James Almon helps companies and people harmed by antitrust law violations. He has successfully brought lawsuits to recover damages arising from price-fixing cartels and commercial restraints that deny his clients the benefits of free-market competition. His work focuses on representing major companies with significant, non-class claims.
James knows how to navigate the complicated process of getting an antitrust claim ready for trial. With thoughtful pre-suit evaluation, effective discovery, and persuasive motion practice, he builds a solid legal and economic case to best position his clients for favorable results. A strategic and practical thinker, he has a talent for anticipating defense arguments and enjoys finding practical solutions for digesting the massive evidentiary records common in antitrust cases. His work has been critical to achieving success for clients in cases involving credit cards, television components, synthetic rubber, hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals, cargo shipping, and polyurethane foam, among other products.
Before joining Sperling Kenny Nachwalter, James was the general counsel of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners for seven years. He regularly represented the board in confidential applicant appeals and rule petitions before the Florida Supreme Court. He also successfully defended the board in federal cases involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, the First Amendment, the dormant Commerce Clause, and other civil rights-related matters.
James remains committed to public service by supporting the Board of Bar Examiners as a bar exam grader and content writer. He is also a board member of the School of Arts and Sciences Foundation in Tallahassee, Florida.
Representative Matters
Successfully represented national supermarket and pharmacy chains (e.g., Kroger, Walgreens, Safeway, Albertsons) in antitrust cases challenging Visa, MasterCard, and American Express credit card swipe fees and merchant rules. Also represented a former CEO of a national drugstore chain during testimony in a related Department of Justice trial against American Express. In re Payment Card Antitrust Litigation and In re American Express Anti-Steering Rules Litigation (both E.D.N.Y.).
Served as counsel for amicus national supermarket chains in litigation resulting in a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding a First Amendment challenge to state statutes criminalizing credit card surcharging. Expressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman (U.S. Supreme Court and Second, Fifth, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuits).
Successfully represented Goodyear in antitrust cases involving global cartels for the sale of synthetic rubber and rubber chemicals; implemented strategy to establish U.S. jurisdiction over sales in Europe under exception to Foreign Antitrust Trade Improvements Act. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. v. Bayer AG (N.D. Ohio and N.D. Cal.).
Successfully represented major mattress and furniture manufacturers (e.g., Tempur-Sealy, Serta, and La-Z-Boy) in recovering damages from members of the American and Canadian polyurethane foam cartel. In re Polyurethane Foam Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Ohio).
Successfully represented Sears in an international cartel case involving television parts. Representation included travel to China to work with a manufacturer who had received immunity under the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act in exchange for cooperating with victims. In re Cathode Ray Tube Antitrust Litigation (N.D. Cal.).
Successfully represented national companies who were victims of a cartel involving shipping between Puerto Rico and the continental United States. Developed evidence in part through cooperation agreements with individual cartel participants who pled guilty to criminal antitrust violations. Walgreen Co. v. Sea Star Line, LLC (M.D. Fla.).
Practice Areas
Education
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2005
B.A., Vanderbilt University, 2002
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
