Kellie Lerner Appointed Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel in Fragrance Antitrust Litigation

Robins Kaplan LLP is pleased to announce that the U.S. District Court for the State of New Jersey named Kellie Lerner as interim co-lead counsel for a nationwide class of end-user plaintiffs in In re Fragrance End-User Plaintiff Antitrust Litigation. The antitrust class action alleges that several of the world’s largest fragrance manufacturers entered into agreements regarding the prices and supply of fragrances and fragrance ingredients, which artificially raised the prices of household goods, including cosmetics, personal care products, detergents, and cleaning products purchased by consumers across the country.

These claims follow the European Commission’s announcement earlier this year that it opened an investigation into the fragrance industry. In conjunction with the UK Competition and Markets Authority, the Swiss Competition Commission, and the U.S. Department of Justice, the EC also conducted dawn raids at European locations of the fragrance manufacturers Symrise, Givaudan, and Firmenich.

Alongside her interim co-lead class counsel, Kellie Lerner will play a crucial role in coordinating pretrial activities on behalf of the end-user plaintiffs. "I am privileged to play a role in championing the rights of plaintiffs in this important litigation and look forward to pursuing relief on their behalf," Lerner said.

Robins Kaplan has a long history of successfully prosecuting anticompetitive conduct. Most recently, the firm secured a $5.6 billion settlement – the largest settlement of a private antitrust action in the 130-year history of the Sherman Act – in In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation. The firm also obtained $1.2 billion in settlements in In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, as well as over $1.2 billion in settlements in In re Air Cargo Shipping Services Antitrust Litigation, in addition to many other successful recoveries. 

Robins Kaplan’s clients in this matter are represented by Kellie Lerner, co-chair of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Group, and attorneys Ben Steinberg, Ellen Jalkut, and Jordan Finkel.