Let’s Talk

By Meghan Tribe

• Elizabeth Stotland Weiswasser to become one of five litigation co-chairs

• Weiswasser and Anish Desai have represented tobacco, pharma clients

Paul Weiss is picking up a pair of patent litigators from Weil Gotshal & Manges as the New York firm’s hiring spree moves to its trial law practice.

Elizabeth Stotland Weiswasser and Anish Desai are joining Paul Weiss as partners in its litigation department, the firm said Tuesday. The pair has represented tobacco giant Altria Inc., as well as pharmaceutical companies Sanofi-Aventis and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc

Weiswasser, who held leadership roles at Weil, will become one of five co-chairs in her new firm’s litigation department.

Paul Weiss over the last year has aggressively looked to hire away rainmakers from competitors. The firm—known for its litigation and corporate work, including longstanding ties to buyout giant Apollo GlobalManagement Inc.—has overhauled its pay structure and added a non-equity partner tier.

“We are delighted to welcome Liz and Anish, two of the most accomplished and respected litigators in the country with a proven track record in high-stakes disputes, particularly in the life sciences, healthcare and technology industries,”

Brad Karp, the firm’s chairman, said in a statement.

Weiswasser, who represents pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, in 2022 became the first woman to co-chair Weil’s global litigation department. She was also member of Weil’s management committee and previously led its patent litigation and life sciences practices.

Desai, who handles life sciences and technology matters, was co-head of Weil’s patent litigation practice.

The duo scored a $95 million patent verdict for Altria in 2022. They’re part of a team representing Regeneron in litigation to try to block Amgen Inc. from launching a product similar to Eylea, a blockbuster eye drug worth around $8 billion in global sales.“Their broad-ranging litigation experience and strategic counsel will further bolster our litigation capabilities and benefit our clients seeking sophisticated solutions to their most challenging business issues,” Karp said.

Paul Weiss has brought on more than 20 lateral partners this year, including Cleary Gottlieb Steen &Hamilton deals partner James Langston, Apollo partner and former general counsel Joseph Glatt, Kirkland& Ellis London investment funds partner Jeremy Leggate, and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom asset management duo David Hepp and Matthew Collin.

The move was brokered by Sabina Lippman, co-founder and firmwide managing partner of legal recruiter CenterPeak LLC.