Melissa M. Nguyen
Areas of Focus
Overview
Melissa uses her experience in antitrust investigations and litigation to effectively support her clients’ needs. Melissa represents corporate clients across a broad range of industries, including transportation, healthcare, and digital media, in complex antitrust litigation under both state and federal antitrust laws.
Career & Education
- University of California, San Diego, B.A., cum laude, sociology, 2016
- University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 2020
- California
Melissa's Insights
Client Alert | 4 min read | 12.23.24
On December 17, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the Illinois Attorney General (“AG”) announced a $140 million settlement with Grubhub to resolve charges involving an array of allegedly unlawful and deceptive business practices. Even though the FTC’s proposed final rule on junk fees (also announced on December 17, 2024) is limited to hotels, live events, and short-term rentals, this settlement demonstrates that the FTC will use its broad enforcement powers to pursue companies imposing junk fees online, and that both federal and state consumer protection regulators will formulate 2025 enforcement priorities with junk fees and click-to-cancel in mind. Indeed, this $140 million settlement, of which Grubhub will pay $25 million based on its demonstrated inability to pay the full amount, is the first of its kind in that it is a joint action by the FTC and state regulators to pursue both junk fees and click-to-cancel violations.
Representative Matters
- Representing a Class I railroad as a defendant in a multi-district antitrust litigation alleging a conspiracy to fix fuel surcharge prices.
- Representing a healthcare company as a defendant in an antitrust litigation alleging a hub-and-spoke price-fixing conspiracy.
- Representing multiple third parties in antitrust investigations and litigations relating to technology and digital markets.
- Representing a pro bono client in a Section 1983 prisoners’ right action.
- Achieved a favorable settlement for an elderly and disabled pro bono client at risk of foreclosure due to a predatory home improvement financing scheme.
Melissa's Insights
Client Alert | 4 min read | 12.23.24
On December 17, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the Illinois Attorney General (“AG”) announced a $140 million settlement with Grubhub to resolve charges involving an array of allegedly unlawful and deceptive business practices. Even though the FTC’s proposed final rule on junk fees (also announced on December 17, 2024) is limited to hotels, live events, and short-term rentals, this settlement demonstrates that the FTC will use its broad enforcement powers to pursue companies imposing junk fees online, and that both federal and state consumer protection regulators will formulate 2025 enforcement priorities with junk fees and click-to-cancel in mind. Indeed, this $140 million settlement, of which Grubhub will pay $25 million based on its demonstrated inability to pay the full amount, is the first of its kind in that it is a joint action by the FTC and state regulators to pursue both junk fees and click-to-cancel violations.
Practices
Melissa's Insights
Client Alert | 4 min read | 12.23.24
On December 17, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the Illinois Attorney General (“AG”) announced a $140 million settlement with Grubhub to resolve charges involving an array of allegedly unlawful and deceptive business practices. Even though the FTC’s proposed final rule on junk fees (also announced on December 17, 2024) is limited to hotels, live events, and short-term rentals, this settlement demonstrates that the FTC will use its broad enforcement powers to pursue companies imposing junk fees online, and that both federal and state consumer protection regulators will formulate 2025 enforcement priorities with junk fees and click-to-cancel in mind. Indeed, this $140 million settlement, of which Grubhub will pay $25 million based on its demonstrated inability to pay the full amount, is the first of its kind in that it is a joint action by the FTC and state regulators to pursue both junk fees and click-to-cancel violations.
