The American Lawyer Spotlights Latham’s Powerhouse Women Trial Lawyers
Leading legal publication The American Lawyer stood up and took notice of Latham’s deep bench of elite women trial lawyers following a year of spectacular trial and arbitration victories, six of which were secured by women in first-chair roles.
The American Lawyer described seven of the Litigation & Trial Department’s “impressive” favorable verdicts and arbitration wins thus far this year. As noted by the publication, “in six of the seven matters – each one a high-stakes, major commercial dispute – women served as lead or co-lead counsel. And not the same women – different ones first-chaired each case.”
Global Chair of the firm’s Litigation & Trial Department Michele Johnson is quoted in the feature describing Latham’s extensive pool of talented women lawyers: “We don’t have two or three stars. It’s a deep bench.” Johnson also discussed the positive impact having women in senior leadership roles has on the next generation of talent as well as the entire legal community.
Mary Rose Alexander, former Vice Chair of Latham’s Litigation & Trial Department and current Global Chair of the Environmental Litigation Practice, elaborated, saying the firm has “a real focus on promoting women and diverse attorneys, and our culture allows for that.”
Sarah Ray, who recently completed a term as Co-Chair of the firm’s Women Enriching Business (WEB) Committee, added, “Tipping points are so important. At Latham, there are not one or two women leading trial teams, but women [litigators] doing it over and over again.”
In addition to highlighting the recent jury trial wins first-chaired by Johnson, Alexander, and Ray, The American Lawyer spotlighted several other important trial and arbitration victories led by former Global Chair of Latham’s Litigation & Trial Department Jamie Wine, Intellectual Property Litigation partner Tara D. Elliott, and White Collar Defense & Investigations partner Lilia Vazova.
The profile follows a string of recognitions for Latham's Litigation & Trial Department, including a recent award from Global Investigations Review for the firm’s work to secure a declination for Cognizant from the US Department of Justice concerning Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violation allegations, among others. That team was led by another of Latham’s elite women trial lawyers, Global Chair of the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice Kathryn Ruemmler.