Trotter Named to The Recorder's 2020 'California Trailblazer' Report
Commercial Litigation partner Rhonda R. Trotter was named to The Recorder's 2020 "California Trailblazers" report. The report annually spotlights individuals who are "truly agents of change" and have made "significant marks on the practice, policy and technological advancement of their practice" in California.
The Recorder commended Trotter's win for Planned Parenthood that resulted in more than $2 million in compensatory and punitive damages. In a six-week jury trial that began on October 2, 2019, Trotter and the Arnold & Porter team were successfully able to demonstrate the defendants embarked on a quest to destroy Planned Parenthood that included a disregard for the law and consequences to doctors and staff.
The Recorder also highlighted the "creative solutions" Trotter developed for intellectual property and litigation matters on behalf of the musician Prince. She consistently showcased her problem-solving abilities while serving as lead counsel to Prince and helped him to secure his copyright ownership of his master recordings from Warner Music. She currently serves as counsel to the Personal Representative of Prince's estate.
While discussing the future of the legal industry, Trotter emphasized the importance of mentorship and providing opportunities for young people to succeed. "I'm a trial lawyer and I represent my diverse range of clients to the best of my ability, with as strong an advocacy as I can provide," Trotter explained. "But in terms of the profession as a whole, I believe that it is absolutely important that we continue to develop new strategies for improving [diversity and inclusion in the legal profession]."
The Planned Parenthood case, which is in its post-trial stage, was also named to Daily Journal's 2019 "Top Verdicts" report for its extraordinary impact on areas of law, the legal profession, and society at large. Trotter and the rest of the Arnold & Porter team were named to Daily Journal's 2020 "California Lawyers of the Year Awards" report for their work on the case, and Trotter received a prestigious place on Daily Journal's 2020 "Top 100 Lawyers" list for her leadership in the matter.
