NEW YORK, March 10, 2025 – Leading international law firm Proskauer is proud to announce that Benchmark Litigation has named the Firm its winner in three categories in its 2025 U.S. Awards. Proskauer secured the top spot in both Entertainment Firm of the Year and Impact Case of the Year, and Christopher Ondeck, co-chair of Proskauer’s Antitrust Group, was named Benchmark Litigation’s Antitrust Litigator of the Year.
Proskauer was named Entertainment Firm of the Year for its significant work in several high-profile cases within the entertainment industry. Most recently, the Firm served as lead trial counsel for Netflix, director/writer Ava DuVernay and writer Attica Locke in a defamation case in federal court in New York brought by Linda Fairstein, former head of the Manhattan DA’s sex crimes unit. The matter related to the defendants’ series “When They See Us,” which recounts the wrongful convictions of the Central Park 5. The plaintiff alleged that the series’ portrayal of her by actress Felicity Huffman depicted her in a false and defamatory light. The Firm’s leadership led to an extremely successful resolution for the clients when the plaintiff decided to settle the case on the eve of trial with no payment to her or her lawyers, and no confidentiality provision related to the settlement.
Proskauer also serves as lead trial counsel for Live Nation, Madonna and most of the United States venues for Madonna’s Celebration Tour in connection with three high profile class actions (in New York, D.C. and California), multiple arbitrations and small claims. These cases involve claims from plaintiffs who alleged that Madonna’s performances began later than the advertised event start time and included alleged explicit content in an uncomfortably hot environment. The claims include false advertising, negligent misrepresentation and unfair and deceptive trade practices.
For Impact Case of the Year, Proskauer was recognized for securing a landmark victory for Sanderson Farms in In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation. Following a six-week trial, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois delivered a full defense verdict, rejecting the Plaintiffs’ claims that alleged that Sanderson Farms participated in a supply reduction conspiracy with other producers in the broiler industry between 2008 and 2012. The trial team was led by partners Chris Ondeck, Colin Cabral, Kyle Casazza and Shawn Ledingham.
Antitrust Litigator of the Year winner Chris Ondeck serves as co-chair of the Firm’s Antitrust Group and head of its Washington, D.C. office. With over 25 years of experience, Chris has established himself as one of the highest-rated antitrust lawyers in the nation and a go-to litigator for clients in high-stakes matters. In the last twelve months, he secured three major wins in the courtroom including the largest antitrust jury trial of the year – and one of the largest in history – by securing a total defense verdict for Sanderson Farms in the Broilers Antitrust Litigation as the sole non-settling defendant where the direct purchaser plaintiffs alleged $7 billion in damages.
Benchmark Litigation’s annual U.S. awards honor the country’s most distinguished firms and litigators for their exemplary work over the past 12 months. Winners were determined based on extensive research, peer and client reviews and analysis of recent casework.
View the full list of winners: Benchmark Litigation 2025 U.S. Awards
About Proskauer
The world’s leading organizations and global players choose Proskauer to represent them when they need it the most. With 800+ lawyers in key financial centers around the world, we are known for our pragmatic and commercial approach. Proskauer is the place to turn when a matter is complex, innovative and game-changing. We work seamlessly across practices, industries and jurisdictions with asset managers, private equity and venture capital firms, Fortune 500 and FTSE companies, major sports leagues, entertainment industry legends and other industry-redefining companies.
Proskauer has a full-service litigation practice with extensive trial experience in virtually every major forum across the globe. We take a collaborative approach to representing defendants and plaintiffs, multinationals, middle-market and small-cap businesses, financial institutions, partnerships and individuals, with one thing in mind – driving successful outcomes for our clients.