40 & Under List - Northeast

Connecticut
As co-lead counsel, David Norman Schiff represented Peter Dooney, the founder of Dooney & Bourke, in a contentious land use and governance dispute arising from the denial of his proposal to subdivide a 40-acre property within the exclusive Conyers Farm community in Greenwich. Through a creative litigation strategy and extensive investigation into the community's historical governance practices, the team secured a highly favorable settlement that granted Dooney the exact subdivision he sought along with a $3.35 million payment, while exposing weaknesses in the defendants' asserted defenses. Laura Ann Froning was active across a variety of high-stakes confidential matters during the research period, representing sophisticated clients in complex litigation and dispute resolution matters.


District of Columbia (DC)
Allison Vissichelli is a DC – based partner and member of Axinn's Antitrust group. She recently helped spearhead Google's defense in the Google Ad Technology Litigations, a series of closely watched antitrust disputes brought by the DOJ, state attorneys general, and private plaintiffs. The matter, which challenges Google's ad tech business and seeks significant remedies, is widely regarded as one of the most consequential antitrust cases currently before the courts. James Hunsberger also contributed to Google's defense in the Google Ad Technology Litigations before taking on a more prominent role in Summit 360, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., where he helped secure the complete dismissal of a monopolization lawsuit against Cisco, delivering a decisive result that shielded the company from extensive antitrust litigation.

Splitting her time between DC and New York, Jennifer Fischell advises her clients on various high stakes matters. She was part of the MoloLamken team representing FTI Consulting and its CEO, Steven Gunby, in a high-stakes dispute against former executive Jonathan Orszag. The case centers on allegations of trade secret misappropriation, breaches of contractual obligations, and the alleged poaching of employees and clients. It raises significant issues surrounding trade secret protection, employee mobility, and the enforcement of post-employment restrictions.


Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison

DC- based trial lawyer, Lina Dagnew represents both domestic and international clients. She was involved in a successful defense for Intuitive Surgical in a closely watched antitrust dispute concerning the company's da Vinci robotic surgery platform. Following a three-and-a-half-week trial, the court entered judgment in Intuitive's favor, delivering a significant win in litigation examining competition issues in advanced medical technology. In the Supreme Court & Appellate Litigation group, partner William Marks worked on the team representing Exxon Mobil Corp. in a long-running securities class action. He helped secure a significant victory by substantially defeating class certification claims alleging that the company made misleading statements that inflated its stock price.

Adam Adler is a trial and appellate attorney who played a supporting role in the representation of Kove IO in its high-stakes patent infringement suit against Amazon Web Services, a closely watched dispute over data storage technology central to AWS’s cloud business. The RJLF team secured a $673 million total award, including a $525 million jury verdict that was later upheld with anadditional$148 million in interest, making it one of the standout patent results of 2024. Philip Eklem also contributed to Kove IO’s landmark patent win against Amazon Web Services. He is also involved in Broadcom’s high-stakes patent litigation against Netflix, where RJLF is leading ongoing trial and appellate proceedings over video streaming technology. The case carries potential damages in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Connor Houghton was central to JetBlack Cycling’s defense in its patent dispute with Wahoo Fitness, where Wahoo sought an ITC import ban that could have forced JetBlack’s Victory trainer out of the U.S. market. Houghton helped secure a preliminary injunction compelling Wahoo to withdraw its ITC complaint, preserving JetBlack’s U.S. business and keeping the company in the market while the litigation continues in Georgia.

Parker Rider-Longmaid was part of the team that lead Skadden’s representation of FS Credit Opportunities in a high-profile U.S. Supreme Court case concerning the Investment Company Act. The matter addresses a circuit split over whether Section 47(b) creates a private right of action, an issue with significant implications for the investment fund industry.

Samantha F. Hynes helped achieve a favorable outcome for Harvard University and the Ivy League in Choh v. Brown University, an antitrust challenge to the conference's longstanding need-based financial aid policy. After securing dismissal in the district court, the defense prevailed again before the Second Circuit, which affirmed that the plaintiffs failed to plausibly allege a relevant antitrust market.

Cali Arat played a leading role in securing final approval of the NCAA’s landmark $2.8 billion NIL settlement, one of the most consequential agreements in the history of college athletics. She helped guide the resolution of antitrust claims brought by hundreds of thousands of student-athletes, contributing to a settlement that reshaped the NCAA’s compensation model and introduced unprecedented revenue-sharing opportunities for athletes. Sarah Neuman was a key member of Wilkinson Stekloff’s trial team representing SAP in high-stakes trade secrets and antitrust litigation against Teradata. She helped develop trial strategy and prepare the matter for trial before the firm secured a favorable settlement that resolved claims threatening billions in damages and potential restrictions on SAP’s core business operations. Roxana Guidero played an integral role in Wilkinson Stekloff’s representation of Hewlett Packard Enterprise in defending its $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks against a DOJ challenge. She contributed to trial preparation, strategic case development, and key deposition work, helping position HPE for a favorable resolution that cleared the way for the transaction to close.

A. Joshua Podoll was instrumental in Williams & Connolly’s representation of CVS Health in significant antitrust litigation, including the FTC’s challenge to pharmacy benefit managers’ insulin rebate practices. The matter highlights his involvement in a closely watched dispute at the intersection of antitrust law and healthcare regulation, with substantial implications for the industry. Benjamin Graham helped to deliver a major international arbitration victory for the Republic of Serbia, defeating claims seeking more than EUR 175 million in damages and obtaining a complete ruling in the client’s favor. Kathryn Kayali was part of the Williams & Connolly team representing Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in landmark patent litigation concerning Eylea®. The matter resulted in a series of significant victories, including injunctions blocking biosimilar competition and helping shape the evolving legal landscape for BPCIA litigation.

In DivX, LLC v. Netflix, Inc., Taylor Gooch was part of the WilmerHale team that secured a significant victory for Netflix in a complex, years-long patent infringement dispute. Following a seven-day jury trial, the team successfully defended against claims seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. The verdict found no infringement and eliminated all liability for Netflix, marking a decisive win in a highly technical case.


Delaware
April Ferraro led the firm's representation of appraisal petitioners challenging the acquisition of Hemisphere Media Group, securing a notable Delaware ruling that clarified the rights of stockholders pursuing parallel appraisal and class action remedies before reaching a confidential settlement on the eve of trial. Eric Veres, meanwhile, played a key role in a significant earnout dispute against Carlyle, helping to overturn an arbitration order, defeat portions of the defendants' counterclaims, and take the matter to trial before the Delaware Court of Chancery. In In re Taysha Gene Therapies, Inc. Stockholder Litigation, Wade Houston represented the Special Litigation Committee investigating challenges to a $150 million PIPE financing, culminating in an unopposed motion to terminate the litigation, a rare outcome that reflected the strength and thoroughness of the committee's work.


New York
Jarrod Schaeffer played a lead role in defending a former senior New York official facing allegations under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and related fraud charges. Following extensive pretrial motion practice and an eight-week trial, the defense secured a mistrial after the jury deadlocked on all counts, marking a significant outcome in a case involving novel constitutional and public corruption issues.

Kail Jethmalani led Axinn’s representation of Tyson Foods in a series of high-stakes antitrust class actions involving alleged conspiracies across the broiler chicken, pork and turkey markets, where the litigation carried substantial exposure across multiple proceedings. His work included leading key aspects of the Broilers-related litigation and related poultry matters, contributing to favorable resolutions, summary judgment wins and the ongoing defense of Tyson in sprawling, multibillion-dollar competition disputes.

As co-lead partner in In re Talis Biomedical Securities Litigation, Evan Kubota helped secure a $32.5 million settlement in a securities class action arising from alleged misrepresentations surrounding Talis Biomedical’s COVID-19 testing platform. The recovery, achieved after defeating a motion to dismiss, obtaining class certification, and navigating complex scientific and regulatory issues, represented up to 72% of the class’s potentially recoverable damages.

Marc Ayala served as co-lead counsel in litigation involving United Wholesale Mortgage and allegations tied to its business practices. The matters include commercial and regulatory claims brought in federal and Ohio state court, placing the company’s lending model and related conduct at the center of the dispute. Thomas Sosnowski co-led BSF’s representation of Red Bird Capital Partners in a dispute arising from Brookfield’s multibillion-dollar acquisition of Compass Datacenters. The case centers on a $150 million escrow arrangement and allegations that Brookfield improperly inflated Compass’ capital expenditure projections to claim the escrow, raising complex Delaware contract interpretation issues tied to a heavily negotiated private equity transaction.

In Harman International Industries Inc. v. Illinois National Insurance Company, Federal Insurance Company and Berkley Insurance, Orrie Levy helped secure a significant victory for Harman, culminating in a Delaware Supreme Court ruling affirming that a D&O policy’s “bump-up” exclusion did not bar coverage for a $28 million shareholder settlement arising from Harman’s merger with Samsung. The decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for M&A-related insurance disputes. Cynthia Jordano was part of the team that secured a favorable Delaware Supreme Court ruling In AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. v. XL Specialty Insurance Company, et al., confirming that AMC’s $99.3 million stock-based settlement qualified as a covered “loss” under its insurance policy. The decision established important precedent for policyholders seeking coverage for non-cash settlements. Meredith Elkins represented Dellwood in a closely watched dispute with AIG, helping achieve a favorable resolution after the court dismissed a majority of AIG’s claims and the insurer ultimately settled and permanently withdrew its suit. Alexander Sugzda takes the lead on Sibelco in a high-stakes insurance coverage dispute stemming from Hurricane Helene losses. The matter involves more than $100 million in claimed damages and significant questions regarding the interaction of multiple policy coverages and sub limits. Jillian Raines was part of the Cohen Ziffer team representing Paramount in its pursuit of D&O insurance coverage arising from the high-profile Viacom-CBS merger. The team secured key rulings that allowed Paramount to continue pursuing recovery tied to a $122.5 million shareholder settlement, resulting in favorable settlements with multiple insurers and advancing important policyholder coverage arguments.

Brittany Sukiennik played a key role in securing a favorable settlement for Xcel Energy in the highly complex Marshall Wildfire litigation, resolving hundreds of lawsuits alleging billions of dollars in damages. The settlement concluded years of litigation while requiring only a fraction of the damages sought and allowed the company to avoid any admission of wrongdoing. David Korn was part of the Cravath team that secured a major antitrust trial victory for American Express in Moskowitz, et al. v. American Express Company, where a jury unanimously found that Amex’s non-discrimination provisions did not unlawfully restrain trade, protecting a core aspect of the company’s business model. Michael Zaken was part of the team representing Epic Games in its landmark antitrust dispute against Google, securing a unanimous jury verdict and appellate affirmance that reshaped competition in the Android app marketplace. Sharonmoyee Goswami helped secure the dismissal with prejudice of antitrust claims against Elsevier in Uddin v. Elsevier, defeating allegations of collusion among major academic publishers and preserving established practices within scholarly publishing. Rebecca J. Schindel contributed to Cravath’s successful representation of American Express in Moskowitz, et al. v. American Express Company, culminating in a unanimous jury verdict rejecting key antitrust claims and a subsequent favorable settlement. Lauren Rosenberg was part of the Cravath team representing OpenX Technologies in significant antitrust proceedings involving multiple state attorneys general and federal regulators. Her work contributed to the company's defense in a high-profile matter addressing competition issues in the digital advertising sector, an area of growing importance and scrutiny.

Alexandra Sadinsky was part of the team representing Soroc Technology Holdings in In re Decision One Corporation, Consolidated, a $115 million Delaware Chancery fraud dispute stemming from the acquisition of Decision One. The case centers on allegations that the company's value was artificially inflated through fabricated revenue figures, with the court allowing Soroc's claims to move forward. Michael Duke also worked on the matter and contributed to the firm's representation of Metropolitan Partners in a separate commercial dispute involving investment funds, fraud allegations, and breach of contract claims. Jared Ruocco led the representation of Diem Investments in Diem-II LLC, et al. v. Maisonette Inc., et al., a dispute arising from alleged misrepresentations connected to a $13 million investment, securing a significant victory at the pleadings stage. Brian Campbell supported that representation while also spearheading a challenge to a multi-billion-dollar squeeze-out merger on behalf of minority stockholders, a case involving important questions of fiduciary duties and controlling shareholder conduct.

New York-based partner Andrew Gladstein focuses his practice on complex commercial and securities litigation in federal and state courts. He regularly leads matters involving private capital, with significant experience defending alternative investment funds, private equity funds, and public companies in high-stakes disputes.

Jennifer Rea Deneault served as part of the lead counsel team for Amicus Therapeutics in a pharmaceutical patent dispute over Gala fold, the first oral treatment for Fabry disease. The bet-the-company matter against Teva, Aurobindo and Lupin resulted in favorable settlements with generic entry dates in 2037 and preceded Amicus’s announced$4.8 billion acquisition by BioMarin.

Megan Dubatowka co-led the Harris St. Laurent team representing Paul Galietto, the former Head of Equities and Co-Head of Global Trading Solutions at Credit Suisse, in a FINRA arbitration arising from the Archegos collapse. After an eight-day evidentiary hearing, the panel awardedGalietto$8.7 million and found that Credit Suisse and UBS acted in bad faith by relying on a Paul Weiss investigative report that was “not independently produced” to cancel his deferred compensation.

As part of Herrick’s litigation team, Samuel Bazian represented Crescent Heights IP, LLC in a significant real estate dispute involving a Manhattan commercial property transaction. He helped secure dismissal of the purchaser’s claims and cancellation of a notice of pendency, a result that was later affirmed on appeal and reinforced important limits on the use of lis pendens in prospective real estate purchase disputes.

Daniel M. Horowitz was part of the Holwell Shuster & Goldberg team representing Chubb in its nationwide opioid coverage litigation, a series of high-stakes insurance disputes involving claims brought by major pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and retailers seeking coverage for opioid-related lawsuits. Gregory Dubinsky co-led Holwell Shuster & Goldberg’s representation of xAI Holdings Corp. in Ashley St. Clair v. X.AI Holdings Corp., an ongoing dispute involving allegations relating to AI-generated imagery and the enforceability of platform terms of service. Jayme Jonat was a member of the team representing Visa Inc. in major antitrust litigation involving payment card network rules and claims brought by merchants and retailers. Priyanka Timblo also worked on the Visa matter and additionally led the firm's representation of London Luxury LLC in a commercial dispute against Walmart arising from the cancellation of a major PPE supply agreement during the pandemic in which she secured a significant judgment.

With a practice centered on intellectual property law, Armin Ghiam counsels clients on the protection, enforcement, and commercialization of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets

D. Brandon Trice played a key role in Kaplan Martin LLP’s representation of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority in major litigation tied to New York’s congestion pricing program. The firm defended the program against 13 separate lawsuits seeking to block implementation, while also pursuing affirmative litigation against the Trump Administration’s efforts to withhold federal support, helping protect a nationally significant transportation and public policy initiative.

As lead partner, Nicholas Rendino secured a major appellate victory for KARS, LLC and their entities, successfully overturning the dismissal of a $150 million lawsuit concerning an alleged scheme to obstruct development of a commercial business complex, after a compelling oral argument. The decision reinstated all claims and allowed the litigation to move forward. Working on the defense of Davey Tree and Wolf Tree, Brian Choi contributed to a closely watched wrongful death matter involving the murder of a company employee. The case resulted in a trial victory that significantly limited damages exposure, while related litigation saw the dismissal of all RICO and intentional tort claims against the clients. In the sprawling Teva Pharmaceuticals securities litigation, Andrew Schwartz was part of the Kasowitz team representing Teva and its directors and officers in one of the largest securities disputes in recent years. The team successfully resolved numerous opt-out actions stemming from the litigation, while the final remaining action is scheduled for trial in 2027.

Alexandria Swette was part of the leading defense team representing Olivier Amar in USA v. Javice, a high-profile SDNY fraud trial stemming from JPMorgan Chase’s $175 million acquisition of fintech startup Frank. She helped lead an extensive forensic review of documents and metadata that formed a key component of the defense strategy, supporting the client’s position in this complex criminal matter.

Melissa Cabrera is a New York-based litigator whose practice focuses on intellectual property and complex commercial disputes. She represents clients in high stakes matters before state and federal courts, as well as the U.S. International Trade Commission.

In a high-stakes sovereign-debt litigation against Venezuela and PDVSA, partner Josh Bloom aided in the representation of Contrarian Capital Management LLC and affiliated funds, including Red Tree Investments LLC. The case involves debt with an original principal balance of more than$1 billion, with the firm securing major judgments, defending appellate proceedings, and pursuing attachment efforts tied to PDVSA’s interest in CITGO.

Gregory Wolfe acted as lead counsel for the ConsenSys defendants in Dietz v. ConsenSys Inc., a high-value cryptocurrency dispute involving claims that the plaintiff was wrongfully excluded from MetaMask. Wolfe argued the motion that led the California Superior Court to dismiss the claims as untimely, separately bar the tort claims under the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act, and dismiss certain defendants for lack of personal jurisdiction.

Tara J. Norris worked on a high-profile forfeiture action involving one of Manhattan's most valuable commercial properties and claims tied to international sanctions enforcement. The matter resulted in a significant recovery and distribution effort following years of complex litigation. Part of the team representing Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Clint Morrison contributed to a huge win in a closely watched dispute between pharmaceutical industry leaders involving competitive business practices and market positioning. The litigation carried substantial commercial implications for both companies. Lachlan Campbell-Verduyn assisted in Janssen Pharmaceuticals et al. v. Mylan Laboratories, a significant pharmaceutical patent dispute concerning generic competition and intellectual property rights. The case involved complex issues at the intersection of patent law and the life sciences sector.

At the center of In re: PowerSchool Holdings Inc. and PowerSchool Group LLC Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, ,Janus Schutte co-led Bain Capital’s defense in a high-profile cybersecurity matter arising from a major data breach, helping navigate complex litigation involving sensitive customer data and evolving cyber risk issues. Serving as co-lead counsel in In Re Payment Card Inc. Interchange Fee Litigation, Nina Kovalenko helped guide a significant and long-running commercial dispute involving major participants in the payments industry. In a closely watched cryptocurrency class action, Kristina Bunting helped steer Coinbase’s defense in Joel Heabeart v. Coinbase, Inc., a matter centered on allegations regarding the marketing and stability of the UST cryptocurrency. A trade secrets dispute between Unisys Corporation and Atos Syntel saw Tiana Voegelin play a key role in securing a favorable resolution, culminating in the settlement and dismissal of claims alleging misappropriation of proprietary business information. David Friedman maintains a broad litigation practice spanning commercial disputes, criminal defense, and regulatory matters. Here presents clients in complex proceedings at both the trial and appellate levels, with notable experience advising private funds on governance disputes and investor claims.

Jaime Cardenas-Navia was part of the Reichman Jorgensen team that secured a landmark $673 million award against AWS after a jury found infringement of three patents related to cloud storage technology. The verdict ranked among the largest patent awards of the decade and remains one of the most significant outcomes in the intellectual property space. Representing Video Labs in a series of patent disputes against major technology companies including Amazon, Netflix, Meta, and Apple, Michael Matulewicz-Crowley helped enforce a portfolio of foundational video technology patents. The matters involved high-stakes infringement claims and contributed to a series of favorable resolutions and ongoing litigation against some of the industry's largest players.


In Arthur Anderson, et al. v. Southwest Airlines Co., David Traceyis serving as co-lead counsel in an ERISA class action alleging fiduciary breaches tied to the long-term retention of an underperforming investment fund in Southwest’s retirement plan. The team recently secured a significant litigation victory when the court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss, allowing the claims to proceed. Carolin Guentert leads the representation in Cunningham v. Colgate University, a closely watched case involving allegations of abuse, disability discrimination, and Title IX violations arising from the treatment of a Division I student-athlete. The matter seeks accountability for the university’s alleged failure to address repeated concerns regarding player welfare. Nicole Wiitalais part of the supporting team for that case and also contributed to Dr. Omaida Velazquez v. University of Miami, a discrimination and retaliation matter brought by the former Chair of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief at the University of Miami. The case advanced in 2026 when the court allowed the majority of Dr. Velazquez’s claims to move forward. Andrew Macurdy is Co-Chair of Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight’s Trial Practice Group and focuses on whistleblower, employment discrimination, and public-interest litigation.

Meredith Karp represented the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in Pay Services Bank v. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, where the team secured dismissal of claims seeking access to a Federal Reserve “Master Account.” The court agreed that the Federal Reserve Bank had discretion to deny the request and rejected claims brought under the Administrative Procedure Act, Due Process Clause, and Mandamus Act, marking an important win in a closely watched dispute involving access to the federal banking system. In North American Fire, Alison Sherwas part of the Simpson Thacher team that secured a significant victory before the Delaware Supreme Court, reinstating the client's claims against a former employee accused of violating restrictive covenants contained in an Incentive Unit Grant Agreement. The decision revived North American Fire’s claims and allowed the dispute to proceed, underscoring the importance of contractual protections in employment-related litigation.

In the Bed Bath & Beyond litigation, Tansy Woan represented former independent directors in a fiduciary duty dispute arising from the company's share repurchase program and alleged insolvency. The matter concluded with a confidential settlement and dismissal with prejudice, securing a favorable resolution in a closely watched dispute. Leslie Demers has advised clients in complex commercial matters that remain confidential at this time, providing strategic counsel on high-stakes disputes and sensitive legal issues.

In In re: FTX Trading Ltd., Jacob Croke was part of the Sullivan & Cromwell team representing key stakeholders in the high-profile bankruptcy proceedings arising from the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange. Benjamin Beller also worked on this, one of the most closely watched insolvency matters in recent years. The matter involved complex restructuring and insolvency issues with significant financial and industry implications. Julia Malkina contributed to the defense in Shupe v. Rocket Companies, helping the team navigate a notable dispute involving the mortgage lending company. The case centered on significant claims with potential business and reputational consequences. As co-lead counsel in In re Citigroup Securities Litigation, Leonid Traps helped guide Citigroup through a major securities class action. The matter involved complex allegations and significant exposure, making it a closely followed case in the financial services sector. Nicholas Menillo served as co-lead counsel in In re FirstEnergy Corp. Securities Litigation, a significant securities matter arising from alleged misconduct related to a public corruption investigation. The case presented substantial legal and financial stakes for the company. Beth Newton maintains a diverse litigation practice spanning complex commercial disputes, regulatory and enforcement matters, and internal investigations

Jillian Hewitt co-led the representation of the plaintiff in a significant employment dispute securing a $59.6 million arbitration award after the company refused to honor its compensation commitments to its former CEO. Beatrice Franklin supported Virtual Dining Concepts in its high-profile breach of contract dispute against Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, over the MrBeast Burger partnership. The case seeks more than $100 million in damages and centers on allegations that Donaldson breached contractual obligations, publicly disparaged the brand, and interfered with shared social media accounts, with the team recently defeating his motion for summary judgment. Zach Savage is an accomplished trial and appellate lawyer who handles complex business disputes across a range of industries. Drawing on experience gained as a former U.S. Supreme Court law clerk, he represents clients in matters involving breach of contract, class actions, defamation, intellectual property, employment, and insurance-related claims.

Molly Jennings worked on Klein et al. v. Meta Platforms, Inc., helping secure a significant summary judgment victory in a proposed nationwide antitrust class action involving approximately 220 million Facebook users. The plaintiffs alleged that Meta had monopolized the market for personal social networking services and argued that users should have been compensated for the use of their data. The court rejected those claims, finding no antitrust injury or damages, and issued a decision that established important precedent for competition and antitrust challenges involving free digital platforms.