately $900 million.
    • Advised Quikrete Holdings, a building materials company, on antitrust matters in its agreement to acquire Summit Materials, a producer of aggregates and cement, for a total enterprise value of approximately $11.5 billion.
    • Led global regulatory clearance for Discovery's $43 billion acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T.
    • Defending NFL in multi-district class action antitrust challenges to its broadcast distribution arrangements for out-of-market games (In re Sunday Ticket Antitrust Litigation).
    • Defending the Ivy League in a class action antitrust litigation challenge to the conference's athletic scholarship policies.
    • Won summary judgment dismissing a rare set of antitrust claims in a high-profile Section 337 dispute between U.S. Steel and the Chinese steel industry, and ITC affirmance of that decision (In re Certain Carbon Steel Products).
    • Defending technology company in antitrust class action challenge to its commercial arrangements.
    • Successfully represented Discovery, Inc. in its $14.6 billion acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive. The transaction closed after a “second request” investigation with the DOJ taking no action.
    • Won dismissal of an antitrust challenge to the U.S. Olympic Committee’s regulation of athlete advertising and secured Ninth Circuit affirmance of the dismissal (Run Gum v. USOC).
    • As counsel to a leading electronics company in multi-district class action “follow-on” antitrust litigations, won summary judgment dismissing $3.5 billion antitrust claim and successfully defended the ruling on appeal. (Motorola Mobility v. AU Optronics et al.)
    • Secured favorable resolution of class action "no-poach" litigation against Duke University (Seaman v. Duke and Binotti v. Duke).

    Other Complex Litigation Matters

    • Won dismissal of employment-related antitrust claims against the National Football League and its member clubs (Kelsey K. v. NFL).
    • Secured a favorable outcome in a class action antitrust challenge to the NFL's trademark licensing arrangements (Dang v. NFL).
    • Defeated a class action challenge to NFL ticketing policies (Kazemzadeh v. San Francisco 49ers).
    • Won dismissal of a class action antitrust complaint alleging conspiracy to restrain market for “likenesses” of former NFL football players (Washington v. National Football League).
    • Defeated an antitrust challenge to the national medical resident matching program on behalf of a group of teaching hospitals and medical schools (Jung v. Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund).

    Other Civil Investigation Matters

    • Secured favorable resolution of a multi-state attorney general investigation of a major sports league.
    • Defended a major transportation company in a DOJ civil antitrust investigation, which was closed without enforcement action against our client.
    • Closed an antitrust investigation of a sanitation and recycling company by the Connecticut State Attorney General with no enforcement action taken.
    • Regularly develop successful and cost-effective responses for clients receiving third-party inquiries and subpoenas from federal and state enforcement agencies.

    Other Transactional and Counseling Matters

    • Led the successful representation of a venture among U.S. media companies in a DOJ civil antitrust inquiry, with no enforcement action taken.
    • Advised on antitrust aspects of a digital projection system financing in a transaction that was awarded IDD'S Media Deal of the Year.
    • Serve as counsel and business advisor to OCP S.A. of Morocco in connection with ventures, commercial arrangements, and general corporate and governance matters.
    •  Advise various sports leagues on complex antitrust issues relating to licensing, governance, restructuring, and transactions.  

    Criminal Antitrust and Cartel

    • Represented clients in the “auto-parts” DOJ international cartel investigation.
    • Successfully represented a major international manufacturer in international price-fixing cartel investigation, with no action taken by DOJ and other national enforcement agencies.
    • Persuaded the DOJ to take no action against an airline executive in Air Cargo investigation.
    • Successfully represented one of the largest providers of telecommunications services in Asia in a DOJ criminal antitrust investigation; DOJ closed its grand jury investigation without action.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • New York University School of Law, J.D.
        • magna cum laude
        • NYU Law Review, Executive Editor
    • Yale University, B.A.
    Bar Admissions
    • District of Columbia
    • New York
    Government Experience
    • U.S. House of Representatives
    Judicial Clerkship
    • Hon. Kimba M. Wood, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    Pro Bono
    • Derek serves as pro bono outside counsel to the Washington Humane Society in its mission to protect animals and prevent cruelty and neglect.
    Accolades
    • Lawdragon, Leading Litigators in America - Antitrust & Sports Competition & Litigation (2025)
    • Chambers USA, Antitrust Litigation (2019-2025) and Sports Law (2021-2025)
    • Who’s Who Legal, Competition (2024)
    • Variety, Legal Impact Report (2023)
    • Sports Business Journal, "Power Players" (2021)
    • Recognized by The Am Law Litigation Daily as one of the "Litigators of the Week" (11/18/2016)
    • Law360, Sports MVP (2016) 
    • GCR Award Winner, Merger Control Matter of the Year--Americas: Counsel to Discovery in Discovery/WarnerMedia transaction (2022)
    • GCR Award Winner, Litigation of the Year - Cartel Defence: Counsel to Samsung in Motorola Mobility v. AU Optronics, et al, US (2015)
    • Legal 500 US, Antitrust Civil Litigation/Class Actions (2015-2017) and Sports (2015-2017)
    • Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Antitrust (2016-2022)
    • Washington DC Super Lawyers, Antitrust Litigation (2013-2020, 2022-2024)
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Co-Chair of Committee Operations, ABA Section of Antitrust Law
    • Chapter Editor, Antitrust Law Developments (7th edition) and 2012-15 Supplements
    Previous Experience
    • Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (responsible for various transportation, juvenile justice, and science-related issues).

    Areas of Expertise

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