The National Law Journal held its 2021 Professional Excellence Awards, which honors leaders in the Washington, D.C. legal community. At the ceremony, Latham was recognized in the following categories: D.C. Intellectual Property Litigation Department of the Year – Latham was named the winner for high profile victories in several matters including a US$1.8 billion settlement for LG Energy Solution, the largest public trade secrets settlement ever, and an important bench trial victory for Astellas Pharmaceuticals in the first civil IP trial in the District of Massachusetts to be held entirely by Zoom. This is the fifth time the firm has won in the past six times the award has been given. D.C. Rising Stars – Mergers & Acquisitions partner Victoria VanStekelenburg and Private Equity Finance associate Jennifer Kent were both honored. D.C. White Collar Litigation Department of the Year – Latham was one of four finalists and was recognized for, amongst other matters, the high profile defense of US Senator Richard Burr in a DOJ inquiry into stock trades he made in February 2020, before the pandemic affected global markets, and securing removal of a subsidiary of China COSCO Shipping, the world’s largest shipping company, and one of its former executives from the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.~~