Mr. Gates represents companies in antitrust and commercial litigation. He has been described as a “talented litigator” with an “excellent attention to detail,” “who efficiently manages discovery with an eye toward summary judgment and trial” in Chambers USA. He was named an “Attorney of the Year” by California Lawyer. In addition to being listed in Best Lawyers for antitrust litigation, he has been listed in Who's Who Legal - Competition, designated a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation for commercial and antitrust litigation, and ranked among the Southern California Super Lawyers. He's been called a “real trial lawyer.”
Although Mr. Gates has tried cases involving a range of issues—such as stock option contracts, trade secrets, fraudulent conveyances, and patent infringement damages—he has a particular expertise in antitrust litigation. He is one of the handful of attorneys nationwide who has litigated multiple antitrust cases through trial. He served as a Deputy Assistant Director at the Federal Trade Commission, serving as trial counsel in high-profile actions and receiving the Distinguished Service Award. Not surprisingly, Mr. Gates's clients recognize that he "possesses a deep understanding of the internal workings and perspectives of the FTC."