With more than 120 trial lawyers across offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Marshall (TX), New York, and Washington, DC, McKool Smith has established a reputation as one of America’s leading trial firms. The firm has secured 13 nine-figure jury verdicts and15 eight-figure jury verdicts, obtaining more VerdictSearch and The National Law Journal “Top 100 Verdicts” than any other law firm. Courtroom successes like these have earned McKool Smith critical acclaim and helped the firm become what The Wall Street Journal describes as “one of the biggest law firm success stories of the past decade.” McKool Smith represents leading clients in complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, bankruptcy, and white collar defense matters.
Commercial litigation: McKool Smith specializes in complex commercial litigation. The firm litigates and regularly tries complex cases across a broad range of practice areas including antitrust, bankruptcy, entertainment, class action, contract, corporate governance, energy, fiduciary duty, insurance recovery, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, securities, and qui tam/whistleblower, among others. The firm’s attorneys also routinely appear in leading arbitral forums (e.g., JAMS and AAA) and appellate courts nationwide, including the US Supreme Court.
Intellectual property litigation: McKool Smith’s courtroom track record in intellectual property (IP) cases is unrivaled. Over the past 20 years, this distinguished trial team has won more patent litigation damages than any other firm (3 billion+). The firm represents both plaintiffs and defendants in all aspects of IP litigation including patent litigation; ITC/Section 337 disputes and investigations; copyright, trademark, and false advertising litigation; and trade secret disputes. The firm’s attorneys also represent clients before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The IP practice has been recognized as the US “Plaintiff IP Firm of the Year” by Managing IP, “Intellectual Property Firm of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation, and “IP Group of the Year” by Law360, among other honors.
Insurance recovery: McKool Smith’s litigators have more than 30 years of experience effectively leading clients through high-stakes coverage and liability disputes against their insurance providers. Collectively, the firm’s lawyers have obtained more than $5 billion in insurance-related recoveries for clients across a broad range of industries including manufacturing, chemical, entertainment, pharmaceutical, financial, education, and healthcare, among others.
White-collar defense: The firm’s white-collar defense practice is led by former federal prosecutors with experience in virtually every type of government investigation and prosecution. They defend alleged art, bank and securities fraud; insider trading; and antitrust, environmental, FCPA, OFAC, and tax violations, among other matters. The firm’s attorneys have also been appointed to monitorships and guided corporations, boards, and committees through internal investigations.
Bankruptcy: The firm’s bankruptcy practice focuses on complex disputes arising under bankruptcy and related state and federal laws, representing trustees, debtors, creditors’ committees, and other parties. The firm also handles complex reorganization proceedings and out-of-court restructurings.
Diversity & Inclusion: McKool Smith is the proud home of a team of top-notch lawyers who, without limitation, celebrate diversity and the creativity and innovation it promotes. The firm understands the value of collaboration among lawyers with a range of backgrounds and experiences and the synergies gained by drawing from a variety of perspectives. Our commitment to hiring and retaining a diverse team enables us to provide superior service to our clients in a workplace where elite trial attorneys attain the highest level of professional satisfaction.
Communicating with juries is at the heart of what we do, and no two jurors are the same. Top to bottom, McKool Smith has taken steps to ensure, that our lawyers can make connections where it matters most, that we reflect the communities we serve, and that diversity is woven into every stitch of the firm’s fabric. Together. Stronger.
Diversity is a core value and a force multiplier. Study after study has shown that diverse teams perform better, irrespective of industry or geography. Diverse companies attract top talent, enjoy greater employee retention, and elevate decision making and customer service to achieve better results. It’s how you win.
As outlined in our Diversity Policy, McKool Smith is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse team of lawyers and legal professionals and fostering a culture of inclusion. To honor this commitment, our Diversity Committee is charged with ensuring the continuous improvement of the firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts and oversees the administration of our Diversity Action Plan, which features strategies to help meet these goals. The action plan includes mandates for:
In January 2020, McKool Smith retained Coston Consulting, a certified minority/Black-owned business advisory firm, to oversee development and implementation of the firm’s diversity initiatives in collaboration with the Diversity Committee. Michael Coston, the firm’s CEO, acts as McKool Smith’s external diversity & inclusion officer.
Other Offices: Austin · Houston · Los Angeles · Marshall · New York · Washington, D.C
Updated Sep 2023
Kramer Levin provides its clients proactive, creative and pragmatic solutions that address today’s most challenging legal issues. The firm, headquartered in New York with offices in Silicon Valley, Washington, D.C., and Paris, fosters a strong culture of involvement in public and community service. For more information, please visit www.kramerlevin.com.
Litigation: Kramer Levin lawyers have taken on and won precedent-setting federal and state court cases and bet-the-company matters, handling trials and appeals, and resolving disputes through arbitration, mediation and negotiated settlement. Kramer Levin’s litigators are regarded as trial-ready, formidable opponents, which often enables them to resolve cases advantageously without litigation. They are also known for their success in achieving early case dismissal through skillful motion practice.
Bankruptcy and Restructuring: For more than 30 years, creditors, debtor corporations, investors, lenders and acquirers have turned to Kramer Levin to solve complicated bankruptcy and restructuring problems, to structure and lead negotiations that harmonize divergent interests and achieve consensual solutions, and to win suits in bankruptcy court, courts of appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court. Representing clients throughout the United States, Kramer Levin lawyers typically take on cases that involve multiple debtors with competing secured and unsecured creditors, complex restructurings, and contested interdebtor and intercreditor issues.
Corporate Transactions and Finance: Kramer Levin represents buyers and sellers, including financial and strategic acquirers ranging from entrepreneurial startups to large multinationals, in mergers and acquisitions of public and private companies. They focus on the middle market and are exposed to a high volume of M&A deal flow in this market segment, which gives them keen insight into deal terms, conditions and trends. Kramer Levin’s Banking and Finance group represents a large number of borrowers and major lenders, providing legal and transactional advice on a wide variety of financing arrangements. Because they represent both borrowers and lenders, they can offer clients uncommon perspective and tremendous insight into each party’s needs as well as deep knowledge and broad experience in market-leading terms and the latest financing strategies. The firm’s Private Equity team has extensive experience advising and representing private equity funds, fund sponsors and their portfolio companies in all aspects of their business, from fund formation and operation to private placement, mergers and acquisitions, financings, and control and minority investments, including growth equity transactions.
Intellectual Property: Kramer Levin’s litigation-focused Intellectual Property team regularly asserts and defends IP-related claims in courts throughout the United States and Europe, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as well as the European Union Intellectual Property Office and foreign national intellectual property agencies. Well known for their success in the courtroom, including in many high-stakes patent litigation cases, the team also advises clients on worldwide IP portfolio management and IP-based transactions.
Real Estate, Land Use and Environmental: For the past 50 years, Kramer Levin has advised on many of the most significant real estate developments and other projects in New York City and throughout the United States, helping transform city skylines and reshape the landscape. The firm is among only a handful of large New York-based firms with a destination real estate practice — one that attracts clients interested primarily in their real estate talents. The Real Estate team is involved in many of the major real estate transactions throughout the city, including acquisitions and sales, joint ventures, financings, and development. Kramer Levin’s Land Use practice is the largest and most experienced in New York City. With a core group of partners that has practiced together for more than 35 years and support from a cadre of other lawyers, a veteran real estate litigator, two condemnation lawyers, an engineer and three planners, it offers unmatched technical knowledge, synergy, industry insight and experience. The practice has handled many of the thorniest and most sophisticated land use matters, has represented most of NYC’s leading developers and institutions, and has advised on many of NYC’s megaprojects. Kramer Levin’s Environmental lawyers help developers, investors and companies across industries manage environmental issues so they can focus on improving properties, maintaining efficient operations, building projects, closing transactions and planning for the future.
Tax: With a clear understanding of clients’ business needs and a deep knowledge of the ever-changing tax laws, Kramer Levin tax lawyers develop creative and practical client-specific solutions to help clients accomplish their goals. They advise U.S. and foreign public and private companies, including private equity firms and hedge funds, as well as high net worth individuals, on U.S. transactions and the U.S. tax aspects of international transactions.
Employment and Immigration: Kramer Levin’s Employment lawyers provide practical and proactive counsel to employers, helping them make decisions and take action to minimize their risk of litigation, promote their workplace culture and values, and achieve their specific business objectives. The team is composed of highly responsive advisers and litigators focused exclusively on employment law matters, and each team member is well versed in a broad range of employment law issues and able to act quickly and decisively when clients need help. Kramer Levin’s internationally recognized Immigration group is among the largest and most respected immigration practices in the United States. With decades of experience, their immigration lawyers advise global brands and preeminent corporations across a wide range of industries, including media and advertising, financial services, technology, and performing and fine arts.
Updated Sep 2023
Blank Rome is an Am Law 100 firm with 15 offices and more than 680 attorneys and principals, including more than 350 litigators, who provide a full range of legal and advocacy services to clients operating in the United States and around the world. Our professionals are widely recognized for their leading knowledge and experience across a broad spectrum of industries, but what really sets us apart is our investment in client relationships—our unwavering commitment to understanding their businesses, the around-the-clock access we provide, and our nimble and customized delivery of services. We treat your goals, ideas, and objectives as our own and fight fiercely for resolutions that are in your best interest. To learn more, visit www.blankrome.com.
WHAT SETS BLANK ROME APART
Our Commitment to DEI
At Blank Rome, we value diversity of identities, experiences, and backgrounds, which creates a more vibrant and dynamic work environment. Our firm’s culture is centered around collaboration, collegiality, entrepreneurial and familial spirit, and giving back to our local communities through service.
We have a dedicated Director of Diversity and Inclusion who works in collaboration with our firmwide Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Blank Rome DEI Affinity Groups include BR Parent, BR Pride, BR Advance (for women of color), BR United (BR Asian, BR Black, BR Latinx, BR MENA), BR Women.
Since its inception in 2017, we have joined Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule, which measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered women and attorneys of color for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, and lateral positions.
We are a member of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance since its inception in June 2020.
We are frequently recognized for our DEI initiatives by the legal and business communities.
Pro Bono Policy & Initiatives
Our formal pro bono policy requires each of our attorneys and paralegals to undertake at least 25 hours of pro bono service every year, which has led to more than 99 percent participation in pro bono work from our attorneys since 2015.
In 2022, Blank Rome attorneys and paralegals provided more than 31,000 pro bono hours.
We are frequently recognized for our pro bono work by the legal, business and nonprofit communities.
Updated July 2023
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, a leading international law firm, consistently ranks among the world’s top law firms in industry surveys and major publications. The firm is distinctively positioned in today’s global marketplace with more than 1,800 lawyers and 21 offices.
Litigation Practice: Acclaimed as a litigation powerhouse, Gibson Dunn and the members of the Litigation practice have a long record of outstanding successes. The American Lawyer named Gibson Dunn a Finalist in its 2022 Litigation Department of the Year competition, noting that “when news breaks and the pressure rises, clients call Gibson Dunn’s litigators to regain control.” This award follows the firm’s unprecedented four wins in this biennial competition.
The members of our litigation practice group are not just litigators, they are first-rate trial lawyers. Each year, we try numerous cases to verdicts before juries, judges and arbitrators. Our clients have trusted us to try their most significant disputes to verdict.
We have tried cases and argued appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court and state supreme courts in addition to federal and state courts across the United States involving almost every foreseeable area of controversy. We also handle disputes before a wide variety of nonjudicial forums, from federal and state agencies to international arbitrations.
Antitrust & Trade Regulation: Gibson Dunn serves clients in virtually every significant area of antitrust and trade regulation law, including cartel and government civil investigations, class action treble damage litigation, private antitrust litigation, government review of mergers and acquisitions, and trade regulation matters.
Appellate: Gibson Dunn has one of the nation’s leading appellate practices with broad experience in complex appellate litigation at all levels of the state and federal court systems. The practice has been involved in matters covering an array of constitutional, statutory, regulatory and common-law issues. Our lawyers have presented arguments in front of the Supreme Court of the United States nearly 160 times.
Business Restructuring & Reorganization: The firm has extensive experience in both US and multinational insolvencies. Its lawyers regularly represent and counsel official creditors’ committees, ad hoc creditor groups, secured lenders, investors and companies (including DIP and exit financing) in out-of-court work-outs and Chapter 11 cases.
Commercial Litigation & Arbitration: Gibson Dunn’s approach emphasizes the full spectrum of services for our clients. Our litigators are trained to evaluate actual and potential cases at the earliest stages, to first determine if litigation can be avoided, or, if it is filed, whether the matter can be resolved quickly and economically. We pride ourselves on handling our litigation matters as efficiently as possible. Gibson Dunn lawyers are fully familiar with a wide array of alternative dispute resolution techniques, including arbitration, mediation, “mini-trials” and the like.
Intellectual Property: Gibson Dunn’s deep bench of trial lawyers with technical backgrounds, advanced degrees and industry experience provides the necessary insight to develop and defend against sophisticated claims in a wide range of industries and complex technologies. Our litigators are recognized throughout the industry as leaders in prosecuting, defending and trying IP claims in federal and state courts, before administrative bodies including the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as well as before arbitration panels.
Labor & Employment: Gibson Dunn is known for our unsurpassed ability to help the world’s preeminent companies tackle their most challenging labor and employment matters. We have prevailed in what are believed to be the largest class actions under several different U.S. employment laws, including Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the wage and hour laws. Gibson Dunn has also worked on high-profile ERISA cases, nationally recognized Sarbanes-Oxley ‘whistleblower’ cases and aggressive advocacy on OSHA issues.
Securities Litigation, Regulation & Corporate Governance: A recognized leader in the defense of securities class actions, derivative litigation and SEC enforcement actions, the firm advises companies on disclosure, accounting and regulatory issues for domestic and foreign regulatory bodies. The partners include nationally recognized securities class action defense counsel and a number of former senior officials with the SEC, NASD and DOJ.
Transnational Litigation: Gibson Dunn’s Transnational Litigation practice specializes in protecting clients against claims in U.S. and other courts stemming from overseas activities, as well as reducing and eliminating the risks posed by foreign litigation that, if unchecked, threaten company-wide implications. Our uniquely skilled, creative and experienced transnational team is equipped to manage all aspects of cross-border litigation, including devising, coordinating and implementing offensive and defensive global strategies and has represented clients in some of the highest-profile cases around the world. Gibson Dunn’s international team consists of US, English, French, Spanish and German-qualified lawyers, many of whom are dual qualified.
White Collar Defense & Investigations: The firm defends prominent companies and executives against federal and state prosecutions and has conducted numerous sensitive internal investigations in areas including anti-money laundering; computer and IP crimes; environmental violations and compliance; FCPA matters; forfeiture (civil and criminal); health care fraud; privacy; procurement fraud; securities, financial institution and accounting fraud; and tax offenses. The practice group includes numerous former federal and state prosecutors and officials, many of whom served at high levels within the DOJ, SEC and other key investigative arms of the government.