Roy A. Abernathy

Associate | He/Him/His

Overview

Roy Abernathy is a litigator representing clients in complex matters in both federal and arbitral forums with a focus on advertising and consumer protection. His experience and practice enable him to provide strategic solutions for brand protection counseling, regulatory compliance before the Federal Trade Commission and National Advertising Division, and navigation of related litigation.

Roy concentrates on brand protection litigation, encompassing unfair competition, brand disparagement, false advertising, Lanham Act violations, defamation, consumer class actions, consumer fraud, contract breach, and antitrust violations. He provides product counseling in a variety of industries, such as retail, consumer products, food and beverage, and technology, on issues related to advertising and marketing, including claim substantiation, compliance with FTC guidance, and state laws governing unfair and deceptive practices, unfair competition, and privacy.

Roy’s litigation experience covers matters involving defense against consumer class actions alleging false advertising and affirmative claims for recovery in complex commercial arbitrations based on fraudulent pricing. He represents a variety of corporate clients in complex investigations and regulatory enforcements from agencies such as the NAD and FTC as well as state attorneys general offices. Roy has a nationwide practice in federal and state courts representing clients as both plaintiff and defendant. He has experience in all manner of litigation practice, including leading discovery efforts, managing case teams, taking depositions, handling expert discovery, drafting substantive motions, and assisting at trial.

During law school, Roy was president of the Student Bar Association, vice chair of the Moot Court Executive Board, and a senior articles editor for the Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice. Prior to joining Crowell & Moring as a summer associate, he was a law clerk for the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. Now as part of his pro bono work at Crowell, Roy serves as an associate trustee for the Washington Lawyers’ Committee.

Career & Education

|
    • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2015
    • Washington and Lee University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2020
    • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2015
    • Washington and Lee University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2020
    • District of Columbia
    • North Carolina (Inactive)
    • District of Columbia
    • North Carolina (Inactive)
  • Professional Activities and Memberships

    • American Bar Association: Section of Intellectual Property Law
      • Vice Chair, Advertising and Marketing Law Committee, 2024–2025
    • American Bar Association: Section of Antitrust Law
      • Member, Advertising Disputes and Litigation Committee 
      • Member, Consumer Protection Committee
    • National LGBTQ+ Bar Association
    • District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association

    Professional Activities and Memberships

    • American Bar Association: Section of Intellectual Property Law
      • Vice Chair, Advertising and Marketing Law Committee, 2024–2025
    • American Bar Association: Section of Antitrust Law
      • Member, Advertising Disputes and Litigation Committee 
      • Member, Consumer Protection Committee
    • National LGBTQ+ Bar Association
    • District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association

Representative Matters

  • Represented Fortune 50 health insurance company as a plaintiff in two evidentiary arbitration hearings in 2021 against large retail pharmacies regarding pricing disputes. Obtained a favorable interim award on liability (damages are pending) in first matter; obtained a favorable final award in the amount of $123 million in second matter. 
  • Defended Cricket Wireless in ongoing consumer class action litigation against false advertising claims related to 4G capabilities. Obtained order decertifying class of customers. 
  • Defended telecommunications client in an FTC investigation alleging false representations and deceptive acts or practices violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act and ROSCA. 
  • Representing a group of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association health insurance plans in ongoing litigation in federal court alleging fraudulent submission of inflated prices in prescription drug claims. 
  • Defended clients in the food and beverage industry against false advertising and unfair competition claims in nationwide federal courts, such as MolsonCoors’ Vizzy product. 
  • Assisting in complex discovery practice and trial preparation for healthcare, telecommunications, food and beverage, and real estate industry clients in complex commercial litigation. 
  • Prepared and taught CLEs on trends in false advertising consumer class actions for clients in the food and beverage industry. Monitors ongoing trends in consumer class actions, FTC enforcement actions, and state attorneys general activities for clients.
|