Penelope has served as lead counsel in major consumer class actions and antitrust cases for more than 35 years, successfully representing high-profile defendants in antitrust, consumer fraud, and product defect matters. Her clients span a range of industries, including consumer electronics, technology, retail, publishing, food and beverage, cosmetics, and household products. According to Chambers USA, Penelope has a “great reputation for antitrust and product liability work” and is a “superb all-around antitrust lawyer.”
Penelope was named the 2019 Antitrust Lawyer of the Year by the Antitrust, UCL, and Privacy Section of the California Lawyers Association. She was co-chair of MoFo’s antitrust practice for 14 years. She has served as chair of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section of the State Bar of California and as a member of the Ninth Circuit Advisory Committee on Local Rules and Operations. She is an editor of and frequent contributor to Morrison & Foerster’s Class Dismissed blog, as well as a frequent speaker about class action and antitrust issues.
More About Penelope
Penelope clerked for the Honorable Charles M. Merrill, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she was executive editor of the Harvard Civil Rights – Civil Liberties Law Review. Penelope was a member of Phi Beta Kappa at the University of California, Berkeley. She was awarded the University Medal, the highest undergraduate honor at the university, as well as the English Departmental Citation (awarded to the outstanding graduate in that department).
Energy Drink Manufacturer
Represented an international energy drink manufacturer in antitrust litigation involving monopolization, conspiracy, and exclusive dealing claims. Motion to dismiss was granted with prejudice on all claims.
Consumer Electronics MDL
Lead and national coordinating counsel for a major consumer electronics manufacturer in MDL class action proceedings involving consumer fraud, product defect, warranty, and tort claims. Successfully obtained dismissal of all claims.
Computer Power Management System Litigation
Represented computer manufacturer in litigation alleging defects in the power management system of a notebook computer. Won multiple rounds of motions to dismiss and prevailed on appeal in the Ninth Circuit.
Represented major multinational intellectual property management company in action brought by putative business class alleging unfair trade practice and misrepresentation claims.
Online Billing Practices Class Action
Defeated class certification with prejudice in consolidated consumer class actions challenging online disclosures and billing practices.
Lipitor Antitrust Litigation
Represented a major pharmacy benefits manager in an antitrust litigation alleging horizontal and vertical conspiracies and other vertical agreements in restraint of trade.
Counsel to Barnes & Noble in an antitrust and unfair trade practice action brought by the American Booksellers Association on behalf of its California members and by 26 bookstore plaintiffs in which plaintiffs alleged federal and California state antitrust claims regarding pricing and other issues. Obtained summary judgment on all monetary claims and the case was settled on very favorable terms after two weeks of trial.
Recognized for Litigation - Antitrust
Recognized for Bet-The-Company Litigation
Antitrust Lawyer of the Year
Named Lawyer of the Year in Litigation: Antitrust, San Francisco
Ranked in Antitrust, California
Ranked in Global Competition Review
Ranked in Litigation: Antitrust, United States
Ranked in Leadership in the Profession: Mentoring Lawyer of the Year
Recognized as “Other Key Lawyer” in Dispute Resolution: Product Liability, Mass Tort, and Class Action: Consumer Products (including Tobacco) Defense
Top Antitrust Lawyer