Steven N. Williams

Steven N. Williams, a partner at the Joseph Saveri Law Firm, has more than 30 years of experience in litigation and trial and has been recognized as a leading figure in antitrust cases, recovering more than $2 billion for his clients.

He has been involved in several notable cases over the last two years. A highlight is the In Re Capacitors Antitrust Litigation, where the firm represented a class of direct purchasers of capacitors. In re Capacitors Antitrust Litigation 3:14-cv-03264 (N.D. Cal., filed July 18, 2014).

Filed nearly a decade ago, the case challenged a cartel that conspired to fix, raise and stabilize prices in the multibillion-dollar market for capacitors, a component used in electronic devices.

This case was significant for its substantial recovery exceeding single damages, totaling $604.55 million, and for setting precedents in U.S. antitrust law.

“At the time we went to trial, class action antitrust trials were a rare event and plaintiff victories even rarer,” Williams said. “I think that we changed the tone, and more and more antitrust class plaintiffs are now taking their cases to trial as well throughout the country.”

Williams said the matter presented a slew of challenges, from multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic to international discovery, which extended from San Francisco to Iceland to Israel to Japan.

“The scope of discovery was enormous, but the presentation at trial had to be pinpoint and it was,” he said. “It is a tribute to all of the members of the team who put the case together that we were able to present it effectively.

Another notable case is the In re Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing Antitrust Litigation, filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The firm plays a key role in the plaintiffs’ steering committee, representing clients against allegations of price-fixing in the generic drug market. This case is significant for its potential impact on the pricing of essential medications like albuterol sulfate tablets.

In May 2022, the court denied a dismissal bid to toss some state claims from end-payors while rejecting arguments that intervening authority should result in the claims being eliminated.

Beyond his litigation work, Williams is committed to pro bono activities and community service. He has expanded the firm’s pro bono program, receiving recognition for his efforts from various organizations. His involvement includes casework through the Justice & Diversity Center’s Federal Pro Bono Project and the American Bar Association’s Free Legal Services Program.