San Francisco-based named partner Joseph J. Tabacco, Jr. was recognized as a Top Antitrust Lawyer in the Daily Journal’s 2022 list of Top Antitrust Lawyers in California. This is the second time Joe has received this honor. The list, compiled from nominations submitted statewide, honors leading antitrust practitioners for their work in plaintiffs, defense, and government antitrust work.
Joe has long been recognized by clients and lawyers on both sides of the bench as a leading plaintiffs’ antitrust and securities class action attorney. He has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of investors, businesses, and consumers prosecuting and, in some instances, trying antitrust and securities cases.
The Daily Journal highlighted two of Joe’s cases for recognition. The first is Automobile Antitrust Cases I and II, JCCP Nos. 4298 and 4303 (Cal. Super. Ct. San Francisco Cty.), where, after two decades of hard-fought litigation in related cases in both federal and state court, including multiple appeals, Joe and the firm obtained an $82 million dollar settlement from the last remaining defendant, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. Together with the prior settlements in the related federal action, the firm recovered $137.85 million for class members. These companion cases alleged that major automakers unlawfully conspired to stop the export of less expensive new Canadian vehicles from entering the United States.
The second action, In re California Gasoline Spot Market Antitrust, No. 3:20-cv-03131-JSC (N.D. Cal.), is ongoing, and alleges an unlawful scheme by gasoline trading companies in Houston and Hong Kong where traders are alleged to have manipulated the spot market for gasoline, leading California consumers to pay billions of dollars more at the pump for gasoline than they would have absent such conduct.
“We are thrilled for Joe and grateful to the Daily Journal for its continued recognition of his important contributions to and leadership within the California antitrust bar,” said Berman Tabacco partner Daniel E. Barenbaum.