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2.26.25
Wilson Sonsini Litigators Featured Among Big Law’s Top Lateral Hires of 2024
A group of Wilson Sonsini litigators based in Salt Lake City, including partner Jess Krannich, who was recognized as one of Big Law's top lateral hires, was featured in The American Lawyer's annual Laterals Report. This prestigious recognition highlights the most significant lateral moves industry-wide, with only 25 selections made from nearly 3,500 lateral partner hires by Am Law 200 firms during 2024.
The publication profiled the top high-impact lateral lawyers whose moves rippled across the legal industry and whose arrival helped drive their new firms’ strategies in specific markets or sectors. Notably, Jess is one of only four litigators to make this elite list, underscoring his significant contributions to the legal industry.
The publication profiled the top high-impact lateral lawyers whose moves rippled across the legal industry and whose arrival helped drive their new firms’ strategies in specific markets or sectors. Notably, Jess is one of only four litigators to make this elite list, underscoring his significant contributions to the legal industry.
Alerts
3.28.24
Utah Passes New Versions of Social Media Laws for Minors in Response to Challenges
On March 13, 2024, Governor Spencer Cox signed Utah’s Social Media Amendments, SB 194 and HB 464. Utah was the first state last year to pass laws strictly limiting minors’ use of social media. These laws were challenged in two lawsuits: one brought by social media users and another brought by NetChoice, a trade association representing internet companies.
Client Highlights
5.10.23
D.C. Circuit Grants NRDC Petition for Review Supported by Wilson Sonsini Amicus Brief
On May 9, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit held that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) decision not to regulate perchlorate in drinking water violated the Safe Drinking Water Act (NRDC v. Michael Regan, et al., USCA Case #20-1335). When perchlorate is ingested through drinking water, it can disrupt thyroid hormone production, leading to neurodevelopmental issues, particularly in fetuses and young children. Due to these risks, in 2011 the EPA issued a final determination to regulate perchlorate in drinking water nationally. However, the EPA never promulgated such regulations and withdrew its own determination that it should regulate perchlorate. The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) petitioned for review, arguing that the EPA lacked the authority to withdraw that determination under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Press Releases
11.18.22
Constandinos (Deno) Himonas Inducted Into the Warren E. Burger Society
The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) has inducted Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati partner Constandinos (Deno) Himonas into the organization’s Warren E. Burger Society. The society is designed to honor individuals who have used their time, talent, and support to advance the organization in exceptional ways.
News Articles
10.20.22
Firm Partners with ACLU of Louisiana to Call for Investigation into Lack of Counsel Access
On Thursday, October 20, 2022, the ACLU of Louisiana and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) calling for an investigation into the lack of access to counsel within Louisiana’s prison system. The letter notes that interviews with local public defenders uncovered that jails throughout the state have denied incarcerated people access to counsel in alleged violation of both the United States Constitution and Louisiana law.
Client Highlights
8.19.22
Firm Helps Secure Utah Court Order That Halts Law Barring Transgender Girls from Playing Girls’ Sports
On August 19, 2022, the Third District Court of Utah issued an order blocking enforcement of H.B. 11, a newly enacted law barring all transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams. The court held that the new law likely violates the equality guarantees of the Utah Constitution by singling out transgender girls and barring them from competing on girls’ teams, regardless of their individual circumstances. Following a two-day hearing, the court concluded that “the Defendants do not offer persuasive reasons to categorically ban all transgender girls from competing on girls’ teams.”
The lawsuit, Roe v. UHSAA, was brought by the families of three Utah girls who love sports and wish to play on their schools’ teams. The ruling follows a hearing at which the girls’ attorneys presented evidence of the ongoing harm caused by enforcement of the law. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, along with the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, represented the plaintiffs in the matter.
The court noted that its decision will not mean that every transgender girl is able to play on girls’ teams, but rather that every transgender girl will have an opportunity to do so. The court explained that under another part of the new law, if the ban is struck down, a statewide commission will “consider confidentially, for each transgender girl who seeks to compete in school athletics, whether it would be fair to permit that transgender girl to compete on girls’ teams.”
The ruling on the preliminary injunction bars enforcement of the ban while the remainder of the litigation proceeds through Utah state courts.
The Wilson Sonsini team representing the plaintiffs in the matter includes Senior Of Counsel Christine Durham and partner Deno Himonas, both of whom are former Utah Supreme Court Justices, as well as partner Fred Rowley.
The lawsuit, Roe v. UHSAA, was brought by the families of three Utah girls who love sports and wish to play on their schools’ teams. The ruling follows a hearing at which the girls’ attorneys presented evidence of the ongoing harm caused by enforcement of the law. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, along with the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, represented the plaintiffs in the matter.
The court noted that its decision will not mean that every transgender girl is able to play on girls’ teams, but rather that every transgender girl will have an opportunity to do so. The court explained that under another part of the new law, if the ban is struck down, a statewide commission will “consider confidentially, for each transgender girl who seeks to compete in school athletics, whether it would be fair to permit that transgender girl to compete on girls’ teams.”
The ruling on the preliminary injunction bars enforcement of the ban while the remainder of the litigation proceeds through Utah state courts.
The Wilson Sonsini team representing the plaintiffs in the matter includes Senior Of Counsel Christine Durham and partner Deno Himonas, both of whom are former Utah Supreme Court Justices, as well as partner Fred Rowley.
Press Releases
11.02.21
Wilson Sonsini Launches Salt Lake City Office with Retiring Utah Supreme Court Justice, Veteran Corporate Team
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, announced today that the firm is opening an office in Salt Lake City, which Utah Supreme Court Justice Deno Himonas will join upon his retirement from the bench in March 2022. In the Salt Lake City office, he will join Wilson Sonsini partners Marc Porter, who comes to the firm from Holland & Hart, and Matt Squires, most recently of the firm’s Seattle office.