Patricia A. Sullivan has practiced law at the firm since her career as a litigator began in 1978. Since completing her study of antitrust under Professor Robert Pitofsky at Georgetown University Law Center, she has focused her practice on antitrust and unfair trade practices, as well as complex litigation. Ms. Sullivan has been selected by her peers to be listed among "America's Top Lawyers" in commercial litigation and antitrust in The Best Lawyers in America publication. She has also been listed in Chambers USA as a leading lawyer for litigation. Ms. Sullivan has been included in the New England Super Lawyers listing, a Thomson Reuters publication, since 2007 and has been listed as a Rhode Island Local Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys published by the Legal Media Group.
In the antitrust and unfair trade practices area, Ms. Sullivan works with a team of antitrust trial lawyers experienced in handling civil and criminal litigation. She represents businesses that are the targets of civil treble damage actions, as well as companies facing civil or criminal investigations. Her antitrust practice has also included counseling of businesses regarding strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions. She has established antitrust compliance programs in industries ranging from manufacturing to banking and insurance. She has also counseled companies regarding the antitrust issues that arise from a challenge to the viability of a patent, including the antitrust considerations associated with the settlement of patent litigation.
Ms. Sullivan has advised business clients involved in complex civil litigation from the inception of the dispute or problem, through trial and appeal. Her practice has focused on defense of class actions and other complex matters involving RICO and consumer claims against financial service providers, as well as distributor terminations, accounting and other professional malpractice, and insurance fraud.
Notable Experience
· Defense of Antitrust Division of Department of Justice investigation of financial services entity for allegations of price fixing.
· Provided antitrust counseling regarding state and federal antitrust requirements, including regulatory filings, to health care provider with respect to potential merger with another health system.
· Provided antitrust counseling and assisted with antitrust/competition regulatory filings in connection with global acquisition by Takeda Pharmaceutical of Millennium.
· Defended entities related to a large national bank against a putative antitrust class action alleging price fixing of the credit and debit card interchange fee, and other anticompetitive effects resulting from various rules adopted by the payment card networks.
· Successful trial to verdict in fraud case brought by Securities and Exchange Commission against investment advisor.
· Participation in defense of manufacturer investigated for price fixing and sued in direct and indirect purchaser antitrust cases.
· Successful defense of Federal Trade Commission investigation of physician network for collective boycott.
· Defense of manufacturer sued for hub and spoke conspiracy to exclude competitor.
· Successful defense through trial of putative class action involving RICO claims based on mail fraud.
· Successful defense of class actions against lenders involving consumer claims based on the Bankruptcy Code.
Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications
· "Antitrust Regulators Back Away From ACO Proposed Statement: Will the Guidance Be Sufficient to Protect Competition While Eliminating the Antitrust Deterrent to ACO Formation?," author, The Boston Health Law Reporter, The Boston Bar Association Health Law Section, Volume 7, Issue 2, Winter 2012.
· "Minimum Advertised Pricing Programs: Practical Pointers in the Wake of Leegin," co-author, The Price Point, Newsletter of the ABA Section of Antitrust Law Pricing Conduct Committee, Volume 11, Issue 1, Winter 2012.
· "FTC and Texas Align to Challenge Physician Network for Price Fixing," co-author, Becker's Hospital Review, May 27, 2011.
· "FTC and DOJ Propose a Regulatory Cure for Antitrust Concerns About Accountable Care Organizations," author, Bloomberg Law Reports, May 13, 2011.
· "Supreme Court Deals Blow to Consumer Class Actions," quoted, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, May 3, 2011.
· "ACO Update: Unprecedented Federal Agency Cooperation Yields Proposal to Exempt Accountable Care Organizations from Per Se Antitrust Scrutiny," co-author, EAPD Healthcare Update, April 5, 2011.
· "U.S. Supreme Court Case Could Put End to Class Actions," quoted, New Orleans City Business, November 22, 2010.
· "The Health Care Debate: If Lack of Tort Reform is Part of the Problem, Federalized Protection for Peer Review Needs to be Part of the Solution," co-author, Roger Williams University Law Review-RI Edition, May 2010.
· "Advanced Antitrust," Issues at the Forefront of Globalization: EU and Asian Merger Clearance Developments and Enforcement Trends & Updates, Speaker, Boston Bar Association, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, April 5, 2010.
· "Changes in Antitrust Enforcement: What In-House Counsel Needs to Know," Moderator, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge seminar, Providence, Rhode Island, September 24, 2009.
· "Antitrust Law of Rhode Island," chapter co-author, State Antitrust Practice and Statutes fourth edition, American Bar Association.
· "Q&A With Edwards Angell's Patricia Sullivan," Interviewee, Competition Law360, July 28, 2009.
· "Antitrust Law Developments in the Insurance Industry," Speaker, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Half-day Insurance & Reinsurance Seminars, Bermuda: June 22, 2009, New York: June 24, 2009 and Boston: June 26, 2009.
· National Business Institute's Legal Ethics in the Digital Age, Speaker, Warwick, Rhode Island, May 14, 2009.
· "Antitrust Posture of the 2008 Presidential Candidates," co-author, Competition Law 360, October 24, 2008.
· "Is it the End for McCarran Ferguson? An EC Roadmap for Consideration," co-author, Journal of Reinsurance, Vol. 15 No. 1, Winter 2008.
· "Antitrust Enforcement In The International Insurance Industry: How The EC's Examination Of The Block Exemption May (And Should) Inform The U.S. Debate Over The Future Of McCarran Ferguson," co-author, LexisNexis® Antitrust Litigation News, Vol. 2, #6, September 2007.
· "Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances: Business and Legal Considerations," speaker, Antitrust and Ethical Considerations; Rhode Island Bar Association, June 15, 2007.
· "Antitrust Issues in the Insurance Industry," speaker, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Insurance and Reinsurance Seminar, Bermuda, April 23, 2007.
· "Antitrust Compliance for the Insurance Industry During and After McCarran Ferguson," speaker, Compliance Best Practices Panel Teleconference, American Bankers Insurance Association, February 13, 2007.
· "Antitrust Basics for the Corporate Practitioner," panel moderator, Rhode Island Bar Association, October 17, 2006.
· "The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005," panelist, District Court Conference for the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, September 22, 2006.
· "Antitrust Assaults the Insurance Industry: Has the Time Come to Plan for the End of the McCarran-Ferguson Exemption?," Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Insurance and Reinsurance Update, September 2006.
· "Relationships Between In House and Outside Counsel - Effective Partnering to Protect the Corporation," panelist, National Association of Women Lawyers, New York, New York, July 18, 2006.
· "Federal Court Practice: A Discussion of the U.S. District Court's New Rules," panel moderator, Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 22, 2006.
· "A Practical Guide to Electronic Discovery," panel moderator, Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 22, 2006.
· "Arbitration in Flux: Drafting Tips to Maximize Protection for Financial Institutions Doing Business with Consumers," Edwards & Angell Financial Services Bulletin, Summer 2005.
· "Class Action Arbitration: Green Tree and the AAA Supplemental Rule," speaker, 4th National Advanced Guide to Consumer Finance Litigation and Class Actions, Chicago, Illinois, April 7, 2005.
· "Funds Face Unexpected Antitrust Problem," co-author, Venture Capital Journal, January 5, 2005.
· "Multijurisdictional Practice: Beware of Crossing the Line," panelist, Rhode Island Bar Association and Suffolk University School of Law, May 23, 2002.
News & Publications
May 7, 2012, Patricia Sullivan Appointed to Federal Bench in Rhode Island
April 20, 2012, The Sweet Smell of Success
February 16, 2012, Pat Sullivan and Liz Kelly Provide Pointers on Minimum Advertised Pricing Programs in ABA Publication
September 2011, ALERT: Change to Hart-Scott-Rodino Form Adds New Document Requirement
June 6, 2011, ACO Update
May 27, 2011, FTC and Texas Align to Challenge Physician Network for Price Fixing
Becker's Hospital Review
May 14, 2011, Bloomberg Publishes Pat Sullivan's Article on the Regulation of Accountable Care Organizations
April 7, 2011, ACO Update: IRS Issues Guidance on the Participation of Tax-Exempt Organizations in the Medicare Shared Savings Program Through Accountable Care Organizations
April 5, 2011, ACO Update: Unprecedented Federal Agency Cooperation Yields Proposal to Exempt Accountable Care Organizations from Per Se Antitrust Scrutiny
April 4, 2011, ACO Update: CMS Releases Proposed ACO Rule
October 7, 2010, EAPD Attorneys Selected For Inclusion in Super Lawyers 2010
August 10, 2010, Sixty EAPD Attorneys Recognized by the Best Lawyers in America
June 23, 2010, Chambers and Partners Recognizes EAPD in Nineteen Areas
March 1, 2010, EAPD Attorneys Recognized in 2010 Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition
November 6, 2009, EAPD Attorneys Selected For Inclusion in Super Lawyers 2009
September 18, 2009, State Antitrust Practice and Statutes
American Bar Association
September 1, 2009, 62 EAPD Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers in America 2010
July 28, 2009, Q&A With Edwards Angell's Patricia Sullivan
Law360
June 12, 2009, Chambers and Partners Recognizes Firm in Nineteen Areas
February 4, 2009, 57 EAPD Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers in America 2009
October 30, 2008, EAPD Attorneys Named Super Lawyers 2008
October 24, 2008, Antitrust Posture of the 2008 Presidential Candidates
Competition Law 360
July 7, 2008, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Recognized in the American Lawyer
June 25, 2008, Attorneys recognized at EAPD's Second Annual Pro Bono Award Reception
June 13, 2008, Chambers and Partners Recognizes Firm in Twenty Areas
April 10, 2008, EAPD Represents Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited in $8.8 Billion Acquisition of Millennium Pharmaceuticals
January 1, 2008, Is It The End For McCarran Ferguson? An EC Roadmap for Consideration
Journal of Reinsurance, Vol. 15 No. 1, Winter 2008
October 30, 2007, EAPD Attorneys Named Super Lawyers 2007
October 10, 2007, 57 EAPD Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers in America 2008
September 2007, Antitrust Enforcement In The International Insurance Industry: How The EC's Examination Of The Block Exemption May (And Should) Inform The U.S. Debate Over The Future Of McCarran Ferguson
LexisNexis Antitrust Litigation News - Vol. 2, #6
June 18, 2007, Chambers and Partners Recognizes Firm in Twenty Areas
September 5, 2006, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge Attorneys Recognized as "Best Lawyers in America"
September 1, 2006, Insurance and Reinsurance Update - September 2006
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP
June 17, 2006, Providence Partners Stephen Prignano and Patricia Sullivan Quoted in Providence Business News
August 1, 2005, Financial Services Bulletin - Summer 2005
Edwards & Angell, LLP
January 2005, Funds Face Unexpected Antitrust Problem
Venture Capital Journal
Events
October 21, 2009, Boston, MA, Antitrust Practice: Advanced
September 24, 2009, Providence, RI, Changes in Antitrust Enforcement: What In-House Counsel Needs to Know
June 22, 24 and 26, 2009, Half-day Insurance & Reinsurance Seminars
May 14, 2009, Warwick, RI, Legal Ethics in the Digital Age
October 17, 2006 - October 17, 2006, Providence, RI, Antitrust Basics for the Corporate Practitioner
July 26, 2006, Federal Court Practice: A Discussion of the U.S. District Court's New Rules
July 22, 2006, A Practical Guide to Electronic Discovery
July 18, 2006, New York, NY, Effective Partnering Strategies
in association with The National Association of Women Lawyers® (NAWL)
July 18, 2006, Relationships Between In-House and Outside Counsel - Effective Partnering to Protect the Corporation
April 7, 2005 - April 8, 2005, 4th National Advanced Guide to Consumer Finance Litigation and Class Actions
Besides Edwards Wildman
· Adjunct Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law.
· Save the Bay: member
· Barrington Land Conservation Trust: Secretary of the Board of Directors.
· Hasbro Children's Hospital: Member of Advisory Council.
· Board of Advisors of the Roger Williams University School of Law.
Industries
· Healthcare
· Education
· Tax-Exempt Organizations
· Banking & Financial Institutions
Memberships
· Rhode Island Bar Association, Federal Bench/Bar Committee
· American Bar Association, Sections on Litigation and Antitrust Law
· Federal Bar Association, Member - Board of Director (Rhode Island Chapter), Past President
· Rhode Island Bar Foundation, Member - Board of Directors, Lifetime Fellow
· Member of Local Rules Review Committee
· National Association of Women Lawyers, Member
· American Health Lawyers Association, Member