Chopra and Petrocelli Named to Daily Journal Top 100 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES—SEPTEMBER 20, 2018—The Daily Journal named O’Melveny partners Apalla Chopra and Daniel Petrocelli to its list of the “Top 100 Lawyers” for 2018, which recognizes California lawyers handling “cutting-edge work.” This year’s honorees also include California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and women’s rights lawyer Gloria Allred.

The Daily Journal noted Chopra built on “a long career and numerous wins in labor and employment law” to become “nationally sought for Title IX investigations and follow-on litigation in the #MeToo age.” The publication cited her representation of the University of Southern California in ongoing investigations stemming from alleged sexual abuse by former school gynecologist George Tyndall, as well as her recent win for Harvard University in a case alleging the school failed to respond appropriately to a student’s sexual assault allegations. “Schools are almost invariably sued by whichever side is unhappy with the outcome in these situations. And schools do find it hard to respond to such sensitive and personal subject matter,” Chopra, the LA-based chair of O’Melveny’s Labor and Employment Practice, told the Daily Journal. “In the #MeToo era, you see schools and institutions and businesses try to do the right thing, not just with policies and training, but by creating fair processes and maintaining appropriate transparency. People will disagree on all of it, and it is complex stuff.”

Petrocelli, the Century City-based chair of O’Melveny’s Trial Practice Committee, was hailed for his work as lead defense counsel in what the Daily Journal called a “monumental dealmaking showdown after the Trump administration’s Department of Justice sued to block the $85.4 billion merger between AT&T Inc. and Time Warner Inc.” In June, after five weeks of testimony, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon delivered a decision rejecting the government’s theories, denying the government’s request for an injunction. The Wall Street Journal characterized the ruling as a “sweeping victory” for the defense. The case is currently on appeal. The publication also noted Petrocelli’s November 2017 defense verdict for Johnson & Johnson in the first bellwether trial in a California Coordinated Proceeding involving the anti-psychotic drug Risperdal. Petrocelli told the Daily Journal this his cross-examination of the plaintiff’s medical expert was a key moment in the trial. “What was particularly influential with the jury was the revelation that this key expert committed to his medical opinion before even examining the plaintiff or reviewing his medical records,” Petrocelli said. “It was obvious to everyone in the courtroom that the jury was not happy with this expert.”

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Contact:

Christopher Rieck
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
+1 212 326 2218
crieck@omm.com