Gerard J. Cedrone

Jerry Cedrone is a partner in the firm’s Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution group and a member of its Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation practice. An appellate specialist with significant trial-level experience, Jerry focuses on complex commercial litigation and life-science disputes. His practice spans a range of subject areas, including administrative law, patent law, food and drug law, and constitutional law.

Jerry has briefed and argued cases in state and federal courts around the country. He has significant experience briefing issues in the U.S. Supreme Court, including co-authoring two successful merits briefs in recent years. Jerry also maintains an active pro bono practice, with recent experience in immigration law, criminal procedure, and First Amendment free-speech issues.

Jerry’s recent appellate experience includes:

• Co-authoring prevailing merits briefs for the petitioner in Niz-Chavez v. Garland, 141 S. Ct. 1474 (2021). In a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court limited the federal government’s ability to deny cancellation of removal to noncitizens who did not receive a completed “notice to appear” at the outset of their immigration proceedings.
• Co-authoring successful merits briefs for the petitioner in Banister v. Davis, 140 S. Ct. 1698 (2020). In a 7–2 decision, the Supreme Court preserved certain procedural rights for criminal defendants seeking a writ of habeas corpus, holding that a timely filed Rule 59(e) motion to alter or amend the judgment in a federal habeas case is not an improper “second or successive” habeas petition.
• Representing New Balance in a successful appeal of a district court decision that had vacated a favorable arbitral award against a former distributor. The First Circuit reversed the district court’s decision and confirmed the arbitral award. See Ribadeneira v. New Balance Athletics, Inc., 65 F.4th 1 (2023).
• Representing an array of clients, including both patent holders and patent challengers, in more than a dozen appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
• Briefing and arguing a successful immigration appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on a legal issue that has divided the courts of appeals. See Mendez v. Barr, 960 F.3d 80 (2020).
• Co-authoring briefs successfully defending an antitrust class-action settlement in an appeal raising an issue of first impression regarding the authority of insurance claims administrators to opt customers out of class settlements. See In re Aggrenox Antitrust Litigation, 2020 WL 2146901 (2d Cir. 2020).

Jerry’s experience in trial courts and before administrative agencies includes:

• Representing a shipping client in a long-running APA challenge to its eligibility to participate in the federal Maritime Security Program before both the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the federal Maritime Administration.
• Representing the holder of a pharmaceutical patent in successfully defeating a post-grant review challenge before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
• Defending a state transit agency against a challenge to the completion of a critical infrastructure project. Following a five-day bench trial, the Massachusetts Land Court concluded that the project was within the scope of the agency’s easement and could proceed as planned. See B & W Second LLC v. MBTA, 2020 WL 4726610 (Aug. 13, 2020)
• Representing Braeburn in a successful APA challenge to an exclusivity determination that had blocked Braeburn’s new treatment for moderate to severe opioid use disorder from receiving final FDA approval. See Braeburn Inc. v. FDA, 389 F. Supp. 3d 1 (D.D.C. 2019)

Jerry is a member of the Boston American Inn of Court. A former Temple Bar Scholar, Jerry is also a member of the Temple Bar Scholarship Committee.

Outside of work, Jerry volunteers with the YMCA of Greater Philadelphia’s Model United Nations program for middle- and high-school students. Jerry has served as a program staff member since 2008 and is the 2022 recipient of the program’s E. Jane Ruprecht Service to Youth Award.

Before joining Goodwin, Jerry clerked for Justice Elena Kagan of the U.S. Supreme Court and then-Judge Neil M. Gorsuch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He also served as a trial attorney with the Federal Programs Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice as a member of the Attorney General’s Honors Program.

During law school, Jerry was an executive editor of the Harvard Law Review, a finalist in the Ames Moot Court Competition, and a student volunteer with the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project.

Jerry was recognized as a One to Watch in Appellate Practice by The Best Lawyers in America 2023.

In 2021 and 2022, Jerry was a recommended lawyer by The Legal 500, and in 2023 was name a Rising Star by the Legal 500 for his Appellate work.

Jerry was recognized as a finalist in the 2020 Pro Bono Hot List by the National Law Journal for Goodwin’s work on Martin v. City of Albuquerque.