Clifford Chance
William Lavery is a seasoned antitrust trial lawyer and a partner in Clifford Chance’s Global Antitrust Litigation Practice. Backed by nearly 20 years of courtroom experience, Will has led clients to victory in some of the most high-stakes “bet the company” antitrust litigations, government investigations, and class action lawsuits across the nation. He regularly appears before the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and in federal courts nationwide, defending pharmaceutical, healthcare, technology, chemical, energy, and transportation clients, among others, against a broad range of antitrust and competition claims.
Throughout his career, Will has taken numerous cases to trial—including both bench and jury trials in federal courts and before the FTC’s administrative court—securing significant wins that have saved clients billions in potential damages. His clients have included global leaders like Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Sandoz Inc., Century Aluminum Co., McWane, Inc., Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Toyota Motor North America, Eaton Corp., Halliburton, and ExxonMobil, among many others.
Leveraging his deep pharmaceutical expertise, Will successfully obtained a dismissal involving Humira, the world’s best-selling drug, defeating novel “patent thicket” antitrust claims and alleged reverse-payment theories. He also served on the trial team that prevailed in an eight-week bench trial against the FTC, earning the “Behavioral Matter of the Year - Americas” recognition from Global Competition Review.
Praised by national ranking publications, Will is consistently recognized in The Legal 500 (2017–2024), Super Lawyers (2014–2024), and Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America (2022-2025). He was honored as a “Rising Star” by Law360 (2016), distinguishing him among the country’s top competition lawyers under 40, and named a “Next Generation” partner by The Legal 500 (2019–2023). With his track record of trial success, strategic insights, and notable victories, Will offers clients unparalleled advocacy and proven results in the most challenging legal environments.
- In re Humira Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Ill.). Successfully defended Novartis’ Sandoz division in a high-stakes antitrust case involving Humira, the world’s best-selling drug. Plaintiffs asserted reverse-payment and “patent thicket” theories involving over 100 patents. Achieved a complete dismissal with prejudice, which the Seventh Circuit upheld on appeal.
- ICP v. Caterpillar Inc. (D. Del.). Obtained defense jury verdict in favor of Caterpillar Inc. following a trial in a lawsuit alleging the company conspired with a competitor and its own dealers to boycott the distributor of a foreign supplier seeking to enter the United States.
- Mayor & City Council of Baltimore v. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (E.D. Pa.). Defending Merck in antitrust class action alleging monopolization in the purported market for rotavirus vaccines.
- In the Matter of McWane, Inc. (F.T.C.). Successfully defended McWane, Inc. in a two-month FTC trial alleging price fixing and monopolization in the ductile iron pipe fittings market. Secured dismissals of six out of seven counts, marking a rare instance in which the FTC ruled against itself following an in-house trial.
- In the Matter of Benco Dental Supply Co., et al. (F.T.C.). Defended Patterson in a three-month bench trial before the FTC, facing claims of price-fixing and group boycott. After cross-examining 65+ fact and expert witnesses, settled the matter with no monetary penalty or independent monitor.
- In re Caustic Soda Antitrust Litigation (W.D.N.Y.). Defended Olin Corporation in several nationwide class actions alleging that virtually all U.S. caustic soda producers conspired to restrict supply and fix prices. The Court denied plaintiffs' motion for class certification.
- Takeda Pharma USA, Inc. v. Zydus, Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc.(D.N.J.). Represented Zydus in an antitrust action alleging sham litigation and misuse of the Hatch-Waxman framework. Addressed intricate regulatory and patent issues key to the pharmaceutical sector.
- In re Merck Mumps Vaccine Antitrust Litig. (E.D. Pa.). Advised Merck & Co. on claims of monopolization of the purported mumps vaccine market, navigating complex scientific and legal considerations. On appeal, the Third Circuit found Merck was entitled to summary judgment under the Noerr-Penington doctrine.
- In re Pork Antitrust Litigation (D. Minn.). Counsel for Aldi, Inc. in nationwide class action alleging price-fixing in the pork industry.
- FTC v. RWJ Barnabas Health, Inc., and Saint Peter's Healthcare System, Inc. (D.N.J. and F.T.C.). Counsel for RWJ Barnabas in proposed acquisition of St. Peter's.
- FTC v. Peabody Energy Corp. and Arch Coal, Inc. (E.D. Mo.). Served as trial counsel for Arch Coal in federal litigation against the FTC’s effort to block a major coal-industry joint venture.
- Hatchett v. Henry Schein, Inc. et al. (S.D. Ill.). Achieved a dismissal on behalf of Patterson in a proposed class action alleging price-fixing.
- SourceOne Dental, Inc. v. Patterson Companies, Inc. et al (E.D.N.Y.). Defended Patterson against group boycott conspiracy claims. Settled the matter on the eve of trial for a fraction of alleged damages, following aggressive pre-trial work.
- IQ Dental Supply, Inc. v. Henry Schein, Inc. et al. (E.D.N.Y.). Defended Patterson in antitrust litigation brought by a rival distributor alleging the same conspiracy as SourceOne Dental; settled on favorable terms after an aggressive defense.
- US v. Halliburton Co. and Baker Hughes Inc. (D. Del). Counsel for Halliburton Co. in DOJ’s lawsuit to block proposed acquisition of Baker Hughes, Inc.
- Wallach v. Eaton, et al and In re Class 8 Truck Transmission Indirect Purchaser Litigation (D. Del.). Defended Eaton in class actions alleging price fixing for truck transmissions. Won a denial of class certification, affirmed by the Third Circuit.
- In re Ductile Iron Pipe Fittings (Direct and Indirect) Antitrust Litigation (D.N.J.). Defended McWane, Inc. in several follow-on private class actions alleging price fixing and monopolization. Secured a favorable “nuisance value” settlement after an aggressive defense.
- In re: Optical Disk Drive (ODD) Products Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Cal.). Successfully defended PLDS and Lite-On in a multi-billion-dollar price-fixing class action involving optical disk drives. Defeated class certification and led arguments on summary judgment.
- Century Aluminum of South Carolina Inc. v. South Carolina Public Service Authority (D.S.C.). Ccounsel for Century Aluminum in action brought in South Carolina federal court alleging Sherman Act Section 1 and 2 violations.
- Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority v. Oltrin Solutions LLC (D.S.C.). Obtained dismissal of defendant Olin Corporation from class action alleging violations of Sherman Act Section 1 case.
- City of Moundridge, KS v. Exxon Mobil Corporation (D.D.C.). Defended ExxonMobil, winning summary judgment in a case alleging price-fixing of natural gas. The D.C. Circuit affirmed the ruling, which found plaintiffs’ expert testimony “wholly unsupported and speculative."
- ZF Meritor LLC and Meritor Transmission v. Eaton Corporation (D. Del.). Defended Eaton at trial in a Sherman Act Section 2 case alleging monopolization. Achieved zero-dollar damages and exclusion of plaintiffs’ damages expert.
- In re Cast Iron Soil Pipe and Fittings Antitrust Litigation (E.D. Tenn.). Defended McWane, Inc. in direct and indirect purchaser class actions alleging price fixing of cast iron soil pipe and fittings.
- Satnam Distributors, Inc. v. Commonwealth-Altadis et al. (E.D. Pa.) . Defended HLA in antitrust action brought by Satnam Distributors alleging violations of Section 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, as well as the Robinson-Patman Act. Received dismissal of Sherman Act Section 1 and 2 claims and settled the RPA claim on favorable terms.
- Waste Control Specialists LLC v. EnergySolutions LLC (W.D. Tex.). Defended Waste Control Specialists in an antitrust case brought by a competitor in federal court in Texas alleging violations of Sherman Act Section 2
- American Seed Co., et al. v. Monsanto Company (D. Del Defeated class certification for Monsanto in a suit alleging Sherman Act Section 2 violations; affirmed by Third Circuit. Demonstrated plaintiffs’ failure to meet Rule 23 requirements.
- Monsanto Company v. Syngenta (D. Del.). Represented Monsanto in a Sherman Act Section 2 monopolization dispute, addressing advanced patent and agricultural technology issues.
News and client work
Contact details
Career and qualifications
- University of Washington (B.A.) 2002
- Cornell Law School (J.D.) 2005
- Admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in Washington D.C 2006
- Joined Clifford Chance as a partner 2023
Professional bodies
- 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
- Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
- ABA, Editor of the Antitrust Law Developments Tenth Edition Board (2024-2025)
- ABA, Co-Editorial Chair, ABA Pharmaceutical Industry Antitrust Handbook
Awards and citations
- Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America
The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
- Legal 500 U.S. "Next Generation Partner" (2019 – 2023)
- Washington D.C. Super Lawyer – Rising Star for Antitrust Litigation (2014 – 2023)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America (2022 – 2023)
- Law 360 – "Rising Star" for Competition Law (2016)