Liz Weissert practices complex commercial litigation with a focus on federal antitrust litigation and is a member of Ballard Spahr’s Antitrust and Competition Group. Liz is also a member of Ballard Spahr's Life Sciences Industry Group and has experience representing multiple global pharmaceutical companies in all manner of disputes. In her antitrust practice, Liz has defended clients in matters involving claims of conspiracies to restrain trade, including price-fixing, wage-fixing, no-poach agreements, information sharing, and group boycotts as well as other types of antitrust claims such as tying and monopolization. Liz also has experience in matters involving federal RICO and fraud claims, as well as consumer class action litigation.
Liz has extensive experience providing a full range of antitrust services to clients, including advice related to transactions, counseling on antitrust compliance and risk, representing clients in civil and criminal litigation, and government investigations. In her antitrust and competition practice, Liz has represented some of the largest companies in the country, including life science companies, institutions of higher education, agriculture companies, professional associations, and real estate companies. Liz has also advised trade associations, including drafting antitrust policies.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Represents a not-for-profit advocacy organization in federal antitrust litigation involving claims that defendants conspired with online platforms to boycott website providing information about and links to online foreign pharmacies.
- Represented a generic pharmaceuticals manufacturer accused of violating the Sherman Act by conspiring to fix the prices of generic pharmaceuticals in a federal criminal prosecution resulting in a post-indictment Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
- Represented a real estate development company responsible for leasing, development, and management of airport food and retail space in federal antitrust litigation. Plaintiff alleged that our client’s leases, which purportedly contain a “pouring rights” provision requiring concessionaires to sell certain beverages, was an unlawful tying arrangement. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania granted our motion to dismiss and on appeal, the Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the case.
Professional Highlights
Pro Bono Experience
Liz has an active pro bono practice, primarily representing clients who are transgender in name change matters. Liz represented a client who is transgender in appealing the denial of petition to change her name. Liz argued this matter before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania to achieve a successful result for her client. Liz's pro bono practice includes representation of clients in civil forfeiture proceedings as well as representing individuals who were sentenced to life without parole as juveniles in re-sentencing and appellate matters. Along with the Rapid Defense Network and the Transgender Law Center, Liz represented a group of transgender individuals who were held in ICE detention during the COVID-19 pandemic seeking release.
Professional Activities
Ballard Spahr Philadelphia Hiring Committee
Recognition & Accomplishments
Legal 500, Antitrust - Civil litigation/class action - defense, 2023
Speaking Engagements
“Gender Inclusive Language and Policies in the Workplace,” Pennsylvania Diversity Council LGBTQ+ Unity Summit, June 13, 2023
“Antitrust Regulation and Enforcement under the Biden Administration,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, November 16, 2022
Board Memberships & Community Service
Equality Forum, Board of Directors (Treasurer)
Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association, Board of Directors (Treasurer)
Publications
"Get Out of Jail Free? Preventing Employment Discrimination Against People with Criminal Records with 'Ban the Box' Laws," University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 2016
Related Insights
Credentials
Education
University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2016)
Senior Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review
President, Lambda Law 2014-2015
Smith College (B.A., magna cum laude, 2013)
Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit