The Winning Attorneys In A 4-Man Firm Had An Impressive Robison-Patmas Act Litigation Record.
In L.A. Int’l Corp. v. Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc., Case Nos. 24-3776 et al. (9th Cir. Feb. 24, 2026) (published), a 4-man firm obtained a substantial liability determination and permanent injunction on behalf Wholesales in a Robinson-Patman Act case, with the merit rulings affirmed on appeal. The firm had an impressive track record in this area. However, the district judge awarded the firm $3,142,269.45 in fees rather than the requested $7,651,766 primarily based on the notion that 2023 Real Rate Report hourly rates for L.A. litigators should not be grounded on large law firm rates because a 4-man firm has much different overhead burdens. The Ninth Circuit reversed and remanded to fashion a new fee award, determining firm size alone will not justify reducing lodestar fees, with the focus on the skill, experience, and reputation of the attorneys involved. (The firm had requested fees of $1,314 per hour for senior attorneys and $1,001 per hour for more junior attorneys.)