Here's the full collection of Litigation Leader profiles featuring litigation practice heads of the nation's biggest law firms.

 

Tariq Mundiya

Willkie's Tariq Mundiya on New Offices, Nimble Staffing and Litigating With a Single Purpose

'Sometimes litigation is like a game of chess, and sometimes it's just good old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat. Regardless of where any particular case falls on that spectrum, Willkie litigators really enjoy what they do and the results demonstrate it. '

 

Steve Baldini

Akin Gump's Steve Baldini on Opposition Research, Working Remotely and Long-Term Growth

'This is a demanding profession and we believe that the best way to meet the demands is to create a culture of ownership and teamwork among our lawyers.'

 

 

Jed Wakefield

Fenwick's Jed Wakefield on Tech Clients, Staying Connected and Playing the Endgame

'Our approach is scalable—we handle cases for companies ranging from early-stage startups to Fortune 50 companies. These are fast-moving clients, and each has its own set of risks and competitive concerns. We have no standard playbook or one-size-fits-all approach.'

 

David Lender,.

Weil's David Lender on Talent Retention, Trial Experience and Novel Settlements

'We know that the best way to learn is by doing, so we encourage our senior lawyers to give less-seasoned lawyers a chance to get courtroom experience and broaden their focus.'

 

Joseph F. Rice

Motley Rice's Joe Rice on Childhood Dreams, Calculated Risks and Historic MDLs

'If we accept a case it is with the mindset that it is going in front of a jury, so we do the work to get it there. Sometimes in mass torts, you'll see some lawyers sit back and watch others do the work—Motley Rice lawyers don't do that. We are active in every litigation we are involved in.'

 

Gregg L. Weiner

Ropes & Gray's Gregg Weiner on Book Smarts, Street Smarts and Spotting Talent

'Adversaries know they won't outthink or outmaneuver us. Clients know we have the judgment, expertise, and experience to successfully resolve their major litigation and enforcement challenges. They also know that we don't follow a rote playbook.'

 

Richard Spehr

Mayer Brown's Richard Spehr on Leadership Succession, Client Service and Reshaping the Law 

'Mayer Brown approaches complex disputes not just in terms of wins or losses but also as long-term campaigns to reshape the law to our clients' benefit.'

 

Hector Gonzalez.

Dechert's Hector Gonzalez on Multiculturalism, Lateral Hires and Keeping It Simple

Gonzalez's goals: 'Growth, diversity, junior partner development, pro bono contributions to our communities, and making sure the litigation group is well positioned to leverage the firm's global footprint. '

 

Steven Toll

Cohen Milstein's Steven Toll on Fearless Litigation, Defense-Side Competition and the Greater Good 

'When defendants see us on the other side, they know they're in for a hard-fought and, if necessary, drawn-out battle.'

 

 

Michele Johnson

Latham's Michele Johnson on Client Service, Team Culture and Playing to Win 

'We don't just neutralize the other side's best facts; we incorporate them as part of our affirmative story. '

 

 

Des Hogan.

Hogan Lovells' Des Hogan on Depth, Diversity and the (Little League) World Series 

'When we are defending, we commit to finding the best path, even if it is not the standard path, to extinguish cases early so our clients can avoid the expense and distraction of time-consuming litigation.'

 

Sharon Nelles.

Sullivan & Cromwell's Sharon Nelles on Big Personalities, Mutual Respect and Associate Development

'I am not going to fix what is not broken. What I want to build on is recognition of the depth and breadth of what we do. '

 

 

John Hall

Covington's John Hall on Plaintiffs-Side Work, Partner Promotions and the 'Plus Factor'

'While some disputes can be solved with a jury verdict, many of the most challenging problems for today's global businesses are bigger, more complicated and multi-faceted, requiring creative solutions in more than one jurisdiction and one type of forum.'

 

Diane M. Doolittle

Quinn Emanuel's Diane Doolittle on Show Jumping, Street Smarts and Bet-the-Company Cases

'If there is a high-profile dispute going on anywhere in the world, the odds are that we're involved in some way.'

 

 

David E. Brodsky

Cleary's David Brodsky on Lockstep Compensation, Latin America and Lateral Hires

'We know when and how to pick our fights…We're straight shooters, and strategic about what arguments to make.'

 

 

David M. Zornow

Skadden's David Zornow on Top Talent, 'Walking Through Walls for Clients' and Joe Flom's Legacy

Approach every problem in partnership with the client; think outside the box, don't take the obvious solution; outwork your adversary; act according to the highest ethical standards; and tell your client what you really think.'

 

Howard Shapiro

Wilmer's Howard Shapiro on 'Classic Trial Lawyering,' Suing the Government and Lateral All-Stars

'We tell clients when something isn't going to work, and we don't take unnecessary long shots. It can make for extraordinarily effective advocacy when it's clear you're the straight shooter in the courtroom.'

 

Gordon J. Cooney

Morgan Lewis' Gordon Cooney on Crisis Management, Data Analytics and the Importance of Teamwork

'Our overarching goal is to solve problems through creative, clear, concise and compelling advocacy."

 

 

Mark Filip

Kirkland's Mark Filip on Lateral Hiring, 'Perry Mason' Moments and Training the Next Generation

'Litigators here know the ultimate resolution of a dispute is in a courtroom, and we prepare cases so they can be successfully resolved in court and at trial if necessary.'

 

Mike Attansio.

Cooley's Mike Attanasio on Strategy, Lateral Hires and Training New Trial Lawyers

'Every case, no matter how complex, is a story. If a lawyer can't distill that story into a crisp and cohesive narrative—the opening statement—then he or she needs to go back to the drawing board.'