NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, August 28, 2024 – Proskauer, a leading international law firm is pleased to announce that partners Joseph (Joe) Drayton and Bart Williams have been named to Savoy’s 2024 Most Influential Lawyers list. Comprised of a powerhouse roster of the top Black lawyers in the country, Savoy’s Most Influential Lawyers recognizes individuals whose prowess and commitment to excellence inspire the highest levels of corporate and legal leadership.
Joe is a first-chair trial lawyer and has represented some of the nation’s most prominent companies in all facets of intellectual property (IP) litigation before state and federal courts, as well as the International Trade Commission and American Arbitration Association. He has over 20 years of experience in both domestic and international IP and complex commercial disputes, including patent, trade secrets, copyright, trademark and trade dress and false advertising and also counsels clients in all aspects of IP acquisition, transfer, protection and enforcement. Joe is a trusted advisor for several corporate executives and is recognized as a national leader in the legal community, having received the National Bar Association’s C. Francis Stadford Award, the highest award bestowed by the association. He also served as the 76th president of the National Bar Association and is a former Vice President and Board chair of the New York City Bar Association.
Bart serves as Chair of the Firm’s Litigation department and is one of the nation’s most sought-after trial lawyers. His legal acumen and experience across commercial litigation, white collar criminal defense and internal corporate investigations has made him the trusted trial counsel for numerous Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes, high-profile matters, and he is frequently called upon months or even weeks before a trial to deliver a win. Bart is a longtime member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and also serves on Proskauer’s Diversity Task Force, which is focused on developing initiatives to recruit, retain, promote and elevate diverse lawyers firmwide. Beyond the courtroom, Bart actively contributes to the Los Angeles community with a focus on advocating for children through various organizations. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the LA84 Foundation, is the co-founder and co-chair of the Board of Advisors of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League and serves on their Board of Advisors.
Savoy showcases and drives positive dialogue on and about Black culture in entertainment, sports, business, politics, design and style. The publication serves as a cultural catalyst for the African-American community through in-depth reporting and social commentary.
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About Proskauer
The world’s leading organizations and global players choose Proskauer to represent them when they need it the most. With 800+ lawyers in key financial centers around the world, we are known for our pragmatic and commercial approach. Proskauer is the place to turn when a matter is complex, innovative and game-changing. We work seamlessly across practices, industries and jurisdictions with asset managers, private equity and venture capital firms, Fortune 500 and FTSE companies, major sports leagues, entertainment industry legends and other industry-redefining companies.
Proskauer has a full-service litigation practice with extensive trial experience in virtually every major forum across the globe. We take a collaborative approach to representing defendants and plaintiffs, multinationals, middle-market and small-cap businesses, financial institutions, partnerships and individuals, with one thing in mind – driving successful outcomes for our clients.
Recent successful representations include a landmark victory for Sanderson Farms in a $7 billion broiler chicken antitrust conspiracy case; a decisive victory for Gilead Sciences, Inc. in a $3.6 billion antitrust case; a victory for Shamrock Capital Advisors in a high-profile $1 billion lawsuit brought by the founders and other minority shareholders of FanDuel; and representing Monsanto in a case brought by multiple plaintiffs who claimed Roundup caused their non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.