We are pleased to unveil the finalists and honorees for The National Law Journal Legal Awards highlighting the top litigation and appellate work from the previous year.

The law firms and attorneys being recognized this year stood out for their work guiding clients through high-stakes litigation, their cutting-edge approaches to environmental, social and corporate governance issues as well their as diversity and inclusion initiatives. The list also includes the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award as well as those being recognized on the Appellate Hot List, and Rising Stars.

Winners for individual categories with finalists will be unveiled during an awards event at The Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C., on October 20.

DC Rising Stars—Winners:

  • Amisha R. Patel, Dechert
  • R. Andrew Austria, McGuireWoods
  • Bradford Hardin, Davis Wright Tremaine
  • Brian Rabbitt,  Jones Day
  • Brian Schnapp, Vinson & Elkins
  • Cali Cope-Kasten, Wilkinson Stekloff
  • Christopher Pepe, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
  • Conrad Bolston, Vinson & Elkins
  • Dustin Pusch, Clare Locke
  • Eileen Lohmann, Berry Appleman & Leiden
  • Elliot Golding, McDermott Will & Emery
  • Elizabeth Jochum, Blank Rome
  • Emily Prezioso Walsh, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
  • Eric Rosenberg, United States Air Force
  • Erin Johnston, Kirkland & Ellis
  • Ethan Fallon, D.C. Solicitor General's Office
  • Graham Magill, Weil, Gotshal & Manges
  • Jaime Santos, Goodwin Procter
  • Jason Downs, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
  • Jenn Mellott, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
  • Jonathan Wakely, Covington & Burling
  • Justin Hansford, Howard University
  • Julius Chen, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
  • Karin Dryhurst, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr
  • Katherine (Katie) A. Trefz, Williams & Connolly
  • Kristi Kung,  DLA Piper
  • Libby Weingarten, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
  • Luke McCloud, Williams & Connolly
  • Locke Bell, Morrison & Foerster
  • Marshall Jackson, McDermott Will & Emery
  • Michael Murray, Paul Hastings
  • Michelle Chen, Sullivan & Cromwell
  • Michelle Kallen, Jenner & Block, previously United States House of Representatives
  • Nicolle Kownacki, White & Case
  • Rakesh Kilaru, Wilkinson Stekloff
  • Rayiner Hashem, MoloLamken
  • Samantha Hynes, Sullivan & Cromwell
  • Steven Tjoe, Goodwin Procter
  • Teri Diaz, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
  • Tyler Grove, Hughes Hubbard & Reed

ESG and Community Impact Leaders—Winners:

  • Dechert
  • Dentons
  • McGuireWoods
  • Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
  • Reed Smith
  • Covington & Burling
  • Willkie Farr& Gallagher
  • Eversheds Sutherland
  • Ropes & Gray
  • Hunton Andrews Kurth
  • Morrison Foerster
  • Jenner & Block

Winning Litigators—Finalists:

  • William Burck, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
  • Jaren Janghorbani, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison
  • Carrie Karis, Kirkland & Ellis
  • Thomas Melsheimer, Winston & Strawn
  • Jason Sheasby, Irell & Manella
  • Orin Snyder, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
  • Brian Stekloff, Wilkinson Stekloff

Lifetime Achievement Award—Winners:

  • Thomas Griffith, Hunton Andrews Kurth
  • Sheila Slocum Hollis, Duane Morris
  • Norman Brownstein, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

General Litigation—Finalists:

  • Zuckerman Spaeder
  • Latham & Watkins
  • O'Melveny & Myers
  • Hogan Lovells
  • Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
  • Covington & Burling

Crisis Management and Government Oversight—Finalists:

  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
  • Kirkland & Ellis
  • Latham & Watkins
  • Sidley Austin
  • Vinson & Elkins
  • Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr

Appellate Hot List—Winners:

  • Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
  • Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer
  • Covington & Burling
  • DLA Piper
  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
  • Goodwin Procter
  • Greenberg Traurig
  • Haynes and Boone
  • Hogan Lovells
  • Hunton Andrews Kurth
  • Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection
  • Jenner & Block
  • Jones Day
  • Kaplan Hecker & Fink
  • Kirkland & Ellis
  • Latham & Watkins
  • MoloLamken
  • Munger, Tolles & Olson
  • O'Melveny & Myers
  • Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
  • Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
  • Sidley Austin
  • Williams & Connolly
  • Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr
  • Winston & Strawn

GC Impact—Finalists:

  • Marcus Anthony LeBeouf, Sr., Chicago Blackhawks
  • David Stryker, Huntsman International
  • Rena Hozore Reiss, Marriott International

DC Diversity Initiative—Finalists:

  • Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
  • Covington & Burling – Veterans Initiative
  • Latham & Watkins – "More than Words"
  • White & Case - "Antitrust Racial Justice Task Force"
  • Winston & Strawn

Washington D.C. Litigation Department of the Year – Product Liability—Winner:

  • Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom

Washington D.C. Litigation Department of the Year – Labor and Employment—Winner:

  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Washington D.C. Litigation Department of the Year-White Collar—Winner:

  • Greenberg Traurig

Washington D.C. Litigation Department of the Year-Intellectual Property—Winner:

  • Latham & Watkins