Latham & Watkins hires a Former Federal District Judge to enhance its litigation practice in Chicago

Latham & Watkins hires a Former Federal District Judge to enhance its litigation practice in Chicago

Gary Feinerman has extensive experience in various areas of law, including commercial, tort, constitutional law, and intellectual property disputes

Latham & Watkins LLP has announced an ace appointment with a former judge of the US District Court joining the firm.

Gary Feinerman, who was a district judge of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and former Solicitor General of Illinois, has joined the firm's Chicago office as a Partner in the Complex Commercial Litigation Practice.

In addition, Feinerman would also be associated with the Litigation & Trial Department as a member.

He was nominated to the district court by President Barack Obama and confirmed in 2010. Feinerman quit the bench effective December 31, 2022.

At Latham, Feinerman will handle a broad spectrum of commercial and other high-stakes litigations, with a particular focus on trials and appellate advocacy.

Sean Berkowitz, Global Chair of Latham's Complex Commercial Litigation Practice, welcomed Feinerman saying he was one of the most well-respected judges in Illinois.

"With tremendous experience garnered from years not only on the bench but also in private practice and in multiple government roles, Gary is incredibly versatile, and his unique insights will be invaluable to clients as they navigate their most challenging disputes," Berkowitz said.

Feinerman served on the bench for 12 years. Prior to that, he served in various government roles. He spent two years at the US Department of Justice as a Counsel in the Office of Policy Development (1994-1996), with some of that time on assignment to the White House Counsel's Office (1995).

He served as Solicitor General for the State of Illinois between 2003 and 2007, where he led a team of 40 lawyers handling the State's appellate litigation in state and federal court, and was part of the Attorney General's leadership team.

Feinerman also spent a decade in private practice, first as an associate and partner at Mayer Brown LLP, and later as a partner at Sidley Austin LLP before taking the bench.

During his time in private practice, Feinerman handled a variety of legal matters for clients, including commercial, product liability, and constitutional law. He also worked on multidistrict litigations and argued cases in front of the United States Supreme Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, and other federal and state appellate courts.

While on the bench, Feinerman was involved in a variety of cases, both civil and criminal, and wrote thousands of opinions. Additionally, he also sat on appeal courts for the Seventh and Ninth Circuits and presided over trials.

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"We're fortunate to have the best of the best transactional and litigation teams in Chicago, with seamless integration across the global Latham platform," added Mary Rose Alexander, Managing Partner of Latham's Chicago office.

"Bringing Gary aboard enhances our robust offering to clients while broadening our reach in the market. Gary is also collegial, entrepreneurial, and deeply community-minded, three foundational ideals we exemplify here in Chicago and at Latham," Alexander added.

Feinerman minced no words while praising Latham & Watkins saying that it was one of the most regarded firms globally when it came to litigation prowess, innovation, and capabilities.

"For good reason – the firm's culture of client service and entrepreneurship, and its commitment to pro bono service is renowned. I could think of no better place to start this next chapter of my career. I'm looking forward to engaging with the many talented lawyers in the firm, and to applying my experience and insights to cutting-edge commercial and other matters," Feinerman said.

Michele Johnson, Global Chair of Latham's Litigation & Trial Department, commented, "Latham is home to many dozens of winning trial lawyers around the world, and the addition of Gary to our talented team further burnishes our reputation as the litigation destination for companies seeking to resolve the kinds of complex matters others deem unwinnable."

Feinerman received his JD from Stanford University, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and his undergraduate degree from Yale University. After graduation, Feinerman clerked for Judge Joel Flaum on the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and for Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy on the US Supreme Court.