Christopher T. Holding
Areas of Practice
Christopher Holding is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department and a member of its Antitrust & Competition Practice. Mr. Holding’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on antitrust litigation.
Work for Clients
Mr. Holding has represented numerous clients in private litigation under the Sherman and Clayton Acts, as well as state antitrust, trade regulation and consumer protection laws. Most recently, he was lead trial counsel for the plaintiff in a Section 2 case challenging certain life-cycle management and “product hopping” strategies used to exclude generic competition in the pharmaceutical industry (Teva v. Abbott, D. Del.). Other recent cases include defending a national waste disposal company in a Section 1 case involving challenges to most favored nation pricing contracts and allegations of a “price squeeze” (National Recycling v. Waste Management et al., D. Mass.). Mr. Holding has particular expertise in issues involving the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property, and has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving claims of fraudulent patent procurement and sham litigation. He also has represented clients in indirect purchaser litigation relating to alleged international cartels. In addition to private litigation, Mr. Holding has defended clients in investigations by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice and foreign competition law agencies. These matters involved issues including patent litigation settlements, alleged group boycotts and challenges to the assertion of IP rights. He also regularly counsels clients on antitrust and other trade regulation issues, including resale pricing,...more » Mr. Holding has represented numerous clients in private litigation under the Sherman and Clayton Acts, as well as state antitrust, trade regulation and consumer protection laws. Most recently, he was lead trial counsel for the plaintiff in a Section 2 case challenging certain life-cycle management and “product hopping” strategies used to exclude generic competition in the pharmaceutical industry (Teva v. Abbott, D. Del.). Other recent cases include defending a national waste disposal company in a Section 1 case involving challenges to most favored nation pricing contracts and allegations of a “price squeeze” (National Recycling v. Waste Management et al., D. Mass.). Mr. Holding has particular expertise in issues involving the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property, and has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving claims of fraudulent patent procurement and sham litigation. He also has represented clients in indirect purchaser litigation relating to alleged international cartels. In addition to private litigation, Mr. Holding has defended clients in investigations by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice and foreign competition law agencies. These matters involved issues including patent litigation settlements, alleged group boycotts and challenges to the assertion of IP rights. He also regularly counsels clients on antitrust and other trade regulation issues, including resale pricing, minimum advertised price programs, distribution agreements, internet pricing and IP licensing. Outside of his antitrust work, Mr. Holding regularly represents clients in commercial civil litigation matters such as contract disputes, corporate governance disputes and fraud cases. less »
Professional Activities
Mr. Holding is a member of the American and Boston Bar Associations. He was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa at Princeton University.
Publications/Presentations
While at Harvard Law School, Mr. Holding was an Editor of the Harvard Journal on Legislation.
Professional Experience
Prior to joining Goodwin Procter, Mr. Holding served as law clerk to then-Chief Justice Ellen A. Peters of the Connecticut Supreme Court. From October 1998 through April 1999, he served as a special assistant district attorney in the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted crimes and successfully litigated several jury trials.
Bar and Court Admissions
Mr. Holding is a member of the state bars of Massachusetts and Connecticut and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First and Sixth Circuits and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Education
J.D., Harvard Law School, 1994 (magna cum laude)
A.B., Princeton University, 1988 (summa cum laude)
|