40 Under Forty · 2013 65

ATTORNEY PROFILE » JOSH LEEStrong legal skills, dedication to clients and extensive pro bono work help setattorney JOSH LEE apart from the rest.

Lee, a partner at Schiff Hardin LLP, has broad experience in product liability,mass torts, appellate practice, class actions, civil conspiracy, consumer fraud,and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Lee, 36, has tackled litigation matters involving, among other things,pharmaceuticals, genetic engineering, collective bargaining agreements,constitutional law, industrial equipment, friction products, hand tools,industrial insulation materials, chemical exposures, juvenile products, tradesecrets, and crop science.

One client, who has worked with Lee for more than a decade, told us that he“has an extraordinary intellect, with an enormous amount of credibility andlikeability… The client also lauded Lee’s “composure, stamina and ingenuityunder pressure… Josh is a warrior who is willing to engage his opponents onwhatever battlefields he is required to take.”

Fellow attorneys agree: Lee has achieved stunning success on behalf of hisclients said Bradley Nahrstadt, of Lipe Lyons Murphy Nahrstadt & Pontikis Ltd.“Josh recently obtained summary judgment in a case that brought to a closelitigation that had lasted for nearly a decade prior to his involvement in thematter. Josh was instrumental in having the judgment affirmed on appeal,”Nahrstadt said. “He has obtained dismissals with prejudice of plaintiff’s claimson novel theories of liability in both California and Alabama mass tort cases.”Nahrstadt said Lee also obtained a defense verdict in a civil conspiracy casewhere the plaintiff was awarded nearly $20 million against the co-defendants,and obtained a directed verdict in favor of the defendant on a novel theory ofliability in a Wisconsin product liability case.

According to Seth Lamden, attorney with Neal Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, Lee’sdrive for excellence showed early. When Lee was a young attorney, the menworked together on high stakes insurance coverage matters, one involvinghundreds of claims against a California-based utility company and anotherinvolving the distribution of alleged counterfeit prescription medications by apharmacy wholesaler. “Although Josh had no prior experience with insurancecoverage law, his thoughtful—and correct—analysis of complicated insuranceissues and exemplary written work product impressed the entire litigationteam.” Lamden added.

Jonathan Lively, now with Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, formerlyworked with Lee at Schiff Hardin. The two worked side-by-side on cases, andLively witnessed Lee’s reputation as an outstanding lawyer at the firm grow.“His character, demonstrated in his dealings with staff and support personnel,shown even brighter, and his dedication, work ethic, and exceptional abilitiesset him apart from his colleagues,” Lively said. “His reputation as a tough,smart, no nonsense advocate for his clients is now well-established.”’

Mark Prost, of Sandberg Phoenix & Von Gontard, worked with Lee on a regularbasis due to a mutual client. The two also are associated through the AmericanBar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section—Toxic Tort andEnvironmental Law Committee. There, Lee serves as chair and Prost serves asvice-chair. “In working with Josh, I have been extremely impressed with hisleadership skills, broad knowledge base, and practical solutions to problems,”Prost said. “In managing this litigation, I have seen Josh demonstrate the level of experience savvy I would expect from a much older and moreexperienced attorney.”

Prost said in a case involving the potential for multi-million dollar exposure, Leetook the lead and helped outline an early defense strategy. “Thanks a lot toJosh’s management of the case, the case was settled for a favorable amount.”Prost said.

Lee’s dedication to his clients extends to his pro bono work as well said HarveyGrossman, of the Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU, Inc. and the ACLU ofIllinois. “Josh worked on a federal action case that resulted in improvementsin services and conditions of housing for individuals who are civilly committed.”Grossman said. “Josh also worked on another federal class action which actedas a catalyst for positive changes in the way the federal government treats U.S.citizens who are wrongfully identified as terrorists on the various ‘watch lists’that are used to screen travelers.”

AN ENORMOUS AMOUNTOF CREDIBILITY AND LIKEABILITY

AGE

LAW SCHOOL

AREA OF PRACTICE

FIRM

36

University of Michigan

Product Liability Defense

Schiff Hardin LLP233 South Wacker DriveSuite 6600Chicago, Illinois 60606