OVERVIEW
Ian litigates complex antitrust, consumer-protection, data-privacy, and environmental matters on behalf of consumers and other plaintiffs. Ian's practice focuses on high-impact class-action litigation, often at the crossroads of law and technology. His work has contributed to the recovery of billions of dollars for the firm’s clients.
As a core member of the firm's Technology and Data Breach practice group, Ian leverages his sophisticated understanding of technology and data-privacy issues to achieve pathbreaking results for data-breach victims. Ian has represented consumers in some of the largest data-breach class actions to date, including In re Marriott International Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, In re T-Mobile Data Security Breach Litigation, and In re Equifax, Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation. Ian also represents consumers in several biometric privacy cases.
In his antitrust practice, Ian has taken on the world's largest banks, Big Tech, and the pharmaceutical industry. He was part of the team that litigated against global banks for price-fixing in the foreign exchange market. He currently represents an app-developer startup in litigation against Meta for monopolization of the personal social networking market as well as consumers asserting price-fixing claims against generic drug manufacturers. Ian has also achieved exceptional results for individual antitrust clients in opt-out litigation.
In his consumer-protection work, Ian has helped consumers recover nearly $100 million in settlements from banks and retailers that have charged consumers improper junk fees.
In his environmental practice, Ian is proud to represent the state where he grew up, Maine, in litigation alleging that the fossil-fuel industry violated Maine law by misrepresenting the role the industry and its products have played in climate change.
Ian is a fierce advocate for robust data privacy, fraud, and AI-safety protections for consumers, both inside and outside the courtroom. He authored an amicus brief for the Electronic Frontier Foundation in the Supreme Court, arguing for broad recognition of data-privacy harms. He is a member of the Sedona Conference Working Group 11, which advances the law on issues surrounding technology, privacy, artificial intelligence, and data security. He has served as a panelist on issues ranging from the legal implications of frontier AI models to bank liability for data-breach-related consumer fraud for events hosted by organizations including the RAND Corporation and Sedona Conference WG11.
Ian is co-chair of the firm's Technology Committee and serves on the firm’s Social Inclusion Committee and Summer Associate Committee.
EDUCATION
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude, 2018
Rhodes College, B.A. in Political Economy, cum laude, 2012
BAR ADMISSIONS
District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
AFFILIATIONS
American Association for Justice, Member (2024 - Present)
American Bar Association, Member
Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy, Managing Editor (2017-2018)
Public Justice, Member (2024 - Present)
The Sedona Conference, Working Group 11, Member
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award
- Recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for Character and Commitment to Public Service in 2013
- One nominator wrote, "When one thinks of who Algernon Sydney Sullivan may have been as a young man, Ian Engdahl comes to mind. Not only do these two men share a love of the art of oratory and a passion for law and justice, but the philosophy of both revolves around making better the lives of others even before themselves."
EXPERIENCE
Antitrust/Competition
- In re Foreign Exchange Benchmarks Rates Antitrust Litigation – Hausfeld represented market participants in the foreign exchange market against international banks alleged to have fixed the price of foreign exchange instruments, securing settlements with 15 major financial institutions amounting to more than $2.3 billion.
- In re Diisocyanates Antitrust Litigation – Represents a class of direct purchasers of the industrial chemicals methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and toluene diisocyanate (TDI) in claims against major industrial suppliers for conspiring to artificially inflate prices in violation of federal antitrust law.
- Phhhoto, Inc. v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (F/K/A Facebook, Inc.) – Hausfeld represents PHHHOTO Inc., an upstart photo app that alleges Facebook engaged in an anticompetitive course of conduct to force PHHHOTO out of business.
- In re Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing Antitrust Litig. – Hausfeld represents a class of end-payers alleging generic drug manufacturers and marketers conspired to unlawfully inflate the price of critical medications.
Commercial & Financial Disputes
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- Morris v. Bank of America, N.A. - Hausfeld represented a class of consumers harmed by Bank of America’s improper fees on overdraft and insufficient-funds transactions resulting in a $75 million settlement.
- McNeil v. Capital One - A class action on behalf of consumers harmed by Capital One’s improper overdraft and insufficient-funds fees, resulting in a $16 million settlement.
Environmental & Product Liability
- State of Maine v. BP P.L.C., et al – Hausfeld represents the State of Maine in climate deception litigation alleging that the defendant fossil fuel companies misled the public about the dangers of climate change, resulting in severe environmental and public health impacts across the state.
Technology & Data Breach
- In re: Marriott International Inc., Customer Data Security Breach Litig., MDL No. 19-md-2879 (D. Md.) - Representing a class of plaintiffs against hotel chain Marriott and its data security vendor Accenture. This is by far the largest of any consumer data breach class action ever certified. An appeal is currently pending.
- In re T-Mobile Data Security Breach Litig., No. 4:21-md-03019-BCW (W.D. Mo.) - Representing a class of plaintiffs whose data was exposed during a 2021 breach, securing a $350 million settlement and an agreement to increase data security spending by $150 million over the next two years, one of the largest per capita settlements ever reached in a large data breach.
- In re Equifax, Inc. Customer Data Sec. Breach Litig., No. 1:17-md-2800-TWT (N.D. Ga.) - Hausfeld represented consumer plaintiffs in one of the largest data breaches in history, resulting in a $500 million settlement with $1 billion in upgraded data security.
