Jillian Hewitt

Jillian Hewitt litigates high-stakes disputes in state and federal courts and arbitrations across the country. Ms. Hewitt represents plaintiffs and defendants through every stage of litigation in a wide range of complex commercial cases, including securities litigation, breach of contract, class actions, and employment litigation. Her clients range from universities and Fortune 50 companies to smaller businesses and individuals in the financial, automotive, and real estate industries.

Below are a few of Ms. Hewitt’s notable results and representations:

• Mayor & City Council of Baltimore v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. Representing the City of Baltimore in litigation against the manufacturers, distributors, and prescribers that fueled the worst opioid epidemic in the nation. Ms. Hewitt argued a dozen motions to dismiss the City’s case and took the depositions of key manufacturer and distributor fact witnesses. The City recently achieved a historic $45 million settlement with Allergan Finance, LLC. The remainder of the City’s case is ongoing. Read more.
• Confidential PPP Arbitration. Represented lender in a dispute concerning alleged breaches of contract related to the Paycheck Protection Program and secured a favorable award following arbitral hearing. Ms. Hewitt presented three witnesses—two fact witnesses and one key expert—and conducted two cross-examinations at the hearing.  
• Phillip T. Howard v. J.B. Harris. Obtained declaratory relief following a bench trial on behalf of litigation funder Virage Capital Management in connection with rights to proceeds from a docket of 1,000 tobacco-related lawsuits. Ms. Hewitt put on Virage’s attorneys’ fees expert at trial and led drafting of Virage’s pre- and post-trial briefing. The court agreed with Virage’s interpretation of the contract and awarded all declaratory relief Virage sought and over $1 million in attorneys’ fees.
• SEC v. Akazoo, SA. Intervened in the SEC’s action against digital music streaming service, Akazoo, securing a $35 million settlement on behalf of a group of PIPE and SPAC investors related to allegations that Akazoo defrauded investors and lied about business prospects before and after its 2019 special purpose acquisition company merger. The investor group represented by Ms. Hewitt and her team was awarded $30.1 million of the settlement ($25.3 million after fees and expenses). Read more.
• In re: Lincoln National COI Litigation. Secured final approval of a $109 million settlement on behalf of a class of life insurance policyholders in action challenging cost of insurance increases by Lincoln.
• FASORP v. New York University. Working pro bono, represented New York University against FASORP, a Texas organization that alleged that the NYU School of Law and the NYU Law Review discriminate against white men in the entities’ efforts to foster diversity. Ms. Hewitt was a key drafter of NYU’s successful motion to dismiss in the trial court and its appellate brief before the Second Circuit. She also led efforts on NYU’s successful opposition to FASORP’s petition for certiorari before the United States Supreme Court. Click here for the Second Circuit’s decision, and read more about the decision in Reuters, ABA Journal, and in Law360’s coverage* (*subscription required).
• Confidential Family Office Arbitration. Representing former employees of family office in a dispute concerning alleged breaches of restrictive covenants and fiduciary duties.
• Fish v. Goulston & Storrs PC. Represented John Fish in an action against Goulston & Storrs PC alleging legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and willful violations of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93A, arising out of a failed billion-dollar real estate development project in Boston’s Back Bay. The case settled favorably for Mr. Fish pursuant to a confidential settlement agreement following Ms. Hewitt’s deposition of several Goulston witnesses.
• Broussard et al. v. Chevron.Obtained a favorable, confidential settlement on the eve of trial for Chevron in a $50 million breach of contract and royalties action involving oil and gas wells drilled in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. Hewitt defended the deposition of Chevron’s principal expert witness and briefed and argued several pre-trial motions.

Ms. Hewitt is the co-chair of Susman Godfrey’s Diversity Committee. She also helped develop the Susman Godfrey Prize and participates each year in the review, interview, and selection process for SG Prize recipients. 

Ms. Hewitt joined Susman Godfrey after clerking on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University and earned her J.D. from Yale Law School.

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