Howrey conflict sees Covington scoop top Brussels lawyer

Howrey partner Peter Camesasca joined Covington this week.

Camesasca’s biggest client is Samsung Electronics, which he has represented on several major European investigations and which alone is thought to have generated around €5m (£4.5m) for Howrey.

However, Camesasca said that it had become inevitable that given the range of Samsung products it would have a “wide conflicts footprint”. Ultimately, he added, there had been “one conflict too many”.

“When one client is suing another you have to make a choice,” Camesasca said.

Camesasca said he was attracted to Covington because of the strength of its antitrust practice.

“I can also say that I wouldn’t have joined if I didn’t believe very strongly that the firm intended to grow significantly in Brussels,” Camesasca added.

The head of Covington’s EU competition group David Hull said Camesasca’s expertise in antitrust litigation and investigations was “a terrific fit” with the firm’s existing capabilities.

“[It] enhances our ability to represent clients in large, complex cross-border cartel, monopolisation, and other cases,” Hull added.