White & Case Hires Quinn Emanuel Trial Chair

Tara Lee, co-chair of the national trial practice at Quinn Emanuel, has joined White & Case as a partner in Washington.

Lee, whose practice focuses on complex multi-jurisdictional disputes, class actions, and white collar investigations, will join the global commercial litigation practice at White & Case.

Quinn Emanuel is one of the most storied litigation-focused firms in the country, making the departure of a top trial lawyer significant.

White & Case partner Heather McDevitt, who serves on the firm’s executive committee, said the lateral hire was part of a greater U.S. growth strategy.

“Tara is a dynamic and highly regarded litigator with a skill set that complements our existing practice,” McDevitt said in a statement. “She is an important addition in a time when our disputes practices are in high demand.”

Lee joined Quinn Emanuel in 2016 from DLA Piper, where she co-chaired the global investigations practice.

She has significant experience representing clients in emerging markets and has testified as an expert witness on extraterritorial jurisdiction before the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to White & Case.

Lee also has expertise in leading sexual harassment investigations and litigation. In 2018, she represented the University of Southern California in a lawsuit brought by students accusing a gynecologist at the student health center of decades of sexual harassment.

“Tara is a nationally recognized first-chair trial lawyer, with strong client relationships and an impressive track record on high-stakes litigations and investigations,” Glenn Kurtz, head of White & Case’s global commercial litigation practice, said in a statement. “Her arrival further expands our litigation capabilities on the ground in Washington, D.C., which will benefit our clients.”

John B. Quinn, founder of Quinn Emanuel, said that “Lee is a great lawyer and a wonderful person. We wish her the best.”