The Legal 500 > United States > United States > Leading trial lawyers

Evan Chesler - Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Based in New York, Evan Chesler maintains a versatile trial practice and continues to attract leading work from a wide range of clients. Following California's wildfires in 2017 and 2018, Chesler represented Pacific Gas and Electric Company in Chapter 11 proceedings related to the catastrophic event, culminating in a $13.5bn settlement with the individual plaintiffs and an additional $11bn settlement with the insurance companies. Currently, Chesler is acting for Tesla's CEO Elon Musk and other members of the board in two major stockholder class and derivative suits involving multibillion-dollar transactions.

Randy Mastro - Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Randy Mastro in New York is a true generalist, with a highly active trial and general commercial litigation practice. Among his highlight matters, Mastro secured a writ of injunction in the United States Supreme Court on behalf of The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, regarding its First Amendment challenge to excessive Covid-19 restrictions on church attendance in certain areas of Brooklyn and Queens. Currently, Mastro is representing Chevron Corporation in contempt proceedings against Steven Donziger and his firm, Donziger & Associates, after having secured several decisive victories.

Daniel Petrocelli - O'Melveny & Myers LLP Los Angeles-based Daniel Petrocelli has a phenomenal reputation in media and entertainment disputes, though he is also regularly instructed in IP, unfair competition and securities litigation. Recently, Petrocelli secured a complete victory for HBO, Top Rank and Manny Pacquiao in a $500m dispute arising from Pacquiao's headline grabbing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2015. In an ongoing matter, he is retained by Johnson & Johnson as its lead trial counsel in multi-district litigation concerning its alleged role in the nation's opioid crisis.

Dan Webb - Winston & Strawn LLP Based in Chicago, Dan Webb has extensive experience in white-collar criminal trials, and also has a strong reputation in general commercial, civil and regulatory disputes. Among his historical highlights, Webb served as lead trial counsel for General Electric, successfully defending it against price-fixing allegations related to industrial diamonds. In 2021, he was instructed by the Honourable Michael P. Toomin to serve as special prosecutor in the highly publicized case of The People of Illinois v. Jussie Smollett.

Theodore Wells - Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP An 'elite trial lawyer with great instincts', Theodore Wells in New York is highly regarded for his diverse corporate defense practice and is rated by clients as 'a real force in the courtroom'. His depth of expertise in financial services litigation is illustrated by various career highlights, such as representing Bank of America in a securities class action relating to its acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co, and securing a complete defense verdict for Citigroup in a multibillion-dollar fraud claim by PE firm Terra Firma. Recently, Wells was retained by a large pharmaceutical company in complex litigation, resulting in a global settlement.

Beth Wilkinson - Wilkinson Stekloff Washington DC-based partner Beth Wilkinson has a flourishing trial and appellate practice, with a particular focus on antitrust class actions, supplemented by broader expertise in securities, product liability, trade secrets and fraud litigation. In a standout highlight, Wilkinson is serving as lead counsel to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in putative class actions under the Sherman Act brought by current and former student-athletes who are challenging the rules that prohibit them from promoting their names, images and likenesses for financial gain. Also of note, Wilkinson recently defended subsidiaries of Allergan in two high-value antitrust lawsuits, securing settlements before the trial for less than 5% of the amount claimed.

Karen Dunn - Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP Former Boies Schiller Flexner LLP partner Karen Dunn, based in Washington DC, has a leading reputation in litigation involving technology and social media clients. Of recent note, Dunn was sought out by Amazon to replace its former legal counsel in a major putative class action regarding its fair pricing policy; trial is set for August 2021. In addition to corporate defense work, Dunn is also recognized for her pro bono practice; she is currently pursuing a case on behalf of 22 individuals injured in the Charlottesville protests that took place in 2017, instigated by a group of white supremacists.

Robin Gibbs - Gibbs & Bruns LLP Founding partner Robin Gibbs is a versatile trial lawyer, with a particularly strong presence in financial services, private client and energy disputes. In a long-running highlight, he is representing Trustmark National Bank in three lawsuits stemming from the collapse of Stanford Financial Group, with total alleged damages exceeding $5bn. Also of note, Gibbs is currently representing Enterprise Product Operating in an $850m engineering and construction claim against Amex Foster Wheeler USA Corporation, set for trial in September 2021. Gibbs is based in Houston, Texas.

Marc Kasowitz - Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP Based in New York, Marc Kasowitz is highly regarded for his role in complex financial litigation. Recently, he acted for MBIA, one of the world's largest monoline insurers, as trial counsel in a put-back action against Credit Suisse, seeking to recover over $740m; the court's decision is pending. In another significant matter, Kasowitz successfully defended Howard Myers, Chairman of Eco-Bat Technologies, against allegations concerning breach of contract, fraud and racketeering brought by investment funds.

David Lender - Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP New York partner David Lender has a varied trial practice, which includes sprawling class actions and multidistrict litigation. Lender is currently representing ExxonMobil in state and federal court cases across the country regarding the alleged environmental impact of its use of MTBE as an additive in gasoline. Highlights in the antitrust space include acting for H&R Block in seven lawsuits by plaintiffs alleging that the company attempted to enter agreements with its competitors that would lower employee wages and stifle career advancement.

Abbe Lowell - Winston & Strawn LLP With twenty-seven wins and just one loss to his credit, Abbe Lowell has a fantastic reputation for high-stakes trial work. In an ongoing matter, Lowell is representing Fernando Scherrer-Caillet in an indictment brought by the DOJ's Puerto Rico office against several defendants, involving claims of public corruption and improper use of funds. He is also currently acting for Ruel Malcolm Hamilton, a real estate company based in Dallas, in relation to a federal corruption case. Lowell is based in Washington DC.

Kathy Patrick - Gibbs & Bruns LLP Kathy Patrick in Houston represents plaintiffs and defendants in securities disputes, environmental mass tort and energy litigation. Her track record in financial services disputes is particularly impressive: following the financial crash in 2008, Kathy represented 14 institutional investors, securing over $20bn from major financial institutions, including Bank of America, JPMorgan and Citigroup. In an ongoing matter, Patrick is acting for numerous major retailers in excessive pricing claims against Visa and Mastercard with total potential damages exceeding $20bn.

Daniel Slifkin - Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Based in New York, Daniel Slifkin has a very active trial practice, showing particular strength in securities and breach of contract disputes. In a recent highlight, he secured the dismissal of a securities fraud class action against Vivendi after a four-month long jury trial in New York federal court. Currently, Slifkin's notable work includes representing Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, in a stockholder class and derivative suit filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery related to Tesla's $2.1bn acquisition of SolarCity Corporation.

Diane Sullivan - Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP New York partner Diane Sullivan has a diverse trial practice, with a particular focus on healthcare and life sciences disputes and environmental mass torts. Among her ongoing mandates, Sullivan is serving as lead counsel to Sanofi in a multibillion-dollar antitrust case regarding Mylan's auto-epinephrine medical device monopoly. At the same time, she has been acting for Repsol in litigation in New Jersey and Delaware arising from its alleged role in polluting the Passaic River in New Jersey, which represents one of the Environmental Protection Agencies' largest Superfund projects in history.

Elkan Abramowitz - Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello P.C. New York-based founding partner Elkan Abramowitz is best known for representing corporates and high-net-worth individuals in white-collar litigation. Among his recent highlights, Abramowitz acted for the CEO of American Media (publisher of the National Enquirer) in relation to the Michael Cohen scandal. Abramowitz has also been recognized by clients for his 'great legal advice and emotional support'.

Barry Berke - Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Barry Berke is recognized for representing individuals and corporations in high-profile trials, investigations and complex litigation. Based in New York, Berke's recent highlights include representing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in federal and state criminal investigations, which were successfully concluded with no charges brought against de Blasio.

Andrew Clubok - Latham & Watkins LLP Andrew Clubok has a fantastic track record in class actions, derivative lawsuits and general corporate defense matters. Recently, he secured a landmark $1bn trial judgment on behalf of plaintiff UBS against two hedge funds regarding a failed securitization of CDOs and credit default swaps. Clubok also prevailed in a major civil rights matter: after a six-week federal bench trial, he secured a win for the plaintiff, Spring Valley National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which served to preserve voting rights for minority citizens in Rockland County, New York. Clubok divides time between New York and Washington DC.

Sandra Goldstein - Kirkland & Ellis LLP Based in New York, Sandra Goldstein is well known across the US for securities and M&A litigation. Recently, she represented the special committee of the board of directors of Taubman Centers in litigation arising from the termination of Simon Property Group's $9.8bn merger and joint venture with the client. In the securities space, Goldstein is handling numerous high value disputes for clients including Honeywell and 3G Capital.

Arturo González - Morrison & Foerster LLP San Francisco-based trial lawyer Arturo González is well respected in the industry for his strong corporate defense and pro bono practice. In the former area, Gonzalez's historical highlights include winning a major class action for Bank of America, while in the latter, he recently represented two California Highway Patrol offices and two East Indian immigrants in a Section 183 and malicious prosecution case, resulting in the acquittal of all defendants after an eighteen month preliminary hearing and a year long trial.

William Isaacson - Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP Based in Washington DC, William Isaacson has an excellent reputation in antitrust, IP and consumer class action matters. In February 2020, he secured a major win for Uber Technologies in an arbitration trial brought by users of Uber's services, alleging that its business model violated the Sherman Antitrust Act. Currently, Isaacson is acting for Amazon in a putative antitrust class action regarding its fair pricing policy, representing one of the largest such cases ever filed in the US. On the plaintiff side, he handles notable civil rights litigation for clients on a pro bono basis. Isaacson was formerly a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP.

Brad Karp - Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP Based in New York, firm chairman Brad Karp is regularly involved in closely watched disputes, with an emphasis on financial services and corporate litigation. Of recent note, he is acting for the independent directors of former CBS Corp in defense of a shareholder and derivative action concerning the CBS-Viacom merger, which plaintiffs allege  involved a breach of fiduciary duties. Karp is also acting for various financial institutions including Citigroup and Morgan Stanley in a number of complex antitrust disputes.

David Beck - Beck Redden David Beck has a wealth of experience in class actions, product liability cases, energy and bankruptcy disputes, among many other areas of litigation. Based in Houston, Beck chairs the Texas Commission on Judicial Selection.

Peter Bicks - Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP New York-based Peter Bicks is highly regarded for his expertise in product liability trials and large-scale class actions. Bicks recently led the team that acted for KBC Bank in a long-running dispute with diamond company Lazare Kaplan, which concluded in the Second Circuit with the dismissal of all claims against the KBC in the US. Other key clients include Johnson & Johnson, which has retained Bicks to represent it in nationwide product liability suits.

Dane Butswinkas - Williams & Connolly LLP Based in Washington DC, Dane Butswinkas displays great versatility as a trial lawyer, handling cases in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, technology and media and entertainment. Recently, he secured a complete bench trial victory in Delaware for AstraZenca, brought by a company seeking $275m in milestone payments allegedly owed from the merger of the two companies several years prior.

Lori Cohen - Greenberg Traurig LLP Based in Atlanta, firm global vice chair Lori Cohen specializes in product liability litigation, mass torts and class actions involving healthcare and life sciences clients. In October 2020, she secured a major win in the Supreme Court of Missouri on behalf of defendant C.R. Bard/Beckton Dickson following a two-month pelvic mesh trial. Cohen's ongoing highlights include representing Teva in a catastrophic injury claim in Cook County, Illinois, relating to the company's propoxyphene medication.

James Hurst - Kirkland & Ellis LLP Chicago-based partner James Hurst has over three decades' experience in patent, product liability, antitrust and trade secrets litigation. Recently, he successfully defended Albertson Companies against FCA claims, managing to convince the court to accept a summary judgment motion ahead of the trial, which was subsequently applied to another similar case involving Albertson Companies.

George Lombardi - Winston & Strawn LLP George Lombardi in Chicago is best known for his strong track record in product liability and IP disputes, where he often acts for clients in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. He recently obtained several major victories for Teva and its subsidiaries in high-value patent infringement claims. In addition, Lombardi is defending Alphatec in a trial involving patent infringement claims brought by NuVasive.

David Marriott - Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP New York attorney David Marriott has notable experience in litigation spanning IP, employment, securities and antitrust. Recently, he defended Avon Products against a major product liability and personal injury lawsuit in California, securing a favourable settlement shortly before the trial date.

Craig Martin - Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Based in Chicago, Craig Martin has a well-rounded trial and appellate practice, ranging from white-collar criminal defense work to civil rights cases. In a recent standout highlight, he secured $11m in damages for prison inmate William Dean, whose cancer was misdiagnosed by Wexford Health Source. Martin was formerly a partner Jenner & Block LLP.

Darin McAtee - Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Throughout his career, New York-based Darin McAtee has handled numerous trials in federal and state courts across the country, displaying expertise in major product liability disputes and environmental mass torts. Among his recent highlights, McAtee secured a win for Colgate in a two-month product liability trial. His ongoing work includes acting for PG&E, alongside several other partners at the firm, in  litigation regarding the client's alleged role in causing the 2017/18 California wildfires.

Gary Naftalis - Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Based in New York, Gary Naftalis has over four decades of experience in civil, criminal and regulatory disputes, including matters involving allegations of insider trading, market manipulation and other forms of financial fraud. He is also well known for his successful nationwide appellate practice.

Barrett Reasoner - Gibbs & Bruns LLP Based in Houston, Barrett Reasoner is considered a true generalist, with a docket of past and present cases including environmental mass torts, trade secrets, antitrust, defamation and breach of contract disputes. In a pending matter, he is representing Waste Management in its defense of a class action filed by over 600 plaintiffs seeking over $700m in personal injury and property damages.

Orin Snyder - Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Orin Snyder in New York has a strong reputation in technology, media and entertainment litigation. In July 2020, he secured a bench trial victory for AMC Network in a major dispute brought by former show runner Frank Darabont and his agents, who alleged that the network owed them hundreds-of-millions of dollars under their profit participation contracts. Currently, Snyder is engaged in a major trial on behalf of founders and early employees of Tinder, who are pursuing a multibillion-dollar claim against Match and InterActiveCorp in the Supreme Court of New York, asserting that the defendants breached and interfered with stock option contracts to increase their profits.

Gregory Arovas - Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Robert Baron - Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Philip Beck - Bartlit Beck LLP

Mark Cheffo - Dechert LLP

Richard Clary - Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Jay Cohen - Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Lynne Hermle - Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Joan Lukey - Choate, Hall & Stewart

Aaron Marks - Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Steven Molo - MoloLamken LLP

William Pratt - Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Michael Rhodes - Cooley LLP

Richard Strassberg - Goodwin

Michael Burg - Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C.

Michael Calhoon - Baker Botts L.L.P.

James Campbell - Campbell Conroy & O’Neil

Michael Dell - Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP