Hogan Lovells lawyers Judge David Tatel, Katie Wellington, and Jessica Ellsworth honored at The American Lawyer Industry Awards

Judge David S. Tatel, Senior Pro Bono Counsel, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, the most prestigious honor bestowed by The American Lawyer. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Judge Tatel filled the seat previously held by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and served nearly three decades as one of the nation’s most respected jurists. Known for his incisive questioning and eloquent opinions, he presided over landmark cases shaping environmental law, voting rights, and civil liberties. His extraordinary career—chronicled in his recent memoir Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice—reflects brilliance, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice. Judge Tatel was a partner at Hogan Lovells’ predecessor firm from 1979 until his appointment to the bench, and during his time with the firm he founded and led our education practice.

Katie Wellington, a partner in our Appellate & Supreme Court Litigation practice and Group Manager of Litigation for the Boston office, was named Young Lawyer of the Year – a distinction that highlights her exceptional advocacy and leadership in high-stakes appeals, including matters before the U.S. Supreme Court. Just this year, Wellington secured a unanimous 9–0 victory in Barnes v. Felix, a landmark Fourth Amendment case, and argued her first case before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Nestlé Purina. She has also led major appellate wins for clients including Bristol Myers Squibb and Blue Cross of California. A former clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Wellington has worked on 13 Supreme Court merits cases and argued 17 times in state and federal courts nationwide. This recognition underscores Wellington’s role as one of the most dynamic voices shaping the future of appellate litigation.

Jessica Ellsworth, co-head of our Appellate practice, was honored as a finalist for Litigator of the Year, highlighting a career defined by her role as trusted counsel winning landmark victories in some of the most consequential cases in recent years. Ellsworth has argued nearly 100 appeals—including multiple before the U.S. Supreme Court—and delivered high-impact wins with sweeping implications for the pharmaceutical and tech sectors. Her recent successes include securing a unanimous 9–0 decision for Danco Laboratories in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and prevailing in two separate appeals argued on the same day before the Third Circuit on behalf of Merck. Ellsworth’s recognition as a finalist for Litigator of the Year affirms her standing as one of the nation’s most influential voices in appellate advocacy.

Our Appellate Practice, co-led by partners Cate Stetson and Jessica Ellsworth, is recognized as one of the most accomplished and influential appellate teams in the country. The team has secured numerous critical victories in recent years, consistently demonstrating a strategic, collaborative approach to high-stakes appellate litigation. The practice is also deeply committed to developing the next generation of appellate litigators.

Hogan Lovells is also proud to have been recognized as a finalist for Best Provider Collaboration for our partnership with ELTEMATE and Lineal, reflecting the firm’s commitment to innovation and client service.

These honors highlight Hogan Lovells’ commitment to achieving exceptional results in the most complex matters by driving innovative strategies, cultivating future legal talent, and shaping the global landscape of litigation and appellate advocacy.