Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Year Joined Organization: 1987

Lawyer Overview

Bob Atkins has been a litigator at Paul, Weiss for 22 years and is the former chairman of the Public Matters Committee, which is responsible for the firm's pro bono and community service activities. He has trial experience in the state and federal courts as well as in several alternative dispute resolution forums including the International Chamber of Commerce and the American Arbitration Association.

Mr. Atkins handles litigations and government investigations in a wide range of matters and industries, including antitrust and product liability class actions in the medical products business, struggles for corporate control in the insurance and newspaper industries, charges of payola in the radio industry, false advertising lawsuits in the motor oil industry, trademark and copyright infringement in the movies and on TV, and real estate development disputes in New York City.

Mr. Atkins defends product liability and negligence suits involving allegations of unsafe pharmaceuticals, defective medical devices, the transmission of infectious diseases, and occupational exposure to asbestos. Significant representations include defending one of the country's largest medical device manufacturers in numerous product liability, antitrust and class action lawsuits in jurisdictions all over the country. Mr. Atkins also advises medical device and technology clients on intellectual property and contract disputes.

Mr. Atkins has litigated several high profile disputes over corporate control and management, including the current representation of AIG, the litigations between Hollinger and its former CEO Lord Conrad Black, and the thwarted hostile takeover of True North Communications. Mr. Atkins also managed the defense of several foreign banks in a 300 million derivatives litigation in New York federal court.

Mr. Atkins is a member of the Bar of the State of New York. He is admitted to practice before the U. S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern District of New York and the District of New Jersey, and the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Second, Third and Eleventh Circuits.

From 1983 to 1984, he served as Political Director for then Congressman Robert G. Torricelli and was the campaign manager of Congressman Torricelli's 1984 reelection.

Areas of Practice

• Intellectual Property
• Litigation
• Antitrust
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• International Arbitration
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Product Liability
• Securities Litigation

West Practice Categories

Intellectual Property Law, Litigation & Appeals, Antitrust Law, International Arbitration, Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures, Products Liability Law, Securities Law

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1988
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
• U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey

Honors and Awards

• American Jurisprudence Award, State and Local Government

Past Employment Positions

• Congressman Robert G. Torricelli, Political Director, 1983 - 1984

Education

• New York University School of Law, New York, New York, 1987
  J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
  Honors: magna cum laude
  Honors: Order of the Coif
• Columbia College, New York, New York, 1982
  B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  Honors: magna cum laude
  Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

Published Works

• Federal Appeals Court Tightens Standards For Class Certification in Antitrust Actions, February 2, 2009
• President Obama Announces Key Antitrust Nomination: What to Expect From the FTC and DOJ in the New Administration, January 22, 2009

Address

1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019-6064

Phones

(212) 373-3183

Faxes

(212) 492-0183

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.paulweiss.com