The American College of Trial Lawyers inducted 73 new fellows over the weekend at its spring meeting in La Quinta, California.

Regular readers will know I'm a big fan of the organization, which recognizes lawyers not just for being outstanding litigators, but also for not being jerks. As the ACTL puts it, “Fellowship is extended only by invitation, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.”

The newest members include some familiar names, such as Daralyn Durie of Durie Tangri in San Francisco. In 2017, she won a for-charity contest at the ABA litigation section's annual meeting when hundreds of attendees voted that she gave the best closing argument in a mock trial. A former partner at (then) Keker & Van Nest, Durie launched her own firm in 2009, successfully representing companies including Google and Genentech in IP fights.

Hector Gonzalez, who chairs Dechert's global litigation practice, is another new inductee. In 2014, Lit Daily named him a Litigator of the Week for his work on behalf of BNYMellon in an $8.5 billion settlement with Bank of America Corp. Head of Dechert's diversity and inclusion efforts, Gonzalez has a broad practice including white-collar defense, securities and shareholder litigation and FCPA matters.

Winston & Strawn's Thomas Melsheimer—who successfully defended billionaire Mark Cuban in a headline-grabbing insider trading case—also got the nod. Managing partner of Winston's Dallas office, Melsheimer has racked up multiple nine-figure jury wins and settlements. He also co-wrote a delightful book, “On the Jury Trial,” with his old friend, Dallas County Judge Craig Smith.

Greenberg Traurig's John Gibbons, who is co-managing shareholder of the firm's Chicago office, joined the ACTL ranks as well. He's got a wide-ranging civil and criminal practice and previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles.

Also making the grade: Stradley Ronon partner Michael Engle, who co-chairs the firm's white collar practice. The Philadelphia-based lawyer's former clients include a municipal court judge accused of corruption. Engle has also developed an intriguing niche defending against civil or criminal allegations relating to hazing conduct.

Richards Layton & Finger president Gregory Varallo is another new ACTL member. The Delaware-based litigator's representations include serving as lead counsel for News Corp. and its board in derivative litigation arising from a hacking scandal ,and as lead trial and appellate counsel for Goldman Sachs in a challenge to worldwide compensation. He's also a prolific writer, co-authoring several books.

Other new inductees include:

John Aromando, the chair of Pierce Atwood's litigation practice. Based in Portland, Maine, he's a complex commercial litigator.

Ty Kelly of Baker Donelson, a former federal prosecutor turned white collar defender in Baltimore and Washington.

Melissa Foster Bird of Nelson Mullins in West Virginia, who has been lead counsel in more than 35 trials representing railroads, trucking companies, chemical companies and other manufacturers.

Ellen Boshkoff, an employment law litigator at Faegre Baker Daniels in Indianapolis.

Joseph Welborn III of Butler Snow, who is based in Nashville and handles commercial litigation, civil rights and catastrophic personal injury cases.

For the full list of new ACTL inductees, click here.