Lawyers for Dallas-based online dating company Match Group were set to do battle with attorneys for internet search giant Google next week in a federal courthouse in San Francisco over allegations of antitrust abuses and breach of contract.
High-powered lawyers were hired by both sides. Hundreds of millions of dollars were at stake. The courtroom fight was expected to be brutal.
But the jury will not get to see that brawl, as Match and Google announced late Tuesday that they have settled their dispute and are best friends once again.
As part of the agreement, Match essentially pockets about $300 million in savings and the two technology companies will have a closer working relationship than ever before. That includes $40 million that Match deposited into an escrow account for fees not paid during the dispute.
In 2021, Match sued Google accusing the company of market manipulation, broken promises and abuse of power involving its app store’s distribution and payment processing system.
“Ten years ago, Match Group was Google’s partner. We are now its hostage,” Match lawyers argued in court briefs.
Google countersued, alleging breach of contract.
Jury selection in the case was scheduled to start Thursday in San Francisco, and opening statements were slated for Monday.
Match Group Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer Jared Sine told The Texas Lawbook on Wednesday that the legal team leading the litigation did excellent work.
Sine points to Match associate general counsel Jeanette Teckman and senior counsel Stephen Myers as playing critical lead roles for the company.
Match turned to Hueston Hennigan partners Douglas Dixon, Christine Woodin and Joseph Reiter — all based in California. Sine also hired Dallas trial lawyer Jeff Tillotson of Tillotson Johnson & Patton to try the case.
The case is In Re Google Play Store Antitrust Litigation, 21-md-02981, in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).