Tom Watts

Partner
Biography

Tom Watts is a partner at Girard Sharp who concentrates his practice on antitrust, investment fraud and consumer protection litigation.

Tom’s current matters include representing a certified class of investors in the Maxar Securities Litigation, which resulted in a $36.5 million settlement, one of the largest securities judgments ever obtained in California state court. He is also part of the Girard Sharp co-lead counsel team in the Xyrem Antitrust Litigation, a high-stakes generic suppression case. Tom also contributes to the firm’s work as a member of Executive Committees in the Generic Pharmaceuticals Antitrust Litigation in Philadelphia federal court and the In re Philips Recalled CPAP, Bi-Level Pap, and Mechanical Ventilator Products Litigation in Pittsburgh.

Tom previously served on the lead counsel team in the Restasis Antitrust Litigation, helping to achieve a $30 million settlement with pharma giant Allergan for end-purchasers of Restasis, a dry-eye medication. Tom also participated in Girard Sharp’s representation of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System in a non-class securities case against Allergan, securing a confidential settlement for CalSTRS. Tom’s work in consumer cases includes securing refunds and additional cash payments for COVID 19-related cancellations for British Airways passengers.

Tom is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, concurrently receiving a Master of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. Tom received his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, with High Distinction in General Scholarship.

Before joining the firm, Tom clerked for the Honorable Jane Roth of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the Honorable Robert McDonald of the Maryland Court of Appeals.

Tom was named to the Northern California Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list in 2021 and 2022.

  • Judicial clerk for Judge Jane Roth on the Third Circuit
  • Judicial clerk for Judge Robert McDonald of the Maryland Court of Appeals

J.D./M.P.P., magna cum laude, Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School

B.A., High Distinction in General Scholarship, University of California, Berkeley

  • California
  • Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

In re Restasis
Representing end-payers in a case against Allergan for unlawfully monopolizing the market for Restasis, a dry-eye treatment.

CalSTRS v. Allergan
Representing CalSTRS in a case against Allergan for securities fraud relating to competition in the market for generic pharmaceuticals.

Larson v. John Hancock Life Insurance Company
Representing a class of life insurance policyholders in a case against John Hancock for improper overcharges.

Pending Cases

  • Ide v. British Airways, Southern District of New York
  • Named to the Northern California Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list (2021-present)

2022 Year-End Report

2022 marked another year of focused, collaborative effort by our close-knit team, with some notable achievements, several high-stakes cases set for trial in 2023, and