Teresa T. Bonder

• Representing a major financial institution in federal antitrust class and individual actions alleging that the payment card practices of the defendant card networks and financial institutions constitute an unreasonable restraint of trade and illegal monopolization, in what is likely the largest private antitrust suit ever brought.
• Successfully defended one of the world’s largest consumer credit information bureaus in multiple antitrust litigation matters, including class actions, brought by competitors, distributors and others.
• Representing a major airline in connection with antitrust claims brought by a proposed class of consumers.
• Represented one of the world’s largest floor covering manufacturers in connection with multiple antitrust matters, including governmental investigations and consumer class actions that include an ongoing, multi-district litigation related to polyurethane foam.
• Defending multiple listing services in connection with statewide antitrust claims on behalf of an alleged class of consumers and alleging a defendant class of Georgia real estate brokers and agents.
• Defended one of the world’s largest consumer credit information bureaus in a monopolization and antitrust conspiracy class action brought by reseller customers, achieving dismissal of the majority of claims on motion, and voluntary dismissal of the remaining claims after discovery.
• Defended a telecommunications local exchange carrier in connection with securities fraud and ERISA claims brought by a class of shareholders seeking billions of dollars in damages. After successfully moving to dismiss many of the claims, reached a favorable settlement for client.
• Represented the world’s leading provider of technology and marketing services to the travel and transportation industry in connection with a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into a multibillion-dollar outsourcing, asset acquisition and marketing transaction with a leading global technology services company; resolved DOJ’s antitrust concerns with only minor adjustments to some of the original agreements, having no material effect on the value of the deal to either party.
• Represented the second-largest movie and game rental company in its effort to acquire a competitor, successfully challenging a competing hostile takeover effort and allowing the client to complete acquisition.

Teresa Bonder is co-leader of Alston & Bird’s Antitrust Team and she is partner-in-charge of the San Francisco office. She focuses her practice on the areas of antitrust and other commercial litigation—including class actions—and antitrust counseling, with respect to mergers, acquisitions and other business ventures.

Teresa has represented clients in the financial services, dairy processing, real estate, consumer credit reporting, floor covering, travel, telecommunications and other industries in antitrust and other commercial litigation.

Teresa also regularly advises clients on anticipating and resolving potential antitrust liability with respect to all aspects of their sales and marketing activities. In addition, she has assisted many clients with investigations and challenges by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission in connection with proposed business combinations and other activities.

Teresa is listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and Georgia Super Lawyers magazine (since 2004) as one of Georgia’s leading antitrust lawyers.

Bar Admissions

• California
• Georgia

Education

• University of California, Berkeley (J.D., 1991)
• Amherst College (B.A., 1987)

Memberships