Jenner & Block

Tell us about your biggest trial win from January 2018 through June 2019 and how you achieved the result for your client.

In August/September 2018, I led a team in the recovery of $120 million for Olin Corp. during a jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff in a high-stakes environmental insurance and contribution case. The trial involved complex coverage claims under a 1970 excess policy for remediation and defense costs at 13 manufacturing and hazardous waste disposal sites. The trial [followed] multiple prior victories spanning 34 years in environmental insurance disputes involving environmental sites across North America in multiple trials in the Southern District of New York and several appeals to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Share two trial tips that have been key to your success.

1) Be yourself and be real: Trials are about communicating complex topics to real people; juries trust lawyers who are themselves, not posers, and show the factual reality, not spin.

2) Overprepare, but be flexible: Preparation is paramount, but adherence to a plan can result in a lack of flexibility at trial. You need to adjust and readjust constantly while sticking to your core themes.