Original Jurisdiction
Original Jurisdiction is a podcast focused on law and the legal profession. Host David Lat interviews prominent and influential figures in the legal world. The show serves as an audio companion to Lat's Substack newsletter of the same name. Listeners can follow the host on Twitter and subscribe to the newsletter for more content.
Episodes
The Making Of A Celebrity Litigator: Mathew Rosengart
Five years ago this fall, Mathew Rosengart made international headlines when he secured the termination of the 13-year conservatorship of pop icon Britney Spears. But while he might be most famous for how he helped #FreeBritney, Rosengart has litigated many major matters over the years, representing clients ranging from Hollywood celebrities like Sean Penn and Selena Gomez to multinational corpora
Google Goes All In On Legal AI: Halimah DeLaine Prado
Legal AI is a big deal—and a big business. How do we know this? It’s attracting interest beyond specialized, law-focused providers like Harvey and Legora (which are themselves already multibillion-dollar businesses).Last month, Google announced Gemini Enterprise for Legal, part of the company’s growing suite of purpose-built industry solutions. But what makes this new product different from genera
Building A Legal Playbook For Crypto’s Next Chapter: Molly Abraham
Cryptocurrency is at a critical point in its evolution. The existential questions have been answered—crypto is here to stay—and now the main issues relate to how it will be regulated (and by whom). Last year, Congress passed the GENIUS Act, landmark legislation governing a particular category of crypto called stablecoins. And when it returns from its August recess, the Senate will consider the CLA
Biglaw’s Embrace Of Contingency Litigation
For much of the time that I’ve been writing about the legal profession, the line between plaintiff- and defense-side litigation was clear, stable, and widely respected. Small, scrappy firms took plaintiffs’ work on contingency; large, prestigious firms defended corporations for hourly rates. That division has been eroding—slowly at first, then with increasing speed. Today, defense-oriented Biglaw
From Cravath Partner To Boutique Founder: Ben Gruenstein
Earlier this year, Benjamin Gruenstein left Cravath Swaine & Moore, his professional home for almost two decades, and founded his own boutique, Gruenstein Law. Ben and I first met around the time that he launched his firm, after we were introduced by a mutual friend (but not his brother, former Wachtell Lipton partner David Gruenstein, with whom I used to work). I greatly enjoyed my conversation w
Supreme Court Term In Review: Zach Shemtob
Last Tuesday, June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its final opinions in argued cases for October Term 2025. So it’s an ideal time to review the Term that was—and to look ahead to what’s on the docket for OT 2026.I could think of no better guest for this project than my husband, Zachary Baron Shemtob. Zach is the executive editor of SCOTUSblog—a leading news outlet, if not the leading news outle
Taking On Tough Cases For The Trump Administration: Abhishek Kambli
Defending some of the Trump administration’s most controversial policies in court, before frequently skeptical judges, can be difficult. But Abhishek “Abhi” Kambli, who recently stepped down as deputy associate attorney general, took on this challenge—repeatedly. During 15 months at the U.S. Department of Justice, he personally argued more than 20 consequential cases, involving subjects including
‘A Simple Ambition—The Very Best Appellate Practice’: Kannon Shanmugam
For longtime observers of the legal profession, here’s a headline we wouldn’t have expected a few years ago: “The Eight-Figure Talent Race for Supreme Court Lawyers.” According to Ryan Barber and Erin Mulvaney of The Wall Street Journal (gift link), superstar SCOTUS advocates—including former solicitor general Elizabeth Prelogar, now at Cooley, and former acting SG Jeff Wall, who recently joined G
A Prosecutor Turned Partner—And Pioneer: Jessie Liu
The trend of leading litigators launching their own boutiques continues. Last month, three Chambers-ranked trial lawyers—Jessie Liu, Justin Shur, and Jonathan Kravis—left their respective firms to found Liu Shur Kravis in Washington, D.C.What makes LSK particularly interesting is that it’s a “bipartisan boutique”—unusual in D.C., where boutiques tend to have a partisan valence. Liu was the Senate-
From Litigation To Legislation And Back Again: Rob Bonta
State attorneys general have been playing an increasingly important role in American law and politics in recent years, as I discussed in my recent podcast interview of former New Jersey attorney general Matthew Platkin. Continuing the conversation on this interesting evolution, last week I interviewed Rob Bonta, the 34th attorney general of our nation’s largest state, California.We began by discus
How Law Firms Can Lead The Agentic AI Era: Sabastian Niles
Artificial intelligence is transforming the practice of law in countless ways, as I’ve explored in this podcast and newsletter. Thus far, I’ve focused mainly on AI’s implications for lawyers and law firms. But how is AI affecting clients, what they expect from their firms, and the attorney-client relationship?Sabastian Niles, the president and chief legal officer of Salesforce, tackled these topic
Last Branch Standing: Sarah Isgur
Sarah Isgur is one of the busiest people in legal media. She hosts the delightful Advisory Opinions podcast (on which I sometimes appear); serves as an editor of SCOTUSblog, the leading online outlet covering the Supreme Court; and appears regularly on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos. And now, as of yesterday, she’s a first-time author.The thesis of Sarah’s new book—Last Branch Standing
Winning For Workers Before A Conservative Court: Jennifer Bennett
My latest guest is an acclaimed appellate and Supreme Court advocate, Jennifer Bennett of Gupta Wessler. To introduce her, I’m going to turn over the floor to a former podcast guest: Judge Vince Chhabria (N.D. Cal.), for whom Bennett clerked. When I mentioned to Judge Chhabria that I was going to be interviewing Jennifer, he immediately moved into testimonial mode:"Funny, I was going to email you
Building A Law Firm, Five Years In: Jed Bergman
I’ve interviewed many law firm leaders on this podcast, usually from one of two extremes: brand-new boutiques or long-established Biglaw institutions. But the most interesting moment in a firm’s history may be the middle—when the early bets have paid off, but the long-term trajectory is still unfolding.That’s where Glenn Agre Bergman & Fuentes is today. Founded in February 2021, in the depths of t
The Very Model Of A Modern Attorney General: Matt Platkin
Over the three decades that I’ve been in and around the legal profession, one of the most interesting developments has been the rise of what I’d call “The Modern Attorney General.”Years ago, the typical state attorney general had a fairly sleepy role. Much of the job was reactive—enforcing criminal laws or defending state statutes in court—and focused on in-state developments.Today, the office loo
Build Windmills, Not Walls: Michael Gerstenzang
Last month, Michael Gerstenzang concluded a nine-year run as managing partner of Cleary Gottlieb, one of the world’s leading law firms. During his tenure, he guided the firm through the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical turbulence, and the early stages of the AI transformation—an area where Cleary has emerged as an industry leader, reflected in its development of ClearyX and acquisition of Springbok
On Vigilantism And Violence: Elliot Williams
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comIf you’re my age, you’ll recall the story of Bernhard Goetz. On a New York City subway car on December 22, 1984, Goetz shot four Black teenagers from the Bronx at point-blank range. Accused of attempted murder, Goetz went to trial—and was acquitted on the most serious charges, after claiming he acted in self-defense
Launching A Boutique In Turbulent Times: Timothy Heaphy
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comHow would you react if you saw Jack Smith, the former special counsel who prosecuted Donald Trump, at Costco?It might just happen. Last week, Jack Smith launched his own litigation boutique, along with three other former federal prosecutors: Timothy Heaphy, David Harbach, and Thomas Windom. A new law firm is like a
Running A Global Law Firm In 2026: Jon Van Gorp
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to the first Original Jurisdiction podcast episode of the new year, an opportune time to both reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026. To kick things off, I decided I wanted to interview a Biglaw leader, to get a sense of both the challenges and opportunities facing large law firms today.I was delighted to be
AI Data Center Dealmaking: Steven Messina
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comEvery time you ask a question of your AI assistant, it gets sent to a data center, where the response is generated before getting sent back to you. These data centers are critical to the AI revolution. The biggest data-center campuses occupy dozens of acres, span millions of square feet, and cost billions of dollars
Serving On A State High Court: Justice David Wecht
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comDuring the three-plus years that I’ve been hosting this podcast, I’ve welcomed a diverse range of guests. They’ve exhibited demographic diversity, of course, but also other forms of diversity—including diversity of opinion and experience.So I was embarrassed when I recently noticed that although I’ve interviewed mor
Judging The Justice System In The Age Of Trump: Nancy Gertner
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.How are the federal courts faring during
Resolving The Unresolvable: Kenneth Feinberg
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.Yesterday, Southern California Edison (S
Trial Lawyer To The Stars: Orin Snyder
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWho’s the Biglaw partner with the most star-studded client roster? Orin Snyder, co-chair of the Trials Practice Group at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, has to be up there. Consider this: at least a half-dozen of his clients have performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, or both. (In case
A Happy Warrior, For Her Clients And For The Rule Of Law: Jeannie Rhee
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comJeannie Rhee is one of the nation’s leading litigators, with the awards and accolades to prove it—including, most recently, recognition last month from Forbes as one of America’s Top 250 Lawyers. But her legal career is not only impressive; it’s also very interesting.The past few years have been extremely eventful f
When You Come At The King: Elie Honig
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comAs Omar Little of The Wire famously quipped, “When you come at the king, you best not miss.” It’s a very true saying—and an apt title for the third book by prosecutor turned bestselling author Elie Honig, When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ’s Pursuit of the President, from Nixon to Trump.Special counsel Jack Smith
The Maestro Of Mass Torts: Christopher Seeger
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comMass-tort and multidistrict litigation is one of the most interesting and important practice areas in American law today. But even though these cases represent more than 70 percent of the federal civil docket, involving thousands of plaintiffs and billions of dollars, they don’t get as much coverage as you might exp
A View From The Top Of The M&A World: David Lam
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comOne question I frequently receive, as a lawyer turned writer, is whether I miss the practice of law. My honest answer is no. In my current job, I feel I get some of the best aspects of a legal career, such as the intellectual stimulation and challenge, without the worst ones, such as billable hours (or, for those la
Trying High-Profile Cases For Controversial Clients: Marc Agnifilo
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comFew lawyers in America have handled more headline-making cases than Marc Agnifilo of Agnifilo Intrater. A former prosecutor in both the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey—where he and I met and became friends, around 20 years ago—Marc has defended a number of famous (s
‘A Period Of Great Constitutional Danger’: Pam Karlan
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comLast month, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded its latest Term. And over the past few weeks, the Trump administration has continued to duke it out with its adversaries in the federal courts.To tackle these topics, as well as their intersection—in terms of how well the courts, including but not limited to the Supreme C
‘Calling It Down The Middle’: Judge Ana Reyes
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comI’ve been writing about the judiciary for more than 20 years, and in my opinion, the current time is the most difficult I’ve seen for serving as a federal judge. This is especially true in courts where a disproportionate number of cases challenging actions of the current administration have been filed, such as the U
Aspiring Rainmakers Should Become ‘Activators,’ New Study Shows
How can law firm partners get better at business development, given how important it’s become to their work? That’s the subject of “The Activator Advantage: What Today’s Rainmakers Do Differently,” published by the Harvard Business Review Press. Orrick chairman Mitch Zuklie described the book as “groundbreaking for our rising stars, helping them understand what our most successful partners do.”Las
A Pioneering Advocate For LGBTQ Rights: Shannon Minter
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.June is my favorite month—because it mar
Managing Through Crisis: Debra Wong Yang
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.Is it just me, or are crises popping up
Paying It Forward: Sandra Leung
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.I’m very proud of the guests I’ve hosted
Litigating At The Center Of Law and Technology: Neel Chatterjee
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.
‘Fight With Everything You Have’: David Oscar Markus
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.It isn’t easy being a criminal-defense a
‘Come In With The Hammer’: Elie Mystal
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.Democrats and progressives are on the de
Leading A Biglaw Firm Through Interesting Times: Yvette Ostolaza
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.We live in an interesting time for Bigla
The State Of Legal Tech Is Strong: Joe Borstein
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.If you follow the legal profession and i
On Constitutional Crisis And The Current ‘Precarious’ Moment: Vince Chhabria
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.Because of my obsession with the judicia
Big-City Mayors In The New Trump Era: Quinton Lucas
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.We’re less than a month into the second
Lawless: The Miseducation Of America’s Elites, With Ilya Shapiro
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.Three years ago this month, in January 2
The Rise (And Rise) Of Private Credit: Jennifer Daly
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.Are you familiar with the world of priva
How AI Is Transforming Legal Writing: Ross Guberman
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comAs 2024 draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the most important topics and trends that shaped the legal profession this year. At or near the top of the list, of course, was artificial intelligence. How will AI transform the practice of law and the legal profession? How will it affect employment opportunities fo
Ready To Take On The Trump Administration: Amol Sinha
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comEarly wishes for a happy Thanksgiving. As the holiday season gets underway, those of us who have so much to be thankful for should think about—and reach out to help—those who are less fortunate. So as I did last year, I’m using my Thanksgiving podcast episode to shine the spotlight on a lawyer who has devoted their
A Veteran—And Victor—Of Many Courtroom Battles: Beth Wilkinson
Veterans Day was last week, so it was very fitting that I interviewed Beth Wilkinson, one of the nation’s top trial lawyers and founding partner of Wilkinson Stekloff. After graduating from Princeton and UVA Law, she began her career as a lawyer in the Army JAG Corps. She then continued her public service by working as a federal prosecutor, where she successfully prosecuted the Oklahoma City bombe
Sam Bankman-Fried And Diddy’s Appellate Ace: Alexandra Shapiro
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.If you ever get prosecuted by the U.S. A
From Wachtell To The White House To The Federal Bench: Judge Kenneth Lee
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWith a contentious election just around the corner, tensions are running high, and it’s easy to focus on what divides us. So my latest podcast interview, featuring Judge Kenneth Lee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, is quite timely. The son of immigrants from South Korea—and an immigrant himself, w
A 2024 Supreme Court Preview, With Morgan Ratner
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comOn Monday of last week, the customary first Monday of October, the U.S. Supreme Court kicked off October Term 2024. So I thought it might be a good idea to offer my listeners an overview of the 2024-2025 Term—and I could think of no better guide to the new SCOTUS Term than Morgan Ratner. I met Morgan this past July,
A True Judicial Maverick: Judge Jed Rakoff
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comOur independent judiciary has been described—accurately so, in my opinion—as “the crown jewel of our constitutional republic.” And when it comes to the federal judiciary, few of its members are as independent-minded as Judge Jed S. Rakoff. Judge Rakoff, 81, has served on the Southern District of New York since 1996
A Leading Legal Storyteller: Dawn Schneider
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.Where do I get my story ideas? Most aris
‘Find The Joy’: Susman Godfrey Partner Davida Brook
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.Defamation law and copyright law: I have
The Great ‘Concurrer’: Judge Kevin Newsom
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here.Here’s a trivia question for devotees of
‘Just Keep Going’: Former FTX General Counsel Ryne Miller
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Thanks!By next Thursday, August 16, cre
A Relentlessly Successful SCOTUS Advocate: Roman Martinez
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comOne of the most consequential developments of the last Supreme Court Term was the overruling of Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., the 40-year-old precedent directing courts to defer to agencies’ reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes. It came about through two cases: Relentless, Inc. v. D
A Life For Liberty: Randy Barnett
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comAre we all originalists now? Definitely not; originalism has no shortage of critics.But as the latest Term of the U.S. Supreme Court made clear, originalism is the dominant mode of constitutional interpretation at One First Street today. As the justices debate the doctrine’s finer theoretical points, such as the pro
Winning The Freedom To Marry: Evan Wolfson
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comHappy Pride—and happy June 26. As the Supreme Court hands down its final decisions of the Term over the next few days, it’s worth reflecting on how June 26 is the day the Court issued three of its landmark gay-rights decisions: Lawrence v. Texas (2003), United States v. Windsor (2013), and Obergefell v. Hodges (2015
A Top Trial Lawyer And Father Of 11: Michael Williams
I’ve been honored to have some of the nation’s leading litigators on this podcast. But I have not had a guest who’s both a renowned courtroom advocate and parent of 11 children—until today.Meet Michael Williams. After graduating from Georgetown Law, summa cum laude and first in his class, he clerked for then-Chief Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg of the D.C. Circuit and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy of the
How Black’s Law Dictionary Gets Made: Bryan A. Garner
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWhat’s the most widely cited legal book in the world? If you guessed Black’s Law Dictionary, then congratulate yourself. Henry Campbell Black published the first edition in 1891, and today it’s a must-have for every lawyer and law student. I even make an appearance in Black’s as the coiner of the term “benchslap,” d
From MIT To M&A: Paul Shim
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comContinuing my M&A miniseries here at Original Jurisdiction, I wanted to welcome another dealmaker to the podcast. And as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month draws to a close, I wanted to interview another AANHPI attorney, including some discussion of their family’s story and how their
A Dynamic Young Dealmaker: Shanu Bajaj
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comAfter my fascinating conversation with Rodge Cohen of Sullivan & Cromwell, I wanted to interview another transactional lawyer for the Original Jurisdiction podcast. But to mix things up, I wanted to speak with an up-and-coming dealmaker rather than a senior statesperson. And because May is Asian American and Native
A Titan Of Transactional Practice: H. Rodgin Cohen
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comIt might seem odd to bestow the title of “titan” upon someone once described in the New York Times as standing five-foot-two and weighing 100 pounds wet. But if you know anything about banking M&A and regulatory work, you know that H. Rodgin Cohen, senior chair of Sullivan & Cromwell, is a true giant of the field.Fo
An Exit Interview With A Top Law School’s Dean: Risa Goluboff
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWould you want to be a law school dean in the year 2024? The once-coveted post seems less fun, given the tension and polarization on university campuses these days, as well as more challenging than ever. One misstep or missed goal—a free-speech controversy gone viral, a fundraising target unmet, a double-digit drop
A Rising Star Of The Supreme Court Bar: Easha Anand
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Thanks!How many Supreme Court advocates
From Prosecutor To Presidential Candidate: Chris Christie
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Thanks!Chris Christie has had an intere
Designing The Law Firm Of The Future: David Elsberg
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWould you leave a thriving law firm to strike out on your own? Many risk-averse lawyers would not, but David Elsberg has done so—twice.In 2018, David left Quinn Emanuel to launch Selendy Gay, later Selendy Gay Elsberg—which today is one of the nation’s top litigation boutiques. Then last month, he made the news agai
Holding Trump Accountable: Shawn Crowley
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Thanks!What does it feel like to call o
No Regrets: An Interview With David Boies
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Thanks!In part one of my two-part inter
Anti-Trump Lawsuits Are 'Greatly Mistaken': An Interview With David Boies
I’ve come full circle. A little more than three years ago, I launched Original Jurisdiction with an interview of superstar litigator David Boies, 82, one of the most famous living American lawyers. Now I’m speaking with him again, this time for a special two-part podcast interview.In today’s interview, part one of two, David discusses current events. Most notably, given his representation of Al Go
'Integrity': An Interview With Judge Pauline Newman
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Thanks!For the past 10 months, the lega
2023 Year In Review And 2024 Predictions, With Sarah Isgur
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Thanks!Belated Christmas greetings (if
The Rise Of Pro Bono Counsel: An Interview With Jackie Haberfeld
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Thanks!If you’re looking for a more mea
'Always Be Courageous': An Interview With Twyla Carter
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Thanks!With the holiday season upon us
No Accident: An Interview With Karen Dunn
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Thanks!If you’re looking for something
The Canceling Of The American Mind: An Interview With Greg Lukianoff
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWhen I wrote an op-ed for the Boston Globe titled Big Law’s Cancel Culture, I got an earful from folks who complained about the use of the term “cancel culture” (which was picked by the Globe’s copy editors, not by me). There are many folks who argue the “cancel culture” doesn’t exist or, if it does, it’s greatly ex
Confessions Of A Law School Dean: An Interview With Gordon Smith
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking on the button below. Thanks!As the new academ
Your Face Belongs To Us: An Interview With Kashmir Hill
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking on the button below. Thanks!Looking back over
From Class Actions To Affirmative Action: An Interview With Brian Fitzpatrick
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking on the button below. Thanks!It’s great to hav
Tiger Mom Turned Novelist: An Interview With Amy Chua
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comWelcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking on the button below. Thanks!As a new academic
