backLOS ANGELES, May 4, 2022 — The National Law Journal has named King & Spalding partner Joe Akrotirianakis to its 2022 Trailblazers list for his work on behalf of plaintiff Hope Pharmaceuticals.
The Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Trailblazers list recognizes lawyers who have “moved the needle in the legal industry” and are “truly agents of change.” The NLJ cited Akrotirianakis’s pioneering use of California unfair competition law in a case involving a drug approved to treat acute cyanide poisoning.
Many states, including California, prohibit distribution of drugs not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and also permit competitor-against-competitor lawsuits under state consumer protection law. An FDA-approved drug manufacturer can sue an unlawful compounder under these states’ laws for injunctive relief and, in some cases, lost profits. The novel theory that Akrotirianakis used in this case provides manufacturers of FDA-approved drugs a meaningful opportunity to curb unlawful competition and trade practices through state unfair competition laws.
Akrotirianakis, a partner in King & Spalding’s Trial and Global Disputes practice group, is an accomplished trial lawyer who has first-chaired or co-chaired more than 30 trials and arbitrations. He has never lost a jury trial or bench trial. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants across a broad spectrum of industries.
To view the publication’s profile of Akrotirianakis and other honorees, click here.
About King & Spalding
Celebrating more than 130 years of service, King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with more than 1,200 lawyers in 23 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality, and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com.