July 3, 2025 — Partners Michael N. Nemelka and Derek T. Ho of Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, PLLC have been recognized among Bloomberg Law’s Unrivaled Litigators for 2025 in honor of the firm’s role as lead counsel in the groundbreaking antitrust class action Loop LLC v. CDK Global, LLC, No. 24-571 (W.D. Wis.).

Representing a class of automotive software vendors, Michael Nemelka was lead counsel of a Kellogg Hansen team that included Derek Ho, Daniel Dorris, and Aaron Panner.  The case alleged a years-long antitrust conspiracy between CDK Global, LLC and The Reynolds & Reynolds Company – the two leading providers of dealer management system software – to restrict access to car dealership data.  As a result of the conspiracy, software vendors paid highly inflated prices for access to that data.

On January 27, 2025, CDK agreed to pay $630 million to settle the claims, which is $140 million more than the class’s actual damages of $490 million.  That extraordinary result is a success story for private civil enforcement of our nation’s antitrust laws.  Without the aid of any government agency or prior action, the Kellogg Hansen team investigated the facts, discovered the alleged conspiracy, and pursued claims for the class for over seven years – from complaint through motion to dismiss, fact and expert discovery, Daubert and summary judgment, class certification, pretrial proceedings, and to the brink of trial.

“This case required us to build the facts and legal theories from the ground up, and then the determination and energy to litigate the claims for over seven years from inception to the eve of trial,” said partner Michael Nemelka. “But with the team’s dedication and unrelenting efforts, we did it.  The strength of our evidence and our belief in the class’s claims carried us through.”

In recognition of the remarkable result, Bloomberg Law named Michael Nemelka and Derek Ho to its inaugural list of Unrivaled Litigators featuring “trial lawyers who lead the legal profession in high-stakes and impactful trials and settlements.”

To read more about the case and Bloomberg Law’s recognition of the firm, visit Bloomberg’s website.

In addition to 2025 Bloomberg Unrivaled Litigators, Michael Nemelka and the team have been recognized for their work in this case from these other publications and legal journals:

The American Lawyer – Litigator of the Week

The American Lawyer –  Elite Trial Lawyers

Judicial Notice – Original Jurisdiction

Michael Nemelka specializes in complex commercial litigation, and has experience across a broad range of civil and criminal matters.  He has tried numerous cases to verdict in federal and state courts, as well as before arbitration panels.  In addition, as a result of his government service as Deputy United States Trade Representative, he helps clients navigate challenges and barriers in international trade and investment.

Derek Ho litigates high-stakes commercial cases with often billions of dollars at stake.  He has helped clients obtain billions of dollars through trial or settlement.  As both an experienced trial litigator and a seasoned appellate lawyer, Derek represents plaintiffs and defendants in all phases of litigation.

Aaron Panner specializes in antitrust law and U.S. Supreme Court and appellate litigation.

Dan Dorris represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil, antitrust, and securities litigation.  At the trial level, Dan handles every phase of litigation, from complaints to arguing dispositive motions and at trial.  At the appellate level, he has briefed and argued cases in multiple courts of appeals.