Former Constantine Cannon and Robins Kaplan lawyers launch antitrust law firm

Former lawyers from Constantine Cannon and Robins Kaplan have launched Shinder Cantor Lerner LLP (SCL), a boutique antitrust law firm based in New York and Washington, D.C.

The firm, established by partners Jeffrey I. Shinder, Matthew L. Cantor, and Kellie Lerner, focuses exclusively on antitrust litigation and advisory services, representing clients in sectors such as healthcare, financial services, media, and technology.

The founding team, which includes ten lawyers from Constantine Cannon and Robins Kaplan, with extensive backgrounds in antitrust law, plans to expand strategically while focusing on complex antitrust matters.

SCL handles a range of antitrust issues for plaintiffs and defendants, including cases involving price-fixing, market allocation, monopolization, and anti-competitive mergers. Additionally, the firm provides guidance on compliance with federal and state antitrust regulations and advises on joint ventures and competitor collaborations. Kellie Lerner, who also serves as the managing partner, stated that SCL is structured to address antitrust issues from multiple perspectives. “Our goal is to create a dedicated environment that can effectively manage antitrust litigation or regulatory matters,” Lerner said.

Jeffrey Shinder and Matthew Cantor emphasized that their collective experience made it an opportune time to establish a firm that could operate without conflicts typically faced by larger firms. Cantor highlighted the alignment of the partners' philosophies as a significant factor in launching SCL, adding that the firm’s smaller size provides it with the flexibility needed to adapt quickly to client needs.

The founding partners have led numerous high-profile antitrust cases over the years. Notable examples include representing merchants in the Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Litigation, which involved major retailers challenging transaction fees set by Visa and Mastercard. SCL lawyers also co-led a class action against a large hospital system, alleging practices that raised healthcare costs. Additionally, they are involved in ongoing litigation representing junior hockey players in a case against the National Hockey League, which addresses competition concerns for young athletes in North America.

As SCL moves forward, the firm intends to attract additional talent and maintain a focus on navigating complex antitrust matters within a range of industries.