California

Firm overview

Willkie excels in high-stakes litigation, building a preeminent platform that is not only notable for the significance of its cases but the array of disputes and variety of its victories—a true hallmark of a litigation powerhouse. 

Willkie’s litigators shine in virtually every type of dispute and venue globally – at the trial and appellate level in state and federal courts as well as the U.S. Supreme Court, before arbitration panels, in bet-the-company lawsuits and pro bono cases—clarifying key areas of law, upholding cardinal corporate protections, and vindicating threatened rights. Willkie has been on the front lines of the industry, leading a series of topical litigations arising from some of the most significant and publicized controversies of our time. 

Our record underscores Willkie’s trial-ready strengths and demonstrates not only the outstanding advocacy of our litigators but also their ability to strategically achieve their clients’ objectives. Willkie has a distinctive ability to distil complex and contested issues in a compelling way, dissect opponents’ arguments, establish credibility, and execute at trial. 

Results like those obtained by Willkie require firepower—intellectual heft, mastery of substantive law and persuasive advocacy—but they are only possible with a culture of collaboration and a commitment to excellence. The range of Willkie’s recent victories attests to the depth and versatility of our litigation department. Unlike other litigation powerhouses, Willkie runs lean, prioritizing the caliber of its attorneys over their number, the potency of its teams over sheer size. The firm trains its litigators to be generalists, giving associates meaningful roles and experience across the gamut of disputes. 

Willkie also has a robust arbitration practice, regularly representing clients in both domestic and international arbitration proceedings. Willkie’s arbitration practice ensures continuity of the same high caliber of legal representation for the firm’s clients across the globe. 

Complementing our existing robust litigation practice, our Chicago office, led by Craig C. Martin, Chairman, Midwest, brings a new Willkie destination for commercial and business legal matters of strategic, economic and reputational impact. Since opening in March 2020, the office has grown from a team of six partners to more than 60 diverse lawyers. Globally recognized as top-ranked practitioners and as trusted advisors, our attorneys are firmly committed to delivering outstanding client service and to engaging in civic involvement and pro bono work.

In addition, the litigators in Willkie’s Los Angeles office, launched in 2021, bring market-leading experience representing major companies, investors and individual clients in a range of disputes.

Updated Sep 2023

Firm overview

Willenken LLP is a preeminent litigation boutique without peer in trial experience and strategic acumen. An elite, minority-owned and majority-women law firm, we are equally skilled in the art of taking a hostile witness on cold cross as we are at penning a cogent dispositive motion. We are the go-to firm of Fortune 500 companies for their most challenging, complex business litigation matters. Firm-wide, our attorneys have tried over 200 cases to verdict or judgment. We thrive on providing last-minute trial representation to clients in high-stakes lawsuits.

We represent both plaintiffs and defendants and focus exclusively on complex commercial litigation, with special emphasis on class action defense, real estate litigation, intellectual property, entertainment litigation, complex contract disputes, product liability litigation, trade secrets, and utility regulatory matters. Willenken is based in Los Angeles and our attorneys handle cases nationwide. True to our roots as trial lawyers, we are guided by one overriding principle: Winning Matters®.

Willenken and its lawyers have been recognized by leading independent legal and business publications, including Best Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation, The American Lawyer, Chambers and Partners, Daily Journal, Corporate Counsel, Lawdragon, and Los Angeles Business Journal.

We have achieved notable results for our clients, a sampling is provided below:

• We prevailed in a high-stakes breach of contract case touted by the pharmaceutical industry press as “one of the five big healthcare lawsuits.” On behalf of AbbVie, the firm filed suit in Delaware Chancery Court concerning the breach of a pharmaceutical supply contract arising out of the world-wide shortage of Lupron, the leading drug for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. In late 2019, Lupron’s manufacturer, Takeda, experienced production disruptions at its Hikari, Japan plant due to quality issues that were cited by the FDA. Takeda was thus unable to fulfill AbbVie’s U.S. Lupron requirements in violation of the supply agreement. Starting in 2020, Takeda failed to provide AbbVie with reliable, sufficient, or timely supplies of Lupron. The liability phase of the trial was conducted over four days in the Spring of 2021 and the Court issued the liability ruling in favor of our client AbbVie in September 2021, finding that Takeda had breached the supply contract in three separate ways. The damages phase of the trial was subsequently held across three days in January 2023. In September of 2023, the Court issued its damages ruling and substantially adopted all of AbbVie’s damages claims and analyses, awarding our client AbbVie lost profit and other damages in the principal sum of $448 million. Takeda ultimately paid a final judgment that, including pre- and post-judgment interest, totaled $505.6 million.
• On behalf of a national hardware retailer, we secured critical motion in limine rulings in Georgia, excluding expert opinions bearing on product defect issues, leading to a favorable settlement on the eve of trial, in a product liability lawsuit where three plaintiffs alleged a gas can explosion caused permanent and disfiguring injuries.
• We represented former executives of a billion-dollar-funded electric vehicle start-up facing allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets, violation of non-solicitation and confidentiality obligations, and breach of fiduciary duties in arbitration. Willenken provided our clients with meaningful strategic counsel and defended against the plaintiff ’s most aggressive discovery tactics. We successfully brought a demurrer that forced the plaintiff to file a Third Amended Demand and started a new clock on document productions and stayed two steps ahead of the plaintiff in forensic discovery. The plaintiff was ultimately forced to come to a global settlement that was very favorable for our clients.
• We obtained a total defense victory and secured dismissal with prejudice of a bid-rigging and unfair competition lawsuit against Motorola Solutions.
• On behalf of Lumens Co., Ltd., a Korean LED manufacturer, we achieved a total victory in a dispute with its distributor over non-payment of goods and allegations of various business torts. On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a memorandum disposition affirming Lumens’ victory of summary judgment finalizing the award of $1 million in damages and dismissal of $16 million in counterclaims.
• We defended the nation’s largest gas utility in a five-week major personal injury trial. Although the client already stipulated to liability, we staved off punitive damages and the jury awarded less than half of plaintiff’s demand.
• In a two-week breach of contract trial, we defended a leading consumer electronics maker. We won a motion for non-suit on claims for consequential damages and the jury awarded less than half of plaintiff’s demand.
• We defended a major gas utility in three consolidated wrongful death actions. Before jury selection, we won a key motion to exclude evidence of a similar prior accident. All three claims then settled at a fraction of plaintiffs’ demands.

As a certified minority-owned law firm, diversity and inclusion are hallmarks of our practice. We staff our cases with a diverse group of partners and associates by virtue of the composition of our firm. Furthermore, we are proud and active members of the California Minority Counsel Program, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, the Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity, and the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, among other notable organizations.

Practice Areas:

• Appellate Litigation
• Class Action Defense
• Complex Commercial Litigation
• Product Liability Litigation
• Real Estate Litigation
• Entertainment Litigation
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Copyright
• Patent
• Trade Secrets and Employee Mobility
• Trademark and Trade Dress
• Last Minute Trial Representation
• Plaintiff-Side Commercial Litigation
• White Collar Defense and Government Investigations

Updated Sep 2024

Firm overview

Hueston Hennigan is a leading litigation boutique that has made a name for itself as one of the go-to trial firms in the country, regularly securing accolades such as a “Trials Group of the Year,” “U.S. Boutique Firm of the Year,” “U.S. Trial Firm of the Year” and “Commercial Litigation Firm of the Year” from publications including Law360, Chambers, Benchmark Litigation, and more.

With offices in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California, and New York City, the firm handles a range of high-stakes matters for a client roster that includes Amazon, Epic Games, Boeing, Chevron, Walmart, Caltech, Deloitte, Edison International, Qualcomm, Disney, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Monster Energy, the Navajo Nation, and many others. Hueston Hennigan achieves precedent-setting results in trials and appeals across a broad spectrum of issues and industries.

Recent highlights include securing over $500 million in trial awards for Monster Energy—consisting of the largest-ever Lanham Act award and among the largest-ever trademark awards—in two separate cases against rival VPX, obtaining over $300 million for Match Group in an antitrust case against Google, playing a critical role in Epic Games’ landmark antitrust trial victory against Google, scoring a complete defense win for Boeing following a high-profile trade secrets trial against an aerospace startup, and securing an unprecedented defense trial win for Endo Pharmaceuticals in $50 billion opioid litigation.

Hueston Hennigan is often called upon to replace Big Law giants and other famed litigation boutiques in order to deliver victories to clients.

To learn more about our practice, please visit hueston.com.

What Clients Say

“Hueston Hennigan is the firm we turn to when we know we must win at trial. Their attorneys are not only masterful lawyers, they are creative, thoughtful, strategic and tenacious. From the moment the first document is filed, every option is considered and every decision is made with the ultimate goal in mind, winning at trial. Hueston Hennigan has achieved historic, record-setting results for Monster in incredibly complex matters. Those results were achieved because Hueston Hennigan did what Hueston Hennigan does, win.”

-Aaron Sonnhalter, Monster Energy Company Chief Legal Officer

“After taking over a bet-the-company case months before trial, the Hueston Hennigan team quickly immersed themselves in the business and facts of the case, earned the trust and respect of our team, and positioned the case for victory. At trial, they put on a master class, including incredible opening and closing arguments, a compelling case-in-chief, and cross-examinations for the ages. Their entire team is smart, honest and a pleasure to work with.”

-Alex Dimitrief, Former General Counsel, GE Capital; Acting General Counsel, Amulet Estate

“Hueston Hennigan is bold, strategic, and relentless. Their deep lineup of talented and diverse trial lawyers weave masterful arguments, impactful direct exams and devastating crosses. We especially value their close and collaborative partnership with our in-house team in order to obtain the best possible outcomes. Hueston Hennigan is the total package and we are glad to have them on our side.”

-Jonathan Mothner, Synchrony Financial (formerly GE Capital) Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

“I turn to Hueston Hennigan for our most significant legal matters. In each engagement, they have provided extraordinarily effective lawyering, counsel, and strategic business advice. They are unrivaled as go-to trial counsel for complex, high-risk litigation.”

-Julie Davis, Taco Bell Global, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary

“The lawyers at Hueston Hennigan have distinguished themselves with their wise counsel and outstanding advocacy from the boardroom to the courtroom. Their ability to balance legal and business considerations practically and efficiently is truly exceptional. They are among our go-to trial counsel, and they deliver results.”

-  Jake Schatz, Electronic Arts, Executive Vice President and General Counsel

“When the USEPA triggered an unprecedented environmental disaster that contaminated the Navajo Nation’s sacred waters, the Navajo Nation turned to Hueston Hennigan. For years, the USEPA hid behind its sovereign immunity and marshaled a massive litigation force to erect barriers to the Navajo Nation’s claims. Hueston Hennigan dismantled those barriers through relentless advocacy that left no stone unturned. They are fearless and determined, no matter the adversary, and as a result recovered over $40 million for the Navajo Nation.”

-  Doreen N. McPaul, Navajo Nation, Attorney General

“Hueston Hennigan is an ideal choice for the toughest cases. The combined, concentrated trial talent of Hueston Hennigan makes this firm a top-shelf litigation choice for virtually any high-risk, complex matter.”

-  Melissa Scanlan, T-Mobile, Vice President, Intellectual Property and Antitrust

“In one of Western Digital’s most important legal matters in recent years, Hueston Hennigan partnered with us to craft and implement a creative, multi-staged litigation strategy that delivered repeated victories in both court and international arbitration. Hueston Hennigan has a very deep bench of legal talent who are our trusted counselors for our most important cases.”

-  Michael Ray, Western Digital Corp., Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

“Hueston Hennigan lawyers distinguished themselves by being dynamically creative and unsurpassed in courtroom advocacy. Their care extends beyond the individual case; they work closely with our in-house counsel, and their post-mortem review of matters is a value-add that fits squarely with our continuous improvement culture. They are a go-to firm for the most complex and challenging cases.”

-  Barry H. Caldwell, Waste Management, Former Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal Officer

“Hueston Hennigan is a world-class law firm for the 21st century, capable of serving the litigation needs of individuals to global companies. Its talented team of professionals is dedicated to working closely with clients and has the creativity and flexibility to bring the simplest solutions to the most complex problems.”

-  Arnold Pinkston, Edwards Lifesciences LLC, Corporate Vice President, General Counsel

“Hueston Hennigan creatively and relentlessly investigated and prosecuted claims arising from a complex, high-stakes commercial fraud, obtaining recoveries worth more than $75 million. They skillfully and efficiently positioned us for courtroom victories, while working hand-in-glove with in-house counsel to ensure that the legal strategy aligned with our business objectives. Their team was a pleasure to work with, and I strongly recommend the firm for difficult and important cases.”

-  William B. Sailer, Qualcomm, Inc., Senior Vice President and Legal Counsel

Updated Sep 2024

Firm overview

Alto Litigation is a powerhouse litigation boutique based in San Francisco representing some of Silicon Valley’s most coveted companies and entrepreneurs in high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters, ranging from securities litigation, investment disputes, and SEC investigations to trade secrets and general commercial disputes.

Alto’s lead attorneys received degrees from the nation’s most elite law schools (Harvard, Yale), and have successfully represented Fortune 500 companies over the last two decades. The firm represents technology companies, entrepreneurs, officers, directors, employees and shareholders in Silicon Valley and beyond in high-stakes litigation.

Alto prides itself on being lean and efficient, with the close team of litigators achieving positive results for top executives and companies. Alto’s size allows it to offer clients alternative rate structures, including flat fee or contingency arrangements when appropriate. The results speak for themselves. On the plaintiffs’ side, the firm has achieved millions in judgments and settlements. On the defense side, the firm has achieved dismissals, arbitration wins, and early settlements.

These results have not gone unnoticed. In 2021, Benchmark Litigation ranked Alto as a Tier 1 Firm in San Francisco for Dispute Resolution and a Recommend Firm in California. Alto was also nominated for San Francisco Firm of the Year, California Securities Litigation Firm of the Year, and California White Collar Crime Litigation Firm of the Year. In 2022, Benchmark Litigation again ranked Alto Litigation as a Tier 1 Firm in San Francisco for Dispute Resolution and a Recommend Firm in California, and it added Alto as a Tier 2 Firm in California for Securities Litigation. Alto has also been recognized as a “Top Boutique” law firm by the Daily Journal. 

Updated Sep 2024