Five Jones Day partners among Law360's MVPs for 2023
Five Jones Day partners have been named 2023 MVPs by Law360 in the legal news service's annual selection of leading lawyers in a range of practice area and industry categories. The MVP awards honor elite attorneys for their successes in high-stakes litigation, significant deals, or complex global matters in the previous year.
Yaakov Roth, a partner in the Issues & Appeals Practice based in the Washington Office, was recognized as an Appellate MVP. Mr. Roth was lead counsel in a Supreme Court victory that reversed a D.C. Circuit decision giving the Environmental Protection Agency authority to transform the power sector in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In another successful Supreme Court case, he was lead counsel for a former governor's top aide and campaign manager in a challenge to his conviction for honest-services fraud arising from conduct when he was a private citizen serving as campaign manager. The Court ruled in favor of the former aide. Mr. Roth also played a key role in an appeal from the first (and thus far only) jury convictions arising from the high-profile "Varsity Blues" investigation into college admissions practices. He acted as counsel on behalf of one of only two parents who refused to plead guilty. The First Circuit overturned all of the principal charges against him on multiple grounds.
John Vogt, a partner in the Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection Practice residing in the Irvine Office, was recognized as a Cybersecurity & Privacy MVP. Mr. Vogt was lead counsel in a class action alleging that a design firm unlawfully monitored and collected communication within "private" social media groups by deploying "social listening" tools. He successfully argued that the communication was not protected under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, resulting in the case's dismissal. Separately, Mr. Vogt served as co-lead defense counsel for a global information services company in an enforcement action seeking over $100 million in civil penalties allegedly arising from a data breach. The judge ruled in favor of the company as bench trial proceedings were slated to begin. He was also co-lead counsel in a class action alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act in connection with a multinational retail corporation's background screening disclosures. Mr. Vogt obtained summary judgment for the defendant for lack of standing, resulting in the case's dismissal.
Lorne Cantor, a partner in the Corporate Practice based in the Firm's Miami Office, was recognized as a Hospitality MVP. Mr. Cantor's significant experience handling corporate transactions for domestic and international hospitality companies, particularly casinos, has enabled him to carve out a particular area of experience in land-based and online gaming transactions. He served as lead counsel to a major hotel and casino brand in connection with its $1.075 billion agreement to acquire a major hotel and casino in Las Vegas and its related lease agreement, and guided the same client through acquisitions of a controlling interest of a casino in Indiana, as well as joint venture and management agreements related to the ownership, development and operation of new casinos and hotels in Virginia and Illinois. Mr. Cantor also advised this client in connection with its acquisition of a majority stake in a joint venture partnership with a Greek conglomerate to develop, construct, and operate a resort and casino in Athens, Greece.
Stephanie Parker, who serves as Co-Leader of the Firmwide Business & Tort Litigation Practice, was recognized as a Product Liability MVP. A six-time Law360 MVP, this is Ms. Parker's fifth time named in Product Liability. For many years, she has led the nationwide defense of tobacco product liability litigation, overseeing a team of more than 70 lawyers who have handled over 200 jury trials. She also won summary judgment for a pharmaceutical company in a highly publicized case alleging that death by suicide was caused by a popular dermatologic drug. She has also won summary judgment for a pharmaceutical company involving hundreds of claims against a popular medication to prevent and treat osteoporosis, and she has served as the lead lawyer for a multinational company in a federal multidistrict litigation alleging death and other serious injuries caused by the manufacturer of a preterm infant formula. Ms. Parker is resident in the Firm's Atlanta Office.
Bethany Biesenthal, a partner in the Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice based in the Chicago Office, was recognized as a White Collar MVP. A Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and former federal prosecutor, Ms. Biesenthal secured the only full acquittal in a multi-defendant case asserting spoofing and market manipulation charges against traders and salespeople from a large Wall Street bank. Separately, Ms. Biesenthal secured a complete walk-away from the U.S. Attorney's Office in a first-of-its-kind investigation related to potential charges of criminal forced labor, wire fraud and fraudulent SEC disclosures. As lead counsel, she also avoided prosecution of a company, successfully convincing the Department of Justice to forego additional document requests from the client and subsequently avoiding elevation of client's status to target in the ongoing investigation.
