Willkie Team Named AmLaw Litigator of the Week “Runner Up” for Dismissal of Defamation Countersuit Against Blake Lively

A Willkie litigation team was recognized as a “Runner Up” by The AmLaw Litigation Daily, with co-counsel Manatt, for securing the dismissal of a $400 million countersuit brought by “It Ends With Us” director and actor Justin Baldoni against co-star Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, as well as against Leslie Sloane, Vision PR LLC, and The New York Times, for defamation, extortion, tortious interference and other claims. The court’s dismissal of the entire lawsuit, including the core defamation claim, is a significant victory for Lively.  U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman held in a 132-page opinion that Lively’s alleged “act of providing the [ ] complaint to the Times”—is protected by the litigation privilege and fair report privilege. 
 
The Willkie team is led by Michael Gottlieb, and includes partners Meryl Governski, Kristin Bender, and Aaron Nathan, and associates Michaela Connolly and Melissa Taustine.
 
Read more about the case here.