Leslie W. Kostyshak

Leslie regularly advises clients on high stakes litigation and investigations.

As a partner in Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP’s antitrust and consumer protection group, Leslie’s practice focuses on antitrust, privacy and cybersecurity, and consumer class actions at the trial level in state and federal courts throughout the country. Leslie also defends corporate and individual clients facing criminal and civil investigations by the Department of Justice and other agencies. She assists clients with internal investigations, search warrants, subpoenas and civil investigative demands. Leslie also works proactively with clients to establish and enhance their corporate compliance programs in order to limit regulatory and litigation risk.

Leslie represents clients across many industries, with particular experience with clients in the consumer products, financial services and energy sectors.

Leslie currently serves as Hiring Partner in Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Washington, DC office and as a member of the pro bono committee. Leslie focuses her pro bono practice on representation of criminal defendants and is currently representing a client in overturning a wrongful conviction in DC.

Prior to joining the firm, Leslie served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert E. Payne of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Relevant Experience

  • Represent companies in data breach putative class actions.
  • Defended consumer products company in several matters alleging false labeling and advertising.
  • Represented government contractor in matter involving alleged civil and criminal violations of the False Claims Act.
  • Advised major integrated oil companies on various antitrust and competition related issues.
  • Defended bank in antitrust action alleging conspiracy in restraint of trade.
  • Defended aerospace company in antitrust action challenging exclusive dealing agreement.
  • Defended company in dispute related to remediation of environmental contamination.
  • Defended major energy company in multistate investigations and litigation alleging fraud, unjust enrichment, and false claims.
  • Defended health-care products manufacturer in a multidistrict class action litigation involving allegations of price fixing.
  • Defended supplier of cement and concrete in two putative antitrust class actions alleging price-fixing, market allocation, and customer allocation. Court denied certification of both putative classes.
  • Represented leading Japanese manufacturer in Department of Justice criminal investigation of pricing practices and related conduct.
  • Represented Universal Music Group before the Federal Trade Commission in its $1.9 billion acquisition of the recorded music business of EMI Music. After a Second Request and an extensive investigation, the FTC voted 5-0 to close its investigation without requiring divestitures or other remedies.

Memberships

  • Vice Chair, ABA Antitrust Law Section, Trial Practice Committee, 2023-present
  • Vice Chair, ABA Antitrust Law Section, Cartel & Criminal Practice Committee, 2018-2021
  • Member, ABA Antitrust Law Section

Awards & Recognition

  • Named to “40 & Under Hot List” by Benchmark Litigation, 2020–2022

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