Brad Brian
Partner and Chair
Munger, Tolles & Olson
With a litigation career spanning four decades, Brad Brian advises clients on their most important cases. Beyond his distinguished litigation experience, Brian’s leadership has steered the firm towards many successes, having served as chair of the firm since 2019. He has represented numerous Fortune 500 corporations in multibillion-dollar lawsuits, investigations, and trials that have shaped entire industries.
Since joining the firm after serving as an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, Brian’s unwavering focus on understanding his clients’ businesses – often navigating never-before-seen circumstances – has established him as one of the leading trial lawyers in the country. Brian has made dozens of presentations to corporate boards of directors in connection with these representations. Brian has also overseen various investigations for alleged securities, environmental, government contracts, public corruption, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other violations, and he has also conducted more than 100 internal corporate investigations.
Robyn Crowther
Co-Managing Partner of LA Office
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
In September 2019, Robyn Crowther was asked to step in to first chair a jury trial in a personal injury case following an accident at LAX airport that had been pending for four years when the lead partner faced a medical emergency. Between then and January 6, 2020, Crowther prepared for a 15-day jury trial in which the plaintiffs asked for $25 million in damages. At trial, the jury awarded $2.7 million to the lead plaintiff, far below the $4.9 million 998 settlement demand the plaintiffs had made before trial.
Crowther also led the defense of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. in a FINRA arbitration arising out of Schwab’s Registered Investment Advisory business. The resulting award for the claimant was less than the amount of attorneys’ fees and costs that the claimant had spent pursuing the action, and a fraction of the amount that was demanded.
Lisa Gilford
Partner
Sidley Austin LLP
Lisa Gilford is one of the preeminent first-chair trial lawyers in the country. Her stellar reputation as lead counsel to high-profile clients in class actions, multidistrict litigation, product liability matters and large-scale commercial disputes has earned her accolades from prestigious industry publications and professional associations.
Gilford was recently retained as lead counsel for Arkema, whose fluoridated chemicals are used in firefighting foam, in pending national class actions and litigations in Ohio, West Virginia and Michigan alleging harm from chemicals entering the environment. In the past year, Gilford successfully settled a case against the NBA, in connection with the sudden cardiac death of Zeke Upshaw during a game. Recognizing Gilford’s extensive experience managing and coordinating massive cases such as the Toyota nationwide class action unintended acceleration multi district litigation, Honda retained her as lead counsel in 14 class actions pertaining to the investigation of ZF-TRW automobile airbags.
Mark Holscher
Partner
Kirkland & Ellis
As a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Mark Holscher is one of the nation’s most sought after trial attorneys. His methodical approach to working-up cases and always being steps ahead to protect his clients has earned him a spot on the Daily Journal’s “Leading Lawyers” list every year since 2008.
In the past year, Holscher represented a broad range of clients, including winning dismissal of Wynn and its directors and officers in a consolidated state court shareholder derivative action arising from publicity detailing alleged sexual misconduct by the former CEO, chairman and founder of Wynn Resorts, Steve Wynn. He also served as trial counsel to Toll Brothers, Inc. and the Porter Ranch Development Company in their suit against Southern California Gas Company and its parent, Sempra Energy. The suit stems from an October 2015 blowout of SoCalGas’ Natural Gas Storage Well in Aliso Canyon.
