Announcements

Benchmark recognizes Buckley Sandler litigation team; David Krakoff inducted into American College of Trial Lawyers

Benchmark Litigation has recognized Buckley Sandler as one of the nation’s top litigation law firms, awarding it a National Tier 1 ranking for its White Collar practice and deeming its District of Columbia litigation team “Highly Recommended” — Benchmark’s highest individual market rating.

In addition, partner David Krakoff was recently inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers. Krakoff is the firm’s second fellow in the College, joining partner Hank Asbill in one of the premier legal associations in North America. The College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada, bestowing membership only to those the Fellows determine have “mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.”

Krakoff is one of the nation’s leading trial lawyers, and has had primary trial responsibility in more than 50 cases. He has had numerous trial victories in groundbreaking cases including the Department of Justice’s Africa FCPA Sting case and the DOJ prosecution of W.R. Grace executives for polluting the town of Libby, Montana, with asbestos. In addition, Krakoff obtained summary judgment for the controller of Fannie Mae in a long-running securities class action. Most recently, he secured the payment of $2.6 billion by Wynn Resorts to his client Universal Entertainment Corporation and its subsidiary Aruze USA, Inc., to resolve a six-year lawsuit brought by Wynn on the eve of trial.   

In other individual honors, Benchmark placed Andrew Schilling and Asbill among the nation’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers, an elite group of individuals nominated specifically for their expertise in bench trials. In all, five of the firm’s partners were recognized as top practitioners in specific practice areas:

• Hank Asbill: White Collar Crime, Antitrust, Appellate, General Commercial, Securities
• Preston Burton: White Collar Crime, Securities
• Benjamin Klubes: White Collar Crime, General Commercial
• David Krakoff: White Collar Crime, General Commercial
• Andrew Schilling: White Collar Crime