Insights & News

Patrick M. Ryan and Benjamin K. Riley Named “Top 100 Lawyer” in California

San Francisco, CA – Patrick M. Ryan—head of Bartko law firm’s Litigation practice and Chair of its Antitrust and IP and Brand Protection groups, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee—and Benjamin K. Riley—a principal in Bartko’s Litigation practice and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee—were both selected by the California Daily Journal as two of the “Top 100 Lawyers in California” for 2023.

Patrick M. Ryan Named Top 100 Lawyer

San Francisco, CA – Patrick M. Ryan—Bartko’s Co-Managing Partner, head of litigation, and Chair of its Antitrust and IP and Brand Protection groups, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee—was selected by the California Daily Journal as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in California” for 2023.

Daily Journal Spotlights Bartko’s Landmark Pre-Trial Victory in Ruling Setting the Antitrust Standard in Blue Cross Hospital Case

The Daily Journal recently featured Bartko Pavia LLP’s significant victory in VHS Liquidating Trust v. Blue Cross of California, where an Alameda County Superior Court judge held that the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans will face strict per se antitrust treatment for dividing the country into exclusive territories, unless they can show their predecessors held common law trademark rights in those areas before the 1950s.

Firm Data Breach Practice in the News

December 14, 2013- Legal newspaper The Daily Journal ran an article describing our role for health care providers in obtaining writ relief in defense of pending class actions with multi-million dollar exposure following lost or stolen patient medical data. View pdf copy of article. The team of Rob Bunzel, Michael Abraham, Simon Goodfellow and Zaneta Butscher have contributed in multiple cases to the firm’s success in this highly topical field.

Bartko Pavia Secures Landmark California Appellate Victory, on Behalf of one of its Hospital Clients, Reviving Antitrust Claims Against MultiPlan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bartko Pavia appeared in the first hearing related to 11 coordinated class actions

BartkoZankel appeared in the first hearing related to 11 coordinated class actions brought against the firm’s health care provider client for alleged penalties following the theft of a password protected computer in October 2011. The cases raise novel issues regarding what is a release under the Confidentiality of Medical Records Act (CMIA) and the propriety of class treatment for CMIA claims. Robert Bunzel, Michael Abraham and Simon Goodfellow lead the BartkoZankel team. In re Sutter Medical Information Cases, Judicial Council Coordination No. 4698, Sacramento Superior Court.

Hospitals Score Another Massive Victory Against the Blues as Court Rejects Insurance Companies’ Second Attempt to Dismiss Healthcare Providers’ Antitrust Claims

San Francisco, CA – In a June 5, 2023 Order, only made available on the public docket late June 6, 2023, the Honorable Evelio Grillo of the Alameda Superior Court, in VHS Liquidating Trust, et al. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, et al., Case Number RG21106600, issued a comprehensive Order resoundingly rejecting the Defendant Blues’ second attempt to dismiss the Plaintiffs’ claims.

Michael Abraham and Steve Steinberg Author Article for California Health Law News

Michael D. Abraham and Stephen C. Steinberg, Partners at Bartko Pavia LLP and Co-Chairs of the firm’s Privacy Practice, authored an article in the Summer 2026 issue of California Health Law News, How J.M. v. Illuminate Education Rewrote the CMIA Playbook, examining a California Supreme Court decision that quietly reset the rules for medical privacy litigation in this state.

Special Counsel Meredith P. Vanderbilt Authors New Book on Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Implants

Meredith Vanderbilt, Special Counsel at Bartko Pavia LLP, alongside co-authors Dawn Abens Lissy and Brian McLaughlin, has published their new book, Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Implants: Material and Process Selection, Validation Activities, and Regulatory Submissions.

Meredith Vanderbilt Publishes Article in AHLA Health Law Weekly on FDA Drug Shortage Tracking

ABA Antitrust Plaintiffs’ Roundtable Will Feature Insights from Ian Papendick

Ian Papendick will be a featured speaker at the ABA Antitrust Plaintiffs’ Roundtable, held at The Jay, Autograph Collection Hotel in San Francisco. The program brings together leading antitrust practitioners and thought leaders to discuss key developments and strategies in plaintiffs’ antitrust litigation.