BakerHostetler announced that prominent litigator and antitrust counsel Carl W. Hittinger has joined the firm as a partner and litigation coordinator in its Philadelphia office. Hittinger arrives from the Philadelphia office of DLA Piper, where he was co-chair of the firm’s Antitrust and Trade Regulation Group.  He is the first non-intellectual property addition to BakerHostetler’s Philadelphia office since the firm combined with leading Philadelphia IP boutique Woodcock Washburn at the start of the year. Hittinger will be tasked with establishing a multidisciplinary litigation practice in Philadelphia to work with the firm’s 13 additional offices on cases of both local and national importance.

Hittinger’s practice is focused on complex litigation, with a strong concentration on antitrust and unfair competition matters. He also brings significant experience in complex commercial and intellectual property disputes, healthcare, securities cases, FCPA, products liability and trademark disputes, as well as civil rights and constitutional issues.  He has successfully tried numerous jury and non-jury cases before federal and state courts throughout the country. His clients – whom he has represented as both plaintiffs and defense counsel – include major corporations, family-owned businesses, and institutions.

Among the numerous antitrust cases Hittinger has litigated is Santana Products, Inc. v. Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc., in which he attained a dismissal of all antitrust and unfair competition claims against Bobrick after nine years of contentious litigation.  The plaintiff was a competitor seeking $31 million in damages and fees. The Third Circuit Court decision was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. In another closely-watched case, Mayer Labs v. Church & Dwight, Hittinger successfully defended Trojan condoms maker Church & Dwight against an illegal monopoly claim before a California federal court. He also succeeded in convincing the FTC to close without a consent decree or any conditions its three-year investigation of Church & Dwight based upon antitrust issues similar to the federal complaint and Section 5 of the FTC Act.

Hittinger has worked with an extensive roster of brand-name clients including Church & Dwight, Sara Lee Corp, Citigroup, Home Depot, Adidas, Sovereign Bank, Glaxo Smith-Kline, Leading Builders of America, Young Presidents Organization International, EnerSys, US Healthcare, Hormel Corporation, Giant Food, Inc., Wheaton Industries, Temple University, Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., Hudson News, Occidental Chemical, and DuPont. He has also represented well-known family-owned businesses including Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc., Peerless Boilers, Associated Communications Corp, Larry Pitt & Associates, Shore Slurry Seal, Inc., Ambulatory Surgical Services, Accord Health Service, and Priority Care Ambulance.

“The integration between Woodcock and BakerHostetler has gone very well in a very short time, and expanding our office capabilities beyond intellectual property was a logical next step in our growth,” said Joseph Lucci, Managing Partner of BakerHostetler’s Philadelphia office. “Carl Hittinger is a top-notch litigator with a versatile skill set and a sterling reputation in antitrust matters. We’re excited that he’s decided to lead the build-out of a broad litigation platform here in Philadelphia.”

Ray Whitman, Chair of BakerHostetler’s national Litigation Group, noted, “Carl’s talents as a trial lawyer extend far beyond his antitrust work.  He has been highly successful in a broad range of complex commercial, securities, and product liability cases.  Clients have called on him for help when there is a lot at stake in terms of reputation, economics, and business interests.  We have a stellar national team of more than 350 litigators located across the country and Carl is perfectly suited to increase our bench of nationally known trial lawyers.”

“The addition of Carl Hittinger’s antitrust and general litigation experience to the strong IP focus of the Philadelphia office will benefit our existing client base and be a great addition to the firm. Carl’s accomplishments as a trial lawyer will mesh perfectly with our existing litigation capabilities across the firm,” said BakerHostetler Chairman Steven Kestner.

“Carl Hittinger has established an outstanding reputation as a trial lawyer in Philadelphia, capable of handling complicated cases on antitrust matters as well as others,” said Robert G. Abrams, head of BakerHostetler’s Antitrust and Competition practice. “Increasingly, antitrust and IP issues intersect in multiple industries, and having Carl based in Philadelphia will be a boon to our firm and the clients we serve.”

“BakerHostetler’s decision to establish a broad-based litigation practice in Philadelphia and to ask me to lead it presented an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,” said Hittinger.  “I had previously served as co-counsel with Woodcock Washburn lawyers on several trademark cases and was highly impressed with their solid expertise and problem-solving approach to our matters.  This is an exciting challenge to build a high-stakes litigation practice group in Philadelphia and I look forward to working with the firm’s litigation practice nationally on a host of matters.  I’m particularly pleased to also become a part of BakerHostetler’s antitrust group, which under Bob Abrams’ leadership is one of the best in the country.”

Hittinger received his law degree from Temple University School of Law, where he was the Research Editor for the Temple Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Board. He received his B.A., summa cum laude, with honors, from Temple University. After graduation, he clerked for Chief Judge Emeritus Louis C. Bechtle (E.D.P.A.). He authors a monthly antitrust column for The Legal Intelligencer. Hittinger is recognized by Legal 500.