January 1, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - Williams & Connolly LLP is pleased to announce the election of Richard S. Cleary, Jr., Benjamin W. Graham, Kevin Hoagland-Hanson, Patrick Looby, Tom W. Ryan, and Christopher Yeager to its partnership, effective January 1, 2025.
“Williams & Connolly is thrilled for this group of individuals to join the partnership,” said Executive Committee Chairman Joe Petrosinelli. “They have shown their dedication to the firm and our clients in striving for excellence and success in everything we do.”
The six new partners are:
Richard S. Cleary, Jr. - Rich’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and criminal defense. His civil practice has spanned a range of issues, including mass torts, commercial disputes, antitrust, false claims, and freedom of religion. His criminal defense work has involved an array of allegations, including wire fraud, retention of classified information, and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Rich represents clients at both the trial and appellate levels.
Benjamin W. Graham - Ben focuses his practice on international arbitration and complex commercial litigation. He has significant experience in trials, arbitrations, and complex motions practice. He has argued dispositive motions and appeals in both state and federal court; examined witnesses before judges, juries, and arbitrators; and acted as trial counsel in more than a dozen international arbitrations. Ben has handled investment-treaty disputes before ICSID and diverse commercial disputes before the leading arbitral institutions (ICC, LCIA, SCC, HKIAC, etc.). His clients include sovereign states, multinational corporations, and AmLaw 100 law firms.
Kevin Hoagland-Hanson - Kevin focuses his practice on patent litigation, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Kevin has represented clients at all stages of litigation, in both Hatch-Waxman and damages matters, and has been a member of several trial teams.
Patrick Looby - Patrick’s practice focuses on criminal defense and complex civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. Patrick has significant experience representing CEOs and entrepreneurs in high-stakes prosecutions as well as corporate clients in a broad range of civil matters, including highly contested contractual disputes, consumer class action lawsuits, and administrative investigations. He has briefed and argued motions and appeals in federal trial and appellate courts across the country. Patrick also maintains an active pro bono practice litigating civil rights actions.
Tom W. Ryan - Tom focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and investigations. He has significant experience in antitrust matters, including Section 1 and Section 2 cases, merger litigation, government investigations, and private suits. Tom also has experience handling cases involving consumer protection statutes (including the CFPA, FTC Act, and state analogues), the False Claims Act, professional liability, and criminal defense. He has represented individuals and companies across multiple industries, including technology, pharmaceutical, media, grocery, defense, professional services, and financial services.
Christopher Yeager - Chris’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation and government investigations. Chris has particular experience with competition-related matters, having handled a range of disputes involving antitrust and intellectual property. Chris has represented clients across a variety of industries, including companies in the life sciences, technology, and media sectors.
About Williams & Connolly LLP
Williams & Connolly is recognized as one of the world’s premier litigation firms. Our lawyers successfully handle significant civil and criminal matters in courts across the country and forums around the world. We bring a unique blend of talent, tenacity and teamwork to every case we handle in the relentless pursuit of the best possible outcomes for our clients. For more information, visit www.wc.com.