Pop-up panel discussion, ‘Getting to the Core of Epic v. Apple,’ set for Oct. 12

RALEIGH — Campbell Law School will host an in-person panel discussion regarding the legal battle between local gaming giant Epic Games and Apple from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. on Oct. 12, in Room 307, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced.

Epic Games, a major game developer based in the Triangle, has sued Apple, alleging antitrust violations in Apple’s App Store. After a three-week trial, a federal district court recently ruled in Epic’s favor on one state-law claim, but ruled in Apple’s favor on Epic’s claims under federal antitrust law. Epic has appealed.

Campbell Law Professor Matt Sawchak will moderate a panel of leading antitrust lawyers who will discuss the decision and what it means for future application distribution and antitrust.

“I am excited to announce this program and for Campbell Law to be at the forefront of a discussion on this extremely hot legal topic,” said Dean J. Rich Leonard. 

NOTE: Lunch will not be served but attendees are invited to bring their own.

Can’t make it in person? Join by Zoom at this link.

The planned speakers are:

  • Jennifer Van Zant of Brooks Pierce
  • Mitch Armbruster of Smith Anderson
  • Gavin Parsons of Coats & Bennett

Bios

Jennifer Van Zant of Brooks Pierce LLP

A graduate of Duke University, Zant attended Wake Forest University School of Law and graduated magna cum laude in 1994. From there, Zant became a Law Clerk to Judge N. Carlton Tilley, Jr., U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina. Subsequently, Zant began working at Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey, & Leonard LLP, and now has more than 25 years’ practice experience in complex business litigation. Zant represents clients in a wide array of complicated business disputes and was selected by her peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America in Litigation”—Securities (Greensboro “Lawyer of the Year 2014 & 2020), Antitrust Litigation (Greensboro “Lawyer of the Year 2015, 2018, & 2021), Bet-the-Company Litigation (Greensboro “Lawyer of the Year” 2017), Banking and Finance Litigation (Greensboro “Lawyer of the Year” 2022), Commercial Litigation (2007-2022) and Antitrust Law (2009-2022).

Mitch Armbruster of Smith Anderson LLP

Mitch Armbruster, a graduate of Cornell University, attended the University of North Carolina School of Law and graduated in 1999 with high honors. From there, Armbruster became a clerk for the Honorable David B. Sentelle at the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A year later, Armbruster began working at Smith Anderson, practicing in the areas of commercial and administrative litigation. Armbruster has been involved in a wide variety of business disputes, administrative agency disputes, regulatory enforcement proceedings, public records disputes, and antitrust matters. Recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers,” Commercial Litigation (2015-2022), Armbruster has successfully defended rezoning and approval of the largest mixed-use planned development in North Carolina history against a series of lawsuits seeking to overturn the rezoning and enjoin ongoing construction, obtained summary judgment in an antitrust class action against national and international airlines asserting price-fixing in the setting of commissions and obtained summary judgment for a Medicaid claims processor on a $20 million claim for failure to properly adjudicate claims.

Gavin Parsons of Coats + Bennett PLLC

Gavin Parsons, a graduate of North Carolina State University, attended Wake Forest University School of Law and graduated in 2001. Parsons worked at both Bailey & Dixon LLP and Troutman Sanders LLP. Parsons currently works as the Head of Litigation at Coats + Bennett PLLC, serving clients involved in several industries in complex civil litigation in both state and federal courts, the North Carolina Business Court and the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America,” Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Appellate Practice, Parsons has successfully served as trial counsel for a nationwide book distributor in a federal jury trial involving breaches of personal guarantees, resulting in a judgment of more than $29 million in favor of his firm’s client, successfully prosecuted a private animal welfare action against a roadside zoo and successfully represented the owner of a minority interest in a limited liability company in a dispute with the majority interest holders over a buyout and valuation of his interest.

Professor Matt Sawchak

An honors graduate of Harvard University, Professor Matt Sawchak earned his J.D. with honors and his LL.M. from Duke Law School. He joined Campbell Law in 2011 and his teaching and scholarship reflect his more than 20 years of experience in complex business litigation, appellate practice and antitrust. His scholarship focuses on federalism in antitrust and trade regulation, as well as emerging issues in civil procedure. Sawchak has been a litigation partner in two of North Carolina’s leading law firms. He has handled cases that range from antitrust enforcement proceedings to First Amendment disputes. He has served multiple times as new counsel on appeal. Business North Carolina magazine has profiled Sawchak twice as the top antitrust lawyer in North Carolina. He is a member of the leadership of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Section. He serves on the editorial board of the Antitrust Law Journal and he has chaired the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section of the North Carolina Bar Association. Sawchak clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas when Thomas served on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Before his judicial clerkship, he clerked in the office of the Solicitor General of the United States.

ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW 

Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 4,400 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2021, Campbell Law is celebrating 45 years of graduating legal leaders and 12 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.