The American Antitrust Institute (AAI) and the Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws (COSAL) are pleased to announce that Sharon K. Robertson has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Hollis Salzman Memorial Leadership Award. She will be honored at AAI’s Awards Night on November 5, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Robertson is a partner at Cohen Milstein and a nationally recognized leader in complex antitrust litigation. She spearheads the firm’s work in pharmaceutical antitrust cases—an evolving and industry-defining area of law. Over more than 20 years of practice, Robertson has led and tried some of the most significant antitrust cases in the country, recovering well over $1 billion for businesses harmed by anticompetitive conduct.
As incoming COSAL President, Robertson sets the standard for integrity and collegiality in the plaintiffs’ bar. That reputation is widely recognized across the profession. Chambers, which ranks her among the nation’s leading antitrust lawyers, highlights peer feedback noting that she knows “how to give people enough breathing room to develop their own strategies whilst making sure that the case will be handled in an exceptional way.” Others describe her as “really good” and “smart and great to work with.” Business Today, which named Robertson one of New York’s Top 10 Plaintiff Antitrust Lawyers, emphasized her “remarkable skills, intelligence, and collaborative approach.” Courts have echoed this praise, with one judge in particular commending her “excellent” lawyering. Defense counsel also routinely invite her to share her perspective on panels—an uncommon testament to professional respect across the bar.
Robertson’s commitment to mentorship reflects a direct connection to Hollis Salzman’s legacy. Having been mentored by Salzman and others in the antitrust community, she has dedicated her career to ensuring the next generation of lawyers benefits from similar guidance and opportunity. At Cohen Milstein, she served for nearly a decade as Co-Chair of the firm’s Professional Development and Mentoring Committee and was a long-standing member of its Hiring & Diversity Committee. In those roles, she helped redesign the firm’s mentoring program and championed initiatives to strengthen recruitment, retention, and professional growth.
“Sharon exemplifies the very qualities this award was created to recognize—exceptional advocacy paired with deep respect for the profession and the people in it,” said AAI President Randy Stutz. “She is a strategic leader in some of the most consequential antitrust cases of our time, and she brings a rare combination of rigor, judgment, and generosity to her work with colleagues and adversaries alike.”
“Sharon has built a reputation not only as an outstanding litigator, but as someone who actively lifts others as she leads,” said COSAL Executive Director Pamela Gilbert. “Her commitment to mentoring, advancing women, and fostering a more inclusive plaintiffs’ bar reflects the enduring influence of Hollis Salzman and ensures that legacy continues to shape the future of our profession.”
AAI and COSAL established the Hollis Salzman Memorial Leadership Award in 2021 to honor the life and legacy of Hollis Salzman—a trailblazing antitrust attorney, mentor, and advocate for gender equality. The award recognizes individuals who embody her commitment to excellence, integrity, and the advancement of others within the antitrust community.
