Recognitions
Jeffrey Kessler Named a Litigation Trailblazer by The National Law Journal
Recognitions
Jeffrey Kessler Named a Litigation Trailblazer by The National Law Journal
December 7, 2015
Winston & Strawn Co-Chairman Jeffrey Kessler is recognized in The National Law Journal’s second annual issue of Litigation Trailblazers. The issue profiles 50 attorneys who have helped make a difference in the fight for justice. A reception was held in New York City to recognize the trailblazers on December 14.
The profile describes how Mr. Kessler, who chairs the firm’s Antitrust Practice, developed a keen interest in antitrust law during law school. Thereafter, he took interest in litigation while working for a firm in New York.
“So I started to practice both. It’s sort of a performance art,” Mr. Kessler said. “You have to enjoy the stage; you have to enjoy telling the story.”
Mr. Kessler’s “high profile, groundbreaking” sports litigation work is highlighted, particularly his successful representation of the National Football League Players Association in appealing disciplinary actions against players Tom Brady and Adrian Peterson in federal court. Mr. Kessler has also prevailed for players in arbitration, including the “bountygate” case in which New Orleans Saints players were accused of being paid to injure opposing players.
“On behalf of the NFL Players Association, we determined around 2012 that we were going to aggressively litigate where the NFL commissioner was violating legal standards to impose discipline,” Mr. Kessler told the publication.
Mr. Kessler’s representation of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. in litigation involving the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site is also mentioned.
Mr. Kessler also addressed the future of litigation, noting that big cases over complex matters should continue to take a front seat, while smaller cases will likely settle more frequently, undergo alternative dispute resolution, or not be filed.
“The future for litigators in complex areas is to position themselves as go-to lawyers who can take cases to a jury and win,” he said.