Choate Launches Complex Trial & Appellate Litigation Group

Choate today announced the formation of a dedicated Complex Trial & Appellate Litigation Group to meet the growing demand for high end, trial and appellate expertise in a wide array of complex business disputes.  Joan A. Lukey, one of the preeminent trial lawyers in the country with 100 jury trials and 60 appeals under her belt, will serve as Chair of the group.

Choate’s Complex Trial & Appellate Litigation Group builds on the strengths of Choate’s long-standing, leading litigation practice and is positioning itself as the “go to” firm for complex, high stakes trial and appellate work in the New England region.  The new practice group will be comprised of 18 lawyers – all seasoned trial lawyers with significant courtroom experience.  The team will also draw upon Choate’s deep bench of litigators from other groups, which includes experts in antitrust, breach of fiduciary duty, complex contracts, constitutional law, construction, consumer class actions, False Claims Act matters, government actions, mergers and acquisitions, personal injury, products liability, professional negligence, real estate, tort claims and trade secrets.

Litigation teams will be staffed with trial lawyers and supported by appellate experts who will develop collaborative and synergistic strategies from day one.  The group includes Senior Counsel Margaret H. Marshall, the former Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, who brings significant expertise in the areas of trial preparation and mock trials and moot appellate arguments to the team.  Simulated moot court proceedings – led by former Chief Justice Marshall – will help clients prepare for litigation success in the courtroom.

“If you are going to trial in New England, this is the team you want by your side,” said Lukey.  “We can hit the ground running to develop the best trial and appellate strategy from every possible angle.  There are few, if any, other firms with the depth and breadth of experience litigating big-dollar, complex business cases in the Boston and New England courts.  We litigate these cases every day and we know how to win.”

The Complex Trial & Appellate Litigation Group will represent both plaintiffs and defendants to resolve their most challenging business disputes through litigation – including trials, arbitrations, appeals and settlements representation – before federal and state trial and appellate courts and government agencies and in arbitrations.  While Choate has a long history of representing national and international clients who are filing suits or being sued in New England, the firm also has extensive experience and capabilities to represent clients across the US and internationally.

“Choate was founded as a trial firm more than 100 years ago, so our experience in handling important and complex disputes for clients is long and deep.  By bringing together our top trial and appellate litigators under the umbrella of a dedicated Complex Trial & Appellate Litigation Group, we can deliver exceptional service, results and value for our clients,” said Charles Cheever, co-managing partner at Choate.  “Many major firms are focusing solely on niche litigation and are retreating from the broader market for high stakes business trial work, which has created a market opportunity for us to expand our practice in this area.”