Williams & Connolly LLP > Washington DC, United States > Firm Profile

Williams & Connolly LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 1

Williams & Connolly LLP is noted for its ability to defend clients facing class actions and government enforcement actions, representing major clients in the tech and pharmaceutical industries in government-led and business-to-business suits. The practice is headed jointly by John Schmidtlein, who has experience representing both defendants and plaintiffs in suits alleging monopolization, bid rigging and drug pricing, and Jonathan Pitt, who is noted for his work on matters tied to, inter alia, no poach agreements, price fixing and so-called pay-for-delay claims. Benjamin Greenblum is the practice’s key contact for antitrust matters arising out of Hatch-Waxman disputes, representing a number of high profile clients in the food and pharmaceutical sectors, while Carl Metz maintains a practice that covers defense of monopolization and unfair trade practices claims. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

During the 2022/23 term, Williams & Connolly LLP argued seven cases before the US Supreme Court. The team is widely acknowledged as a go-to practice for high-stakes appeals and is routinely engaged by major corporate and public-sector clients, including recent representations for Google, the Kingdom of Spain and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board. Held up by many as ‘one of the nation’s premier SCOTUS advocates’, practice chair Lisa Blatt possesses a formidable record before the country’s highest court, where she has argued forty-six cases and prevailed in forty-one. Blatt paired up with fellow US Supreme Court specialist Sarah Harris to secure wins in a string of SCOTUS cases over the past year, including successfully representing Lynn Goldsmith against the Andy Warhol Foundation in a landmark copyright case; and representing Google in an appeal concerning the Communications Decency Act. The Washington DC-based group also includes up-and-coming appellate partner Amy Saharia, who recently acted alongside Blatt to successfully represent the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board before the Third Circuit in defending its new rule of professional conduct prohibiting discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected grounds. Whitney Hermandorfer recently left to join the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Williams & Connolly LLP continues to prove itself as a go-to firm for individuals who are being investigated for crimes relating to bribery, fraud, and money laundering. David Zinn and Tobin Romero lead the team. With his extensive experience in handling complex white-collar cases, Zinn is recommended for clients needing advice on FCPA violations, securities fraud, and public corruption. Romero caters to a wide client base, which includes multinational companies as well as senior executives; he also regularly assists with investigations involving cross-border elements with Africa, Asia, and South America. Noted for his capabilities with grand juries and congressional investigations, Emmet Flood has experience acting for politicians, CEOs, and private equity firms. Kevin Downey and Brendan Sullivan are both seasoned trial lawyers. Katherine Trefz is another key member of the team who advises clients across a range of industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and finance. All lawyers mentioned are based in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 1

Williams & Connolly LLP‘s expansive commercial litigation team is capable of handling cases ranging from traditional breach of contract actions to real estate and construction disputes, as well as breach of fiduciary duty claims, unfair competition litigation, employment disputes, and restrictive covenant and non-compete agreements, among many others. Washington DC-based trio Dane Butswinkas, Robert Van Kirk  and Edward Bennett collectively spearhead the department. Experienced defense attorney Butswinkas is a core name for trial and arbitration work, particularly as it relates to financial services, securities, and product liability. Van Kirk represents both corporate and individual clients in complex commercial litigation, internal and government investigations, and congressional inquiries. Bennett is well known in the market for civil litigation, primarily in relation to matters concerning corporate governance, banking and financial services, antitrust and trade practices, and IP matters. Trial lawyer Enu Mainigi has deep experience handling disputes in the health care, pharmaceuticals, and financial services sector and is also a key contact for litigation related to the False Claims Act. Sarah Kirkpatrick focuses her practice on complex antitrust, securities, and director liability matters. Luke McCloud left the firm in January 2023.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 1

Single office Washington  DC-based litigation powerhouse Williams & Connolly LLP has considerable experience handling complex product liability matters within the life sciences space, with well-known companies including Pfizer, GSK and AstraZeneca, regularly instructing the firm on high-profile matters relating to medicine/drugs produced by them. Many of these take the form of large MDLs involving joint defense groups, where the firm is appreciated for its strength at ‘dealing with the other counsel and acting as leaders’. With a plethora of ‘first-rate trial lawyers’ in its ranks, the firm is also noted for its courtroom capabilities, and is a regular destination practice for trials. The ‘experienced’ Joseph Petrosinelli is ‘technically terrific’, combining deep subject matter knowledge with superb advocacy skills to good effect for clients, both at a final trial, as well as at a motions stage. Although he is well-versed at handling MDLs throughout the litigation process, Paul Boehm is best-known for his trial skills. Other recommended practitioners include the ‘very talented’ Neelum Wadhwani  and Heidi Hubbard , who co-heads the team alongside Petrosinelli.  

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 2

Washington DC-based litigation heavyweight Williams & Connolly LLP has an excellent pedigree for handling a wide variety of product liability and mass tort litigation, acting for manufacturers and retailers across a range of consumer product types. The team is ‘adept at managing complex product liability litigation that has joint defense groups’, including large-scale MDLs and class actions. The firm is best-known for its trial-ready capabilities and boasts an impressive cadre of first and second chair trial lawyers. The ‘exceptionally smart and sharp’ Joseph Petrosinelli has excellent credentials for handling civil and criminal cases in federal and state court, and has secured notable high-profile victories in the pharmaceuticals and medical devices space. Notably, he is currently defending Gerber Products Company as co-defendant in high-profile litigation brought by plaintiffs alleging that high levels of heavy metals in baby food products causes childhood autism and ADHD. Heidi Hubbard is also noted for her strong trial skills and co-heads the product liability team alongside Petrosinelli. Thanks to the expertise of David Forkner, the firm also has a strong presence advising clients in the food, beverages and pet sectors on litigation, regulatory and risk management work, including in relation to class actions regarding alleged deceptive and fraudulent marketing and labeling.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 2

Based in Washington DC, Williams & Connolly LLP provides ‘experience-based advice and detailed analysis‘. The firm draws heavily on its lawyers’ reputations as trial and appellate advocates to represent major US corporates in high-stakes securities cases. Steven Farina, Amanda MacDonald and Robert Van Kirk lead the practice. MacDonald and Farina are currently representing Medtronic in a notable securities litigation class action. Veteran partner Van Kirk is currently acting for The Carlyle Group in a high-profile matter. Emerging partner talent John Williams played a pivotal role in that case. He is highly regarded and clients praise his ‘exceptional communication skills and practice‘. Michael Mestitz, who worked with MacDonald on a class action claim against pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, is another name to note.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 2

The intellectual property group at Williams & Connolly LLP is praised as ‘exceptional in its creativity and focus on accomplishing client goals' and has deep technical knowledge and extensive experience in disputes relating to patent infringement. Based in Washington DC, the team represents clients in a wide range of industries, and is particularly experienced in the life sciences sector, having acted on behalf of companies such Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products. The firm’s patent litigation practice is co-chaired by David Berl, who specializes in the biotech, pharmaceutical and energy fields, and Jessamyn Berniker, who acts for clients from a wide range of industries in patent and licensing disputes. The group also includes Thomas Selby, who focuses on patent and licensing litigation, Stanley Fisher, who specializes in patent infringement claims affecting tech companies, and experienced litigator Dov Grossman who primarily acts on behalf of large pharma clients . Elise M. Baumgarten and Shaun P. Mahaffy are also key contacts.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation Tier 2

Based in Washington DC, Williams & Connolly LLP is home to ‘top notch litigators’ experienced at all levels of the US justice system. The firm is characterized by its First Amendment expertise that attracts clients from the media sector looking to defend against defamation lawsuits. Co-chair Thomas Hentoff is a seasoned copyright litigator who recently represented photographer Lynn Smith in a Supreme Court case with wide implications for IP and the ‘fair use’ defense. Co-chair Joseph Terry is leading numerous complex matters and has also had success in significant media arbitrations. The firm’s third co-chair, Stephen Fuzesi, excels in First Amendment defense, representing media companies, journalists, and news organizations in defamation cases and government investigations. Nicholas Gamse assists his clients by identifying legal issues and matters of concern to help avoid litigation altogether, whereas Gloria Maier is key to the firm’s ability to defend clients in investigations and litigation brought by the DOJ.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 3

Williams & Connolly LLP‘s international disputes practice boasts a wealth of experience representing clients in complex multijurisdictional proceedings, with specific knowledge of the intellectual property, engineering, technology, and product liability fields. High-net-worth individuals, companies, and state entities all entrust the team with complex disputes spanning civil and common law jurisdictions. The team works closely with the international arbitration practice of the firm, with Washington DC-based Jonathan Landy highly skilled in this area. Landy’s experience ranges from the pharma and medical devices industries to energy, infrastructure, and construction. In the same office, Richard Moore and associate Benjamin Graham are key names.

Government > State attorneys general Tier 3

Williams & Connolly LLP continues to extend its reach in the state attorneys general space, acting for household names in both single and multistate investigations and litigation in sectors as diverse as healthcare, banking, and tech. In addition to its continuing representation of Cardinal Health in the multistate opioid distribution investigation, the Washington DC-based team has also been significantly engaged with AG interest in drug pricing, consumer protection, and banking and securities practices. The practice is jointly led by healthcare expert Jennifer Wicht, who also co-chairs the firm’s FCA and qui tam practice, and civil litigator Holly Conley, whose strengths include anti-kickback statutes, unfair trade practices, and IP. Ashley Hardin focuses on mass torts and multistate actions, while Grant Geyerman fields significant experience in professional liability defense, product liability, and class actions.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 3

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation Tier 4

Williams & Connolly LLP’s financial services and banking practice specializes in litigation, representing clients in regulatory investigations prompted by the DOJ, FDIC, and CFPB, as well as enforcement actions and CFPA- and FIRREA-based actions. The group is led by Dane Butswinkas and John Villa – Butswinkas has a particular focus on trial and arbitration work relating to securitizations and corporate governance, while Villa is recognized for his corporate, securities, civil, and criminal litigation defense. The team also benefits from the expertise of Enu Mainigi and Ryan Scarborough. All individuals mentioned are based in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 4

Dane Butswinkas of Williams & Connolly LLP, located in Washington DC, has a broad practice which encompasses trials in both state and federal courts as well as arbitration. Sectors of note for Butswinkas include pharmaceuticals and chemicals, with AstraZeneca a key client as well a range of global chemical companies and life sciences companies including manufacturers.

Government > Government contracts Tier 4

Drawing on extensive litigation expertise, Williams & Connolly LLP broadens its reach into the government contracts space through internal and governmental investigations, disputes, FCA matters, and complex civil, criminal and administrative litigation. Healthcare contractors in particular value the team’s specialized knowledge of false billing and reporting, Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, and rebates and purchase discounts. The practice operates out of Washington DC, with national security, aerospace, and defense expert Edward Reddington and patent litigation, class actions, and investigations specialist Greg Bowman. Christopher Manning focuses on FCA, Anti-Terrorism Act, and securities and financial services litigation, while Christopher Mandernach represents defense-industry clients in national security, claims, and disputes matters.

Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 4

The Washington DC hub of Williams & Connolly LLP houses its trade secrets group co-heads, Bryan Wilson who is focused on commercial litigation for both claimants and defendants and civil and criminal disputes expert Daniel Shanahan. Tech and software are the industry sectors of focus for the team which is well-placed to advise its clients on the range of matters, including alleged misappropriation, breaches of restrictive covenants including breaches of non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disclosure. It represents its clients at both State and Federal court level.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 5

The Washington DC-based group at Williams & Connolly LLP acts for a diverse client base of medical product distributors, insurance companies, and pharma companies in antitrust disputes concerning drug pricing and rebates. Practice co-head Enu A. Mainigi is an experienced healthcare litigator who handles a range of cases, including bet-the-company litigation and class actions. Co-head Jennifer Wicht is well known for her expertise in FCA disputes, often acting for pharmacy benefit managers and hospitals, while Grant Geyerman often represents pharmacy benefit manufacturers in a range of disputes involving professional liability.