Carl Hammarskjold > Berman Tabacco > San Francisco, United States > Lawyer Profile

Berman Tabacco
425 California St, Ste 2300
San Francisco, CA 94104
United States

Work Department

Antitrust

Position

Partner

Career

Carl Hammarskjold is a partner in Berman Tabacco’s San Francisco office where he represents class plaintiffs in antitrust actions. He is dedicated to prosecuting companies that illegally conspire to fix and raise prices.

Carl is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®.  He was recognized as a Recommended Attorney in Antitrust by The Legal 500 in the U.S. edition in 2023.  He was also recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® under Ones To Watch for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs (2021-2023) and in Northern California Best Lawyers under Ones To Watch for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs (2021-2023).  He was also selected by Northern California Super Lawyers as a Super Lawyer in 2023 and was previously selected as a Rising Star in 2016-2021.

Before joining Berman Tabacco in April 2018, Carl practiced at a San Francisco-based plaintiffs’ firm specializing in antitrust class actions and other complex, multidistrict litigation in federal court. He was also a business litigator at a large, national law firm.

During law school, Carl served as an extern for the Honorable William H. Alsup at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Before becoming a lawyer, Carl sold out-of-print and rare books. He managed an independent bookstore in San Francisco and owned a community bookshop in Mendocino County.

EXPERIENCE

  • Represents the firm’s client and class plaintiffs in a nationwide antitrust class action on behalf of direct purchasers of lithium ion rechargeable batteries that resulted in settlements totaling $139.3 million.  In re Lithium Ion Batteries Antitrust Litigation, No. 13-md-02420-YGR (N.D. Cal.).
  • Represents the firm’s clients and class plaintiffs in several financial market manipulation and antitrust class actions on behalf of investors alleging that major banks colluded to fix the prices of bonds and derivatives.  These cases include In re Mexican Government Bonds Antitrust Litigation, No. 18-cv-02830 (S.D.N.Y), Euribor (Sullivan v. Barclays PLC, et al., No. 13-cv-2811 (S.D.N.Y.)), Yen Libor/Euroyen Tibor (Laydon v. Mizuho Bank, LTD., et al., No. 12-cv-3419 (S.D.N.Y.) and Sonterra Capital Master Fund, LTD. v. UBS AG, et al., No. 15-cv-5844 (S.D.N.Y.)), In re GSE Bonds Antitrust Litigation, No. 19-cv-01704 (S.D.N.Y.), and Australian Dollar (Dennis, et al. v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., et al., No. 16-cv-06496 (S.D.N.Y)).
  • With a prior firm, represented class plaintiffs in a nationwide antitrust class action on behalf of purchasers of containerboard. Kleen Products, LLC, et al. v. Packaging Corp. of America, et al., No. 10-cv-05711 (N.D. Ill.).
  • With a prior firm, represented plaintiff in a nationwide class action on behalf of recording artists and producers regarding royalties for digital downloads. Bozzio v. EMI Group Limited et al., No. 12-cv-02421-YGR (N.D. Cal.). Appellate work resulted in a published Ninth Circuit opinion reversing the district court’s dismissal of the client’s complaint.

Memberships

  • Antitrust and Business Regulation Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco, Executive Committee member
  • Bar Association of San Francisco
  • Edward J. McFetridge American Inn of Court

Education

  • University of San Francisco School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2011)
  • Pomona College (B.A., American Studies, 1989)

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: plaintiff

Berman Tabacco has amassed considerable experience in antitrust law by challenging the anticompetitive behavior of those involved in the complex finance and securities markets. The firm is well known for advancing the cy-prés doctrine in the US, which allows for settlements to contribute to general compensatory measures and not just individuals. Co-chair Joseph Tabacco leads from San Francisco, having led large lawsuits in the electronics, diamonds, manufacturing, pharma, and entertainment industries. Also in San Francisco is co-chair Todd Seaver, who utilizes his investigative and litigation prowess in disputes involving financial manipulation. In Boston, Patrick Egan represents victims of securities fraud and whistleblowers assisting the government. Matthew Pearson has been involved in all aspects of litigation, including during investigations, at trial, and when administering recoveries. Carl Hammarskjold is particularly strong in representing classes of investors in the bonds and derivatives markets.