Bob Atkins has been a litigator at Paul, Weiss for 25 years and is the former chairman of the Public Matters Committee, which is responsible for the firm's pro bono and community service activities. He has trial experience in the state and federal courts as well as in several alternative dispute resolution forums including the International Chamber of Commerce and the American Arbitration Association.

Mr. Atkins handles litigations and government investigations in a wide range of matters and industries, including antitrust and product liability class actions in the medical products business, struggles for corporate control in the insurance and newspaper industries, charges of payola in the radio industry, false advertising lawsuits in the motor oil industry, trademark and copyright infringement in the movies and on TV, and real estate development disputes in New York City.

Mr. Atkins defends product liability and negligence suits involving allegations of unsafe pharmaceuticals, defective medical devices, the transmission of infectious diseases, and occupational exposure to asbestos. Significant representations include defending one of the country's largest medical device manufacturers in numerous product liability, antitrust and class action lawsuits in jurisdictions all over the country. Mr. Atkins also advises medical device and technology clients on intellectual property and contract disputes.

Mr. Atkins has litigated several high profile disputes over corporate control and management, including the current representation of AIG, the litigations between Hollinger and its former CEO Lord Conrad Black, and the thwarted hostile takeover of True North Communications. Mr. Atkins also managed the defense of several foreign banks in a $300 million derivatives litigation in New York federal court.

Mr. Atkins has been chosen by his peers for The Best Lawyers in America in the area of antitrust litigation.

Mr. Atkins is a member of the Bar of the State of New York. He is admitted to practice before the U. S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern District of New York and the District of New Jersey, and the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Second, Third and Eleventh Circuits.

Mr. Atkins is a member of the Advisory Board of the Brennan Center for Social Justice.

From 1983 to 1984, he served as Political Director for then Congressman Robert G. Torricelli and was the campaign manager of Torricelli's 1984 reelection.