Chris Holding is a partner in Goodwin’s Antitrust and Competition practice, Litigation department, and is a member of the firm’s Life Sciences Disputes group. Chris has particular expertise in issues involving the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property. He has litigated cases in federal and state courts throughout the country and defended federal and state investigations.
Chris’s practice has been deeply immersed in the competition issues at the forefront of the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, he has represented clients on competition issues in industries ranging from health care devices to waste disposal to financial services. Chris regularly counsels clients on competition issues relating to pricing and distribution.
Chris’s practice includes litigating competition issues in patent cases, including damages and injunction issues. He also litigates licensing disputes in court and arbitration and advises clients on licensing deals.
Experience
Professional Activities
Chris is a member of the American and Boston Bar Associations. He currently serves as a trustee of the Social Law Library in Boston.
Professional Experience
From October 1998 through April 1999, Chris served as a special assistant district attorney in the Middlesex County (MA) District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted crimes and conducted numerous jury trials.
Credentials
Education
JD1994
Harvard Law School
(magna cum laude)
BA1988
Princeton University
(summa cum laude)
Clerkships
Connecticut Supreme Court, Honorable Ellen A. Peters
Admissions
Bars
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
Courts
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court of Connecticut
Recognition & Awards
Chris was shortlisted as an “Antitrust Practitioner of the Year” by LMG Life Sciences in 2023 and 2024. Chris has been consistently recognized in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, where clients have described him as "whip smart and highly capable” with “a deep knowledge of pharmaceutical antitrust work.” He was recognized as a national Litigation Star for his work in Competition/Antitrust by Benchmark Litigation 2024. Chris has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Litigation – Antitrust since 2023. Chris has also been recognized by The Legal 500 US and Global Competition Review’s GCR 100. His team was recognized by Law360 as Legal Lions in 2023 for their victory in the HIV antitrust litigation.
Publications
Chris’s recent publications and speaking engagements include:
- Contributor, “Guide to Biosimilars Litigation and Regulation in the U.S., 2023-2024 ed.,” published by Thomson Reuters, January 2024
- Contributor, “Guide to Biosimilars Litigation and Regulation in the U.S., 2022-2023 ed.,” published by Thomson Reuters, December 2022
- Co-Author, “First Circuit,” US Courts Annual Review — Third Edition, Global Competition Review, June 2022
- Contributor, “Guide to Biosimilars Litigation and Regulation in the U.S., 2020-2021 ed.,” published by Thomson Reuters, November 2021
- Co-Author, “First Circuit,” US Courts Annual Review — Second Edition, Global Competition Review, July 2021
- Co-Author, “First Circuit,” US Courts Annual Review, Global Competition Review, July 2020
- Speaker, “5G and SEPs on Appeal: Insights from the FTC-Qualcomm Oral Argument,” Goodwin Webinar, February 2020
- Contributor, “Guide to Biosimilars Litigation and Regulation in the U.S., 2019-2020 ed.,” published by Thomson Reuters, November 2019
- Speaker, “Jumpstart Bio Series: The Future of Drug Pricing,” October 2017
- Speaker, “17th Annual Conference on Emerging Issues in Healthcare Law,” ABA Health Law Section March 2016
- Co-Author, “FTC Amicus Brief Confirms Need for Independent Proof of Causation in Private Reverse-Payment Antitrust Cases,” Goodwin Client Alert, February 2016
- Speaker, “How to Settle Patent Cases After Actavis,” ABA’s 63rd Antitrust Spring Meeting, April 2015
- Speaker, “Actavis, Valuations and Fairness Opinions,” GPhA Annual Meeting, February 2015