NEW YORK (Oct. 7, 2013)—Susman Godfrey LLP has been named to Law360’s inaugural list of “Most Feared Plaintiffs Firms.”
Susman Godfrey was one of just 11 law firms nationwide named to the list recognizing “hugely successful firms that consistently strike fear into the hearts of defense counsel,” Law360 wrote.
“Amid fierce competition in the plaintiffs bar, 11 firms stood above the rest in recent years by launching headline-grabbing suits, winning landmark decisions and brokering mammoth settlements,” wrote Law360, which selected the winning plaintiffs firms based on the firms’ performance in high-profile, complex cases between July 1, 2011 and July 2, 2013.
Susman Godfrey’s plaintiff victories during that period included the historic $1.6 billion settlement in the Toyota unintended acceleration class action lawsuit and a $105 million precedent-setting ruling in Assured Guaranty v. Flagstar Bank. As the first case brought by a bond insurer against an issuer of residential mortgage-backed securities (MBS) to go to trial, the case was hailed as a “game changer” and a “turning point in the MBS wars.”
Founding Partner Stephen Susman noted that Susman Godfrey was one of the few firms that represents both plaintiffs and defendants to make the “Most Feared Plaintiffs Law Firms” list.
“We believe representing both plaintiffs and defendants keeps us at the top of our game,” Susman said. “When defense lawyers see Susman Godfrey attorneys sitting at the plaintiffs’ table, they know that we know their defense playbook inside and out.”
Susman Godfrey’s inclusion on Law360’s “Most Feared Plaintiffs Law Firm” list follows its recent recognition on BTI Consulting’s “Honor Roll of Most Feared Law Firms” — part of BTI’s annual “Litigation Outlook” report based on more than 300 interviews with general counsel, heads of litigation and other high-level legal decision makers.