Elizabeth Tran Castillo is a partner in the San Francisco Bay Area office of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP and a member of the Antitrust & Global Competition practice group. Her work focuses on class actions and other complex litigation. Her experience includes litigating direct and indirect purchaser class actions as well as international and domestic cartel matters. In 2023, she was personally appointed to the leadership team in In re ARC Airbag Inflators Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3051, No. 1:22-md-03051-ELR (N.D. Ga.) and, in 2022, she was personally appointed interim co-lead counsel in In re Deere & Company Repair Services Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 3030, No. 3:22-cv-50188-IDJ (N.D. Ill.). The latter settled in 2026 for $99 million. Her career has been noteworthy due to her leadership in In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, a multidistrict litigation in the Eastern District of Michigan against over 70 defendant groups that settled for over $1.2 billion between 2013 and 2021.
Liz has received various honors for her antitrust work, including:
Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers (2025-2026)
Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers (2024-2026)
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2024-2025)
Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal Top Antitrust Lawyers (2022)
American Antitrust Institute Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement in Private Law Award (2019)
American Antitrust Institute Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement by a Young Lawyer Award (2016)
Northern California Super Lawyers (2022-2025) and Rising Star (2015-2021)
Liz has represented consumers, businesses, and local governments in both federal and state courts and at all stages of litigation, including discovery, trial, and appeals. While she is involved in all aspects of the cases she litigates, she places emphasis on her case development, e-discovery, and settlement strategy work.
Liz earned her J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) in 2011. While at UC Law SF, she was a Super Regional Semifinalist in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. She also received Honorable Mentions for both Best Brief and Best Oral Argument in Moot Court. Additionally, she served as a Judicial Extern to the Honorable A. James Robertson II in the Superior County of California, County of San Francisco, and as a Teaching Assistant for both Legal Writing & Research and Moot Court. Throughout law school, she mentored underserved high school students on preparing for college.
Liz received her B.A. in Economics and Political Science, with a concentration in Public Policy, from Boston University in 2008. While at BU, she interned at an international law firm and business advocacy organization in London and Sydney, respectively, during her third year. Liz has national and state legislative experience. She interned for then-U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii, 1991-2010; Governor of Hawaii, 2010-2014) in Washington, D.C. and State Representative Scott Nishimoto (D-Hawaii, 2003-present) in Honolulu.
Liz grew up in Honolulu but has been laying roots in the Bay Area since 2008. She lives in San Mateo with her husband and two children. She enjoys good food, great deals, meticulous planning, outdoor adventures, and fiction.
Representative Matters
Liz represents or represented plaintiffs in the following antitrust class actions in which she serves as lead or co-lead counsel and has secured noteworthy results for American consumers and businesses:
In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation (All End-Payor Plaintiff Actions), MDL No. 2311, Master File No. 2:12-md-02311-MOB (E.D. Mich.) ($1.2 billion+ in settlements)
In re Cattle and Beef Antitrust Litigation (All Direct Purchaser Plaintiff Actions), No. 0:20-cv-01319-JRT-HB (D. Minn.) ($135 million in settlement to date)
In re Capacitors Antitrust Litigation (All Indirect Purchaser Plaintiff Actions), MDL No. 2801, No. 3:14-cv-03264-JD (N.D. Cal.) ($80.79 million in settlements)
In re Deere & Company Repair Services Antitrust Litig., No. 3:22-cv-50188 (N.D. Ill.) ($99 million in settlement)
In re Domestic Airline Travel Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 2656, No. 1:15-mc-01404-CKK (D.D.C.) ($60 million in settlements to date)
In re Geisinger Health and Evangelical Community Hospital Healthcare Workers Antitrust Litigation, No. 4:21-cv-00196-MWB (M.D. Pa.) ($28.5 million in settlements)
In re Resistors Antitrust Litigation, No. 5:15-cv-03820-JD (N.D. Cal.) ($33.4 million in settlements)
In re Telescopes Antitrust Litigation (All Indirect Purchaser Plaintiff Actions), No. 5:20-cv-03639-EJD (N.D. Cal.) ($32 million in settlements)
In re Transpacific Passenger Air Transportation Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 1913, Case No. 3:07-cv-05634-CRB (N.D. Cal.) ($148.152 million in settlements)
CPM Investigating RealPage for Driving Rent Up Nationwide with Software Algorithm
CPM Investigates Price-Fixing in the Replacement Tire Industry
CPM Investigates Price-Fixing in the Frozen Potato Products Industry
CPM Investigates Price-Fixing in the Stone Crab Claw and Spiny Lobster Industry
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP Investigating “No-Poach” Agreement in Aerospace Engineering Services Industry
CPM Investigates Price-Fixing in the Fertilizer Market
No-Poach Employee/Labor Antitrust Case Against Geisinger and Evangelical Health Systems Settlement Granted Final Approval by the Court
CPM Investigating Semiconductor Components Market
CPM Investigating Price-Fixing in Shipping Containers Market
CPM Investigates Price Fixing & Market Suppressing in Violation of Antitrust Laws
Shipping Container Antitrust Litigation
CPM Investigates Anticompetitive Practices In the Home-Health Care Industry Affecting Employees
Honors & Recognitions
2026 Daily Journal, Top Women Lawyers
2025-2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers
2024-2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers
2024-2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
2022-2026 Northern California Super Lawyers
2022 Daily Journal “Top Antitrust Lawyers”
2015-2021 Super Lawyers Northern California Rising Star
2019 American Antitrust Institute Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement in Private Law Practice Award
2016 American Antitrust Institute Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement by a Young Lawyer Award
Publications
Mar 2018
Misconceptions About Privilege Relating to Everyday Agreements
2016
Indirect Purchaser and Litigation Handbook
Winter 2015
Trial Structure in an Intricate Antitrust Reality
Fall 2014
Recoveries for Violations of Federal and California Antitrust Statutes Should Not Be Apportioned
16 Sep 2013
Antitrust Whistle-Blowers Get Clarity
In the News
18 Apr 2026
Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs moved for preliminary approval of the Tyson settlement in the Cattle/Beef antitrust matter
12 Jun 2024
CPM Attorneys Recognized as 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers
15 Mar 2023
CPM Partner, Elizabeth Castillo, Appointed Member of Leadership Team in Arc Airbag Inflators Product Liability Litigation
05 Jul 2022
CPM Attorneys Selected to 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List
24 May 2022
CPM Files Class Action Against ARC Automotive and Various Automobile Manufacturers for Defective Airbag Inflators Using Ammonium Nitrate
07 Jul 2021
17 CPM Attorneys Honored as Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
11 Mar 2021
CPM Appointed Lead Counsel in Class Action Case Protecting Healthcare Professionals
21 Oct 2020
CPM Helps Android Device Users Sue Google and Alphabet for Antitrust Violations
18 Jun 2020
CPM Files Consumer Class Action Against Telescope Suppliers for Constellation of Antitrust Violations
07 May 2020
CPM Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Gohagan & Company and Travel Guard
22 Apr 2020
CPM Investigates Anticompetitive Practices in the Home-Health Care Industry Affecting Employees
10 Oct 2019
CPM Partners and Class Action Experts Zapala, Castillo and Barnett Recognized for Their Work on Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation Cases
20 Mar 2018
San Mateo Jury Awards $2.3 Million to CPM Client Former MLB Pitcher Who Was Attacked In Front of His Home
28 Feb 2018
CPM Clients' Settlements in Landmark Auto Parts Litigation Surpass $1 Billion
CPM Battles Price Fixing in Domestic Air Travel
CPM Fights for Consumers Against Price Fixing of Capacitors Used in Electronic Devices
CPM Partner Tran Selected as Honoree for the 2016 Antitrust Enforcement Awards
05 Oct 2016
CPM Antitrust Litigation Expert Elizabeth Tran Selected as Honoree for the 2016 Antitrust Enforcement Awards
19 Jul 2016
Multiple CPM Litigators Recognized as Northern California Super Lawyers 2016
14 Jul 2016
CPM Facilitates $193.8 Million Settlement in Class Action re DENSO Price-Fixing Claims with U.S. Consumers and Businesses in Auto Parts, Bringing Settlement Total to Nearly Half a Billion Dollars
12 May 2016
CPM Helps American Consumers Recover $225 Million As Court Approves Settlements Against Automotive Parts Cartel
15 Apr 2016
CPM Facilitates Mitsubishi Electric Agreement to Settle Auto Parts Class Action with End-Payor Plaintiffs for $64.23 Million, Bringing Settlement Total to Over $288 Million
27 Jul 2015
CPM Helps Secure First Civil Settlement Relating to Auto Shipping Price-Fixing Claims
16 Jul 2015
Multiple Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy Lawyers Honored as Super Lawyers For Northern California
CPM Achieves Settlements in Auto Parts - Price Fixing Antitrust Case
2014
CPM Wins Important Ruling in Automotive Parts Price-Fixing Case Preserving Right of American Consumers and Businesses to Seek Damages
Blog Posts
17 Oct 2024
Top 5 "No-Poach" Antitrust Settlements of All Time: What Employees Need to Know
11 May 2017
Ninth Circuit Declines to Apply Filed Rate Doctrine to Airfares
06 Mar 2017
Civil and Criminal Enforcers Target Generic Drug Price-Fixers
12 May 2016
American Consumers Recover $225 Million As Court Approves Settlements Against Automotive Parts Cartel
Civic
Liz participates/participated in the following organizations:
Member, Steering Committee, Cambridge Forum on Antitrust Litigation (2024-2025)
Chair, Judging Committee, Antitrust Enforcement Awards, American Antitrust Institute (2025); Co-Chair, Judging Committee, Antitrust Enforcement Awards, American Antitrust Institute (2023-2024); Member, Judging Committee, Antitrust Enforcement Awards, American Antitrust Institute (2020- )
Advisor, Executive Committee of the Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section of the California Lawyers Association (2021- ); Member, Executive Committee of the Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section of the California Lawyers Association (2018-2021)
Advisory Board Member, Global Private Litigation Committee, Section of Antitrust Law, American Bar Association (2018-2019)
Co-Chair, Trying Antitrust (newsletter), Trial Practice Committee, Section of Antitrust Law, American Bar Association (2019)
Co-Chair, Mentorship Committee, Asian American Bar Association (2018-2019); Co-Chair, Annual Dinner Host Committee, Asian American Bar Association (2017-2018)
Chair, Scholarship Dinner Planning Committee, Vietnamese American Bar Association of Northern California (2016)
Volunteer, Federal Pro Bono Project, United States District Court, Northern District of California (2015)
Professional
California Lawyers Association Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section
American Antitrust Institute
Cambridge Forum on Antitrust Litigation
American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section
Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area
Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws (COSAL)
Consumer Attorneys of California
San Mateo County Bar Association
Bay Area Legal Aid (San Francisco County)
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
