Insights

The National Law Journal speaks with Crowell & Moring chairman and Washington, D.C.-based partner, Kent A. Gardiner, about the growth and progression the firm has made in 2014. By investing in technological advances and an industry-wide recovery, Crowell & Moring reported increases in almost all of the firm's financial metrics last year. "It's partly about us and partly about the industry," said Gardiner. "We seem to be discernibly getting past the recession. We’re not in some big bounce or big rebound, but there’s solid growth at the top of the legal market." In addition to the aforementioned advancements, the firm's legal project management program, which relies on fee plans other than the billable hour, continues to help the firm retain current clients and attract new ones as well.

Crowell & Moring chairman and Washington, D.C.-based partner, Kent A. Gardiner, shares his thoughts about American Lawyer’s 12th annual "Law Firm Leaders Survey." The results from the survey show that law firm leaders expressed optimism as they were constantly tweaking their practices, technology platforms, and staffing mixes to better position themselves in an ever more competitive environment. When Gardiner was asked about where the growth will be in the legal industry, he responded, "…we are seeing more deal flow," as "this increase in demand is taking place amid pricing challenges and challenges to be more innovative in the delivery of legal services."

Crowell & Moring Chairman Kent Gardiner and Washington, D.C.-based partner Kirsten Nathanson and counsel Astor Heaven are interviewed by The Washington Post regarding the firm's Sponsorship initiative. The program, which is the first law firm initiative of its kind in the country, connects partners with young lawyers to fully develop their talents and enhance their careers. Gardiner told the Post, "If you enhance the diversity and perspectives and ways of thinking about a problem based on different life experiences, different approaches, you create more opportunity for innovation."

In the National Law Journal (NLJ) special report "Washington Litigation Departments of the Year," Crowell & Moring was named "Department of the Year" in the "General Civil Litigation" category. For this report, the NLJ editorial team evaluated litigation departments in the nation's capital based on several criteria including biggest wins, revenues, headcounts, and operations. As a result of their research and findings, the team selected six "excellent firms" in this first-ever, Washington, D.C.-based contest. When asked about the firm's key to success, firm chairman and Washington, D.C.-based partner, Kent Gardiner, remarked, "Clients bet on us because we bet on ourselves to win for them, and we collaborate to structure our fees around our ability to achieve success as they define it."

Crowell & Moring chairman, and Washington, D.C.-based partner, Kent Gardiner shares this thoughts on third party litigation funding, saying he believes a number of the country's largest companies have "engaged in some kind of funded litigation."

Crowell & Moring's representation of CSX Transportation, Inc. is highlighted in the coverage of this significant antitrust class action litigation. The article notes that the firm has advised CSX on litigation matters for two decades.

The U.S. District Court for Eastern Virginia found that Kolon Industries failed to prove that Crowell & Moring client DuPont monopolized the market for the material, or used its contracts with customers to shut out rivals. Crowell & Moring chairman and Antitrust Group partner Kent A. Gardiner told Global Competition Review, "Discovery proved that not a single customer complained about business practices of DuPont, or sided with Kolon in support of its claims. The court rightly found that DuPont neither was a monopolist in the market nor engaged in any anti-competitive conduct."

A Virginia federal judge dismissed an antitrust suit brought by Kolon Industries Inc. against Crowell & Moring client DuPont over a synthetic fiber used in body armor, finding there was no evidence of a monopoly by DuPont. U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne granted DuPont's motion for summary judgment, ruling that the DuPont did not monopolize or attempt to monopolize the para-aramid fiber market and held that competition in the industry is thriving. Speaking to Competition Law360, Kent A. Gardiner, Crowell & Moring chairman and Antitrust Group partner, said, "The ruling fully vindicates business practices of DuPont in this critical sector of the economy. The court rightly found that DuPont neither was a monopolist in the market nor engaged in any anti-competitive conduct."

Washington, D.C.-based Litigation Group partner and Trade Secrets team member Michael J. Songer speaks to Intellectual Property Law360 about the successful trial strategy that secured a $920 million jury verdict for Crowell & Moring client DuPont in a heated trade secret case with rival Kolon Industries Inc. over DuPont's Kevlar brand body armor product. The joint efforts between McGuireWoods and Crowell & Moring resulted in one of the largest jury verdicts ever reached in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Crowell & Moring’s Trade Secrets Group is highlighted in IP Law360 as co-counsel for DuPont in their $919 million win against Kolon Industries.

In this two-part article, Crowell & Moring chairman Kent A. Gardiner addresses why law firms must reinvent relationships with clients in order to redefine the value they provide and avert the downward spiral of commoditization of their services. Gardiner writes, “We simply need to see this economic crisis as the opportunity it is, for the best law firms to rethink their business models, their talent-development models and their fundamental role as critical strategic advisers to, and advocates for, businesses they understand intimately.”

Crowell & Moring LLP is highlighted for its corporate plaintiff's recovery practice in this story about how in-house counsel are turning their legal departments into profit centers.  Major companies, such as DuPont Co., Ford Motor Co., Tyco International Ltd., and Michelin SCA, among others, say their lawyers are devoting more time and effort to bringing in extra cash by thinking like plaintiffs.

Crowell & Moring LLP chairman Kent A. Gardiner is named to Law360's "Most  Innovative Managing Partners" list, for his commitment to client service and alternative billing.

Crowell & Moring LLP chairman Kent A. Gardiner is featured among 10 attorney honorees as a "Visionary" by the National Law Journal/Legal Times for helping to progress the practice of law in the Washington area. According to the publication, "Visionary" attorneys are those whose "business or legal acumen has been key to expanding their firms, improving government or advancing the law."

Crowell & Moring LLP chairman Kent A.Gardiner is featured in Global Competition Review for moderating a roundtable on the future of antitrust private actions in the European Union. Thought leaders discussed whether effective and balanced private enforcement can occur in Europe and the benefits and criticisms of so-called "US-style" litigation.

Kent A. Gardiner, partner in the Antitrust and Litigation groups, is featured with DuPont's Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Thomas L. Sager, for their antitrust recovery work.