Arnold & Porter Partner Named "Litigator of the Week" By The American Lawyer

Washington, DC, November 12, 2015 -- Arnold & Porter LLP's Lisa Blatt was recently named as one of two "Litigators of the Week" by The American Lawyer, along with Winston & Strawn's James Thompson. The publication recognized Ms. Blatt for her representation of Philip Morris USA Inc. before the Illinois Supreme Court in connection with a lower court's $10.1 billion Illinois class action judgment stemming from the marketing of "light" cigarettes. The verdict, first awarded to the plaintiffs in 2003, was reversed by the Justices in 2005, but an intermediate appellate court in 2014 held that the higher court's judgment was subject to reopening. On November 4, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the lower courts lacked authority to vacate its prior decision and thus dismissed the case.

Ms. Blatt, head of Arnold & Porter's Appellate and Supreme Court practice, was similarly named "Litigator of the Week" in early 2014 by the well-regarded publication. In that instance, Ms. Blatt was recognized for her role, along with another firm, in a landmark ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that litigants cannot disqualify jurors on the basis of their sexual orientation. Ms. Blatt was also named this year an "Outstanding Women Lawyer" by American Lawyer's sister publication, The National Law Journal, which earlier had included her practice group to its 2014 "Appellate Hot List." In 2013, Ms. Blatt was also named by The National Law Journal to its "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" list, and included in the Washingtonian magazine's "Most Powerful Women" issue.