Bachelor, John A.

Christopher Babbitt is a partner in the firm's Litigation/Controversy and Regulatory and Government Affairs Departments; he is also a member of the Government and Regulatory Litigation and Antitrust and Competition Practice Groups. He joined the firm in 2007.

Practice

Mr. Babbitt focuses his litigation practice on government and public policy litigation and strategy. His practice encompasses all phases of litigation before US district courts, the federal courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. He has significant civil litigation experience under the False Claims Act, the Sherman Act, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. In addition, Mr. Babbitt regularly advises corporations, universities, non-profit organizations, and individuals on compliance with the federal lobbying disclosure laws, the government ethics laws, and the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Recent Highlights

False Claims Act Litigation

Represented pharmaceutical company alleged to have made false marketing claims in violation of the False Claims Act. The district court dismissed the case and the Fourth Circuit affirmed, holding that the general release of claims the relator signed upon leaving the company barred the relator’s subsequent qui tam suit.

Represent student loan company in qui tam suit challenging industry-wide practice of recycling student loan proceeds to purchase additional loans entitled to fixed-rate special allowance payments (SAPs) from the Department of Education.

Represent government contractor in DOJ investigation related to work performed in Iraq.

Other Litigation

Represented international maritime shipping company in litigation regarding the availability of class arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act. The Supreme Court held that class arbitration may not be imposed on parties that have not consented to class proceedings, a victory for WilmerHale’s client.

Represented public international organization in litigation implicating the immunities provided by the Bretton Woods Agreements Act and the International Organizations Immunities Act. In a published decision, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia held that the client organization was absolutely immune from judicial process under the Acts.

Represented major foreign airline in litigation alleging price-fixing conspiracy on transatlantic and Europe-Japan routes. The cases were dismissed by the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Eastern District of New York.

Represented patent-holder in component of DVD technology in civil antitrust litigation challenging licensing practices of joint venture comprised of client and other DVD patent-holders. The Ninth Circuit held that the practices did not violate the Sherman Act.

Represented California inmate in litigation under Section 1983 and RICO following orchestrated attack during prison lockdown. Negotiated a $210,000 settlement with the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation on behalf of injured inmate.

Professional Activities

Mr. Babbitt served as a board member of the Bay Area Lawyers Chapter of the American Constitution Society and is a member of the American Bar Association.