Steven M. Perry

Steven M. Perry

Retired Partner

Steve Perry retired from Munger, Tolles, & Olson’s litigation department in April 2024.

He represented clients in a wide array of industries in complex commercial, antitrust, tort and intellectual property matters. He tried numerous cases to verdict in various federal and state courts and at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Mr. Perry also had an extensive appellate practice. He argued appeals in a wide range of cases, including cases in the 9th Circuit, Federal Circuit, Montana and California courts of appeal. Between 1997 and 2024, he argued and won seven consecutive appeals in the Ninth Circuit.

Publications

  • “Home Run or Strikeout? The unsettled relationship between the Sports Broadcasting Act and Cable Programming,” Competition – the Journal of the Antitrust, UCL and Privacy Section of the State Bar of California, Fall 2016
  • “A Tale of Two Statutes: Cipro, Edwards, and the Rule of Reason,” Competition – the Journal of the Antitrust Law Section of the State Bar of California, Fall 2015

Experience

Exemplary Representations

  • Rambus, as co-lead counsel, in a three-month bench trial of antitrust claims brought by the FTC. The FTC’s chief administrative law judge ruled for Rambus and dismissed the FTC’s complaint.
  • Abbott Laboratories, as lead counsel, in a jury trial of breach of contract claims asserted by a terminated distributor of medical equipment. The trial court entered a directed verdict in Abbott’s favor.
  • The Vons Companies, as co-lead counsel, in a three-month trial of price fixing claims brought by a class of consumers. The jury rendered a verdict in Vons’ favor.
  • Rambus, as co-lead counsel, in a proceeding initiated by the European Commission. After a lengthy hearing before the College of Commissioners, the matter settled.
  • Abbott Laboratories, as co-counsel, in a two-month jury trial of monopolization claims. The jury rendered a verdict in Abbott’s favor.
  • Rambus, in a four-month jury trial of antitrust claims involving market exclusion. The jury rendered a verdict for the defendants and the matter settled on appeal.
  • Los Angeles Magazine, as lead counsel, in a bench trial and subsequent appeal of right of publicity claims asserted by actor Dustin Hoffman. The Ninth Circuit ordered the entry of judgment in the magazine’s favor.
  • ABC News, as lead counsel, in a jury trial arising out of the use of hidden camera footage in a national news broadcast. The jury’s verdict in ABC’s favor represented the first successful defense of hidden cameras in a case tried to a jury.

Education

  • Yale Law School (J.D., 1981)

  • University of North Carolina (B.A., 1978)

Experience

Exemplary Representations

  • Rambus, as co-lead counsel, in a three-month bench trial of antitrust claims brought by the FTC. The FTC’s chief administrative law judge ruled for Rambus and dismissed the FTC’s complaint.
  • Abbott Laboratories, as lead counsel, in a jury trial of breach of contract claims asserted by a terminated distributor of medical equipment. The trial court entered a directed verdict in Abbott’s favor.
  • The Vons Companies, as co-lead counsel, in a three-month trial of price fixing claims brought by a class of consumers. The jury rendered a verdict in Vons’ favor.
  • Rambus, as co-lead counsel, in a proceeding initiated by the European Commission. After a lengthy hearing before the College of Commissioners, the matter settled.
  • Abbott Laboratories, as co-counsel, in a two-month jury trial of monopolization claims. The jury rendered a verdict in Abbott’s favor.
  • Rambus, in a four-month jury trial of antitrust claims involving market exclusion. The jury rendered a verdict for the defendants and the matter settled on appeal.
  • Los Angeles Magazine, as lead counsel, in a bench trial and subsequent appeal of right of publicity claims asserted by actor Dustin Hoffman. The Ninth Circuit ordered the entry of judgment in the magazine’s favor.
  • ABC News, as lead counsel, in a jury trial arising out of the use of hidden camera footage in a national news broadcast. The jury’s verdict in ABC’s favor represented the first successful defense of hidden cameras in a case tried to a jury.

Education

  • Yale Law School (J.D., 1981)

  • University of North Carolina (B.A., 1978)