The 2021 Benchmark US Awards were hosted virtually on March 31. 

The Benchmark team speaks with a number of winning firms and litigators to have an in-depth discussion on trial victories, case strategies, and best practices in a virtual podcast. Check back for new recordings!

For a full list of winners, see here. To view the live recording, visit our awards page here.

In 2021 Kaplan Hecker & Fink won Boutique Firm of the Year at the prestigious 2021 Benchmark Litigation US Awards. The firm saw off strong competition from firms and litigators who performed exceptionally at both local and national levels.

In this awards podcast Benchmark Litigation Managing Editor Michael Rafalowich speaks to Robbie Kaplan, Julie Fink, and Sean Hecker, as they dive into Kaplan Hecker’s practice and success this year, its growth, and how the firm stands apart from its competitors.

Our San Francisco Litigator of the Year, Alto Litigation, is a Californian firm with a Silicon Valley mindset, which is allowing it to make a big impact with a small, tech-empowered team.

In this podcast, managing editor Michael Rafalowich meets lead partner and founder Bahram Seyedin-Noor, to discuss how technology and a willingness to do things differently has combined with big-firm expertise at this decidedly boutique business. Covering the lessened impact of the pandemic on a firm familiar with flexible working, the discussion raises some fascinating questions about what tools and techniques firms could be adopting to be more agile, accountable, and in-tune with their employees.

In 2021 Hueston Hennigan took home awards for California Trial Firm of the Year, California Trial Lawyer of the Year, Los Angeles Firm of the Year and Los Angeles Litigator of the Year - a big impact for a boutique firm! In this awards podcast Benchmark Litigation Managing Editor Michael Rafalowich dives into the firm's attitude, strategy, and areas of focus post-Covid, alongside partner Vicki Chou and counsel Brittani A. Jackson

Bailey Kennedy is a firm that takes pride in its down-to-earth ethos, despite the sometimes wild cases that can fall into the path of a business based in the City of Sin.

In this special podcast with Benchmark Litigation, managing editor Michael Rafalowich meets three of the partners at the firm: Joshua M. Dickey; Sarah E. Harmon; and Joshua P. Gilmore, to uncover how a flat structure and a team mentality both reflects and fosters Bailey Kennedy's client-focused, service-centric strategy to litigation work.

Sanford Heisler Sharp walked away with two of our awards in 2021, with the firm taking Best Labor and Employment Employee Firm of the year, and firm chairman and founder David Sanford collecting Best Labor and Employment Employee Litigator of the Year.

In this special podcast, David Sanford, Alexandra Harwin – a partner in the firm's New York office – and San Francisco-based managing partner Felicia Gilbert discuss the firm's recent successes, gender litigation, whistleblowers, and the realities of the pandemic, with Benchmark's Brittany Sharoff hosting.