Four Decades for Justice
Rowan D. Wilson retired from Cravath’s Litigation Department in February 2017. Rowan is Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. Judge Wilson’s practice encompassed complex litigation, including antitrust and competition, intellectual property, contract, securities fraud, entertainment and media, and civil rights and employment matters.
Judge Wilson was born in Pomona, California. He received an A.B. cum laude from Harvard College in 1981 and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1984, where he was a member of the Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Law Review. After graduation, Judge Wilson served in a two‑year clerkship with Hon. James R. Browning, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He joined Cravath in 1986 and became a partner in 1992.
Judge Wilson was born in Pomona, California. He received an A.B. cum laude from Harvard College in 1981 and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1984, where he was a member of the Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Law Review. After graduation, Judge Wilson served in a two‑year clerkship with Hon. James R. Browning, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He joined Cravath in 1986 and became a partner in 1992.
Education
-
J.D., 1984, Harvard Law Schoolcum laude
-
A.B., 1981, Harvard Collegecum laude
Clerkships
- Hon. James R. Browning, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Deals & Cases
June 09, 2021
United States v. Jefferson County: Four Decades for Justice
Over the course of nearly forty years, Cravath has represented African American and female plaintiffs alleging employment discrimination by governmental employers in Birmingham, Alabama. Our work on the case started in 1983 led by the late Robert D. Joffe, a renowned trial lawyer and one of our former presiding partners. In 1992, then partner Rowan D. Wilson took over leadership of the case which he retained until 2017 when he retired and accepted an appointment from the Governor of New York to become an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. In December 2020, the case reached its conclusion under the leadership of partner Damaris Hernández—a reflection of the generations of Cravath attorneys who have supported this fight for justice.
Firm News
April 24, 2023
Rowan Wilson, Retired Cravath Partner, Confirmed as Chief Judge of New York State Court of Appeals
On April 18, 2023, the New York State Senate confirmed Governor Kathy Hochul’s nomination of retired Cravath partner Rowan D. Wilson as Chief Judge of New York State and the New York State Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court.
Firm News
April 10, 2023
Rowan Wilson, Retired Cravath Partner, Nominated as Chief Judge of New York State Court of Appeals
On April 10, 2023, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the nomination of retired Cravath partner Rowan D. Wilson to serve as Chief Judge of New York State and the New York State Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the New York State Senate.
Rowan D. Wilson retired from Cravath’s Litigation Department in February 2017. Rowan is Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. Judge Wilson’s practice encompassed complex litigation, including antitrust and competition, intellectual property, contract, securities fraud, entertainment and media, and civil rights and employment matters.
Judge Wilson was born in Pomona, California. He received an A.B. cum laude from Harvard College in 1981 and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1984, where he was a member of the Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Law Review. After graduation, Judge Wilson served in a two‑year clerkship with Hon. James R. Browning, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He joined Cravath in 1986 and became a partner in 1992.
Judge Wilson was born in Pomona, California. He received an A.B. cum laude from Harvard College in 1981 and a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1984, where he was a member of the Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Law Review. After graduation, Judge Wilson served in a two‑year clerkship with Hon. James R. Browning, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He joined Cravath in 1986 and became a partner in 1992.
Education
-
J.D., 1984, Harvard Law Schoolcum laude
-
A.B., 1981, Harvard Collegecum laude
Clerkships
- Hon. James R. Browning, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Deals & Cases
June 09, 2021
United States v. Jefferson County: Four Decades for Justice
Over the course of nearly forty years, Cravath has represented African American and female plaintiffs alleging employment discrimination by governmental employers in Birmingham, Alabama. Our work on the case started in 1983 led by the late Robert D. Joffe, a renowned trial lawyer and one of our former presiding partners. In 1992, then partner Rowan D. Wilson took over leadership of the case which he retained until 2017 when he retired and accepted an appointment from the Governor of New York to become an Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. In December 2020, the case reached its conclusion under the leadership of partner Damaris Hernández—a reflection of the generations of Cravath attorneys who have supported this fight for justice.
Firm News
April 24, 2023
Rowan Wilson, Retired Cravath Partner, Confirmed as Chief Judge of New York State Court of Appeals
On April 18, 2023, the New York State Senate confirmed Governor Kathy Hochul’s nomination of retired Cravath partner Rowan D. Wilson as Chief Judge of New York State and the New York State Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court.
Firm News
April 10, 2023
Rowan Wilson, Retired Cravath Partner, Nominated as Chief Judge of New York State Court of Appeals
On April 10, 2023, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the nomination of retired Cravath partner Rowan D. Wilson to serve as Chief Judge of New York State and the New York State Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the New York State Senate.
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