Law360 has recognized WilmerHale as a 2024 Massachusetts Powerhouse. This annual award recognizes the firms that are representing clients in deals and cases that captured national attention in their respective states.
The profile accompanying the recognition features WilmerHale’s wins in the courtroom, boardroom and pro bono work in 2023.
One of the highlighted matters included in the profile is the firm’s representation of Lyft in a $175 million settlement between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Uber in an employee classification lawsuit. Partner-in-charge of the Boston office and Vice-Chair of the firm’s Litigation/Controversy Department, Felicia Ellsworth, noted this matter as "a great example of some of the strengths that we have as an office."
“This case in particular, both the existence of it and then the ultimate resolution is a great example of some of our regulatory and government-facing work,” said Ellsworth.
Other featured matters include a settlement in a securities class action for client Pegasystems after getting the case moved from Virginia to Massachusetts, where the company is headquartered. WilmerHale also tallied a win for Draft Kings, when a federal judge enforced a noncompete agreement.
On the transactional side, the firm saw major success, including in the representation of Akamai Technologies in a definitive agreement to acquire Noname security for approximately $450 million, Voyager Therapeutics in a $1.3 billion licensing deal with Novartis Pharma and $7 billion worth of offerings for State Street Corp.
Partner Mick Bain, who chairs the firm’s Transactional Department, said the firm "continues to be a go-to" for businesses, whether they're just building, expanding or selling.
"Massachusetts is an important hub for tech and life sciences, and helping companies grow is an important part of what we have accomplished throughout our history and will continue to do going forward," Bain said.
Additionally, the profile highlights the firm’s pro bono work, including working with Lawyers for Civil Rights to obtain a long-awaited $2.6 million settlement for Black police officers who were forced to submit to hair follicle drug testing, which was found to be discriminatory and scientifically flawed.
WilmerHale also worked alongside Prisoners Legal Services of Massachusetts and other advocacy groups to convince a federal judge at trial that the Massachusetts Department of Correction violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to provide an effective emergency alarm system and evacuation procedure for hard-of-hearing prisoners, putting them at risk of severe harm.
“The firm truly wants every single attorney to be doing a meaningful amount of pro bono work," Partner Drew Dulberg said, "and we do. We saw great successes in 2023 in major pro bono litigation."
Read the firm’s featured profile in Law360.