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American Bar Association

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Attorney By Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession

Who?

Stephen W. Armstrong
Partner
sarmstrong@mmwr.com

What?

Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Antitrust Litigation and Counseling; Intellectual Property Litigation.

When?

In Practice Area:
Since 1972

In the Legal Profession:
Since 1972

Where?

Employer:
Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, LLP
www.mmwr.com

Size/Sector:
160 Attorneys - business transactions and commercial litigation.

City/State:
Philadelphia, PA

Law School:
Georgetown University Law Center (1972)


Undergraduate School/Degree:
Brown University, AB in History (1965)

Why?

Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Antitrust issues stimulate your analytical skills, offer opportunities to learn how significant businesses in a wide variety of industries function, and satisfy a desire to contribute ideas and create solutions.

Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
Highly developed intellectual curiosity, litigation and advocacy skills, economic analysis

Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
Take an active role in the ABA Antitrust Section; go beyond the case book to read the entire case you are studying; develop an understanding of business issues by reading the Wall Street Journal, for example; work in the FTC, DOJ or other antitrust agency early in your career.

How?

Career Path to Current Position:
Messenger, Antitrust & Monopolies Subcommittee (Sen. Kefauver 1961); Associate and partner in law firms with active antitrust practice (1972-present); Regular contributions to ABA Antitrust Section projects (1972-present).

Influences and Mentors:
Ben Quigg and Miles Kirkpatrick, Ralph Brenner.

Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
ABA Antitrust Section, Antitrust Fundamentals Areeda & Hovenkamp, Antirust Law; Richard A. Posner, Antitrust Law: An Economic Perspective (1976); Antitrust Magazine.

Bar Affiliations and Activities:

American Bar Association Antitrust Section
Section Council Member 2002-2005.
Chair, Trade Associations Committee, 1999-2002.
Vice Chair, Trade Associations Committee, 1998-99.
Vice Chair, Spring Meeting Committee, 1997-98.
Chair, Monograph Committee, 1985-86.
Chair, Publications Committee, 1983-84.
Chair, Antitrust Law Journal, 1978-1982.
Editor, Antitrust Law Journal, 1975-1978.

Philadelphia Bar Association Business Section
Chair, Antitrust Law Committee 1986-1990.

American Arbitration Association
Commercial Panel Arbitrator 1991-present.

Recent Professional Publications:

Trade Associations: Threatening or Promoting Competition? Antitrust Law Developments, ANTITRUST REVIEW OF THE AMERICAS, Law Business Research Institute, 2000.
Communications and Associations Among Competitors: Price Fixing and Boycotts, ANTITRUST REVIEW OF THE AMERICAS, Law Business Research Institute, 1999.
Trade Associations: Recent Developments in Anti-Competitive Practices and Promoting Competition, THE UNITED STATES ANTITRUST REVIEW, Law Business Research Institute, 1998.

Recent Professional Presentations:

April 26, 2002. Introduction, European Competition Law and Trade Associations. Trade Associations Committee Program, ABA Antitrust Section Spring Meeting, Washington D.C.

January 30, 2002. Moderator, What Is The FTC Doing With Trade Associations? Investigations? Information Sources? Standards?, ABA Antitrust Section Trade Associations Committee Brown Bag (Call-In)Program, Washington D.C.

May 23, 2001. Moderator, Government Use of Trade Association Information and Activities. ABA Antitrust Section Trade Associations Committee Brown Bag (Call-In) Program.

March 29, 2001. Moderator, Does California Dental Relax the Scrutiny of Association Conduct Codes, or Will The FTC Tighten it?, Trade Associations Committee Program, ABA Antitrust Section Spring Meeting, Washington D.C.

August 9, 2000. Panel Speaker, Competitor Collaborations: Joint Ventures, Strategic Alliances and Trade Associations. General Session Program, ABA Annual Meeting, Atlanta.

April 7, 2000. Moderator, Keeping Antitrust Simple: "Momma's Rules" for Attending Association Meetings. Trade Associations and Corporate Counseling Joint Committee Program, ABA Spring Meeting, Washington D.C.

April 6, 2000. Organizer and Introduction, Can Industry Self-Regulation By Trade Associations Really Be Lawful?, General Session Program, ABA Antitrust Section Spring Meeting, Washington D.C.

June 25, 1999. Moderator, Symposium on California Dental v. Federal Trade Commission., Washington D.C.

Memorable Career Moment:

Directed verdict in first case (antitrust jury trial); Eleventh Circuit argument when a judge told opposing counsel he had never seen a case supporting a point he was arguing; nomination to Antitrust Section Council.

Intriguing Interests:

Prehistoric civilizations, gardens, rowing, squash (the game).