The Paul, Weiss Litigation Department is led by a team of the country’s most accomplished trial lawyers. Our litigators handle the most complex and demanding lawsuits, class actions, government investigations, criminal prosecutions and restructurings. Our clients include Fortune 50 corporations and other prominent companies in the financial services, investment, medical device, pharmaceutical, sports, technology, energy, media and insurance industries. Every day, we are called on by chief executives, board chairs, general counsel, investors and entrepreneurs for our unmatched trial skills, sophisticated business judgment and renowned strategic advice.
Recognition
Our Litigation Department has been repeatedly recognized for its excellence by the world’s top legal and business publications and legal directories. The department has also been recognized on numerous occasions for its litigation achievements in pro bono matters. Below is a select list of our firm’s most recent recognitions.
Awards & Surveys
- The American Lawyer
- 2023
- Named "A-List of US Law Firms" Finalist
- Named "Litigation Department of the Year - Financial Services" Finalist
- 2022
- Recognized for the sixth consecutive year on the “A-List of U.S. Law Firms”
- 2021
- Named "Litigation Department of the Year" Finalist
- 2020
- Named "Law Firm of the Year" Finalist
- Partner Ted Wells received "Lifetime Achievement Award"
- The American Lawyer recognized Ted as "one of the country's preeminent trial lawyers" and honored him for his efforts "mentoring others and furthering the cases of racial and social justice."
- 2019
- Named “Law Firm of the Year”
- In recognizing the firm, The American Lawyer noted that “Paul, Weiss not only had a strong year financially, but it evolved as a firm. Its practice offerings across litigation and corporate met the changing needs of its clients. Its pro bono commitment was all-encompassing, spanning all of the core issues currently facing our society. The firm added new star talent and service offerings."
- Named “White Collar Litigation Department of the Year”
- Named “Law Firm of the Year”
- Won "Litigator of the Week" on nine separate occasions in the past five years for outstanding achievements on behalf of clients
- 2023
- Forbes
- 2019
- Featured on Forbes’ inaugural list of “America’s Top Trusted Corporate Law Firms”
- Recognized as a “Most Recommended” firm for Litigation & Dispute Resolution
- The list was compiled based on a survey of 2,500 lawyers in private practice and legal departments.
- 2019
- The National Law Journal
- 2023
- Recognized for the fifth consecutive year on the "Appellate Hot List"
- Partner Loretta Lynch named "General Litigation Trailblazer"
- Partner Audra Soloway named "Class Action/Mass Tort Litigation Trailblazer"
- 2022
- Ranked first on the "Top 25 Firms in New York" guide
- Recognized for the fourth consecutive year on the "Appellate Hot List"
- Recognized as "Washington, D.C., Litigation Department of the Year" finalist
- 2021
- Ranked first in the "Top 25 Firms in New York" guide
- Recognized as "Legal Technology Trailblazer"
- Chairman Brad Karp named "Crisis Leadership Trailblazer"
- 2020
- Ranked first in the "Top 25 Firms in New York" guide
- 2019
- Partner Lew Clayton named "Winning Litigator"
- 2023
- New York Law Journal
- 2023
- Named "General Litigation Department of the Year" Finalist
- Litigation partner Katherine Forrest named "Innovation Award" winner
- 2021
- Litigation partner Loretta Lynch recognized as a "Distinguished Leader"
- Litigation partner Brette Tannenbaum named "Rising Star"
- 2020
- Named "Litigation Department of the Year" Finalist
- Litigation partner Alexia Korberg named "Rising Star"
- 2019
- Named "Specialty Litigation Department of the Year – Class Action”
- Chairman Brad Karp named “Distinguished Leader” and “New York Trailblazer”
- 2023
- Courtroom View Network
- 2019
- CVN named Paul, Weiss’s trial win in New York ExxonMobil Corp. the “Top Defense Verdict” of the year, noting it was “the clear choice for most impressive defense trial outcome covered by CVN in 2019. The stakes don’t get any higher in a civil trial than they were here.”
- 2019
- The Financial Times
- 2021
- Ranked 2nd in “Top 20 Most Innovative Law Firms in America”
- Since the award’s inception in 2010, Paul, Weiss has been recognized four times in The Financial Times’ “Most Innovative Law Firms in the United States.”
- Ranked 2nd in “Top 20 Most Innovative Law Firms in America”
- 2018
- Chairman Brad Karp given special commendation in “North American Innovative Lawyers”
- The Financial Times recognized Brad for Paul, Weiss’s efforts leading a coalition of major law firms challenging the Trump administration’s family separation policy.
- Chairman Brad Karp given special commendation in “North American Innovative Lawyers”
- 2021
- Law360
- The Litigation Department has received numerous Law360 "Practice Group of the Year" awards, including:
- 2023
- "Technology Practice Group of the Year"
- "Sports & Betting Practice Group of the Year"
- 2022
- "Appellate Practice Group of the Year"
- "Banking Practice Group of the Year"
- "Fintech Practice Group of the Year"
- "Sports & Betting Practice Group of the Year"
- "Trials Practice Group of the Year"
- "White Collar Practice Group of the Year"
- 2021
- "Appellate Practice Group of the Year"
- "Banking Practice Group of the Year"
- "Class Actions Practice Group of the Year"
- "Life Sciences Practice Group of the Year"
- "Media & Entertainment Practice Group of the Year"
- "Technology Practice Group of the Year"
- 2020
- "Securities Practice Group of the Year"
- 2019
- “Banking Practice Group of the Year”
- 2023
- Paul, Weiss litigators have received numerous Law360 “MVP” awards since 2019, including:
- 2023: Karen Dunn (Technology); Audra Soloway (Securities)
- 2022: Brad Karp (Sports and Betting); Susanna Buergel (Banking); Meredith Dearborn (Technology); Karen Dunn (Trials); William Isaacson (Competition/Antitrust); Kannon Shanmugam (Appellate); Audra Soloway (Securities); Liza Velazquez (Employment)
- 2021 Brad Karp (Banking); Jessica Carey (White Collar); Kannon Shanmugam (Appellate)
- 2020: Susanna Buergel (Banking); Karen Dunn (Technology)
- 2019: Brad Karp (Banking); Lorin Reisner (White Collar); Rick Rule (Competition)
- Select additional Law360 designations since 2019, include:
- 2023: Tee St. Matthew Daniel recognized as a "Rising Star" in Competition; Brette Tannenbaum recognized as a "Rising Star" in Sports & Betting.
- 2022: Paul, Weiss named a “Regional Powerhouse” in Delaware.
- 2021: Meredith Dearborn was recognized as a "Rising Star" in Technology.
- The Litigation Department has received numerous Law360 "Practice Group of the Year" awards, including:
- Benchmark Litigation
- 2023
- Litigation partner Karen Dunn was named to the "Top 10 Women Litigators" list.
- Litigation partners Susanna Buergel, Karen Dunn, Katherine Forrest, Claudia Hammerman, Michele Hirshman, Loretta Lynch and Jeannie Rhee named to the "Top 250 Women in Litigation: Northeast"; Melinda Haag named to the "Top 250 Women in Litigation: West."
- Litigation partners Paul Brachman, Lina Dagnew, Alexia Korberg, Erin Morgan, Jeffrey Recher, Kyle Smith and Brette Tannenbaum named to the "40 Under Hot List - Northeast."
- 2022
- Paul, Weiss was named West Coast Award Winner in the “White Collar Crime/Investigations” category.
- Litigation partners Susanna Buergel, Karen Dunn, Claudia Hammerman, Michele Hirshman, Loretta Lynch and Jeannie Rhee named to the “Top 250 Women in Litigation: Northeast”; Melinda Haag named to the “Top 250 Women in Litigation: West.”
- Litigation partners Meredith Dearborn, Alexia Korberg, Jeffrey Recher and Brette Tannenbaum named to the “40 and Under Hot List.”
- 2021
- Paul, Weiss named "General Commercial Firm of the Year - East Coast."
- Paul, Weiss received an "Impact Case Award" for winning a landmark appellate victory at the Kentucky Supreme Court on behalf of The Blackstone Group in a $50 billion derivative lawsuit.
- Litigation partner Walter Brown was named "White-Collar Litigator of the Year - California."
- Litigation partner Kannon Shanmugam was named "Appellate Litigator of the Year - East Coast."
- Litigation partner Karen Dunn was named one of Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 10 Women in Litigation.”
- Litigation partners Susanna Buergel, Claudia Hammerman, Michele Hirshman, Loretta Lynch and Jeannie Rhee were named to the “Top 250 Women in Litigation: Northeast” and Melinda Haag was named to the “Top 250 Women in Litigation: West.”
- Litigation partners Alexia Korberg, Jeffrey Recher and Brette Tannenbaum named to the “40 and Under Hot List.”
- 2020
- Paul, Weiss named “General Commercial Litigation Firm of the Year.”
- Litigation partner Ted Wells was recognized as “Trial Lawyer of the Year” and received a special “Hall of Fame Award.”
- Litigation partners Ted Wells and Dan Toal received a “National Impact Case Award” for their work on behalf of ExxonMobil in a landmark $1.6 billion climate-change lawsuit.
- 2019
- Paul, Weiss named “General Commercial Firm of the Year.”
- Paul, Weiss named “New York Firm of the Year.”
- Litigation partner Lew Clayton recognized as “General Commercial Attorney of the Year” and received a “National Impact Case Award” for winning a landmark ruling in Fresenius v. Akorn.
- Litigation partners Geoffrey Chepiga, William Clareman, Yahonnes Cleary, Roberto Gonzalez, Gregory Laufer and Jennifer Wu were recognized on the “40 & Under Hot List – Northeast.”
- Litigation partners Susanna Buergel, Claudia Hammerman, Michele Hirshman, Loretta Lynch and Jeannie Rhee were recognized as “Top 250 Women in Litigation – Northeast.”
- 2023
- Chambers USA Awards
- 2022
- Paul, Weiss recognized as the "Commercial Litigation Firm of the Year."
- 2021
- Paul, Weiss recognized as the "Corporate Crimes & Investigations Firm of the Year.
- 2022
- Who's Who Legal
- 2022
- Paul, Weiss recognized as the "New York Firm of the Year" in the Who's Who Legal Country and State Awards.
- 2022
Legal Directories
- Chambers USA 2023
- Band 1 Firm
- Corporate Crime & Investigations: The Elite (Nationwide)
- Litigation: General Commercial: The Elite (DC, NY)
- Litigation: Securities (NY)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations: The Elite (CA, NY)
- Securities: Litigation (Nationwide)
- A Leading Firm
- Antitrust (DC, NY, Nationwide)
- Antitrust: Cartel (Nationwide)
- Antitrust: Plaintiff (Nationwide)
- Appellate Law (Nationwide)
- Chancery (Delaware)
- FCPA (Nationwide)
- Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Enforcement & Investigations) (Nationwide)
- Intellectual Property: Patent (NY)
- Intellectual Property: Litigation (DC)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (DC)
- Media & Entertainment: Litigation (NY)
- Securities: Regulation: Enforcement (Nationwide)
- Sports Law (Nationwide)
- Five "Star Individual" designations across the following categories:
- Appellate Law (Nationwide)
- Litigation: General Commercial (DC, NY)
- Litigation: Securities (NY)
- Litigation: Trial Lawyers (Nationwide)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (NY)
- One "Eminent Practitioner" designation in the following category:
- Antitrust: Litigation (NY)
- Nine Band 1 designations across the following categories:
- Antitrust: Litigation (NY)
- Antitrust: Litigation Specialists (DC)
- Antitrust: Plaintiff (Nationwide)
- FCPA (Nationwide)
- Litigation: General Commercial (DC)
- Litigation: Trial Lawyers (Nationwide)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (CA, NY)
- Media & Entertainment: Litigation (NY)
- 51 individual rankings for litigators across all practice areas
- Band 1 Firm
- Chambers Global 2023
- Band 1 Firm:
- Corporate Crime & Investigations
- A Leading Firm:
- Antitrust: Cartel
- Competition/Antitrust
- Disputes (International and Cross-Border)
- FCPA
- Intellectual Property: Patent
- Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border)
- One "Star Individual" designation in the following category:
- Litigation: Trial Lawyers
- Two Band 1 designations across the following categories:
- FCPA
- Litigation: Trial Lawyers
- 7 individual rankings for litigators across all practice areas
- Band 1 Firm:
- Chambers Crisis & Risk Management 2022
- Recognized as a Leading Firm for Crisis Management (USA – Nationwide)
- Three Paul, Weiss attorneys recognized in Band 1 in the Crisis Management (USA – Nationwide)
- The Legal 500 US 2023
- Tier 1 Firm
- Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense
- Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals
- Financial Services: Litigation
- General Commercial Disputes
- M&A Litigation: Defense
- Securities Litigation: Defense
- Top-ranked Firm
- Antitrust: Cartel
- Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Plaintiff
- Antitrust: Merger Control
- Appellate: Court of Appeals
- Appellate: Supreme Courts (States and Federal)
- Cyber Law
- ERISA Litigation
- Healthcare: Life Sciences
- Industry: Sport
- Intellectual Property: Copyright
- Intellectual Property: Patents: Litigation (Full Coverage)
- Media and Entertainment: Litigation
- Six Paul, Weiss attorneys recognized in the “Leading Trial Lawyers” category
- 14 Paul, Weiss attorneys recognized in the “Hall of Fame” group
- 33 Paul, Weiss attorneys recognized in the “Leading Lawyers” group
- 11 Paul, Weiss attorneys recognized in the “Next Generation Lawyers” group
- Tier 1 Firm
- Benchmark Litigation 2024
- Top 20 Trial Firm
- Practice Rankings
- Tier 1 firm
- Antitrust (USA)
- Appellate (USA)
- Bankruptcy (USA)
- General Commercial (USA)
- Intellectual Property (USA)
- Securities (USA)
- Securities/White-Collar (USA)
- White-Collar Crime (USA)
- Tier 1 firm
- State Firm Rankings
- California: Highly Recommended
- District of Columbia: Highly Recommended
- New York: Highly Recommended
- Global Investigations Review
- 2023
- Recognized in the GIR 30 List
- 2022
- Recognized in the GIR 30 List
- 2023
- U.S. News - "Best Law Firms" 2024
- Tier 1 firm
- Antitrust Law (USA, NY and DC)
- Appellate Practice (USA and DC)
- Bet-the-Company Litigation (NY)
- Commercial Litigation (USA, NY and DC)
- Copyright Law (USA and NY)
- Criminal Defense: White Collar (USA, NY, DC and SF)
- Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures and Television (USA and NY)
- Litigation – Antitrust (USA and NY)
- Litigation – Banking & Finance (USA and NY)
- Litigation – Bankruptcy (NY)
- Litigation – Environmental (USA and NY)
- Litigation – ERISA (USA and NY)
- Litigation – Intellectual Property (USA, NY and DC)
- Litigation – Patent (USA)
- Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement: SEC, Telecom, Energy (USA and NY)
- Litigation – Securities (USA, NY and DC)
- Securities Regulation (USA, NY and DC)
- Tier 1 firm
- U.S. News - "Best Lawyers" 2023
- Fifty-Two "Listed Lawyers" across 30 practice areas, including:
- Antitrust Law and Litigation – Antitrust
- Appellate Law
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
- Litigation – Securities
- Securities Regulation
- Eleven "Lawyer of the Year" Awards (2020 – 2023):
- Biotechnology Law
- Corporate Compliance Law
- Litigation – Banking & Finance
- Litigation – ERISA
- Litigation – Patent
- Litigation – Securities
- Media Law
- Securities Regulation
- Fifty-Two "Listed Lawyers" across 30 practice areas, including: