Plaintiffs lawyers at Sanford Wittels cemented a $99 million wage-and-hour settlement for Novartis sales representatives on May 31--less than three weeks before the Supreme Court ruled that pharma sales reps aren't entitled to overtime pay. But the high court's decision came out in time to knock out a separate $70 million class action that Sanford Wittels brought against Novo Nordisk.

It's still early, but it's beginning to look as though plaintiffs whose property was destroyed by noxious fumes from defective drywall will be able to collect damages.

In a legal profession populated by the risk-averse, litigators stand out as an intrepid lot. So it should come as little surprise that each year a handful of high-profile practitioners opt to leave the comforts of large, established law firms to strike out on their own.