Hermes, the revered French luxury house renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship, has engaged a formidable team of seasoned antitrust lawyers to combat a lawsuit alleging restrictive sales practices concerning its coveted Birkin handbags.
Led by attorneys from the esteemed global law firm Latham & Watkins, Hermes’ defense is spearheaded by Christopher Yates, a former co-leader of the firm’s antitrust and competition practice, and Belinda Lee, who serves as vice-chair of the practice.
The class-action lawsuit, filed in March, contends that Hermes imposes stringent requirements on customers, mandating substantial prior purchases before permitting access to its iconic Birkin bags. Allegations suggest that Hermes contravened antitrust laws by allegedly “tying” Birkin sales to the purchase of other luxury items like shoes, scarves, and jewelry. Plaintiffs must substantiate that Hermes’ marketing strategy with ancillary products contributes to the perpetuation of monopoly power.
At present, Hermes has refrained from commenting on the matter, and its legal counsel at Latham & Watkins has likewise opted not to provide a statement. Representatives for the plaintiffs, two California residents, have yet to respond to requests for comment.
With a global roster exceeding 3,200 legal professionals, Latham & Watkins boasts expertise across various legal domains, prominently in antitrust litigation alongside mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and white-collar defense.
Among the notable cases involving the legal team representing Hermes, Yates and Lee are embroiled in defending Walmart against allegations of colluding with Energizer to manipulate battery prices in California. Both companies have vehemently denied any misconduct.
Furthermore, Ashley Bauer, alongside Yates and Lee, represents StarKist and its parent company, Dongwon Industries, in an ongoing federal lawsuit alleging a price-fixing conspiracy within the canned tuna industry.
In a separate legal battle, Lee and Bauer notably defended Apple against a consumer antitrust lawsuit concerning cryptocurrency technology, resulting in the recent dismissal of the case.
Yates, meanwhile, assumes a role in the defense of U.S. Soccer in a high-profile Manhattan federal court case, contesting allegations of unlawful conspiracy to impede foreign clubs from hosting official matches in the United States.
Hermes is expected to present its response to the consumer lawsuit before U.S. District Judge James Donato by May 10, marking a critical juncture in the legal proceedings.
