Lisa Helem, editor-in-chief of the National Law Journal.

I'm always elated when we have the chance to briefly step back from the busy news cycle to shine a light on those who are carrying the banner of excellence in our profession.

This year, in our D.C. Litigation Departments of the Year special report, we honor 13 leading firms that over the past year have excelled in general litigation, labor and employment, intellectual property, insurance, products liability/mass torts and white collar defense.

In keeping with tradition, competition was fierce this year. Three firms—Zuckerman Spaeder, Akin Gump and Kirkland & Ellis—share top honors, securing acquittals for former White House counsel Gregory Craig and Bijan Rafiekian, an ex-business partner of former national security advisor Michael Flynn, and winning more than $256 million for BNSF Railway.

Our litigation specialty honorees also successfully handled high-stakes work that included representing Gordon Sondland, former U.S. ambassador to the European Union, in the high-profile impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump and winning a full defense verdict in a class action brought on behalf of One A Day multivitamin consumers. Check out our special report to read more about all of our stellar honorees and their work.

Next, C. Ryan Barber connects with former federal prosecutor Jonathan Kravis, who resigned from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington after playing a lead role in the prosecution of Roger Stone, a Trump ally. Kravis left his former post after DOJ leaders intervened in Stone's sentencing.

Now, he's working at the D.C. Office of the Attorney General in a consulting role in which he's advising D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine Racine on structuring a new public corruption unit. Barber speaks with Kravis and Racine about their areas of focus for the new division, which include targeting campaign finance violations and fraud.

Next, following the start of the first fraud prosecution for misconduct connected with the receipt of CARES Act aid, MoloLamken partner Eric Nitz and associate Emily Damrau write about when receipt of CARES Act assistance triggers criminal liability. For more, read their column in the "Practice" section.

Finally, check out the latest in lawyer moves from across the globe in our "Movers" section, compiled by Pearl Wu.

As always, we love hearing from you. Email me at the address below or reach out on Twitter via @lhelemNLJ. Thanks for reading!