Editor's note: The lawyers featured in The National Law Journal's 2008 Winning special report share a knack for artfully swaying judges and juries and taking risks when they see the opportunity to seize an advantage in the courtroom. We chose the victors of 10 cases from scores of nominations offered from firms of all sizes from just about every state in the union. The basic criteria required that nominees have at least one significant win within the past 18 months, and a history of noteworthy wins during the past several years.
THE 2008 WINNERS
 | HENRY 'HANK' ASBILL An attorney's client testifies — for more than 40 hours — to connect with the jury. |
 | EUGENE F. ASSAF Using 'video flashes' to show witness contradictions scores with jurors. |
 | JERE L. BEASLEY Using a company's own people to 'make our case.' |
 | JAMES P. BENNETT Facing the jury with a coherent story, a chart and humanizing pictures. |
 | LORI G. COHEN The counsel for corporate giants works hard at relating to the jury. |
 | JAMES J. CULLETON The attorney for an officer in the Sean Bell case bets on a bench trial. |
 | CHRISTOPHER M. CURRAN & J. MARK GIDLEY Risking a backfire, two attorneys take the offensive in an antitrust case. |
 | ERIC R. HAVIAN A dry whistleblower case on water and power rates yields a $224M prize. |
 | RONALD J. SCHUTZ A jury listens to advice about words and action, returns a $66M verdict. |
 | MICHAEL G. YODER The art of building an infringement case without appearing to overreach. |
• 2007 WINNING
The winners from last year's survey of the nation's top litigators.
• Winners from past years
One hundred ninety-three lawyers have appeared over the years in The National Law Journal's Winning special report.
