Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Logo
  • Practices
  • People
  • Careers
  • News & Insights
  • Practices
  • People
  • Careers
  • News & Insights
  • Our Story
  • The Cravath System
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Pro Bono
  • Alumni Journal
  • 200.Cravath

Cravath Publishes Winter 2026 Issue of Alumni Journal

Read More

Litigation

Class Action Defense

Class Action Defense

Cravath is a leading firm in class action defense, successfully representing clients named in class actions across industries and practice areas. Our litigators are particularly adept at handling class action litigation because we draw on our substantive knowledge to comprehensively address the underlying claims, while our generalist litigation training equips us with the skills to simultaneously manage, coordinate and direct a successful defense.

We routinely handle class actions in a variety of practice areas and, in particular, we have defended against legally significant and high-stakes antitrust, consumer products and securities fraud class actions in jurisdictions nationwide. We efficiently and effectively manage litigation strategy for all stages of a class action—analysis of the complaint, forum and jurisdiction issues, class discovery and certification, fact and expert discovery, dispositive motion practice and trial. Although we have a strong track record of resolving putative class actions at the motion to dismiss or class certification stages, our litigators—some of the most seasoned trial lawyers in the country—are well positioned to handle the unique aspects of proceeding with a jury trial against a class of plaintiffs. Additionally, we have extensive experience petitioning appellate courts for interlocutory review of class certification. Where appropriate, we also have the skills to assess possible risks and advise clients on the distinctive issues relating to class action settlement. 

Because we frequently handle the largest and most complex cases, we have expertise in coordinating the defense of multidistrict class actions as well as regularly advising clients on the simultaneous settlement of multiple actions in order to achieve a global solution. Combined with our deep bench of trial‑ready attorneys, the Firm is ideally suited to serve as both lead counsel and trial counsel in these matters. Our work also includes navigating the government investigations and regulatory proceedings that frequently run parallel to class action litigation. 

Cravath has been named New York Law Journal’s “Class Action Litigation Department of the Year” and received its Innovation Award, which recognized the Firm’s success in leveraging artificial intelligence to review the massive volume of documents frequently collected in complex litigation. Year after year, the Firm has ranked in the top tiers of Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US and Best Lawyers Best Law Firms. 

Our team has earned repeated praise from clients and the market, including:

  • “When you stand back and look at organizations, and put together your list of who you would go to if the world came to an end, it’s Cravath.” Client, Chambers USA 
  • Cravath “fields a strong bench of market-leading attorneys known for their extensive courtroom experience” with a “dominant presence in defending against RMBS claims, shareholder derivative actions relating to M&A and securities fraud class actions.” Chambers USA
  • Cravath “is renowned for its representation of corporate defendants as well as individual officers and directors in class actions and large individual actions.” The Legal 500 US
  • “New York-based Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has earned a strong reputation as a major player in class actions, individual actions and arbitrations. It represents many industry leaders and blue-chip companies from a wide range of sectors.” The Legal 500 US
     

We routinely handle class actions in a variety of practice areas and, in particular, we have defended against legally significant and high-stakes antitrust, consumer products and securities fraud class actions in jurisdictions nationwide. We efficiently and effectively manage litigation strategy for all stages of a class action—analysis of the complaint, forum and jurisdiction issues, class discovery and certification, fact and expert discovery, dispositive motion practice and trial. Although we have a strong track record of resolving putative class actions at the motion to dismiss or class certification stages, our litigators—some of the most seasoned trial lawyers in the country—are well positioned to handle the unique aspects of proceeding with a jury trial against a class of plaintiffs. Additionally, we have extensive experience petitioning appellate courts for interlocutory review of class certification. Where appropriate, we also have the skills to assess possible risks and advise clients on the distinctive issues relating to class action settlement. 

Because we frequently handle the largest and most complex cases, we have expertise in coordinating the defense of multidistrict class actions as well as regularly advising clients on the simultaneous settlement of multiple actions in order to achieve a global solution. Combined with our deep bench of trial‑ready attorneys, the Firm is ideally suited to serve as both lead counsel and trial counsel in these matters. Our work also includes navigating the government investigations and regulatory proceedings that frequently run parallel to class action litigation. 

Cravath has been named New York Law Journal’s “Class Action Litigation Department of the Year” and received its Innovation Award, which recognized the Firm’s success in leveraging artificial intelligence to review the massive volume of documents frequently collected in complex litigation. Year after year, the Firm has ranked in the top tiers of Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US and Best Lawyers Best Law Firms. 

Our team has earned repeated praise from clients and the market, including:

  • “When you stand back and look at organizations, and put together your list of who you would go to if the world came to an end, it’s Cravath.” Client, Chambers USA 
  • Cravath “fields a strong bench of market-leading attorneys known for their extensive courtroom experience” with a “dominant presence in defending against RMBS claims, shareholder derivative actions relating to M&A and securities fraud class actions.” Chambers USA
  • Cravath “is renowned for its representation of corporate defendants as well as individual officers and directors in class actions and large individual actions.” The Legal 500 US
  • “New York-based Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has earned a strong reputation as a major player in class actions, individual actions and arbitrations. It represents many industry leaders and blue-chip companies from a wide range of sectors.” The Legal 500 US
     
  • Deals & Cases
  • Recent News & Insights

Deals & Cases

February 19, 2026

Dfinity’s Appellate Win Affirming Summary Judgment in Securities Class Action

On January 30, 2026, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Cravath client Dfinity Foundation (“Dfinity”) in a putative securities class action related to Dfinity’s Internet Computer Protocol (“ICP”) master governance tokens. Dfinity is a Swiss not‑for‑profit entity working to create a smart contract platform designed to power blockchain versions of popular internet applications.

Deals & Cases

February 09, 2026

PG&E Wins Dismissal with Prejudice of Putative Negligence Class Action

On February 4, 2026, the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, sustained with prejudice Cravath clients Pacific Gas & Electric Company and PG&E Corporation’s (together, “PG&E”) demurrer to a putative negligence class action lawsuit seeking to hold PG&E responsible for increased property insurance premiums across California.

Deals & Cases

February 02, 2026

Elsevier Wins Dismissal with Prejudice of Putative Antitrust Class Action

On January 30, 2026, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York granted with prejudice Cravath client Elsevier B.V.’s (“Elsevier”) motion to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit alleging an international conspiracy to fix prices and suppress competition in peer‑reviewed scholarly journal publishing.

Deals & Cases

October 20, 2025

Court Grants Complete Dismissal of Antitrust Multidistrict Litigation Against Louis Dreyfus Company

On October 15, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota granted Cravath client Louis Dreyfus Company LLC’s (“LDC”) motion to dismiss more than fifty lawsuits in consolidated antitrust litigation alleging a nationwide conspiracy to fix sugar prices.

Deals & Cases

September 04, 2025

Amex Not Liable on Antitrust Claims in Trial Victory

On August 28, 2025, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York unanimously concluded that Cravath clients American Express Company and American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., (together, “Amex”) are not liable for antitrust claims in a class action suit, brought by a class of debit card users and non‑rewards credit card users from eight states and Washington, D.C., alleging that the company’s non‑discrimination provisions are anticompetitive.

Activities

March 13, 2026

Benchmark Litigation Names Antony Ryan 2026 “Securities Litigator of the Year”

On March 11, 2026, at its annual U.S. Awards in New York, Benchmark Litigation honored Cravath partner Antony L. Ryan as its “Securities Litigator of the Year.” The awards recognize “the country’s most distinguished litigators and their firms for their exemplary work over the past twelve months.” At the awards ceremony, Benchmark Litigation highlighted Antony’s successful representation of Robinhood in the sprawling and high‑profile “meme stock” litigation. 

Activities

March 05, 2026

Law360 Names Cravath a 2025 “Competition Practice Group of the Year”

On February 11, 2026, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Competition Practice Group of the Year” in recognition of the Firm’s work on high‑stakes antitrust litigation and merger clearance. The profile highlighted the Firm’s trial victory for American Express, in which a jury unanimously found the company not liable for antitrust claims in a class action suit, and the successful dismissal of more than 50 lawsuits in MDL proceedings for Louis Dreyfus Co. The profile also recognized Cravath’s work for Epic Games, which includes securing a nationwide permanent injunction against Google after a trial victory that was later affirmed on appeal, and its representation of a Special Committee of Paramount Global’s board of directors in the company’s $28 billion merger with Skydance Media.

Activities

February 23, 2026

Brittany Sukiennik Featured in Crain’s 2026 Notable Women in Law List

On February 23, 2026, Crain’s New York Business featured Cravath partner Brittany L. Sukiennik in its 2026 list of “Notable Women in Law,” which recognizes “the women defining New York’s next era of law” and “leading the work that keeps systems functioning and rights protected.” Crain’s recognized Brittany, a member of Cravath’s Litigation Department, for her representation of clients including Xcel Energy in securing a favorable settlement before a trial related to the Colorado Marshall Wildfire, and Robinhood in securing the dismissal of antitrust and state law claims and defeating class certification of securities claims in the high‑profile “meme stock” litigation. The publication also highlighted Brittany’s active pro bono practice and work with Cravath’s Incarcerated Survivors Initiative.

Activities

December 03, 2025

Cravath’s Antitrust Practice Ranks as “Elite” in GCR 100

On November 28, 2025, Cravath’s antitrust practice was ranked among the “Elite” in Global Competition Review’s 2026 edition of GCR 100, a guide to the world’s best competition practices. This is the fourteenth consecutive year the Firm has been ranked in the highest tier among New York Firms by GCR. The publication highlighted Cravath as a “premier choice for major antitrust litigation, enforcement actions and high‑profile transactional matters,” noting its representations of clients including Corteva in antitrust litigation brought by the FTC and related putative class actions; Elsevier in putative class action antitrust litigation; Epic Systems in an action filed by Particle Health; and Wiz on antitrust matters in connection with its $32 billion acquisition by Google.

Activities

August 21, 2025

Helam Gebremariam Featured in Bloomberg Law’s 2025 “They’ve Got Next: 40 Under 40” Series

On August 12, 2025, Cravath partner Helam Gebremariam was featured in Bloomberg Law’s “They’ve Got Next: 40 Under 40” series, which recognizes young lawyers who are “raising the bar in the legal profession,” based on their work on key client matters, assumption of leadership roles, pro bono commitments and more.

Deals & Cases

February 19, 2026

Dfinity’s Appellate Win Affirming Summary Judgment in Securities Class Action

On January 30, 2026, the California Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Cravath client Dfinity Foundation (“Dfinity”) in a putative securities class action related to Dfinity’s Internet Computer Protocol (“ICP”) master governance tokens. Dfinity is a Swiss not‑for‑profit entity working to create a smart contract platform designed to power blockchain versions of popular internet applications.

Deals & Cases

February 09, 2026

PG&E Wins Dismissal with Prejudice of Putative Negligence Class Action

On February 4, 2026, the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, sustained with prejudice Cravath clients Pacific Gas & Electric Company and PG&E Corporation’s (together, “PG&E”) demurrer to a putative negligence class action lawsuit seeking to hold PG&E responsible for increased property insurance premiums across California.

Deals & Cases

February 02, 2026

Elsevier Wins Dismissal with Prejudice of Putative Antitrust Class Action

On January 30, 2026, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York granted with prejudice Cravath client Elsevier B.V.’s (“Elsevier”) motion to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit alleging an international conspiracy to fix prices and suppress competition in peer‑reviewed scholarly journal publishing.

Deals & Cases

October 20, 2025

Court Grants Complete Dismissal of Antitrust Multidistrict Litigation Against Louis Dreyfus Company

On October 15, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota granted Cravath client Louis Dreyfus Company LLC’s (“LDC”) motion to dismiss more than fifty lawsuits in consolidated antitrust litigation alleging a nationwide conspiracy to fix sugar prices.

Deals & Cases

September 04, 2025

Amex Not Liable on Antitrust Claims in Trial Victory

On August 28, 2025, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York unanimously concluded that Cravath clients American Express Company and American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., (together, “Amex”) are not liable for antitrust claims in a class action suit, brought by a class of debit card users and non‑rewards credit card users from eight states and Washington, D.C., alleging that the company’s non‑discrimination provisions are anticompetitive.

Activities

March 13, 2026

Benchmark Litigation Names Antony Ryan 2026 “Securities Litigator of the Year”

On March 11, 2026, at its annual U.S. Awards in New York, Benchmark Litigation honored Cravath partner Antony L. Ryan as its “Securities Litigator of the Year.” The awards recognize “the country’s most distinguished litigators and their firms for their exemplary work over the past twelve months.” At the awards ceremony, Benchmark Litigation highlighted Antony’s successful representation of Robinhood in the sprawling and high‑profile “meme stock” litigation. 

Activities

March 05, 2026

Law360 Names Cravath a 2025 “Competition Practice Group of the Year”

On February 11, 2026, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Competition Practice Group of the Year” in recognition of the Firm’s work on high‑stakes antitrust litigation and merger clearance. The profile highlighted the Firm’s trial victory for American Express, in which a jury unanimously found the company not liable for antitrust claims in a class action suit, and the successful dismissal of more than 50 lawsuits in MDL proceedings for Louis Dreyfus Co. The profile also recognized Cravath’s work for Epic Games, which includes securing a nationwide permanent injunction against Google after a trial victory that was later affirmed on appeal, and its representation of a Special Committee of Paramount Global’s board of directors in the company’s $28 billion merger with Skydance Media.

Activities

February 23, 2026

Brittany Sukiennik Featured in Crain’s 2026 Notable Women in Law List

On February 23, 2026, Crain’s New York Business featured Cravath partner Brittany L. Sukiennik in its 2026 list of “Notable Women in Law,” which recognizes “the women defining New York’s next era of law” and “leading the work that keeps systems functioning and rights protected.” Crain’s recognized Brittany, a member of Cravath’s Litigation Department, for her representation of clients including Xcel Energy in securing a favorable settlement before a trial related to the Colorado Marshall Wildfire, and Robinhood in securing the dismissal of antitrust and state law claims and defeating class certification of securities claims in the high‑profile “meme stock” litigation. The publication also highlighted Brittany’s active pro bono practice and work with Cravath’s Incarcerated Survivors Initiative.

Activities

December 03, 2025

Cravath’s Antitrust Practice Ranks as “Elite” in GCR 100

On November 28, 2025, Cravath’s antitrust practice was ranked among the “Elite” in Global Competition Review’s 2026 edition of GCR 100, a guide to the world’s best competition practices. This is the fourteenth consecutive year the Firm has been ranked in the highest tier among New York Firms by GCR. The publication highlighted Cravath as a “premier choice for major antitrust litigation, enforcement actions and high‑profile transactional matters,” noting its representations of clients including Corteva in antitrust litigation brought by the FTC and related putative class actions; Elsevier in putative class action antitrust litigation; Epic Systems in an action filed by Particle Health; and Wiz on antitrust matters in connection with its $32 billion acquisition by Google.

Activities

August 21, 2025

Helam Gebremariam Featured in Bloomberg Law’s 2025 “They’ve Got Next: 40 Under 40” Series

On August 12, 2025, Cravath partner Helam Gebremariam was featured in Bloomberg Law’s “They’ve Got Next: 40 Under 40” series, which recognizes young lawyers who are “raising the bar in the legal profession,” based on their work on key client matters, assumption of leadership roles, pro bono commitments and more.

Explore

People in
Class Action Defense

Cravath Bicentennial

Celebrating 200 years of partnership. In 2019, we celebrated our bicentennial. Our history mirrors that of our nation. Integral to our story is our culture.

Explore

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Logo
  • CONTACT US
  • OUR STORY
  • ALUMNI PORTAL
  • DISCLAIMERS & NOTICES

Attorney Advertising. ©2026 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.