Page 55 - NYLJ Professional Excellence 2021

ers, extracting them from a series of IPO suits filed against From left, partners Kevin McDonough,
Gridsum Hold ing and against Pivotal Software in federal Andrew Clubok, Jamie Wine, Blair Connelly
and state court. and Kuan Huang.

A prospective client in crisis calls and asks why your team Responses prepared by the Professional Liability
should be retained. What is your answer? When facing practice group.
their most high-stakes disputes—and billions of dollars
in potential exposure—companies rely on Latham for our
fervent willingness to partner with our clients and devel-
op creative strategies that win. We cultivate and deploy
aggressive yet savvy litigation approaches that enable us proceedings that can be viewed online as they occur. Obser-
to resolve most matters well short of trial, whether through vation Deck has not only featured some of our most high-
a dispositive motion or settlement. However, while securi- profile cases, but has given both junior and senior litiga-
ties cases rarely go to trial, Latham is one of the few firms tors the opportunity to observe a panoply of proceedings,
to have achieved successful jury verdicts in securities litiga- including discovery hearings, summary judgment motions,
tion in recent history, and likely the only firm to have done motions for injunctive relief, appellate oral arguments,
so multiple times. and trials.
As a result, Latham lawyers have been able to attend more
What traits do you respect most in opposing firms and law- hearings than ever before, as travel and budget limitations
yers? Professionalism, integrity, cordiality, and creativity. associated with attending in-person proceedings are no longer
relevant, and access to colleagues handling real cases in real
What is the firm doing to ensure that future generations of time is greater than ever.
litigators are ready to take the helm? As courts everywhere
transitioned to virtual proceedings, Latham leveraged that
shift by creating a new platform called Observation Deck,
which provides a curated list of hearings, trials, and other

Photo: Ryland West/ALM | October 2021 53