Andrew J. Ehrlich
Paul, Weiss Associate, Litigation
Harvard Law School, 2000
“In retrospect it is remarkable that when I started at Paul, Weiss after clerking, my very first assignment was to work with a senior litigation partner on drafting the motion to dismiss the claims in the WorldCom, Inc. class action against Citigroup. I never imagined that I would have the opportunity at such an early stage in my career to work on cutting-edge issues of law in one of the most significant and high-stakes securities cases ever, on behalf of the largest financial institution in the world. It was the first brief I helped to write at Paul, Weiss. And although we didn’t prevail on that particular motion, some of the arguments that we made in that brief have since become law.
To have an opportunity like that – as a junior associate – is virtually unheard of, but not at Paul, Weiss. Given the unique, challenging and high-profile cases that make up our litigation practice, these kinds of experiences are the norm. In just my first two years as a Paul, Weiss litigation associate I worked on several significant cases, took and defended a number of depositions, wrote briefs for federal trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, filed a complaint in a major pro bono case and worked closely with regulators on behalf of clients.
The cases I’ve worked on at Paul, Weiss all have one thing in common — they’ve each presented incredible intellectual challenges and have pushed me as a lawyer to think about problems in different ways. So, too, have the lawyers with whom I’ve worked. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time here, it is that there is no routine Paul, Weiss litigation matter.”
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Litigation
WHY PAUL, WEISS LITIGATION?
Our Litigation Department has been involved in nearly every high-profile, high-stakes litigation of its time, handling the most complex and threatening cases — cases that require cutting-edge and ground-breaking litigation strategies, cases that shape the financial markets, corporate board rooms and society for decades to come. Whether representing some of the world’s largest corporations in headline cases or defending basic human rights on an individual pro bono matter, our Litigation Department has earned a premier reputation among the legal and business communities as the law firm clients turn to when faced with their most critical matters.
If you want the opportunity of hands-on experience litigating some of the most exciting and challenging matters of the day while working side-by-side with the profession’s most dynamic lawyers, consider becoming a Paul, Weiss litigation associate.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Dynamic Practice: Our litigation practice encompasses the breadth of civil and criminal litigation. Associates at Paul, Weiss work on matters as diverse as major securities class actions and regulatory investigations; copyright, trademark and patent disputes; major arbitrations; international cartel and price-fixing matters; and entertainment litigations, to name just a few. Our lawyers explore a wide range of practice areas and take on pro bono cases of their choosing, enabling them to build an expansive knowledge of the many facets of legal practice.
Real Practice Experience: Our associates get real litigation experience, such as taking depositions and writing briefs, early in their careers. We challenge our associates to contribute ideas and suggestions to the overall case strategy and the representation of our clients from day one.
Well-Rounded Growth: Our associates work with, and learn from, one of the most diverse and highest-caliber groups of lawyers in the country — talented individuals with varying styles and practices. No matter the nature or size of the case, you can be assured of working with some of the brightest minds in the profession, all with something unique to offer and teach you.
Assigning: Upon arriving at the firm, each associate develops a career plan with his or her assigning partner based on their professional interests and goals. Our junior, mid-level and senior associate classes each have their own assigning partners who meet weekly and strive to ensure that everyone works on diverse cases suited to their interests.
Training: Our professional development curriculum, dubbed “Paul, Weiss University,” is one of the profession’s most innovative. We offer a vast array of practical training sessions for litigation associates throughout the year, including deposition training, writing workshops, research skill building and trial advocacy.
Pro Bono: Perhaps nothing reveals more about the core values of a law firm than its commitment to pro bono work. Paul, Weiss has long been regarded as one of the nation’s leading firms in terms of the scope and breadth of its pro bono activities, and virtually every litigator in our firm devotes a significant amount of time to these highly rewarding matters.
Career Opportunities: Whether partnership at Paul, Weiss is your ultimate goal or you decide to pursue opportunities elsewhere, your experience here will prepare you for almost any career path. Our litigators have gone on to become federal prosecutors, government officials, in-house counsel, professors, university presidents, judges and public servants. Many come back to Paul, Weiss several times throughout their careers.
Headline Cases
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Representing “Scooter” Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Cheney, as he faces perjury and obstruction of justice charges in the ongoing investigation into the identity leak of a former CIA agent.
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Representing the world’s largest financial institution, Citigroup Inc., in a wide array of securities litigations related to Enron Corp., WorldCom, Inc. and Parmalat S.p.A., negotiating some of the highest-profile settlements on Wall Street in the post-Enron era.
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Protecting the rights of 11 Saudi Arabian detainees being held by the U.S. military in Guantánamo Bay.
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Handling former Credit Suisse First Boston investment banker Frank Quattrone’s successful appeal of his conviction on obstruction of justice charges.
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Defending Philip Morris Companies Inc. in the largest-ever ($280 billion) civil RICO action brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against all of the major tobacco companies.
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Handling many of the largest-scale internal investigations in recent years for companies, including AIG, Fannie Mae, The Boeing Company, Adecco International and Xerox Corporation.
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Arbitrating on behalf of Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation in an international trademark dispute with the U.S. Polo Association.
Industry Recognition
Our Litigation Department has achieved a reputation for unsurpassed excellence. Some of our recent honors include:
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Litigation Department of the Year, 2006, The American Lawyer
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Ranked #1 tier in General Commercial Litigation, Securities Litigation and White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Chambers USA
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13 Paul, Weiss lawyers named as fellows to the American College of Trial Lawyers
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