Charles Kopel specializes in price-fixing class actions, government records appeals, and qui tam litigation. Together with his colleagues, Mr. Kopel has attained substantial settlements for his clients.
Notable Cases:
Bond Rigging: Mr. Kopel represents plaintiffs in class actions concerning conspiracies by large banks to fix the prices of bonds issued by governmental and quasi-governmental entities. These actions include: In re European Government Bonds Antitrust Litigation, No. 1:19-CV-02601 (S.D.N.Y.), seeking recovery for U.S. investors in euro-denominated bonds issued by eurozone governments; In re GSE Bonds Antitrust Litigation, No. 1:19-CV-01704 (S.D.N.Y.), seeking recovery for U.S. investors in unsecured bonds issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; and In re Mexican Government Bonds Antitrust Litigation, No. 1:18-CV-02830 (S.D.N.Y.), seeking recovery for U.S. investors in Mexican government bonds. Collectively, plaintiffs in these ongoing actions have already reached settlements recovering more than $400 million on behalf of class members.
Benchmark Manipulation: Mr. Kopel also represents plaintiffs in class actions involving banks’ manipulation of interest rate benchmarks, which directly impact the value of benchmark-denominated financial instruments. These actions include Dennis et al. v. JPMorgan Chase & Co. et al., No. 1:16-CV-06496 (S.D.N.Y.), concerning manipulation of the Bank Bill Swap Reference Rate (“BBSW”), an important Australian dollar benchmark, at the expense of U.S.-based investors. Lowey Dannenberg has already reached an agreement to settle the claims against one defendant banking group, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates, for $7 million.
Qui Tam: Mr. Kopel represents relators in Cho et al. v. Surgery Partners Inc., et al., No. 8:17-cv-00983 (M.D. Fla.), a suit alleging that network of pain clinics and related laboratories, as well as its private equity owners, participated in a scheme to defraud federal healthcare programs by systematically billing them for medically unnecessary urine drug testing. Several defendants have already settled, agreeing to pay $41 million to resolve the claims.
Background:
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Kopel served as a Legal Intern for the City of Philadelphia Law Department, and as a Law Clerk for the Delaware Department of Justice.
At NYU School of Law, Mr. Kopel served as a Senior Articles Editor of the Journal of International Law and Politics. He also worked as a research assistant to Professor Jose Alvarez, a widely recognized expert of international legal process.
Mr. Kopel, a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, advises non-profit organizations pro bono. He also contributes academic Jewish studies articles to several publications.
Recent Publications:
“When a Defendant’s Employee Takes the Fifth During a Deposition,” Lowey Dannenberg Blog, January 7, 2020.
