BG Partners Named to Benchmark Litigation 2025 "Future Stars" and "40 & Under Litigators" Lists
Bailey Glasser partners Joshua I. Hammack, Christopher D. Smith, and Nick Warden have been named to Benchmark Litigation's U.S. 2025 "40 & Under Litigators" list, and Elliott McGraw is recognized as a Benchmark Litigation "Future Star."
As set forth by Benchmark Litigation when announcing the awards: “[e]very year, Benchmark Litigation sets out to identify the best and brightest litigators across the US. While it is certainly not an easy task selecting from such a wide array of accomplished young lawyers, we are excited to reveal our list of the top emerging talent in litigation.”
Joshua Hammack handles complex commercial litigation from inception through appeal, focusing on constitutional issues, statutory interpretation, intellectual property, product safety, insurance, contracts, and Title IX discrimination, among others. Mr. Hammack has argued before several federal circuit courts, successfully obtaining victories in the Sixth and Ninth Circuits and has drafted briefs to the Supreme Court of the United States. In 2025, Josh handled the appellate argument that defeated a $900 million lawsuit and obtained the award of $2.9 million in attorney fees as a result. In addition, he was part of the trial team that won the bankruptcy court dismissal of another Johnson & Johnson "Texas Two Step" bankruptcy filing designed to create a mechanism to dispose of talc-related litigation claims outside the Constitutionally-guaranteed jury process. Josh was named a 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, as well as a 2024 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation list.
Elliott McGraw is a litigator and partner in Bailey Glasser’s Commercial & Environmental Litigation Practice Group based in the Washington, D.C. office, where she handles high-stakes commercial disputes in state and federal courts and before arbitrators and mediators across the country. Elliott represents financial industry clients as both plaintiffs and defendants. This year, Elliott secured two summary judgment dismissals on behalf of one such client in related long-running litigations in New York’s Commercial Division, and at the same time, successfully defended an appeal to the state’s First Department in a third, related matter. Elliott has also been named a 2025 Lawdragon 500 X-The Next Generation guide in Litigation, Financial, and Investigations.
Christopher D. Smith is a partner in BG's Civil Defense Practice Group where he handles complex civil cases at both trial and appellate levels across industries including energy, utilities, and insurance. He is a leading appellate lawyer for the firm, recently securing a significant victory for Appalachian Power Company against negligence claims before the Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia. He also successfully obtained extraordinary relief from the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals on behalf of Pachira Energy. Chris has been named a 2025 Lawdragon 500 X - The Next Generation, a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and a Best Lawyers' Ones to Watch in Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions, and Product Liability Litigation.
Nick Warden, a partner in our Boise, Idaho office, focuses his practice in commercial litigation, with a particular focus on complex business litigation in the agricultural, chemical, and finance industries including accounting and auditor malpractice. Nick has represented clients in appeals before the Idaho and Ninth Circuit appellate courts, as well as state and federal courts in Idaho, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Montana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Indiana, Illinois, and New York. Nick has been recognized as a Best Lawyers Ones to Watch, in Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Labor and Employment.
Congratulations to all the lawyers receiving this recognition. To see the full list, visit this link.