BCLP Adds Well-Known Litigation Partner

Global law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) today announced that established first-chair litigator Lori Van Auken has joined the firm as a partner. She will be resident in the firm’s New York office.

Van Auken is noted as a complex commercial litigator with extensive first-chair experience in a broad range of complex commercial litigation matters, including restructuring and M&A transactions. She has deep experience in all phases of state and federal court litigation and arbitration, including trials and appeals. She specializes in litigating high-profile cases affecting Fortune 50 companies across multiple business sectors, including financial services, insurance and telecommunications.

Formerly a partner with Winston & Strawn, she has more than 30 years’ experience with matters involving financial crisis securities litigation, complex insurance fraud litigation, SEC regulatory proceedings, corporate M&A/governance counseling, nationwide antitrust class actions, intellectual property litigation, employment and whistleblower claims, and workout and debtor/creditor litigation.  In December 2020, Van Auken expects to be awarded certification in cybersecurity from the Harvard University Extension School following her successful completion of a two-year graduate program there, as well as certification as an information privacy professional (CIPP/US) from the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Van Auken also maintains a strong pro bono practice supporting death penalty, domestic violence, immigration and nonprofit work. She is a former Thurgood Marshall Award winner from the New York State Bar Association in recognition of her pro bono work on behalf of a death row inmate in Tennessee, and a Thomas L. Sager Award recipient by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association for creation of a successful diversity initiative with a client company.

“Lori’s extensive experience as a litigator will be a huge asset to our firm and most importantly, our clients,” said Global Department Leader of Disputes and Investigations Lee Marshall. “Our Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice features prominently in our newly focused growth strategy and we are excited to welcome Lori to the firm.”

“I’m thrilled to join the team at BCLP,” Van Auken added. “BCLP’s commitment to strengthen its operational infrastructure and support expansion in litigation and investigations makes this an exciting time to join. There is tremendous energy and excitement and I am looking forward to hitting the ground running.” 

Van Auken’s hire follows other recent key hires: Partner Amy de La Lama, who will lead the global Data Privacy & Cyber Security Team within the Corporate & Finance Transactions Department; Los Angeles Partner Jean-Claude “J.C.” André, who will co-lead the firm’s Appellate & Supreme Court Group; two top real estate partners in the Dubai office, Stephen Kelly and Sarah Mahood; and Real Estate Partner Pierre Popesco and six other lawyers (including three counsel) in BCLP’s Paris office, whose arrival makes the firm a major player in the real estate market in France and underpins BCLP’s strategy to grow its real estate sector worldwide. These continued efforts to recruit top lateral candidates support BCLP’s international growth plans under its new Project Advance strategic plan and growth initiative.