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Roxane A. Polidora, Partner

Roxane A. Polidora

Partner
San Francisco

Partner, San Francisco

T: +1.415.983.1976
T: +1.415.983.1976

Areas of Focus

Roxane Polidora is described by clients as ‘a rock star’ and ‘a tremendous litigator who provides outstanding legal advice and possesses a keen legal mind.’
—Chambers USA

Roxane Polidora is the firmwide leader of Pillsbury’s Antitrust & Competition practice and the managing partner of the San Francisco office.

Roxane represents clients in significant antitrust, unfair competition and commercial litigation in California federal and state courts and federal courts across the country. Described by clients as their “go-to antitrust attorney,” she has extensive experience handling antitrust and unfair competition class action lawsuits, including complex multidistrict litigation, as well as district attorney and state attorney general investigations and litigation. A strategic thinker who is able to see through complications and get great results, Roxane has tried cases before juries, judges and administrative tribunals and practices in a wide variety of industries, including electronics, technology, telecommunications, energy, retail and hospitality.

Representative Experience

  • Represent KEMET Corp. and TOKIN Corp., leading American manufacturers of capacitors, in antitrust class actions in federal court, Northern District of California, alleging defendant manufacturers of capacitors conspired to fix prices.
  • Represent KEMET Corp. and TOKIN Corp. in federal court, Northern District of California, in antitrust class actions alleging manufacturers of inductors conspired to fix prices of inductors.
  • Represent StarKist Inc. in federal court, Northern District of California, in unfair competition consumer class action, alleging misleading advertising and violations of consumer protection statutes and laws.

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  • Represent Hotel Tonight, acquired by Airbnb, in federal court, Northern District of California, in an unfair competition consumer class action; and in California state court in an unfair competition consumer class action; both cases allege deceptive comparison pricing and violations of consumer protection statutes and laws.
  • Represent 24 Hour Fitness in several unfair competition consumer class actions filed in California state courts alleging misleading advertising and violations of various consumer protection statutes and laws.
  • Represented Home Depot in multidefendant antitrust litigation in federal court, Northern District of California, alleging an unlawful boycott under the Sherman Act, California’s Cartwright Act and California’s Unfair Competition Law. Successfully negotiated dismissal of alleged violations of Section 2 of the Sherman Act, monopolization, prior to suit being filed.
  • Represented Dynegy in federal court multidefendant antitrust class action litigation, alleging monopolization and conspiracy among commercial gas marketers and pipelines; obtained dismissal of horizontal conspiracy claims and defeated class certification.
  • Represented AT&T in consumer class action litigation in federal court, Northern District of California, alleging RICO and unfair competition claims relating to telecommunication services. Achieved favorable nationwide settlement.
  • Represented First Health Services in unfair competition class actions in federal court, Central District of California, alleging pharmacy benefit managers violated the complex statutory and regulatory scheme governing the industry. Successfully moved to deny class certification.
  • Represented Green Valley Country Club in a purported class action arbitration against the Club for breach of contract, unfair competition, and violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and California’s Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Successfully defeated claimants’ class claims in a precedent setting decision in which the JAMS arbitration panel held that the parties’ arbitration agreement, which was silent as to class arbitration, precluded claimants from arbitrating on a classwide basis. Prevailed at trial against individual claimants and club was awarded all costs.
  • Represented a leading Japanese electronics manufacturer in antitrust class actions in federal court, Northern District of California, alleging conspiracy to fix prices. Obtained early dismissal based on lack of proof.
  • Successfully protected the trademark rights of Ralphs Grocery in statewide strategic trademark enforcement involving numerous pre-litigation and litigation matters based on Lanham Act and California Unfair Competition claims.
  • Represented Mitsubishi defending class actions alleging the manufacturers conspired to fix prices of plastic additives in violation of California state antitrust laws and the Sherman Act. Obtained favorable nominal settlement.
  • Defended Kerzner International Resorts in a putative nationwide class action alleging unlawful automatic, mandatory gratuities and energy service surcharges in violation of the Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Action (Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201 et seq., FDUTPA), unjust enrichment and breach of contract.
  • Represented Jo Tankers and served as lead counsel for the other companies, in state court antitrust class action litigation alleging price-fixing conspiracy for services. Obtained dismissal of the antitrust claims.
  • Represented BASF and subsidiary Knoll Pharmaceutical Co. in federal multidistrict and state court antitrust class action litigation alleging monopolization and conspiracy to monopolize under federal and state antitrust laws and seeking over $8 billion in damages by consumers, insurers and state attorneys general. After extensive litigation, obtained favorable nationwide settlement.
  • Represented Chevron in a federal multidefendant antitrust action brought by retail gasoline dealers alleging conspiracy in restraint of trade and conspiracy to monopolize in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. Obtained a jury verdict in defendants’ favor on the Section 1 claim, jury hung 7-1 in defendants’ favor on the Section 2 claims. Settled for nominal amount thereafter.
  • Represented paper manufacturer Kimberly Clark in San Francisco Superior Court in action alleging price-fixing conspiracy among paper manufacturers. Successfully settled after oral argument on plaintiffs’ motion for class certification.
  • Defended dozens of clients in unfair competition class actions and investigations throughout California for over 20 years, including AT&T, Ralphs, 24 Hour Fitness, The Sunglass Hut, Hilton, Hyatt and Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel.
  • Represented cosmetic manufacturer in investigation by California Attorney General’s Office regarding alleged resale price maintenance in violation of Cartwright Act; obtained favorable settlement.
  • Provide antitrust and unfair competition advice and counseling to electronic manufacturers, energy companies, retailers, technology companies, educational institutions, college athletic conferences and other clients.
  • Provide advice and counseling to retailers, technology companies, educational companies and other clients regarding compliance with California privacy laws.

Professional Highlights

  • Chambers USA, Antitrust—California (2010 – 2022).
  • Recognized by Lawdragon as one of 500 Leading Litigators in America (2023).
  • Recognized by Super Lawyers—Northern California (2024).
  • Recognized by The Daily Journal as a Top Antitrust Lawyer (2020).

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  • Past chair of the State Bar of California’s Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section, a former Executive Committee member and current advisor to the Section.
  • Regularly speaks and publishes on antitrust and unfair competition issues and trends, with a particular focus on class action litigation.
  • Honors & Awards
    • Selected as one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America (2022).
    • UC Hastings Law Magazine, selected as a Gamechanger in a special edition honoring prominent alumni who have made extraordinary contributions to their fields (2019).
    • San Francisco Business Times, Forever Influential Honor Roll of Women in Bay Area Business (2020), Most Influential Women in Business (2017 – 2018).
    • Chambers USA, Antitrust—California (2010 – 2022).
    • Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC), Antitrust Law (2013 – 2024); Litigation – Antitrust (2019 – 2024).
    • The Legal 500 U.S., Antitrust (2009 – 2014), Antitrust—Cartel (2015 – 2020), Antitrust—Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense (2015 – 2020).
    • Global Competition Review, United States, California (2012 – 2016).
  • Associations
    • Advance SF (Board member)
    • SF Partnership (Board member)
    • State Bar of California, Antitrust and Unfair Competition Section (Past Chair, 2000 – 2001, Executive Committee Member, 1999 – 2002, Advisor, 2002 – present, Subcommittee on Antitrust and Unfair Competition Model Jury Instructions, 2001 – 2002, Editor, Competition Law Journal, 1999); Litigation Section (Member)
    • American Bar Association (Litigation and Antitrust Sections)
    • District of Columbia Bar Association (Litigation and Antitrust Sections)
    • Bar Association of San Francisco: Work/Life Balance Strategic Task Force, 2006
    • National Institute for Trial Advocacy (Trial Instructor, Boalt Hall Law School, 1998 – 1999, Deposition Instructor, Golden Gate University, 1998 – 1999, Georgetown University Law School, 2000 and 2003)
    • Edward J. McFetridge American Inn of Court, San Francisco (Associate, 1995 – 1998, Barrister, 2004 – present)
    • Kentfield Schools Foundation (Board Member, 2010 – 2013)
    • The Legal Aid Society, San Francisco (Board member, 2010 – 2017, Executive Committee Member, 2012 – 2013, Chair, LAS-ELC Sustainability Project, 2013)
  • Presentations
    • “Restrictive Practices in Retailing and Distribution: Vertical Price and Non-Price Restraints,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, Los Angeles, California, April 30, 2014.
    • “Advanced Principles: UCL Standing and Class Certification,” 20th Annual Golden State Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Institute, San Francisco, California, October 21, 2010.
    • “Recent Developments in the UCL,” The 6th Annual Unfair Competition Law Program, presented by The Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section of the State Bar of California, San Francisco, California, May 14, 2008.
    • “California Dreamin’: Price Regulation in the Golden State,” The American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law and the ABA Center for Continuing Legal Education, Teleseminar and Live Audio Webcast, December 6, 2006.
    • “UCL Class Actions after Proposition 64 – Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Plead Me, After Prop 64?,” California’s Unfair Competition Law after Proposition 64, presented by The Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section of the State Bar of California, San Diego, California, May 13, 2005.
    • “A Glimpse inside the Juvenile Justice System,” Edward J. McFetridge American Inn of Court, San Francisco, California, February 16, 2005.
    • “The Changing Face of Antitrust,” Pillsbury CLE Marathon, San Francisco, California, January 25, 2005.
    • “A Practical Guide to the Price Discrimination Laws: The Robinson Patman Act and California Unfair Practice Act,” 12th Annual Golden State Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Institute, presented by The Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section of the State Bar of California, Century City, Los Angeles, California, October 21, 2004.
    • “California’s Antitrust and Unfair Competition Laws,” Annual Convention of the State Bar of California, Monterey, California, October 9, 2004.
    • “California’s Antitrust and Unfair Competition Laws,” Annual Convention of the State Bar of California, Monterey, California, October 13, 2002.
    • “Winning the Reputation War in High-Profile Litigation: What’s the Story? Developing and Shaping an Effective Message Strategy,” Fulcrum Conference by Bork & Associates, Washington, DC, June 7, 2001.
    • “California’s Antitrust and Unfair Competition Laws,” Annual Convention of the State Bar of California, San Diego, California, September 16, 2000.
    • “California’s Unfair Competition Law and High-Tech Industry,” Antitrust and the High Tech Industry, Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, San Diego, California, November 4, 1999.
    • “Vertical Non-Price Restraints,” 7th Annual Golden State Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Institute, presented by The Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section of the State Bar of California, San Francisco, California, October 17, 1999.
    • “California’s Antitrust and Unfair Competition Laws,” Annual Convention of the State Bar of California, Long Beach, California, September 15, 1999.

Education

  • J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1988
    First Place, Moot Court Competition

    B.A., University of California, Davis, 1984
    magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

  • California

    District of Columbia

Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court

    U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

    U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

    District of Columbia Court of Appeals

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