Strategic Counsel Firm Launches Litigation Practice

Veteran Litigators Johnny Darnell Griggs and Gregory G. Gorman Join Strategic Counsel’s Litigation Practice

Strategic Counsel, based in Los Angeles named renowned litigators Johnny Darnell Griggs, Esq. and Gregory G. Gorman, Esq. to lead their new Litigation Practice. The Litigation Practice extends the firm’s breadth of capabilities, designed to resolve complex issues, specifically where business, political issues, and public perceptions merge.

The addition of Griggs and Gorman to Cynthia McClain-Hill’s Strategic Counsel team creates an unparalleled level of legal, business, and communication talent not found in any other Los Angeles-based firm.

“Mr. Griggs and Mr. Gorman bring a wealth of strategic legal expertise and litigation experience to Strategic Counsel. Their commitment to resolving matters before they reach trial wherever possible directly aligns with our firm’s commitment to finding the best solution to every business problem our clients face,” said Cynthia McClain-Hill founder and managing director of Strategic Counsel. “In addition, their leadership and experience will be valuable additions to the rare combination of hard work, talent, intellectual creativity and trial experience found among the members of our litigation team.”

Johnny Darnell Griggs said “I have always believed that litigation is one of a range of tools businesses have to help solve problems and meet their objectives. This belief is closely mirrored by Strategic Counsel’s fundamental focus on leveraging legal expertise, litigation experience, public policy insight and strategic communications capabilities for its clients. I look forward to building a litigation practice that reflects these values and to the opportunity to work with remarkable professionals like Cynthia McClain-Hill and the entire Strategic Counsel team.”

Gorman outlined his reasons for joining the firm. “Strategic Counsel has a unique combination of talent and business insight that meshes with my professional goals: the ability to solve problems for my clients in the most efficient and productive manner. Joining this firm will allow me to bring an exceptional level of legal and business counsel to my clients and provides me with an opportunity to make a significant contribution as we develop the litigation practice.”

Lawsuits and monetary claims are a significant part of the modern business environment, and Strategic Counsel believes that the ability to effectively manage these risks impacts company morale, branding and profit margins.

In 2005 alone, 4,722 cases went to jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. Strategic Counsel’s Litigation Practices takes a preventive approach to litigation by aggressively evaluating actual and potential litigation at the earliest stages to determine first, if litigation can be avoided, or if it is filed, whether the matter can be resolved quickly and economically at all stages of representation: initial assessment, pre-trial litigation, alternative dispute resolution, trial and post-trial proceedings.

Attorneys in the firm’s Litigation Practice have extensive trial and appellate experience, having successfully defended and prosecuted myriad forms of complex business litigation in arbitrations, mediations, and in state and federal courts throughout California. The Litigation Practice has significant expertise in the prosecution and defense of real estate and real estate related claims, defense and prosecution of contract disputes and business torts, defense of toxic tort claims, defense of land subsidence claims, and defense and prosecution of other claims related to complex business transactions.

In addition, litigation of employment claims is a critical component of Strategic Counsel’s Litigation Practice which represents client matters involving wrongful and retaliatory discharge claims, as well as race, age, gender and disability discrimination and/or harassment claims at the administrative level and in state and federal court.

Johnny Darnell Griggs, Esq.

A highly talented litigator, Mr. Griggs has more than 20 years of experience in business litigation comprising prosecution and defense of real estate and real estate related claims, defense of toxic tort claims, defense of land subsidence claims, and defense and prosecution of claims related to complex business transactions.

Mr. Griggs also has handled all aspects of employment law including discrimination claims, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. In addition to his practice in various California state courts, Mr. Griggs has litigated a variety of matters before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Most recently, Mr. Griggs was a partner in the Los Angeles office of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood where he focused on employment matters and complex business legal proceedings. Before joining Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, Mr. Griggs was a partner at Nossaman, Guthner, Knox and Elliott, where he headed the firm’s diversity program. Mr. Griggs earned a juris doctorate from Yale Law School in 1983 and his bachelor’s degree in communications from Lewis and Clark College in 1980. He was admitted to practice law in the State of California in 1983.

Gregory G. Gorman, Esq.

Mr. Gorman has been litigating complex disputes, particularly those involving real estate and malpractice defense for more than 17 years. An accomplished trial lawyer, he is often retained solely to act as trial counsel. His belief that 75% of cases can be placed into settlement mode within 90 days has earned him a reputation as an intellectually aggressive yet fair by his clients and peers. His breadth of trial experience has provided him with keen insights into the effective use of discovery and motions and has allowed him to develop an ability to make complex issues simple and understandable. When litigation is necessary, Mr. Gorman applies innovative strategies and investigative methods to gain successful resolutions for his clients.

Prior to joining Strategic Counsel, Mr. Gorman was a partner at Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory. He also operated his own firm, which earned a reputation for excellence in resolving litigation matters. In addition, he served as general counsel to Asthma Care US, a national chain of asthma clinics. Mr. Gorman earned his juris doctorate degree from the Northwestern University School of Law, and his bachelor’s in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. He was admitted to practice law in the State of California in 1987. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Central and Northern Districts of California and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Strategic Counsel blends legal expertise and litigation experience with deep public policy insight and strategic communications capabilities. Clients seek them out for for their smart, sure counsel and the consistent, high-quality results. The firm is known for its visionary thinking and particularly keen understanding of the myriad intricacies challenging businesses today. Using its range of legal, communications, lobbying and legislative skills, Strategic Counsel has the acumen and long-range executional abilities to shepherd clients through the political maze to get the results they want and need to succeed.

Strategic Counsel clients know they can count on a highly skilled team of lawyers, political experts and communications strategists to understand and resolve their complex business issues, and help them navigate the waters where law, business, politics and public perceptions meet.

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