Akin houses a thriving national appellate practice, which is primarily recognized for its record in IP, American Indian law, financial restructuring and labor law cases. Additionally, the wider firm’s formidable regulatory offering marks it as a key player in administrative law and Administrative Procedure Act litigation, as recently evidenced by its wor on behalf of four importers challenging the Trump Administration’s trade war with China, which represents one of the largest cases in the Court of International Trade’s history. Spearheading the group is Washington DC-based Pratik Shah, who has argued seventeen cases before the US Supreme Court and sixty cases in other appellate courts across the country. Shah teamed up with fellow DC-based appellate specialists James E. Tysse and Julius Chen to lead the importer challenge appeal before the Federal Circuit. In San Francisco, Aileen McGrath is noted for her focus on federal and state appellate courts in California.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Key clients

Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Purdue Pharma LP
Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX)
The Seneca Nation of Indians
Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority
National Football League (NFL)
AT&T Corporation
MediaNews Group
Inguran LLC
Michaels Stores
Green Thumb Industries
TAG Security Protective Services
Home Depot
Apollo Investment Corporation
Ardent Health Services
HMTX Industries LLC (Section 301 Client Group)
ACLU of Tennessee
Bolivian families
The Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan

Work highlights

Representing the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Purdue Pharma LP before the US Supreme Court in a landmark bankruptcy case.
Defending the Federal Communications Commission’s grant of market-altering licenses to SpaceX, over competitor challenges, in the DC Circuit.
Representing the Seneca Nation in the Second Circuit in a significant Indian law case challenging the legality of New York officials’ ongoing operation of the New York State Thruway across the Nation’s Cattaraugus Reservation.

Lawyers

Leading partners

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

Pratik Shah

Akin

Head of Akin’s Supreme Court & appellate practice. Pratik has argued 15 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court (winning all but three), and over 50 cases in the federal courts of appeals (including in every circuit). Under Pratik’s leadership, Akin has been a mainstay on NLJ’s Appellate Hot List, named one of the top three appellate practices in the Best of Corporate Counsel rankings, and recognized as Law360’s Practice Group of the Year. Previously, Pratik served for more than five years as an Assistant to the Solicitor General at the DOJ. He received a number of awards for his advocacy before the Supreme Court during that time, including the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for his role as lead drafter of the successful challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act in United States v. Windsor. To learn more about Pratik, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/pratik-a-shah.html

Next generation partners

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

Aileen McGrath

Akin

Senior counsel

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Pratik Shah

Other key lawyers

James E. Tysse, Julius Chen, Aileen McGrath, Lide Paterno

Key clients

Work highlights

Lawyers

Practice head

Other key lawyers

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