Susan Kay Leader Joins Wilson Sonsini’s Trial and Commercial Litigation Practices

– Leader’s Addition Represents Wilson Sonsini’s Latest Move to Add First-Chair Trial Experience to its Growing National Litigation Department –

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, announced today that Susan Kay Leader has joined its litigation department as a partner in the Los Angeles office. She joins the firm’s expanding trial and commercial litigation practices. Her addition represents Wilson Sonsini’s latest move to add first-chair trial experience as it continues to develop a national litigation department that represents clients in a growing range of high-profile, bet-the-company cases.

Leader litigates and tries cases involving high-stakes commercial matters and class actions in federal and state courts. She has first chaired more than a dozen trials, arbitrations, and international arbitrations. Her clients have included companies in the entertainment, media, communications, hospitality, financial, education, and renewable energy sectors. Leader’s broad experience includes handling a diverse range of commercial, employment, products liability, franchise law, False Claims Act, RICO and Sherman Act, and IP litigation disputes.

“Susan’s talents and accomplishments as a first-chair trial lawyer have helped her build an impressive practice and a reputation for excellence among the clients she’s represented, both in Los Angeles and nationally,” said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. “We’re pleased to welcome Susan to the firm as we continue to add valuable trial experience to our expanding litigation department and fortify the firm’s position to represent clients in high-profile, bet-the-company cases in courtrooms across the U.S.”

Leader’s addition comes just over a month after Wilson Sonsini announced that trial lawyer Amy Candido had joined the firm as a partner in the San Francisco office. Candido focuses on high-stakes, complex cases involving patent, trade secret, and other IP issues. Last year, Wilson Sonsini also added Victor Jih as a litigation partner in the Los Angeles office.

“I am excited to join Wilson Sonsini because of its outstanding reputation, impressive roster of innovative clients, and strong commitment to continuing to expand its trial and litigation practices,” said Leader. “I’m also looking forward to collaborating with the team in LA and others in the firm’s offices across the country, and the opportunity to contribute to the firm’s efforts to establish a best-in-class trial and litigation practice.”

Prior to joining Wilson Sonsini, Leader was a partner at law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Before joining Akin Gump in 2011, she worked at law firm Browne Woods George. Previously, she worked as an associate in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office.

Leader earned her J.D., with honors, from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2001, and a B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University in 1997. She is admitted to practice in California.

Leader was recognized by The Legal 500 US in the area of General Commercial Disputes from 2019 to 2020. In addition, the Los Angeles Business Journal recognized Leader as one of the most influential women lawyers in 2019 and 2021, citing her “impressive track record of securing favorable verdicts for clients in highly publicized, bet-the-company cases.” She is a sought-after instructor in trial advocacy, frequently lecturing in Southern California and overseas.

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini’s services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has offices in Austin; Beijing; Boston; Brussels; Hong Kong; London; Los Angeles; New York; Palo Alto; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Shanghai; Washington, D.C.; and Wilmington, DE. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.

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