Weil’s global Litigation Department Co-Chair David Lender was profiled in The AmLaw Litigation Daily’s Litigation Leaders series, which features the litigation practice heads of the nation's biggest and most sophisticated law firms.

The Q&A profile discussed his upbringing and path to Weil, which included working alongside his father as a pothole inspector in Brooklyn, and his career as a top trial attorney. The article highlighted Mr. Lender’s approach to leadership and his focus on diversity and developing the next generation of first-chair trial lawyers.

“We know that the best way to learn is by doing, so we encourage our senior lawyers to give less-seasoned lawyers a chance to get courtroom experience and broaden their focus,” Mr. Lender said. “Many of our senior partners focus on the promotion and growth of our younger attorneys, and have secured impressive outcomes for clients in the process.”

The article also noted Mr. Lender’s commitment to diversity as the litigation department continues to grow. Two-thirds of the litigators Weil has promoted to partner and hired as lateral partners in the last three years are minority attorneys.

The profile also highlighted the reach of Weil’s global platform and the depth and breadth of Weil’s litigation capabilities. In particular, it noted Weil’s trial expertise and its industry-leading strengths in corporate and securities disputes, consumer litigation, and IP litigation. The Firm has recently secured victories at every phase of litigation, including at trial and on appeal, in an array of high-stakes cases on behalf of AIG, Campbell Soup Company, C&S Wholesale Grocers, HP Inc. Dometic Corporation, Morgan Stanley, Sears Inc., and Willis Towers Watson, among others.

Mr. Lender, who was recently named among The American Lawyer’s Litigators of the Year, emphasized the key role younger partners and senior associates typically play in these cases. For example, his “learn-by-doing” style of mentorship meant that Weil’s up-and-coming litigators helped lead the trial defense of C&S Wholesale Grocers, securing a complete defense jury trial victory in an $800M antitrust class action.

C&S was a milestone in Mr. Lender’s career, marking his 20th first-chair trial decision in 25 years of practice. Importantly, several of his colleagues boast similar records of success, across various practice areas, from products to antitrust to patent to securities, the article noted.

“Time in court actually trying cases is a Weil hallmark that definitely sets us apart from other firms,” Mr. Lender said.