Global Competition Review names Cornerstone Research in the Team Category for the third year in a row, citing its economic work in FTC v. Qualcomm.
Washington, DC—Global Competition Review recognized Cornerstone Research for its economic support in the Federal Trade Commission’s monopolization case against Qualcomm.
FTC v. Qualcomm won GCR’s 2021 award for Behavioural Matter of the Year in the Americas. This is the third year in a row that Cornerstone Research’s work has been honored in the Team category. GCR noted that “the dispute is considered by many to be the most significant technology-focused antitrust case in the U.S. since Microsoft.”
The dispute is considered by many to be the most significant technology-focused antitrust case in the U.S. since Microsoft.
Counsel for Qualcomm retained Cornerstone Research to support the expert testimony of Aviv Nevo of the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Nevo addressed numerous issues, including shortcomings in the FTC’s “surcharge theory.”
The district court ruled in favor of the FTC. Qualcomm appealed the decision to the Ninth Circuit. In a decision issued on August 11, 2020, a three-judge panel unanimously reversed the ruling. The appellate court’s rulings on both the logical flaws in the FTC’s surcharge theory and the reasonableness of Qualcomm’s procompetitive justifications closely follow Professor Nevo’s testimony.
Michael Topper, Celeste Saravia, and Darwin Neher led the Cornerstone Research team.