Japan Webinar Series May-June 2021

Stephen Wu is a nationally recognized antitrust lawyer with more than twenty-five years’ experience defending clients against antitrust litigation and government investigations into mergers and acquisitions and business practices. Stephen is also a trusted strategic advisor who counsels clients on antitrust compliance issues.

Stephen has successfully defended clients in class actions and other complex litigation brought by purchasers, competitors, and employees alleging unlawful price-fixing, wage-fixing, exclusive dealing, group boycott, market allocation, tying, and monopolization claims in federal courts around the country. In addition, Stephen has successfully defended numerous mergers and acquisitions and clients’ business practices from Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Justice, and State Attorneys General investigations. He also regularly advises clients on pricing, distribution, and joint venture matters.

Stephen represents clients in a wide variety of industries, ranging from consumer goods to healthcare to packaging. He is co-head of the Firm’s Health Antitrust Practice Group.

Stephen has been recognized as a leading antitrust lawyer by The Best Lawyers in America, BTI Consulting, Chambers USA, Global Competition Review, Lawyers of Color, The Legal 500 USA, LMG Life Sciences, The National Law Journal, Super Lawyers, and Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyers.

Prior to joining the Firm, Stephen was an attorney for the FTC, where he received its Award for Meritorious Service. At the Firm, Stephen received McDermott’s Pro Bono and Community Service Award for his pro bono efforts.

Handles complex, global criminal and civil matters, including internal investigations, and investigations conducted by the Department of Justice

Focuses on healthcare enforcement and compliance, including False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, and Stark Law matters

Represents clients in antitrust criminal investigations and related class actions, and advises on global compliance programs

Has extensive experience with Japanese clients, including in global investigations and implementation and updating of global compliance programs

Brings extensive appellate experience, having served as lead appellate counsel in more than 100 cases in nearly all of the US courts of appeals and before the US Supreme Court

Handles pro bono litigation projects in a wide array of substantive areas, including civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, children’s rights, disabilities’ rights, and immigration as the firm’s pro bono litigation partner

Julian André helps clients achieve the best outcomes when facing government enforcement actions, prosecutions and investigations, defending against complex civil litigation and performing internal investigations. Leaning on his experience as an Assistant US Attorney in Los Angeles prosecuting financial crimes, Julian adds an inside perspective when devising defense strategies for companies and individuals facing criminal and civil investigations by state and federal agencies such as DOJ, HHS-OIG, SEC, and DOL. He also regularly advises clients on matters involving corporate governance and regulatory compliance, including anti-money laundering and anti-corruption issues.

Julian’s experience prosecuting complex fraud cases and acting as a first chair trial attorney make him a valuable asset to healthcare clients, who regularly call on him to navigate False Claim Act investigations and civil litigation. Throughout his career, he has helped healthcare companies save hundreds of millions of dollars in potential government fines and civil judgments.

In recent years, Julian has also defended several companies in ERISA litigation involving Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Julian’s strategic approach and strength in the courtroom have led to favorable outcomes for ESOP plan sponsor companies, their directors and officers, and plan fiduciaries in class action lawsuits brought by plan participants.

Prior to rejoining McDermott in 2021, Julian spent six years as an Assistant US Attorney. During this time, he served in the Major Frauds Section and was the US Attorney’s Office’s Securities Fraud Coordinator and Education Fraud Coordinator. Julian prosecuted and investigated a wide range of financial crimes, including healthcare fraud, securities fraud, bank fraud, public corruption, tax evasion, and money laundering. Two marquee cases handled during his time as a federal prosecutor include the prosecution of Michael Avenatti and the prosecution of China Zhongwang, the world’s second-largest aluminum extrusion producer at the time.

Other notable trial experience includes education fraud, bribery and tax cases in the US District Court for the Central District of California, and patent infringement trials in the US District Courts for the Northern District of Texas and Middle District of Florida.

Julian is also an accomplished appellate advocate, having handled dozens of appeals before the US Supreme Court, and the US Courts of Appeals for the Second and Ninth Circuits. Prior to entering private practice, Julian served as a law clerk for the Honorable Harry Pregerson of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.