Class action litigation is beginning to take shape over allegations that major banks manipulated Libor, the benchmark rate used to calculate interest on trillions of dollars in securities globally. On Monday the federal district court judge hearing the litigation consolidated 20 class complaints, and appointed interim class counsel.

The $2.15 billion settlement that Lee helped secure this week for Pfizer Inc. is believed to be the largest ever in a patent case. And what's more, says Lee, the deal serves as a warning to generic pharmaceutical companies looking to get a jump on introducing new drugs.