Dispute resolution
Distinguished by its expertise in the sports and cultural sectors, Proskauer Rose LLP has a stellar record in high-profile cases, often on a cross-border and international basis. Bart Williams leads the team from Los Angeles, enjoying a successful track record in high-profile trials and corporate investigations. Splitting his time between Boston and New York, Timothy Mungovan heads the securities litigation practice and is regularly called upon to handle restructurings, bankruptcies and private fund litigation. From New York, Grant Esposito is regularly called upon to handle class actions and arbitration, along with David Fioccola, who focuses his practice on antitrust and breach of contract disputes. As co-head of the firm’s mass torts and product liability group, Lee Popkin in New York is a go to for major consumer brands alongside product liability practice co-head Susan Gutierrez, who is active across the consumer products, medical and pharmaceutical, media and sports sectors from LA. Bradley Ruskin in New York handles disputes at federal, state and international level, while Boston-based Colin Cabral excels in patent, commercial and antitrust disputes. In LA, Shawn Ledingham represents an impressive clientele across the sport, agriculture and pharma sectors.
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Profile
Work Department
Litigation
Position
Bart Williams is one of the nation’s most sought after trial lawyers and commercial litigators. He has served as lead counsel for numerous companies in their most challenging and high-profile matters.
Bart has served as a counselor and trial lawyer for Fortune 500 corporations in a variety of industries, including: sports, media and entertainment, financial services, consumer products, technology and telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and private equity. He has represented multiple major law firms in their most serious professional negligence cases. He has also represented celebrities, government officials and corporate executives individually in high-stakes matters. Bart’s background as a former Assistant United States Attorney has also helped establish him as a “go to” lawyer for internal corporate investigations and white collar criminal defense matters.
In a case Bart handled for the Motion Picture Association of America, CNET News reported, “Real [Networks] has hired some very able attorneys . . . . to represent it. But should it go to trial, Real would do well to hire a lawyer with the same kind of charisma and courtroom presence as Bart Williams. He's the lawyer . . . who is representing the MPAA. I'm no legal expert, but I've got eyes and the judge appeared to be more engaged when Williams addressed her. . . . Cases are supposed to be judged on facts but I'm guessing every advantage helps.”
A leader within Proskauer, Bart is an immediate past member of Proskauer’s Executive Committee and also serves as worldwide chair of the Litigation Department and head of Proskauer’s Los Angeles office.
Bart served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California where he concentrated on complex criminal prosecutions involving allegations of fraud or other business crimes. He obtained convictions in 11 out of 11 jury trials. He received several special commendations during his tenure, including one from the Honorable Louis J. Freeh, then-director of the FBI.
Bart is a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School. He was a starting guard for four years on the Yale Varsity Basketball Team, and received the George McReynolds Award as the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player his senior year.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Prsokauer team has experienced trial lawyers who can effectively develop a case for trial.’
‘Susan Gutierrez is a tireless advocate who will effectively master case facts to develop a winning strategy.'
- 'Bart Williams is a top-notch trial lawyer for high states litigation.'
- 'Lee Popkin is a very effective trial lawyer who is well received by juries.’
Key clients
- Gilead Sciences, Inc.
- Sanderson-Wayne Farms
- Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico
- Worldwide Streaming Company
- Shamrock Capital Advisors
- Bayer/Monsanto
- SoClean, Inc.
- National Football League (NFL)
- Otis Worldwide Corp.
- Major League Soccer (MLS)
- Miramax
- ATP Tour and WTA Tour
- Waste Management
- VXI Global Holdings
Work highlights
Represented Gilead Sciences, Inc. in a $3.6bn antitrust case on allegations that the pharmaceutical company struck an anticompetitive "pay-for-delay" patent settlement related to two HIV medications.
Represented Sanderson Farms in a broiler chicken price-fixing case, which ruled against certain Plaintiffs who accused Sanderson Farms of participating in a supply reduction conspiracy with other producers in the broiler industry between 2008 and 2012.
Acted as lead trial counsel for a worldwide streaming service, a director/writer, and a writer in a defamation case brought by a former criminal prosecutor relating to a television series created by the defendants.