International law firm Proskauer today announced the arrival of two nationally acclaimed litigators, Bart Williams and Manuel Cachán, as partners in its Los Angeles office. They will become members of Proskauer’s Commercial Litigation, White Collar Defense & Investigations and Sports Law Practice Groups. Mr. Williams will become the co-chair of Proskauer’s Los Angeles Litigation practice.
◾Bart Williams is one of nation’s most well-established trial lawyers with extensive experience in a wide array of commercial litigation as well as white collar criminal defense and internal corporate investigations. He has served as lead trial counsel for numerous Fortune 500 and other companies in various industries, including media and entertainment, banking and other financial services, computer, aerospace, pharmaceutical and fashion, including commercial contract disputes, securities and class action trials, intellectual property disputes, antitrust litigation, corporate governance disputes, attorney malpractice defense and employment law matters. Mr. Williams also represents celebrities, government officials and corporate executives individually in high-stakes matters. He recently served as lead counsel for the nation’s largest home mortgage lender in a nationwide enforcement action by the Department of Justice, and served as lead counsel for Wells Fargo Bank in the highly publicized class action involving alleged race discrimination as well as a lawsuit alleging mismanagement of pension investments.
◾Manuel Cachán is an experienced trial lawyer whose practice covers a wide array of complex civil litigation matters. He has helped lead a range of high-profile cases at trial in the banking and other financial services, media and entertainment fields. Mr. Cachán served as second chair trial counsel, alongside Mr. Williams, for Wells Fargo Bank in a suit alleging mismanagement of pension investments. In December 2015, Mr. Cachán second chaired the trial defense of NBCUniversal, again with Mr. Williams, in an age discrimination lawsuit brought by a journalist formerly employed by the company. In addition to his work as a trial lawyer, Mr. Cachán provides litigation and counseling services to leading national and international corporations. A fluent Spanish speaker, Mr. Cachán has represented companies with operations in Latin America in U.S. litigation.
“We are delighted to welcome Bart and Manuel to the Firm,” said Joseph Leccese, Chairman of Proskauer. “They have worked together successfully for many years, and are highly regarded in the civil litigation and trial arenas. Their depth of experience provides significant value to the Firm, its clients and the industries we serve, such as financial services, media and entertainment, and sports.”
“Bart and Manuel are exciting additions to our office and the Firm. Their talent and broad experience in and out of the courtroom will be a great asset to our clients and continues our rapid growth in Los Angeles,” said Michael Woronoff, head of Proskauer’s Los Angeles office and co-head of its global Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Groups.
Mr. Williams noted, “Proskauer’s prestigious client base, with synergies across a number of key industries, provides an excellent platform for us to grow our practice and continue to defend clients’ interests. I’m excited to be part of the Firm’s West Coast growth and have the opportunity to work with its varied practices and offices, supporting clients on their most complex and challenging matters.”
“I’m excited to join the Proskauer team and look forward to leveraging my experience to contribute to the expansion of the Firm’s Los Angeles office and preeminent Litigation practice,” said Mr. Cachán.
Mr. Williams is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and has been featured in numerous publications such as Law360, The American Lawyer, Black Enterprise, Savoy, Chambers USA and the Daily Journal, which recently named him one of the top 100 lawyers in the State of California. He was recently described in the Chambers USA guide as “one of the best lawyers in town.” Mr. Williams served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California where he concentrated on complex criminal prosecutions involving allegations of fraud or other business crimes, racketeering and money laundering, and obtained convictions in 11 out of 11 jury trials. He received his J.D. from Yale Law School and his undergraduate degree from Yale University.
Mr. Cachán has been named a top lawyer by such publications as Law360 and the Daily Journal, which named him one of California’s Top 20 Under 40 Lawyers in 2014. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard University.
Mr. Williams and Mr. Cachán join Proskauer from Munger, Tolles & Olson in Los Angeles.
Source: www.proskauer.com
