Biography

Bruce A. Blefeld is a trial lawyer who concentrates his practice on antitrust litigation and other complex commercial litigation matters. Mr. Blefeld successfully defended a major global health care device and supply company in a $1 billion antitrust suit; he also defended the largest health care group purchasing organization (GPO) in a $600 million antitrust suit. Mr. Blefeld was a key member of the trial team that prevented Hexion Specialty Chemicals from terminating its $6.5 billion agreement to acquire his client's company; after trial, the case settled when Hexion and its majority owner paid Mr. Blefeld's client $1 billion. Similarly, he was a key member of the trial team that defended several international insurers in one of the largest insurance coverage cases ever tried involving an $850 million claim arising from the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Mr. Blefeld has also defended ERISA cases involving putative class action claims and represented companies in connection with breach of contract, tortious interference, and patent infringement claims arising out of domestic and international transactions. He also regularly provides antitrust counseling and guidance to health care providers, major pharmaceutical companies, and joint ventures involving competitor collaborations.

Mr. Blefeld was formerly a litigation partner with Vinson & Elkins.

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Representative Matters

• Antitrust


• Defended the largest health care GPO in an antitrust case in which the plaintiff claimed damages in excess of $600 million relating to the allegedly exclusive dealing contracts between the GPO and suppliers of urinary catheters; on the eve of jury selection, and without having to pay any money, the GPO was dismissed from the suit in exchange for a contract with the plaintiff in which the plaintiff sells its products to the member-hospitals of the GPO; two co-defendants settled the claims against them for cash payments of $49 million and $8.75 million, respectively


• Defended a large medical device manufacturer in an antitrust case in which plaintiff claimed damages in excess of $1 billion relating to allegedly exclusive dealing contracts between it and Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) concerning the sale of needles and syringes; shortly before trial, the case settled on very favorable terms for his client; the other defendant manufacturer agreed to settle for $100 million


• Defended joint venture of three international manufacturers against federal antitrust claims; the court dismissed all of plaintiff's claims on the pleadings


• Represented a startup maker of personal computer microprocessors in antitrust, tortious interference, and patent litigation against Intel; during trial, his client obtained a multimillion dollar settlement


• Defended hotel and entertainment complex against federal and state antitrust claims asserted by a competing Galveston, Texas, hotel owner; the court dismissed all of plaintiff's claims


• ERISA


• Defended telecommunications company and its pension plan against a putative class action ERISA case alleging that pension plan participants' benefits were improperly computed; plaintiffs sought damages for themselves and the putative class of several hundred million dollars; the district court denied class certification and granted his client's motion for summary judgment; the Fifth Circuit affirmed (272 F.3d 722)


• Defended telecommunication company's pension plan against ERISA claim for additional benefits which, if successful, would have required additional benefits to be paid to plaintiff and other similarly situated plan participants; the district court granted the Plan summary judgment; the Fifth Circuit affirmed (2004 WL 1774794)


• Business Litigation


• Obtained, after trial in Delaware Chancery Court, a judgment for a major specialty chemical company that prevented Hexion Specialty Chemicals from terminating its $6.5 billion agreement to acquire his client (2008 WL 4409466); after trial, the case settled when Hexion and its majority owner paid his client $1 billion


• Defended international insurers in the trial of an $850 million insurance coverage claim arising from the Exxon Valdez oil spill (one of the largest coverage cases ever tried); also represented the insurers in related arbitration proceedings in New York; the case was settled after the jury trial and before the arbitration hearing commenced


• Defended a computer manufacturer in a class action suit in Beaumont, Texas, relating to allegations of a defective computer component; his client was dismissed from the suit; co-defendant Toshiba settled for more than $2 billion


• Represented a major engineering and construction company in a breach of contract and fraud suit against Westlake relating to the construction of a polyethylene plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana; obtained a multimillion dollar settlement for his client


• Defended a national bank against class action allegations concerning its processing of its customers' checks; plaintiffs non-suited their claims after the court granted his client special exceptions to all of plaintiffs' claims


• Represented a prominent London-market insurance broker in a substantial insurance coverage case arising from the destruction of a number of Anglo-Suisse's oil and gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of Hurricane Katrina. On the eve of trial, the trial court dismissed all claims against his client. The other defendants subsequently settled with Anglo-Suisse

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Organization Membership

• Vice Chair: ABA Antitrust Section's Business Torts and Civil RICO Committee, 2011 - 2014
• Member: Editorial Board of the American Bar Association's Antitrust Section, 2010
• Member: American Bar Association, Antitrust Section
• Member: Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas, 2010
• Member: Houston Bar Association, Antitrust Section Council
• Member: Houston Young Lawyers Association

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Peer Recognition

Mr. Blefeld was selected as a member of the "BTI Client Service All-Star Team" (2009). He was named a "Rising Star" (2004, 2006, 2007) in antitrust litigation by Thomson Reuters, and H Texas magazine identified him as one of Houston's "Lawyers on the Fast Track" (2004).

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Speeches / Publications

• "Developing a Plan for Electronic Information and E-Discovery Issues," Litigation Readiness for In-House Counsel 2011, Thomson Reuters, April 2011
• "Negligence Causes of Action," Texas College for Judicial Studies, April 23, 2009
• "Business Litigation: Theories, Claims, and Causes of Action," Texas College for Judicial Studies, April 17, 2008
• "Unbundling the Bundle, Bundled Discounts and Rebates: The Fall-Out From Le Page's v. 3M; Practical Guidance for Minimizing Antitrust Risk," Continuing Legal Education, June 2007
• "State Action Immunity From the Antitrust Laws," American Bar Association, December 2005
• "Litigation - Civil Discovery Under the New Rules & Requests for Production of Documents and Tangible Things," University of Houston Law Center, Continuing Legal Education, May 1999

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