Latham Litigators Among American Lawyer’s Most Honored in 2020
Cementing Latham’s reputation as one of the most dominant and successful forces in litigation, the firm’s 800 plus-attorney Litigation & Trial Department earned recognition in American Lawyer’s Lit Daily Litigator of the Week column an incredible 26 times. Only one other legal shop notched more Litigator of the Week mentions in 2020.
Taking home the top Litigator of the Week prize was a Latham team, led by partners Jamie Wine and Michele D. Johnson, who won summary judgment on behalf of the United States Soccer Federation in its litigation with the US Senior Women’s National Team regarding equal pay. Also for the U.S. Soccer Federation, a separate Latham group was featured as Litigator or the Week: Runners Up for their one-two punch in a federal antitrust case before the Southern District of New York. Partners Christopher Yates and Lawrence Buterman guided the team which secured a critical motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s first claim and a motion to compel arbitration on the second claim.
For successfully resolving a rare trade secrets criminal proceeding brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against client United Microelectronics, partner Leslie Caldwell and recently retired partner Catherine Palmer were also honored as Litigators of the Week.
Latham’s commitment to pro bono was on full display in multiple Am Law Litigator of the Week columns this year. Receiving recognition were:
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a team of more than a dozen attorneys and staff who won a nearly six-week trial that restored voting rights for Black and Latinx community members in one of New York state’s largest public school districts (also honored with Latham’s 2020 Robert M. Dell Prize for Extraordinary Pro Bono Service);
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a cross-country group of lawyers who, in a herculean effort battling on multiple fronts, led a large consortium of civil rights organizations and local governments challenging the Census Bureau's attempt to massively truncate census operations, undercounting millions of Americans across all spectrums and regions; and
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a trio of associates whose Federal Circuit win for a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force created huge waves in the veterans’ community and established a precedent that could benefit hundreds of military officers.
In addition to the wins above, Latham’s victories for clients A.O. Smith, BMW, Dalton Education, DXC, Emulex, Funko, General Electric, Huntington Ingalls, LG Chem, Montrose, MUFG Union Bank and GLAS Americas, Oncternal, Oracle, PolarityTE, Restoration Robotics, Schlumberger, Senior Technology, Surescripts, Twitter, and UBS earned recognition in the popular Am Law column this year.
The 26 cases honored – which span the gamut of practices and industries – clearly illustrate the power of Latham’s global platform and the firm’s reputation as a litigation powerhouse wholly dedicated to helping our clients successfully resolve their most challenging disputes. Featured were antitrust, appellate, complex commercial, intellectual property, securities, trade secrets, white collar, and other matters for companies that serve the automotive, life sciences, financial services, sports, and technology sectors, among others.