Latham Flexes Litigation & Trial Muscle in National Law Journal Awards

Latham & Watkins’ Washington, D.C. Litigation & Trial Department has received multiple recognitions as a winner and finalist in the annual National Law Journal (NLJ) Legal Awards, which honors organizations and individuals in Washington, D.C. and nationally “who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession, whether in shaping the law, achieving outsized results for their clients, being an outstanding jurist or assisting those in need of legal services.” The winners of the awards for which Latham was named finalist will be announced at a ceremony on October 23, 2023.

The recognitions include:

• Once again being named to the Appellate Hot List, an annual NLJ special report that highlights law firms handling exemplary appellate matters. Latham’s Supreme Court & Appellate Practice consistently wins precedent-setting, high-stakes victories for clients before federal and state courts of appeal and the US Supreme Court. Latham had another stand-out term before the Supreme Court, successfully persuading the Court to grant review in four cases — twice over the objection of the United States. Three Latham partners argued before the Court this term, securing two victories for our clients.
• Being selected as finalists in two Washington, D.C. Litigation Department of the Year categories for Intellectual Property Department of the Year and for White Collar Department of the Year, honoring client successes in notable cases led by D.C.-based litigators.
  • Latham’s IP Litigation Practice, which has now been recognized in the D.C. IP Litigation Department of the Year award category in seven of the last eight times the category has been included, draws on deep technical knowledge, industry insight, and experience litigating across venues to protect our clients’ intellectual property, preserve value, and win precedent-setting victories. The group won four critical patent and copyright jury trials for Irving Consumer Products, Philip Morris International, Oracle, and SMR in 2022. We also secured headline-making global settlements for J&J and AbbVie, and precedent-setting Federal Circuit wins for Natera and Avadel.
  • The firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice has earned a global reputation for consistently handling the most complex, highest-stakes investigations, trials, and enforcement matters. The group builds and maintains its market-leading position by attracting and developing the next generation of crisis leaders. In the last year, the practice hired four lateral partners in D.C., including Deputy White House Counsels Danielle Conley and Jonathan Su, Acting Assistant Attorney General and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Criminal Division Nicholas McQuaid, and  Associate Deputy Attorney General and DOJ Director for COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Kevin Chambers.
• Being named a finalist in the Crisis Management & Government Oversight category, which recognizes firms guiding clients through government proceedings in Washington, D.C., such as responding to federal investigations or enforcement actions launched by agencies. Our formidable team of crisis practitioners includes some of the world’s top white collar lawyers, who handle the highest-stakes cases. We represented then-US Senator and Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Richard Burr in DOJ and SEC investigations into the Senator’s sale of certain stocks during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, the DOJ closed its investigation without action, and in January 2023, the SEC followed suit.
• Being selected as a finalist for the DC Diversity Initiative of the Year award, which focuses on in-house diversity initiatives and results with external stakeholders. Latham was recognized for its partnership with The Appellate Project (TAP), a D.C.-based nonprofit organization empowering law students of color, particularly those most underrepresented, to become the next generation of lawyers and judges in the nation’s highest courts. Deputy managing partner of Latham’s Washington, D.C. office and member of the Supreme Court & Appellate Practice Roman Martinez has spearheaded the firm’s collaboration with TAP.