OVERVIEW
Megan Jones (@MeganJonesEsq), Co-Chair of the firm's Antitrust practice group, is a California Bay Area-based lawyer who focuses on recovering damages for companies who are victims of antitrust cartels for price-fixing, tying, restraints of trade, and other competition violations. With 19 years of experience in antitrust class actions, Megan is trusted by courts to lead large and complex antitrust cases:
- In re Local TV Advertising Litigation (Sole Lead counsel)
- In re Diisocyanates Antitrust Litigation (Co-Lead counsel)
- In re Beef Antitrust Litigation (Co-Lead Counsel)
- In re Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation (Plaintiff Steering Committee)
- In re Marriott International Customer Data Security Breach Litigation (Plaintiff Steering Committee)
Megan is known for her creativity on settlement issues.[1] For example, in In re Municipal Derivatives Antitrust Litigation (S.D.N.Y.), Ms. Jones was co-lead counsel and recovered over $220 million dollars for a class of cities and municipalities. Notably, Ms. Jones co-negotiated several of the settlements obtained in that class with Select State Attorneys General, who trusted class counsel to administer notice and the claims process for the joint proceeds. The American Antitrust Institute recognized this unusual public/private partnership, and awarded Megan (and her team) the “Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement in Private Law Practice” in 2016. Other settlements Ms. Jones negotiated include:
- In re Municipal Derivatives Antitrust Litigation – Resulted in over $200 million on behalf of the class.
- In re Polyester Staple Antitrust Litigation – Resulted in $63.5 million on behalf of class.
- In re Compact Disc Antitrust Litigation – Resulted in over $50 million on behalf of class.
- In re Rubber Chemicals Antitrust Litigation – Resulted in over $100 million on behalf of class.
- In re MMA Antitrust Litigation – Resulted in over $20 million on behalf of class.
- In re EPDM Antitrust Litigation – Resulted in $81 million on behalf of class.
- Megan was also involved in the negotiation of a $300 million global settlement with Bayer (which resolved three cases: EPDM, Rubber Chemicals and NBR), and drafted the innovative settlement agreement itself.
As one of the few women in the plaintiffs’ bar inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame for continued excellence in litigation, Ms. Jones has a national reputation for excellence that has been obtained the old-fashioned way, by trying to be the best team member in the trenches. See “Female Powerbrokers Q&A: Hausfeld's Megan Jones,” April 30, 2014; see also Chambers and Partners’ description of Ms. Jones as “personable, very smart and capable.” She is known for creating effective multi-firm teams that focus with laser-like precision on the specific litigation strategy designed with input from diverse sources. She is also known for her relentless pursuit of the facts, and is well-regarded for her electronic discovery prowess (speaking and training others on best practices via the prestigious Sedona Conference®).
Whether leading enormous cases with 20+ defendants or small regional matters, Ms. Jones masters the intricacies of economic markets and works with experts to develop economic models for her clients’ recovery, which support class certification motions, settlement negotiations, and discovery efforts. Megan prides herself on the ability to create and lead teams of lawyers of any size (having organized teams of 80 law firms, in one particular case) to create a record that either wins the case, drives settlement, and /or obtains a decision upheld at the appellate level. Part of Megan’s success is due to her belief in using diverse and inclusive litigation teams, which she has helped foster over a decade by creating and running a conference for women antitrust lawyers to exchange best practices.
Megan is both reasonable and relentless. She carefully chooses her legal battles, and eschews gamesmanship for the sake of gamesmanship. Mindful of scarce judicial resources in complex antitrust cases that can last years, she develops a strategy at the outset about what particular legal issues need judicial attention and clears the board of the rest. She is highly respected from all contingents because she brings that same strategy to settlements, using her almost two decades of negotiation experience from being at Hausfeld to craft settlement strategy and terms in even the most difficult cases. Just one example of this creativity is that in one of her cases, Megan worked with and joined Select State Attorneys General to co-negotiate and jointly settle a class claim on behalf of certain states as well as the civil litigation class.
[1] https://podcast.ourcuriousamalgam.com/episode/48-how-do-you-get-to-the-final-yes/ (ABA’s Antitrust Section podcast, featuring Megan Jones, May 2020).
Clients
Companies that buy things to make things have typically bought cartelized products, and Megan helps them recover damages for such purchases. Able to analyze a corporation’s purchases around the world, Megan can then offer a panoply of options for recovery in multiple jurisdictions. She emphasizes the non- litigation options a corporation has when appropriate, and she is as adept at settling a case in a conference room as she is in a courtroom.
EDUCATION
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, J.D., 1999
North Carolina State University, magna cum laude, B.A., 1995
BAR ADMISSIONS
California
District of Columbia
North Carolina
AFFILIATIONS
American Antitrust Institute, Board of Directors
American Bar Association - Antitrust Section, Appointed Council Member (2021-22)
American Bar Assocation - Antitrust Section's Communications and Digital Technology Industries Committee, Vice Chair
American Bar Association - Antitrust Section's Global Private Litigation Committee Invited Member of the Leadership Team (2019-Present)
American Bar Assocation - Antitrust Section's Global Private Litigation Committee, Vice Chair
American Bar Association - Antitrust Section's Media and Technology Committee, Vice Chair
Forum on Antitrust Litigation, Chairwoman
HiPower Alumni Network, Ring 7
Incubator for Women Leaders, The Club, Silicon Valley
The Sedona Conference®, Member
Women Antitrust Plaintiffs’ Attorney Network Group, Founder
WHAT OTHERS SAY
American Antitrust Institute
- Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement in Private Law Practice, an honor she received as one of the leaders of the In re Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation case team in 2021
Benchmark Litigation
- California Litigation Star, Antitrust/Competition since 2021
- Local Litigation Star, Antitrust/Competition since 2021
- Litigation Star, Antitrust/Competition, 2023
"Megan Jones in the San Francisco office has been identified by several peers as 'a leader at Hausfeld now.'" (Benchmark Litigation, Dispute Resolution, 2021)
Best Lawyers
- Lawyer of the Year in 2025
- Best Lawyer since 2023
- Antitrust Law
Chambers
- Band 1, Antitrust: Plaintiff - Nationwide since 2021
- Band 1, Antitrust: Mainly Plaintiff - California since 2021
- Band 2, Antitrust: Plaintiff - Nationwide in 2020
- Band 2, Antitrust: Mainly Plaintiff - California in 2019 and 2020
A source reported that, "Megan excels in any project or task she takes on." (Chambers Antitrust: Mainly Plaintiff – California, 2021)
Megan Jones deftly represents plaintiffs in significant anticompetitive disputes. She has expertise in cases concerning price fixing and trade restraints." The publication also noted that "Megan Jones is commended for her expertise in representing corporate plaintiffs in cartel recovery actions. She is further noted for her work leading large class action cases. Sources state that 'Megan is a very good, diligent lawyer who considers the big picture.'" (Chambers Antitrust: Mainly Plaintiff – California, 2020)
Megan is "personable, very smart and really capable," and "well respected at the California Bar for her plaintiff-side antitrust practice." (Chambers Antitrust: Mainly Plaintiff – California, 2019)
Global Competition Review
- 'Women in Antitrust' list in 2021
- Litigation of the Year - Cartel Prosecution in 2021: an honor she received as part of the In re Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation case team.
Law360
- Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar in 2021
- Female Powerbroker in her field in 2014
- Rising Star, Competition Law in 2012
Lawdragon
- 500 Leading Lawyers in America since 2019
- 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers since 2019
Legal 500
- Hall of Fame since 2020 – described by the Legal 500 as "including individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence."
- Leading Lawyer – Civil Litigation/Class Action: Plaintiff since 2012
- Leading Lawyer – Plaintiffs' Representation for Antitrust since 2012
"Megan Jones is a superstar – creative, thoughtful, dynamic." (Legal 500 US, Antitrust - Civil Litigation/Class Actions, 2024)
"In San Francisco, Megan Jones stands out for her expertise in antitrust cartels, regularly procuring settlements for clients." (Legal 500 US, Antitrust - Civil Litigation/Class Actions, 2021)
Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal)
- Thought Leader, USA: Competition, since 2023
- Global Elite Thought Leader, Competition: Plaintiff since 2018
- Recommended, Competition: Plaintiff since 2016
- International Who's Who of Competition Lawyers & Economists by the Global Competition Review and Who's Who Legal in 2014
"Megan is a smart and aggressive plaintiffs' counsel who has led many cases and obtained excellent results." (Who's Who Legal, Competition - Plaintiff 2023)
"The 'incredibly talented' Megan Jones is singled out by peers as 'a true leader' and is widely endorsed as 'one of the very best plaintiff counsel'." (Who’s Who Legal, Competition - Plaintiff - Legal Marketplace Analysis, 2022)
"The 'fantastic' Megan Jones is a distinguished figure in the North American competition market. Sources describe her as a 'future leader' of the field who 'is blazing a trail for younger women in the profession,' and is highly respected from all contingents." (Who’s Who Legal, Competition - Plaintiff - Legal Marketplace Analysis, 2020)
A "trailblazer" who is "highly respected from all contingents" with "extraordinary depth of expertise in cartel-related matters." (Who’s Who Legal, Competition - Plaintiff - Legal Marketplace Analysis, 2018)
National Law Journal
- Firm named an Elite Trial Lawyer Awards winner in the Antitrust category, an honor received as a result of the successful outcome of In re Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation, in which Megan was a case team leader.
Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyer, Antitrust Litigation in San Francisco since 2017
- Super Lawyer, Antitrust Litigation in Washington, DC since 2012
Other
- Named to the '40 in Their 40s' list of notable women competition professionals by W@ in 2019
- Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement in Private Law Practice: an honor she received by the American Antitrust Institute in 2016
- Nominated Changemaker, White House's United State of Women Summit, 2016
- Selected to speak at the American Bar Association's 8th National E-Discovery Institute in 2014, where nationally- acclaimed e-discovery professionals convened for a full day to analyze and discuss the latest developments and best strategies for managing the e-discovery process.
- 100 Successful Women in Antitrust by the Global Competition Review in 2013
- Named one of just fourteen female 'Equity Champions' by Burford Capital since 2018 – Burford Capital is a leading global finance and investment management firm focused on law, which launched The Equity Project in 2018. This is a groundbreaking initiative designed to help close the gender gap in law by providing an economic incentive for change through a $50 million pool of capital earmarked for financing commercial litigation and arbitration matters led by women.
- Deemed one of the "nation's best lawyers in an MDL" and a "professional problem solver," Transcript of August 30, 2018 Hearing at 23, In re Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litig., No. 2:13-cv-20000 (N.D. Ala.).
PUBLICATIONS
Megan's other publications include:
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- "GETTING TO YES: Antitrust Class Settlements from a Plaintiffs' Point of View", presented at ABA Antitrust Section's 14th International Cartel Workshop (June 2022), Co-Authored with Farhad Mirzadeh and Jane Shin
- "How Case Management Orders Can Support New Attorneys," Law360 (Feb. 2021), Co-Author
- "A Litigator's Approach to Pricing Algorithms Cases: What Will We Need to Know?" ABA Global Private Litigation Bulletin, Issue 13 (March 2019), Author
- "Litigator 101," an ABA series regarding best practices in drafting discovery, Author
- "All I Really Need to Know About Antitrust Settlements, I Learned in Kindergarten," ABA Criminal & Cartel Practice Committee Newsletter (March 2011), Author
- "E-Discovery Today: The Fault Lies Not In Our Rules..." The Federal Courts Law Review (FCLR), Vol. 4, Issue 2 (2011), Author
- "E-Discovery Today: The Fault Lies Not In Our Rules..." Duke White Paper (2010), Contributor
- "Giving Electronic Discovery a Chance to Grow Up," The National Law Journal, (Dec. 15, 2009), Author
- “Observations from the Field: ACPERA’s First Five Years,” The Sedona Conference Journal (Fall 2009), Author
- "Antitrust Law Developments," 7th Edition, Chapter on Non-Price Vertical Restraint, published by the American Bar Association (2008), Co-Author
- "Navigating the Vendor Proposal Process: Best Practices for the Selection of Electronic Discovery Vendors," published by The Sedona Conference® (June 2007), Author
- "The Sedona Conference Glossary: E-Discovery and Digital Information Management," (2nd edition) (Dec. 2007), Co-Author
Press:
-
- "Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar: Hausfeld LLP's Megan Jones," Law360 (2021)
- "100 Women In Antitrust," Global Competition Review (2016)
- "Female Powerbroker" in her field, Law360 (2014)
- "A panel of experts discuss e-discovery horror stories, vetting vendors and expectations for service providers in terms of competency and ethics," Law Technology News (Quoted - May 19, 2014)
- "Q&A: Megan Jones on corporations as plaintiffs," Global Competition Review (March 2014)
- Megan joined Judge Francis and Robert Trenchard (Wilmer Hale) in a podcast about the "Latest Trends in Cost-Shifting in Electronic Discovery" (Sept. 2010)
NEWS
EVENTS
- "Winning Antitrust Suits with Effective Depositions," ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting (March 29, 2023), Panelist
- "Going Viral: Burning Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Issues," ABA Antitrust Healthcare Virtual Conference (Feb. 10, 2021), Panelist
- "Antitrust and Class Actions: What Does the Future Hold?" IBA Annual Meeting (Nov. 9, 2020), Panelist
- "Consumers and Class Actions," University of Michigan School of Law (Oct. 26, 2020), Guest Lecturer
- "Ethics for Special Masters: What Are the Problems and What Are the Rules?" ACAM 2020 Virtual Meeting, (Oct. 23, 2020), Panelist
- "The Rise of Women to Leadership in Class Actions," (Sept. 1, 2020), Webinar Host
- "Gimme a Break: Are ACPERA Benefits Obtainable?" American Bar Association Virtual Panel (June 10, 2020), Panelist
- "Chair at the Table: Diversity in Litigation," ABA Antitrust Law Section Virtual Spring Meeting (April 27, 2020), Panelist
- The Sedona Conference 2020 eDiscovery Negotiation Training (eDNT) program, (Feb. 2020), Faculty
- "How Do You Get to The Final Yes? The Art and Science of Settling Antitrust Class Actions," ABA Section of Antitrust Law’s weekly podcast, Our Curious Amalgam (Jan. 31, 2020), Guest Speaker
- "MDL Settlements: Common Pitfalls and Helpful Practices," JPML Judges' Conference (Oct. 29, 2019), Speaker
- "ESI Tips and Tricks: What Tools Should be in Your Toolbox," Mass Torts Made Perfect Seminar (Oct. 22, 2019), Speaker
- "Return of the Octopus? Has Big Tech Gotten Too Big?" Association of Business Trial Lawyers Panel (Sept. 17, 2019), Speaker
- "Practical Cooperative Strategies," The Sedona Conference Institute's 2017 eDiscovery Negotiation Training (Feb. 8, 2017), Speaker
- "Women in Antitrust Litigation Panel," American Bar Association (March 9, 2015), Speaker
- 8th Annual National Institute on E-Discovery (May 16, 2014), Speaker
- "Successfully Navigating Hazardous Waters: The Second Annual Conference on Transatlantic Deals and Disputes," American Bar Association and German Bar Association (June 2011), Speaker
- "Class Action Symposium," Georgetown Law Center (April 11, 2011), Speaker
- "The Life of an International Cartel: A Six-Part Practical Series, Part III: Follow-On Civil Price Fixing," American Bar Association teleconference, (Feb. 4, 2011), Speaker
- "Antitrust Masters Course V," American Bar Association (Sept. 30, 2010), Speaker
- "E-Discovery in Antitrust Lawsuits and FTC/DOJ Investigations: Managing and Producing Electronic Information Under the Amended Federal Rules," (March 2009), CLE Speaker
Experience
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Legal 500 US, 2024Megan Jones is a superstar – creative, thoughtful, dynamic.
Chambers US, 2024Megan runs these cases like no one else. She knows top to bottom and leads by example. She digs in on depositions and brief writing, oral argument and settlements.
Chambers US, 2023Megan is a really fine antitrust lawyer. She pushes her client's cause really strongly.
Chambers US, 2022Megan Jones deftly represents plaintiffs in significant anticompetitive disputes. She has expertise in cases concerning price fixing and trade restraints. A source stated that 'Megan is a smart and capable jurist who represents her clients with an unrivalled level of sophistication.’
Legal 500 US, 2022Fierce advocate and stand-out partner
Legal 500 US, 2021Stands out for her expertise in antitrust cartels, regularly procuring settlements for clients.
Chambers US, 2020Deftly represents plaintiffs in significant anticompetitive disputes. She has expertise in cases concerning price fixing and trade restraints.
Chambers US, 2020Commended for her expertise in representing corporate plaintiffs in cartel recovery actions. She is further noted for her work leading large class action cases. Sources state that 'Megan is a very good, diligent lawyer who considers the big picture.'
Benchmark Litigation, 2020Identified by several peers as 'a leader at Hausfeld now.'
Chambers US, 2019Well respected at the California Bar for her plaintiff-side antitrust practice.
Who's Who Legal, 2019The 'fantastic' Megan Jones is a distinguished figure in the North American competition market. Sources describe her as a 'future leader' of the field who 'is blazing a trail for younger women in the profession,' and is highly respected from all contingents.
Chambers US, 2018Personable, very smart and really capable.