Texas

Dallas-based Bailey Brauer is a litigation boutique equipped with the expertise to litigate an array of practice areas, including antitrust, appellate, business torts, class and collective actions, complex commercial litigation, products liability, employment, trade secrets and wrongful death claims. Name partner Clayton Bailey stands as one of the top trial and appellate lawyers distinguished for litigating complex tort and commercial matters, as well as putative antitrust class actions. Bailey is one of a handful of lawyers in his age bracket with experience representing clients on both plaintiff and defense sides of the aisle. His clients come from a wide variety of industries, recently including a former professional coach of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake club and one of the largest chicken producers in Mexico, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation.  

Bradley is a long-time leader in the southeast of the country, with roughly half of its force dedicated to litigation. The firm’s headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama has the largest concentration of its litigators, trailed by its Jackson, Mississippi and Nashville, Tennessee offices. Bradley’s acclaimed product liability practice garnered it national recognition, and is still a prized practice, along with commercial and appellate litigation, which have risen to prominence as well.

     The firm has several lawyers who have mastered the art of handling mass torts and multidistrict litigation. Product liability expert David Hymer has been the co-lead counsel defending CVS Health in a series of opioid-epidemic lawsuits nationwide.  He has been leading the team on five bellwether cases related to the MDL proceeding pending in the Northern District of Ohio. Hymer's team is responsible for overseeing document production efforts across all cases. Lindsey Boney has recently been leading clients in the life sciences industry through multidistrict litigation. Boney and fellow expert in product liability cases Kim Martin were lead counsel to Wyeth (whose parent company is Pfizer) in a case alleging that it engaged in off-label promotion of its prescription medicine amiodarone. Boney led oral argument before the First District of the California Court of Appeal, which published an opinion of its affirmed dismissal.

     Martin, partner in the Huntsville office, and Birmingham partner Leigh Anne Hodge are both nationally recognized as product liability authorities. Along with Jackson, Mississippi partners Will Manuel and Margaret Cupples, they lead the teams in the high-profile 3M multidistrict litigation regarding its allegedly defective earplugs. Manuel and Cupples are leading teams in the MDL consolidated in the Northern District of Florida, where they have been handling depositions and discovery. Cupples serves as national writing counsel for the team. Martin and Hodge have been leading the Case Specific Expert Team, which has been supervising a team of more than 20 of the firm’s lawyers to handle expert reports and depositions, including coordinating with ENT experts for plaintiffs across the 121 cases the team is responsible for handling in Waves 1 and 2. Martin, Hodge, and Manuel specialize in other areas in addition to product liability. Martin’s practice also includes white-collar crime and False Claims Act litigation, in which she recently obtained a dismissal in a case. Hodge serves as the firm’s co-chair of the litigation group and has developed expertise in handling matters on behalf of the healthcare industry. She recently handled a number of cases on behalf of Fresenius, litigating an array of matters from product liability mass tort to medical malpractice lawsuits. She is additionally lead on ERISA [DJ1] cases, currently handling a case on behalf of MetLife. Manuel represents an accounting firm, Horne, in a bankruptcy-related case alleging professional liability claims after farmers sold grain to the now-insolvent grain dealer Express Grain Terminals (EGT). Owing to EGT’s bankruptcy, declared after the sale, the farmers were not paid or were drastically underpaid and have since filed lawsuits against the client and the company’s bank.

     Birmingham partner Anne Marie Seibel has maintained a nationwide practice that involves class actions and multi-plaintiff commercial disputes. As of late, she has been defending Priceline against lawsuits challenging the tax services provided by online travel companies like Priceline. After the pandemic, two cases were filed, framed as False Claims Act lawsuits. Seibel removed one to federal court, and one remains in state court, involving issues of first impression for the Nevada False Claims Act. Seibel secured a summary judgment ruling in the federal court case.

A national powerhouse, Gibson Dunn’s scope of services extends beyond litigation, but in this disputes capacity, it has consistently displayed its prowess in almost every sub-practice area. The firm has extended well beyond its California roots and has gone on to claim a dominant position in every US locale in which it operates. “They are obviously smart litigators with a well deserved great reputation. We see them a lot,” testifies one peer. Another extols, “They are professional, zealous advocates. They handle DEI and employment issues deftly — they’ve got strong depth, especially in DC." Even in smaller jurisdictions, it is noted that Gibson Dunn goes all in. One example is Colorado, where a local peer confirms, “Out of all the national firms here, Gibson Dunn has invested the most in staying in Denver. It’s mostly labor and employment and investigations, but it’s still a strong and visible group.”
     Perhaps nowhere is this demonstrated greater than the firm’s move into Texas, which it has implemented with aplomb, establishing itself as one of the top shops in both the Houston and Dallas markets.  “Gibson Dunn does what they do,” sums up a local peer, “and they are very selective. They take only a few cases, and they work the hell out of them.” Another goes so far as to address them as “perhaps the strongest shop in Dallas right now, and they did it fast! There are a lot of great firms here that have been here much longer.” A multi-city Texas team of trial team composed of Trey Cox, Colin Cox and Gregg Costa secured a resounding victory for Energy Transfer in a case that held that First Amendment rights did not extend to violent and destructive behavior. After more than three weeks of trial in North Dakota, a state court jury awarded over $660 million in damages against Greenpeace and its affiliates. Energy Transfer had argued that Greenpeace had facilitated trespass, nuisance, and civil conspiracy in relation to demonstrations held against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Costa and Trey Cox reside in Dallas, while Colin Cox sits in Houston. “Colin Cox is excellent,” insists a peer. “He was at a local firm, and candidly it was assumed by all that he would be the heir apparent for a more senior partner. When that didn’t happen, Colin left and went to Gibson Dunn to help build their Houston office, which he’s doing a great job with. He’s going to get more opportunities to shine there.” Dallas-based appellate star Allyson Ho scored big in June 2024 when the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled to reverse the contrary decisions of three lower courts, handing client Truck Insurance Exchange a resounding victory in a case concerning allegations of widespread fraud among claimants seeking insurance recovery from a bankruptcy trust for asbestos injuries. 

     The firm continues to dominate in its native California. Los Angeles’ Theane Evangelis, whose practice traverses appellate, employment,  media and entertainment, and class actions, won a victory on behalf of the City of Grants Pass, Oregon in a landmark case addressing whether the Eighth Amendment bars local governments from enforcing public-camping regulations after the Ninth Circuit held that it would be cruel and unusual to impose any punishment, no matter how small, for sleeping on public property if a person has no access to alternative shelter. Antitrust and class-action partner Sam Liversidge also receives peer plaudits. “My first time working with him on was [on a case regarding] HP but he was very good. He takes a bold position in trial.” Brian Lutz in the San Francisco office is representing Meta (Facebook) in a high-profile securities class action and shareholder-derivative action arising out of misuse of user data by Cambridge Analytica, and Facebook’s $5 billion resolution of allegations by the FTC that Facebook violated a consent decree. After three orders dismissing the action, the Ninth Circuit reversed, with a dissent. Lutz convinced the US Supreme Court to review the Ninth Circuit’s opinion. “We work with Brian Lutz on this Meta stuff,” confirms a co-counsel. “He is fantastic and a true pleasure to work with.”
     Gibson Dunn’s New York office is home to two of its “next-generation” stars in the intellectual property capacity. Dr. Jane Love is noted by patent-focused peers as having “done a lot of work on the bio side,” and Brian Rosenthal is noted for his work with in the tech space. “Brian represents Apple, and he’s fantastic.”

Texas litigation boutique Hicks Thomas operates its trial acumen out of its Houston headquarters and additional offices in Austin, Amarillo and Beaumont. The firm’s focus on litigation, developed over 25 years, has expanded its capabilities across practice areas. “There is not really any type of litigation in Texas which I would not consider using them for,” says a client. Its bench strength and business-savvy approach is also complimented by a client. “They were very easy to work [with], prepared and effective,” the client notes. “Most importantly, they never lost sight of the business realities that needed to be taken into account in resolving the litigation.”

     Co-founder of the firm John Thomas is a leading litigator with a diverse history of cases including commercial, intellectual, oil and gas, and environmental litigation. He has been the lead partner handling a series of cases for Mattress Firm. Thomas is currently engaged in representing former executives and developers in a lawsuit arising from a multi-year fraud, bribery and kickback scheme which involved the senior management of a retail company, real estate brokerage firm and multiple developers. The case has garnered significant press and media attention. Beaumont-based partner Jay Old is recognized for his vast experience and capability across practice areas, including insurance, product liability, professional liability, healthcare, and construction litigation. Old and lead partner Courtney Ervin are representing a well-known insurance company in a complex coverage case challenging what constitutes financial losses under commercial general liability policy. This year, Ervin was elevated to “Litigation Star” status. Her focus on commercial and business disputes is coupled with an emphasis on resolving matters on behalf of clients in the energy and construction fields. Ervin represents Southcross Gulf Coast Transmission in its lawsuit against Max Midstream Texas after the defendant refused to make payments pursuant to the purchase agreement for the Karnes-Wharton-Refugio pipeline. The case is currently pending. Meanwhile, in a separate area of practice, Ervin represents Valaris in a maritime law dispute challenging fault and causation for accidents at sea.

     An accomplished commercial litigator of the Houston office, Robin Harrison receives compliments from clients for his trusted representation and his depth of expertise. “Robin is a very smart and talented litigator,” describes the client. “He is calm in all circumstances and his experience allows him to handle cases efficiently and with less strain on the client.” Harrison acts as lead trial and appellate lawyer representing GPH in its suit against Benelux Cosmetics and Anviri Cosmetics alleging breach of contract, conversion, and business disparagement claims. Defendant Benelux filed counterclaims alleging breach of contract, breach of warranty, fraud and deceptive trade practices. On appeal at the 14^th Court of Appeals in Houston, Harrison reversed the jury’s verdict on the counterclaims. The court rendered a judgment that reversed a nearly $3 million award and found Benelux did not present legally sufficient evidence to support a damages award.

With offices across the country and around the world, Hunton Andrews Kurth is praised for its ability to provide clients with exceptional service across many practice areas. Clients have noted the variety of issues for which they can turn to the firm: “Class actions, regulatory advice, cybersecurity litigation, and arbitration.” Another client shared, “Hunton Andrews Kurth has provided a variety of legal services to us recently. Hunton has provided advice and counsel on commercial contracts, litigation, class action litigation, employment issues and franchising.” In the same vein, the client commented on the firm’s service, adding, “Hunton brings a level of service that is above and beyond what we experience with other firms. They understand the client and provide counsel in a timely manner.”

From the Houston office, Kelsey Hope’s focus is complex commercial disputes with an emphasis in the managed-care industry. Hope was on the team that secured a victory for the Rite Aid Corporation against litigation brought on by a group of insurance and pharmacy benefit companies seeking more than $100 million from the national pharmacy chain for allegedly overcharging for prescription medications. After a two-week trial, within a few hours the jury returned a ruling in favor of Rite Aid.

Another member of that team, Chris Dufek focuses on antitrust and consumer protection. Dufek, who works out of the Washington DC office, has represented clients in complex commercial and class action cases concerning antitrust and consumer protection laws, cybersecurity, fraud, and contractual disputes.

Richmond-based Elbert Lin receives praise from peers who said: “Elbert Lin – He's the man!” Lin served as one of the lead counsels when the firm won a nearly $47 million judgment for its client Dewberry Engineers (“Dewberry”), a provider of professional services for the built environment against defendant Dewberry Group, a real estate company. The judgment, entered by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after a three-day trial, resulting from Dewberry’s claims against the defendant for federal and state trademark infringement and breach of contract.

In the New York office, Jeremy Boczko focuses on intellectual property rights. He has represented clients in trademark, copyright, and patent trials. Fellow New York partner Armin Ghiam advises clients on intellectual property assets in mergers and acquisitions. He also has experience with patent preparation. Together they were lead partners representing Hisamitsu America, the maker of SALONPAS Brand Pain Relieving Patches. Scilex accused Hisamitsu of mislabeling these patches by marketing their products as “maximum strength” within the over-the-counter category. The court has dismissed the bulk of Scilex’s claims.

In Florida, Andrea DeField focuses on recovering insurance funds. She also leads Hunton's cyber insurance practice. She was a lead on the team that secured a victory for the United States Sugar Corporation. US Sugar’s insurer refused to provide coverage for the expenses incurred in defending a bet-the-company environmental case regarding its practice of cane-burning. The court found that the policy covered the cane-burning action and that the insurer owed US Sugar more than $6.5 million in defense expenses.

King & Spalding is unique in that it is one of the only firms with origins in Atlanta to have achieved its level of national prominence. The firm has, in fact, attained global reach, particularly through its international arbitration team, historically acknowledged as one of the strongest in the US – a position it still claims today. King & Spalding has built upon its deep bench with several star players over the past several years, first with trial ace Randy Mastro [since departed to become First Deputy Mayor of New York City] and then with Dallas-based antitrust star Veronica Moyé, both formerly with Gibson Dunn. The firm also took on Jennifer Recine, a real estate and commercial star formerly with Kasowitz. “They have done very well with recruiting, and were already quite strong,” assesses a peer. Another contemporary (and former opponent) testifies on behalf of individual partners. "They were not unnecessarily combative in ways that made settlement difficult. Their briefs were excellent, and they were true stand-up lawyers. It's always great to have professionals on the other side who fight hard but don't engage in unnecessary back-and-forth that wastes everyone’s time." 
     The Atlanta office is still a dominant presence in the city. “Whether they want to admit it or not, in Atlanta, it’s King & Spalding and then the rest of us,” quips a local peer. “If you’ve got clients like Coca-Cola, you’ve got Atlanta on lockdown.” This office is particularly celebrated for its product liability practice, historically one of the strongest in the US, in which Andy Bayman is a central figure. “Andy is terrific,” declares a peer. “He came up under [since-retired product liability luminary] Chilton Varner, and he is making great use of this.” Bayman and Ursula Henninger represent Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals as national defense counsel for all federal and state claims arising from allegations that Zantac is associated with an increased risk of cancer. The King & Spalding duo secured a ruling disposing of all 50,000 remaining claims in the MDL and defeated the plaintiffs’ efforts to certify nationwide and state class actions and is currently acting as trial counsel in multiple state courts. In May 2024, the duo led the team representing Boehringer in the first Zantac-related trial in state court in Cook County, Illinois. Plaintiffs sought $640 million in damages, and the King & Spalding team secured a defense verdict, with the jurors rejecting the claim that Zantac caused an Illinois woman’s colon cancer. “Considering the ‘judicial hell hole’ that Cook County is for defense [lawyers,] this is a milestone,” remarks a peer. Beyond product liability, Atlanta’s David Balser represents Capital One Bank in multiple class actions concerning allegations of breach of fiduciary duty regarding practices put in place on some of Capital One’s accounts.
     King & Spalding’s New York office is home to some of its most recognized white-collar and enforcement stars. Carmen Lawrence and Bill Johnson represent Archegos Capital Management, LP and the Archegos Fund, LP in connection with the highly publicized multi-agency criminal and civil investigations and resulting enforcement actions conducted by, among others, SEC, CFTC, and New York US Attorney’s Office regarding the circumstances leading up to the $36 billion private investment firm’s March 2021 default on margin calls and ultimate collapse. These investigations have resulted in ongoing enforcement actions against Archegos by the SEC and CFTC, and criminal actions against several former directors. Thus far, Lawrence and Johnson have successfully moved to dismiss the CFTC enforcement action. Mike Stenglein, who works from New York as well as Austin, Texas, demonstrates the firm’s “very deep dedication” to the international arbitration arena. Stenglein led a team that secured $900 million for Reficar in its high-profile dispute with US contractor CB&I over the construction of an oil refinery in Colombia. The King & Spalding team Reficar in both the ICC construction arbitration and the subsequent enforcement proceedings in multiple international jurisdictions. In January 2025, the award was confirmed.

Since its inception, McKool Smith has established itself as a litigation force to be reckoned with, a reputation that continues today on the strength of its deep bench of trial lawyers that spans seven offices throughout the US (four in Texas, the state in which the firm saw its genesis.) Firm figurehead and founder Mike McKool has since departed, but the firm retains the name and its image as frequent and battle-tested denizens of the courtroom. “McKool is a real trial firm,” states one peer in summation. “Those people have trials in their DNA!” Another concurs, “The culture there is one that has long been imbued by giving their all in court.” Clients are equally appreciative of the firm’s approach. “They understand current trends in highly specialized areas of litigation. They identify risks and opportunities and guide towards meaningful resolutions.”
     A new litigation star making her debut in this edition, Jennifer Truelove, a versatile practitioner in the Marshall, Texas office who has demonstrated a particular flair for patent litigation, helped secure a $303 million patent-infringement verdict on behalf of Netlist against Samsung, with a jury finding Samsung willfully infringed three of Netlist’s patents related to computer memory technology. Netlist had previously licensed the patents to Samsung, but that agreement expired in 2020. After the license expired, Samsung continued to knowingly use semiconductor memory products that infringed Netlist’s patents. The verdict was announced in April 2023, following a jury trial. Truelove scored against Samsung again in April 2024, when, as co-counsel, she secured a patent infringement verdict for $142 million, including a running royalty on behalf of G+ Communications. In the Dallas office, David Sochia represents PARC in a multi-patent case against Facebook, Twitter, and Snap involving advertising and social media technologies. A peer in the patent space insists, “David Sochia – you’ve got to look closer at him!” Michael Fritz, also in Dallas, is touted for commercial and intellectual property litigation. Fritz is cheered by a client as “very thorough and a good communicator.” While the firm’s Lone Star State operations have a well earned legacy for patent work, that is not exclusively the focus of practitioners in these offices. “[Houston’s] John Sparacino is an outstanding attorney,” extols one peer. “And he does no patent work, to my knowledge – he’s doing bankruptcy work!”    
     McKool Smith has experienced substantial growth outside of Texas as well, both in practice-area breadth and in practitioner headroom. In New York, Christopher Johnson leads a team acting on behalf of HSBC, as trustee, in litigating coordinated cases that collectively seek repurchase of nearly $2 billion of defective mortgage loans. All cases survived motions to dismiss, and the parties subsequently reached tentative settlements in all cases between May and October 2023. Two other partners acting with Johnson on this case, Courtney Statfeld and Robert Scheef, are also earning their own favorable impressions from clients. “Courtney Statfeld is an excellent litigator with strong courtroom skills and great presence,” enthuses one peer. “She is also very good at distilling complex facts into clear, effective arguments.” Another client raves on Scheef’s behalf, “Rob Scheef has a masterful understanding of the RMBS litigation environment.  He offers thoughtful litigation advice beyond nuts and bolts, and he sees the entire picture.”
     Domiciled in the DC office, Alan Whitehurst is praised by a client as “a strategic thinker [who] possesses [an] outstanding blend of poised advocacy, technical skills, and tactical judgment. He is a strong advocate in IP litigation and is achievement oriented.”

A litigation boutique with a plaintiff-side ethos, Reid Collins & Tsai has crafted itself as a maverick in the world of trial litigation. The firm has strategically expanded from its Texas roots to include posts in the New York, Delaware and District of Columbia markets. The firm's calculated five-office footprint has amassed national recognition, notably for its high-stakes commercial and bankruptcy litigation. An appreciative client testifies, “Reid Collins represented me in my capacity as a Trustee for a post-confirmation bankruptcy trust where they pursued recovery of significant avoidable transfers.”
     Co-founding partner hailing from the Austin office, Bill Reid enjoys a far-reaching reputation as an all-purpose trial lawyer equipped to handle any case. He and the team have led a variety of critical lawsuits, obtaining and preserving billions of dollars in judgments, settlements, and value while creating critical precedent in myriad financial fraud, insolvency, and professional liability matters, among others. In one such matter, Reid leads a team that is litigation counsel for the lead trustee of GWG Litigation Trust in connection with the investigation and pursuit of the debtors’ potential litigation claims. The investigation seeks to expose and remedy an alleged self-dealing scheme that resulted in the debtors losing hundreds of millions of dollars prior to and connection with the Chapter 11 of GWG, a provider of insurance services, which encompassed several instances of fraudulent transfer and other malfeasance. The Litigation Trust has reached four settlements so far in the case, which resulted in approximately $91.3 million in total gross recoveries. Eric Madden also enjoys a rising profile on the strength of his bankruptcy and commercial work, burnishing his credentials further with a “Bankruptcy Litigator of the Year” win at the Benchmark awards gala in March 2025. Madden represents the successor to Insys Therapeutics, Insys Liquidation Trust, formed after the company’s illegal off-label marketing scheme led it to bankruptcy due to a series of criminal proceedings, class actions and civil cases that resulted in racketeering charges against executives and a $225 million fine to settle other investigations. Madden served as lead counsel in the company’s investigation and prosecution of claims against former executives and related professionals. He successfully negotiated a $175 million settlement with the company’s outside directors – among other favorable settlements and judgments. “Eric Madden is a very strategic thinker and extremely thorough,” extols a client. “He has consistently demonstrated his strong analytical, creative, communication and negotiating skills in the cases where I’ve had the opportunity to work with him.”  Managing partner and co-founder Lisa Tsai led a matter on which she filed suit on behalf of a partner and co-founder of private-equity entity Emerald Lake Capital Management against several individuals who are alleged to have engaged in a bad-faith scheme to confiscate the client’s valuable partnership interest and carried interest grants, and attempting to conceal this by making false and defamatory statements to Emerald Lake investors. The client sought no less than $40 million in compensatory damages. A client weighs in with glowing commentary on Tsai's behalf: "If you are a plaintiff with a complex business dispute and significant value on the line, you need Lisa Tsai in your corner. Tsai is battle tested and one of the most skilled professionals I have ever worked with. She will literally run circles around big law teams three times her size. She is the kind of person who can quickly diligence a complex case, file it, take it through trial, and stand up a massive verdict against a well-resourced opponent."

Reynolds Frizzell is one of Houston’s many litigation boutiques and one that has etched itself a prized position in that particular market, with peers and clients offering their praise on the firm’s behalf. “They are one of my top go-to litigation counsel, particularly in the oil and gas industry that I operate within,” testifies one client. Indeed, the firm’s calling card is heavy with energy-related matters, in keeping with Houston’s primary economic driver. However, Reynolds Frizzell partners have been called into service for matters ranging from professional malpractice matters to commercial matters involving avocados.

     In one recent novel matter, Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Chris Reynolds and Jean Frizzell to pursue patent-infringement cases against Noble Corporation plc (along with various of its subsidiaries and affiliates) and Diamond Offshore Drilling (along with various of its affiliates and subsidiaries). The four patents at issue in the two cases cover the dual-activity technology that Transocean had patented with respect to offshore drilling in ultra-deep waters. The case against Noble covers five different drill ships.  This case was successfully resolved in October 2020. Frizzell was also selected to represent the Dallas Police and Firefighters Pension Fund in its claim against its former actuarial firm for breaching its contractual, statutory and common-law duties in connection with the inception of and modifications to a DROP program (deferred retirement plan) that was purportedly designed to retain senior employees, but instead put the entire pension system at risk after billions in losses. Frizzell was also chosen to lead a team that was hired in 2019 to help original counsel prepare and try a major pipeline construction dispute on behalf of USPL against Rover, which is owned in majority part by Energy Transfer. USPL was seeking approximately $100 million in damages for extra work. In turn, Rover counterclaimed and asserted that USPL did faulty work with respect to certain geotechnical-related work and what Rover claims to be “restoration failures” along the pipeline route. Rover’s claim was for approximately $36 million in damages. Jeremy Doyle was hired Performance Contractors to represent it, as co-counsel with another firm, in connection with a construction dispute involving a $900 million polyethylene plant. The parties are currently engaged in discovery and the lawsuit is set for trial in September 2021. Mike Oldham was retained by World Garden in a suit filed in federal court to enforce World’s Garden’s exclusive distribution agreement with Calavo, the largest producer of avocados and guacamole.  World’s Garden is Calavo’s exclusive distributor to Europe and parts of Asia. World’s Garden asserts claims for fraud and breach of contract, alleging that World’s Garden has established a strong and growing market for Calavo’s products in Europe but now Calavo seeks to cut World’s Garden out and service those international markets directly. 

Sidley Austin occupies a prestigious position that has grown far beyond its Chicago roots and blossomed into a full-service international powerhouse. “They really cover the waterfront,” declares a peer, speaking to depth and breadth of the firm’s practice portfolio. “They have some great people across almost every area.” While the firm has grown to global stature, it is still considered primarily for its national footprint, particularly in its offices in LA and San Francisco, Dallas, DC and New York, as well as the aforementioned Windy City. The firm is also cheered for its approach to litigation; one peer testifies, “I’ve recently had good experiences with Sidley. They are not only good litigators but there’s also an ethic there across the board. You can tell how they lean, they’re very polite, and I value that. I view that as someone you want to work with. You know, we’re in litigation, but we don’t have to be doing battle all the time.”
     The firm’s DC office, already considered one of its strongest, made a significant augmentation in 2024, when it lured Greg Williams and Richard Smith to its ranks from Wiley Rein. “Greg and Richard were at Covington [& Burling] before – they seem to be moving in parallel! They are both great, and that’s a nice boost for [Sidley.]” Williams’ hire has been viewed as a strategic enhancement to the firm’s international arbitration and litigation practice, which has historically been regarded as one of the country’s most seasoned. The firm’s DC office is also home another Covington alumnus, Jennifer Saulino, a product liability star who makes the remarkable three-pronged debut in Benchmark as a litigation star, one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America, and one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation on the strength of some considerable credentials and peer review. “Jennifer belongs in the top league,” insists another peer on the Top 100 Trial Lawyers list. “She’s versatile and great on her feet in court, where she spends a lot of time.” Saulino obtained a major victory on behalf of Roundup herbicide manufacturer Monsanto in a product-liability trial alleging that Roundup was linked to the plaintiffs’ injuries. In March 2024, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their case with prejudice, unable to prove that Roundup was the cause of their alleged injuries. The judge accepted the dismissal with prejudice and discharged the jury. The DC office is also home to not only the firm’s but the country’s top appellate luminaries, Carter Phillips. “I often forget to mention him, not because he’s not still killing it, but just because I take it as such a given,” states a peer. Phillips secured a major victory when the Second Circuit affirmed a judgment against Lynn Tilton and her companies for breaching her fiduciary duties to TransCare and conducting an actual fraudulent conveyance. Phillips argued the appeal and led the briefing team. DC’s William Levi is namechecked as the next generation of appellate firepower. “Will came into a case we had involving Microsoft, and he was the lead on the legal issues team. He’s not a trial lawyer, but he’s a great appellate counselor. He can write a brief on the fly that tells the judge the facts with common sense.”
     Based in the New York office, Eamon Joyce, who makes the leap from future star to litigation star in this edition, recently successfully settled the last of a series of putative class action cases, which began in 2014, involving allegations that Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s flushable wipes are not in fact flushable. In a series of cases filed around the country, plaintiffs (consumers and municipalities) alleged the claims of “flushable” and “sewer-and-septic safe” on the packages for Cottonelle and other Kimberly-Clark brand flushable wipes were false and misleading. In the firm’s San Francisco office, Sarah Brody is routinely championed by peers in securities capacity. “I’m a big fan of Sarah,” declares one, “and she’s got a great practice. She has had a lot of cases involving startups – there are a lot of them in the Bay Area – that go public…and then they fail. Sarah has had a sweet spot with that.” In the labor and employment practice, Wendy Lazerson is praised by a client as “very experienced, smart, and knowledgeable, who diligently and thoughtfully represented our interests.” In the Los Angeles office, Debra Pole has long been acknowledged as a product liability trial lawyer. “She’s still a rockstar,” enthuses a peer. “She still commands the room.”

Houston litigation boutique Smyser Kaplan & Veselka enjoys a praise-worthy reputation in the city’s legal community. The firm was established by three litigators recognized as the city’s top litigation talent – Craig Smyser, Lee Kaplan and Larry Veselka. Since its founding, the three name partners have built a bench of trial lawyers across practice areas. A client comments, “Strategy and trial. This is one of our go-to firms for trials. Across the board, this is the best Texas trial firm.” The firm has historically been recognized for its energy industry representation, most notably, though, for its capability to represent operators and mineral owners alike.

     While the firm’s senior talent is unquestionably embedded in the city’s primary industry of energy, Smyser Kaplan is not exclusive to that sector. White-collar crime litigator Dane Ball is among the firm’s younger established partners, and one who whose work crosses all industry sectors. Ball is the lead lawyer defending an individual indicted on alleged fraud charges following the $1 billion collapse of First NBC Bank, one of the largest bank fraud cases.

     Ball and Smyser successfully defended McKesson against a multidistrict litigation lawsuit filed by 77 Texas counties using novel public nuisance legal theory to allege that McKesson played a key role in the opioid epidemic. States and counties have sought to hold distributors and manufacturers accountable nationwide. Smyser as lead counsel advocated for McKesson and co-defendants during hearings, led negotiations, and set the strategy for defense. Smyser and Ball negotiated a settlement as part of a state-wide agreement. In another Texas-centered case, the partners make up the team serving as defense counsel for the Director of Safety for the Astroworld Festival. The team is in the midst of deposing plaintiffs in the MDL alleging personal injury, negligence, and wrongful death claims.

     Veselka’s civil and commercial practice over the last year has handled cases for a diversity of clients. He represented the Mineral Interest Owners in a large ranch, Petty Business Enterprises, in their lawsuit against lessees for failure to pay all royalties due. Originally, the claim was filed in state court, but Veselka moved the case to Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas where it was tried. Veselka won more than $10 million for the plaintiffs in the court’s Memorandum Opinion, leading to a successful settlement that was approved by the Judge in June 2022. Veselka is currently handling a white-collar crime matter, as well as a commercial case representing the plaintiff, Patriot Contracting, against subcontractors and the owner of a mixed use, mid-rise, two-block apartment building. Veselka is asserting claims and defending counterclaims filed by the owner.

     Kaplan led a team that represented Vitol Americas Corporation in a breach of contract and fraud lawsuit against Targa Channelview over the construction of a splitter facility in Channelview. Following a hotly contested five-week bench trial held virtually, the firm’s team obtained a $158 million judgment in the client’s favor. Kaplan and the team, which includes appellate specialist Garland Murphy, successfully defended the win at the 14^th Court of Appeals and is currently taking the case to the Texas Supreme Court. Murphy is also working with Kaplan in representing Vitol in another business litigation case against Targa in one of the many cases to erupt from the February 2021 winter Storm Uri.

Historically known as an “old-line Houston firm” (and still a dominant force in that metropolis), within fairly short order Susman Godfrey has reinvented itself as a litigation juggernaut with national ambitions, which it has fulfilled through its offices in New York and Los Angeles. These offices, while newer, have quickly become key players in their respective markets due to each being populated by high-level trial talent juggling a hybrid of plaintiff and defense commercial, antitrust, securities and intellectual property litigation with exceptionally high stakes. “Susman is the gold standard, still the best,” opines a Texas peer. “They started as a boutique but [they are] not one boutique anymore – they are 140 lawyers in three states! They are kicking ass and taking names.” Susman is universally revered for its dedication to a prized culture – developed and fostered by founding partner and (since-deceased) trial lawyer extraordinaire Stephen Susman – that grooms the “elite corps” of litigation. Peers acknowledge the firm’s strategic expansion with typical admiration. “Susman Godfrey is a like a litigation boutique that has gone haywire - in a good way! They didn’t just grow for the sake of adding headcount. They put fabulous people in all stations.” Eschewing market trends, the firm marches to the beat of its own drum. One peer marvels: “Susman Godfrey is so innovative! They really bring the best of breed in terms of skills, and it’s top-to-bottom. It’s not just a bunch of old guys. Their younger people are every bit as impressive.” Another confirms, “It’s always fun litigating against Susman Godfrey. Then it’s real, then it’s more traditional court work, more hand-to-hand combat, as opposed to the paper pushing and procedural distractions you get from other firms.”
     No stranger to high-profile, newsworthy cases that regularly log headlines in the legal publications, Susman Godfrey landed front-and-center in the middle of a case few could ignore even outside the legal community: the representation of Dominion Voting Systems as trial counsel against Fox News in a defamation lawsuit, initially valued at $1.6 billion, alleging that Fox and the other defendants gave life to a manufactured storyline about election fraud to boost ratings and propagate the lie that the 2020 Presidential Election was rigged, among a series of other false statements about Dominion. The Susman team, composed of New York’s Stephen Shackelford, Houston’s Justin Nelson (who a peer calls a “super sharp lawyer and strategist), and Los Angeles’s Davida Brook, landed a milestone victory in April 2023, securing a $787 million settlement on Dominion’s behalf. This win proved a watershed moment for defamation cases of this variety, sending shockwaves throughout the legal, political and news and entertainment landscapes. The case follows similar matters filed against other figures alleged to have played a role in these fraudulent election claims, such as Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Mike Lindell (MyPillow CEO), and Newsmax, the latter of which the Susman team won partial summary judgment against in 2024. Trial is scheduled for 2025.   

     The firm’s groundbreaking courtroom action for the year certainly doesn’t end with Dominion. New York’s Jacob Buchdahl scored a $1.6 billion judgment in April 2025 after an 11-day bench trial in New York state court on behalf of BML Properties in a long-running fraud lawsuit against China Construction America (CCA) arising from the development of the proposed Bahamian luxury resort Baha Mar, which failed to open on time and eventually faced bankruptcy. The client developed the multibillion-dollar resort complex and hired CCA in 2011 as the construction manager and general contractor for the project. However, beginning in May 2014, CCA deliberately misled the client about its intentions and ability to complete and open the resort to paying guests by March 2015, as planned and agreed to by both parties. Steven Shepard is praised by a client for “identifying the right issues at hand and finding the most appropriate legal solution. Steven's work is always of impeccable quality, and his advocate skills are absolutely brilliant.” Trial evergreen Bill Carmodyand Houston future star Sy Polky secured a $266 million verdict in November 2024 on behalf of the City of Baltimore against McKesson and AmerisourceBergen in the City’s nearly seven-year lawsuit against the opioid distributors and manufacturers that fueled what is purportedly the worst opioid epidemic in the nation. Carmody also led a team that served as lead trial counsel for a class of Direct TV subscribers, the plaintiffs in a case against the NFL concerning Sunday Ticket games, which are no longer available to residential subscribers and must be viewed in a commercial venue or by a YouTube account. The team obtained a victory after three weeks of trial, with a jury finding the NFL engaged in a conspiracy and violated antitrust laws. The jury awarded more than $4.7 billion in damages.
     Based in the firm’s Los Angeles office, Marc Seltzer is championed by a client as “a ‘lawyer's lawyer’ –logical, with an encyclopedic knowledge of law in his areas of specialization as well as litigation generally.”Kalpana Srinivasan is hailed as someone who has “done a tremendous job building out that office, particularly in IP and plaintiff work, and has had really stand-up roles in trial.” A team composed of Srinivasan, Seltzer, Carmody, Amanda Bonn (another Los Angeles partner) and Houston’s Max Tribble won a $65.7 million jury verdict in September 2024 after a four-day trial on behalf of Paltalk Holdings, a global communications software innovator, in a patent-infringement lawsuit against Cisco Systems in the Western District of Texas. Paltalk initially filed the lawsuit in 2021 based on infringement of its patent related to hybrid audio servers by Cisco’s Webex products. 

The nationally recognized labor and employment practice at Hunton Andrews Kurth is accomplished in both employment litigation and traditional labor disputes. The firm’s reach extends across the US with offices in active markets like California, Texas, Georgia, and DC. This year, Virginia-based partner Kurt Larkin is distinguished for his exceptional work in traditional labor, handling collective bargaining negotiations, union organizing, and high-stakes NLRB disputes. Larkin has worked alongside the employment team in matters that involve labor issues, recently pairing up with employment litigator Emily Burkhardt Vicente in several matters. As a member of the Los Angeles office, Burkhardt Vicente has dedicated a significant portion of her practice to litigating FLSA class and collective actions and PAGA claims. Her employment litigation practice also spans other areas, as she and the co-head of the unfair competition and information protection task force Roland Juarez have handled trade secrets cases in the Southern District of California. Juarez is among the firm’s experts in employee mobility litigation. The LA office also houses Michele Beilke and Julia Trankiem who bring a wealth of experience in handling California employment litigation. The duo previously represented a client in a JAMS arbitration. Beilke in particular is well-versed in handling arbitrations, as well as jury trials. San Francisco-based partner M. Brett Burns is consistently tapped by national companies to handle their complex employment class and collective actions across the US. While Burns is especially known for his wage and hour expertise, he has recently been a lead partner in a class action and investigation that involves one of the EEOC’s high priority issues.

     On the other coast, the DC office features a host of lawyers recognized for their successful labor and employment litigation practice. Susan Wiltsie is among the group’s OSHA experts with vast experience in handling defense against citations, litigation, and whistleblower-related claims. Ryan Bates has recently been active in trade secrets litigation, as well as class and collective actions ranging from wage and hour to independent contractor claims. Kevin White is the co-chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice. He splits his time between handling both employment litigation and labor disputes. White’s labor practice has had him engaged in matters alongside the firm’s traditional labor experts. Robert Quackenboss has developed a niche and successful practice defending clients in class actions alleging that background checks violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). In the Northeast, Boston-based Christopher Pardo represents clients in the region with multiple recent cases in New York district courts. He litigates a vast array of employment matters, recently including trade secrets and restrictive covenants, pay frequency violation allegations, and Title VII discrimination claims.

     In addition to Larkin, Ryan Glasgow operates out of the Virginia office. His breadth of experience is broad and diverse; however, he has developed a specialty in defending employers against wage and hour class actions. Farther South, the firm’s Georgia office is Robert Dumbacher, another of the firm’s partners who seamlessly splits his time between labor relations and employment litigation. Kurt Powell is also a partner within the Virginia office. His practice focuses on employment litigation with a recent matter being a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act in the Northern District of Georgia. Juan Enjamio of the Miami office serves a host of industry-leading national clients. His recent cases have included class and collective actions under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and defending clients in the rare intersect of immigration and employment litigation – allegations of discrimination brought by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients.

     The firm’s practice spans two offices in Texas. In Houston, Scott Nelson received praise from a peer who attests to the partner’s reputation in mentioning that they “think highly of him.” Nelson has defended a client in recently filed independent contractor case throughout Texas’ district courts.The Dallas office features Amber Rogers, a traditional labor lawyer representing management in multifarious labor disputes. She is experienced in collective bargaining, elections and representing clients in unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board. Alan Marcuis is the co-head of the unfair competition and information task force alongside his counterpart Juarez in California. His practice is a mix of traditional labor disputes and employment litigation.

Polsinelli has grown beyond its Kansas City roots to inhabit various strategic locations throughout the country. The firm’s aggressive expansion over the years has equipped it with breadth and depth in many areas of litigation, while still maintaining its premier reputation as a go-to litigation firm for the healthcare industry.

      Chicago’s Mary Clare Bonaccorsi previously served as Polsinelli’s Cross-Department Litigation Chair, while keeping an active practice mainly focusing on the healthcare industry, routinely leading high-stakes corporate internal investigations for clients in healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, her casework often involves false claims act litigation in both state and federal courts throughout the country. Thomas Gemmell and Daniel Reinberg join Bonaccorsi in the Chicago office. Gemmell’s practice mixes IP and business litigation. He leads several industry-specific practices, serving as lead of the unmanned systems and advanced robotics practice and co-lead of both the aviation practice and the transportation and logistics practice. Reinberg like Bonaccorsi concentrates his practice on the healthcare industry.

      John Peterson bridges a geographic and practice divide, practicing in Nashville and Chattanooga as well as Los Angeles, Peterson is a commercial litigator with vast experience in securities as well as real estate, and he is yet another Polsinelli partner devoted to healthcare litigation, an industry essential to Tennessee's economy. New addition to this year’s Litigation Star ranking is Atlanta-based partner Kurt Erskine. His practice’s focus is white collar crime, both investigating and litigating cases against state and federal entities. He is leading a healthcare company through a civil rights investigation conducted by the Department of Justice. Beyond the healthcare industry, Erskine is handling securities and insider trading fraud investigations by the SEC and DOJ, as well as a fraud case filed by the FBI and DOJ. Farah Nicol operates out of the firm’s Raleigh and Los Angeles offices and serves chair of the firm’s litigation department -- the first leader to not be based in Kansas City, the firm’s mainstay. Nicol’s primary focus is on product liability and toxic tort litigation.

     Rounding out the South, Dallas partner Adrienne Frazior debuts this year as a Litigation Star. She leads government investigations with an added expertise in employee benefits. Currently, Frazior defends companies that managed and administered self-funded health benefit plans in a Department of Labor investigation and subsequent litigation. She also defends a company in a matter alleging violations of Missouri Sunshine Laws, initiated by the state’s Attorney General.

     Polsinelli has maintained a commitment to upholding its labor and employment practice. Denise Drake, chair of the labor and employment practice, is among the firm’s leading, Missouri-based litigators. Drake is a leader through and through – leading the practice, the expansion into growing markets, and clients in their disputes. She has been consistently distinguished as a Labor & Employment Star since its inception, maintaining the status with a roster of notable class action disputes. Los Angeles litigator September Rea serves as the firm’s arbitration and dispute resolution vice chair, with Colorado-based Donald Samuels serving alongside her as chair. . Rea leads the California-based lawsuits arising from an investigation into allegations of C-suite misconduct that included abuse, harassment, retaliation and unfair competition. The case has spanned Italy, California, and Texas. Dallas’ Angelo Spinola specializes in handling labor and employment disputes on behalf of clients in the home health industry, particularly hospice and homecare companies. He recently resolved a lawsuit alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) challenging the company’s alleged practice of not including certain nondiscretionary bonuses in the regular rate when calculating overtime pay.