Boutique Kesselman Brantly Stockinger marks 10th anniversary

When the attorneys at Kesselman Brantly Stockinger LLP celebrated their 10th anniversary in October, the landscape of antitrust law -- one of their primary areas of expertise -- was in a state of uncertainty, with the 2024 election looming.

Now that the results are in, the state of the federal government's antitrust enforcement remains unsettled. "I don't think we yet have clear guidance on how the new Trump Administration will address antitrust enforcement," founding partner David Kesselman responded in an email recently. "But even if the new administration keeps Big Tech in the crosshairs, I do expect to see less challenges to mergers generally."

But attorneys at Kesselman Brantly Stockinger are used to being nimble as they operate in the relatively small but fiercely competitive corner of legal practice.

"What makes us interesting is that we do both plaintiff and defense side work in the antitrust space," Kesselman explained in an interview. In addition to its traditional antitrust practice, the firm has developed significant expertise in competition-related matters, including tort claims and non-compete disputes, particularly within California's unique legal landscape.

Another partner, Majed Dakak, has carved out a specialty in non-compete law, navigating the complexities of California's robust competition laws. The firm recently concluded an arbitration involving non-compete agreements in business sales, one of the few exceptions to California's generally restrictive stance on such agreements.

The law firm, which was founded in 2014 by attorneys from Blecher & Collins, another high-end antitrust boutique, and the litigation boutique Sussman Godfrey, is adapting in other ways, too, bringing on new attorneys with specific experience and expertise.

Abiel Garcia, who joined the firm almost three years ago, brought experience from work in the California Attorney General's office and expertise in international matters, including investigations in Latin America.

Kesselman wrote in an email that he expects to see more robust enforcement of state antitrust laws in the coming years. "Even if the Trump Administration were to slow antitrust enforcement, I think there is a good chance that many of the State AGs would step in to fill the gap," he wrote.

The health care space is another area where the law firm is taking a lead. Currently, the firm is representing the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in a significant antitrust lawsuit against a major pharmaceutical benefits manager, addressing issues about drug pricing and contracting practices. AIDS Healthcare Foundation v. Express Scripts, Inc., et al., 4:2024-CV-01043 (E.D. Mo. 2023).

The partners explained that the boutique was designed to deliver high-quality legal services to clients while maintaining exceptional agility in an ever-evolving environment.

"We can be more efficient, staff cases more leanly, and provide better value to clients," Amy Brantly said. "We're very protective of the culture we've built -- a place that's friendly, supportive, and encourages people to develop strong skills early while maintaining time for their families."

Looking ahead, the firm's partners said they plan to pursue measured growth while preserving their collaborative culture. "Having everyone know and trust each other matters significantly, especially given how long we've all worked together at the senior level," Kesselman said.