Overview
Carter Simpson is a partner in the Antitrust and Competition practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Ms. Simpson’s civil litigation practice focuses on antitrust, privacy, and cybersecurity investigations and litigation.
With over a decade of experience in claims assessment, early and alternative dispute resolution, and high-stakes trial and appellate litigation, Ms. Simpson advises and represents clients across a range of industries in civil and criminal antitrust investigations, merger challenges, and cases involving antitrust, business torts, RICO, false advertising, deceptive trade practices, data breach, employment, and intellectual property claims. She has particular expertise on supply chain and data management disputes and in the technology and retail sectors.
Ms. Simpson maintains an active pro bono practice, which includes regularly partnering with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on policy initiatives and federal litigation. She is a member of the firm’s pro bono committee. Ms. Simpson also served four years as a D.C. Bar delegate to the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates, and she is a past chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Division’s Civil Rights and Social Justice Committee. Following law school, she worked as a judicial law clerk on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Recognitions
- Legal 500, Recommended for Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense (2024)
- The Best Lawyers in America, “One to Watch” for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions (2023)
- Benchmark Litigation, “40 & Under" List Northeast (2021-2025)
- Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll (2013-2017, 2019-2022)
- E. Randolph Williams Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service (2014-2016, 2019, 2021-2022)
- Vanderbilt Lightfoot, Franklin & White Awards for Best Brief and Best Oral Argument
- Vanderbilt Scholastic Excellence Award for Legal Writing
Education
- Vanderbilt Law School, J.D., 2011
- Vanderbilt Law Review, Vanderbilt Moot Court Board
- Duke University, B.A. (History and English), 2007
Representations
- Representing a media organization, a major U.S. retailer, and a financial services company against statutory privacy claims arising from alleged use of pixel and other data management technologies.
- Representing Japanese manufacturer of electronic components against direct-action and class-action litigation concerning alleged price fixing and market allocation.
- Representing numerous retailers and electronics and consumer goods manufacturers against putative class actions involving federal and state privacy and consumer laws, as well as against mass arbitration efforts.
- Representing students and student organizations in ongoing challenge to undergraduate admissions policy and procedures.
- Represented corporate opt-out and direct-action plaintiffs in several multi-district antitrust cases involving price fixing and bid rigging in the food supply chain.
- Represented major U.S. infrastructure company in internal, regulatory, and congressional investigations stemming from data breach, and against three ensuing putative class actions.
- Represented major retail grocery chain in private challenge to consummated merger brought under Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
- Represented one of world’s largest media conglomerates in internal and regulatory investigations stemming from data breach.
- Represented major European retailer against claims of false advertising and other business torts stemming from entry into U.S. market.
- Represented state-owned multinational energy company and one of largest U.S. medical device manufacturers in affirmative litigations against former employees for misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of non-compete and non-disclosure agreements.
- Represented certified class of healthcare networks, schools, and restaurants that achieved one of the largest RICO settlements in history against major U.S. food distributor.
Matters may have been completed before joining Paul Hastings.
Engagement & Publications
Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, “Litigation Trends and Risk Management: VPPA, CIPA, and Other Class Claims,” Privacy + Security Forum – Spring Academy, May 9, 2024
Media Mentions
- Quoted, Mass arbitration – from advantage to adversity?, Consumer Dispute Resolution, March 27, 2024
- Quoted, Civil Rights Organizations and Diverse Group of Students of Color File for Intervention in SFFA Vs. University of Texas at Austin, Targeted News Service, December 17, 2020
Publications
- Co-author, Recent Private Merger Challenges: Anomaly or Harbinger?, Antitrust, Summer 2021
- Using Residual Class-Settlement Funds to Improve Access to Civil Justice, Fall 2016 Newsletter, YLD Committee on Civil Rights and Social Justice, American Bar Association, October 2016
- Exposing and Mitigating Implicit Biases in the Legal Profession, Spring 2016 Newsletter, YLD Committee on Civil Rights and Social Justice, American Bar Association, May 2016
- Magna Carta in 2015: The ABA Celebrates 800 Years of Individual Rights, Fall 2015 Newsletter, YLD Committee on Individual Rights and Responsibilities, American Bar Association, October 2015
- Hope-Fulfilling or Effectively Chilling? Reconciling the Hate Crimes Prevention Act with the First Amendment, 64 VAND. L. REV. 271, 2011