Renowned trial lawyer Thomas Heiden ’71 will serve as a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at Cornell Law School in the spring semester of 2022, during which time he will teach a course on Business Litigation and one on Depositions. Heiden is also teaching an Intensive Trial Advocacy class during the January term for the seventh year.

Thomas Heiden of Latham & Watkins. HANDOUT.

Heiden, a partner and former global head of product liability, mass torts, and consumer class actions practice at international law firm Latham & Watkins, has tried cases in every region of the United States. His practice has focused on difficult and high-profile lawsuits, including toxic tort, high-stakes energy, utility, resource and business contract, and tort disputes. In 2011, Heiden tried and won the high-profile $4 billion Pro Football Lockout Fund trial. He most recently tried and won the CONSOL Energy $765 million contract case and before that he defended and won the lead high school football concussion class action.

“I’ve always been driven by a desire to make meaningful contributions,” says Heiden. “I’ve had experiences and have been entrusted with challenges I never dreamed of when walking the halls of the Law School. I cherished each of those opportunities and look forward to sharing them with today’s Cornell Law School students and faculty.”

Heiden has been recognized as a fellow in the esteemed American College of Trial Lawyers and chair of its Trial Teaching Committee. He was a frequent guest on CNN’s “Big Trials of the Day” segment. Heiden received his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1971 and his B.A. from Notre Dame University in 1967.