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North America - United States • Dispute resolution

Proskauer Rose LLP

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Proskauer Rose LLP is well-regarded in particular for its ability to handle arbitration and litigation in the asset management, sport, media, and life sciences spaces, though the team is active across a wide spectrum of commercial disputes. Litigation department chair Bart Williams is a key name for corporate investigations and white collar criminal cases, while vice-chair Michael Mervis is noted for his handling of cases in the real estate and entertainment spaces. Head of securities litigation Timothy Mungovan is based in Boston and routinely advises asset management clients on restructurings and bankruptcy matters in addition to handling private fund disputes. Jonathan Weiss is a key point of contact for both plaintiff and defense-side work in antitrust cases, class action suits, and securities litigation. Susan Gutierrez is a key name for the full suite of product liability issues. All attorneys named are based in Los Angeles unless otherwise stated.

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Key clients

  • Gilead Sciences, Inc.
  • Sanderson-Wayne Farms
  • Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico
  • Worldwide Streaming Company
  • Shamrock Capital Advisors
  • Bayer/Monsanto
  • SoClean, Inc.
  • National Football League
  • Otis Worldwide Corp.
  • Major League Soccer
  • Miramax
  • ATP Tour and WTA Tour
  • Waste Management
  • VXI Global Holdings

Work highlights

  • Acted for Gilead Sciences, Inc. in a $3.6bn antitrust case on allegations that the pharmaceutical company struck an anticompetitive "pay-for-delay" patent settlement related to two HIV medications.
  • Acted for Sanderson Farms in a broiler chicken price-fixing case in which, following a six-week trial, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois delivered a full defense verdict, ruling against certain Plaintiffs which accused Sanderson Farms of participating in a supply reduction conspiracy with other producers between 2008 and 2012.
  • Represented a worldwide streaming service, a director/writer, and a writer in a defamation case brought by a former criminal prosecutor relating to a television series created by the defendants.

Lawyers

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Bart Williams

Bart Williams

Proskauer Rose LLP

Bart Williams is one of the nation’s most sought after trial lawyers and commercial litigators. He has served as lead counsel for numerous companies in their most challenging and high-profile matters. Bart has served as a counselor and trial lawyer for Fortune 500 corporations in a variety of industries, including: sports, media and entertainment, financial services, consumer products, telecommunications and technology, pharmaceutical, and private equity. He has represented multiple major law firms in their most serious professional negligence cases. He has also represented celebrities, government officials and corporate executives individually in high-stakes matters. Bart’s background as a former Assistant United States Attorney has also helped establish him as a “go to” lawyer for internal corporate investigations and white collar criminal defense matters. A member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Bart has compiled an impressive list of victories in jury and bench trials throughout the United States. A leader within Proskauer, Bart is an immediate past member of the firm’s Executive Committee and also serves as worldwide chair of the Litigation Department and head of Proskauer’s Los Angeles office. Bart served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California where he concentrated on complex criminal prosecutions involving allegations of fraud or other business crimes. He obtained convictions in 11 out of 11 jury trials. He received several special commendations during his tenure, including one from the Honorable Louis J. Freeh, then-director of the FBI. Bart is a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School. He was a starting guard for four years on the Yale Varsity Basketball Team, and received the George McReynolds Award as the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player his senior year.

Next generation partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Susan Gutierrez

Susan Gutierrez

Proskauer Rose LLP

Susan L. Gutierrez is a partner in Proskauer's Litigation Department and co-head of the firm’s Product Liability Group. As a commercial litigator and trial attorney, Susan specializes in high-stakes matters and complex disputes across industries. She has tried multiple high-profile cases to verdict in state and federal courts throughout the country. Susan also has significant experience coordinating and managing large, complex actions from the pleading stage through discovery and trial, including cross-jurisdiction matters involving multiple parties, counsel, and case issues. She represents many Fortune 500 companies in consumer products, pharmaceutical, media and entertainment and sports industries, including Gilead Sciences, Johnson & Johnson, National Football League and McDonald's.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Bart Williams, Michael Mervis

Other key lawyers

Timothy Mungovan, Brad Ruskin, Jonathan Weiss, Susan Gutierrez