Marc Weinstein Discusses Landmark Trial Win Behind Elite Trial Lawyers Award

Following Hughes Hubbard’s recognition as winner of The National Law Journal’s 2026 Elite Trial Lawyers award in the Securities Litigation/Shareholder Rights category, Marc Weinstein, co-chair of the firm’s Securities Litigation group and chair of its White Collar & Regulatory Defense practice, shared insights on the trial victory that helped earn the distinction and the trends shaping the future of securities litigation with the publication.

Hughes Hubbard successfully represented the Customs and Tax Administration of the Kingdom of Denmark, or Skatteforvaltningen (SKAT), in its efforts to recover $1.1 billion stemming from a global fraud scheme, including securing a nearly $500 million landmark jury verdict and a $165 million bench-trial victory in related litigation. In a Q&A with The National Law Journal, Weinstein pointed to the initial SKAT trial as one of the firm’s most significant achievements of the year.

“This case required translating an extraordinarily complex, cross-border fraud into a story a jury could understand on behalf of a tax authority,” Weinstein said. “The defendants spent years shifting positions and ultimately tried to blame the victim, arguing that SKAT was negligent rather than defrauded. The challenge was keeping the jury focused on the core truth: the defendants never paid taxes they were owed—they fabricated transactions and took money that didn’t belong to them. Securing a $500 million verdict in the first bellwether trial confirmed that even highly technical financial fraud cases can succeed at trial when presented clearly and honestly.”

Weinstein also highlighted a broader trend influencing the practice today: the growing overlap between regulatory enforcement actions and civil litigation. “The increasing convergence of regulatory enforcement and civil litigation, with cases now being litigated and tried like criminal matters.” That convergence, he noted, requires advocates who are equally comfortable navigating investigations, enforcement proceedings and high-stakes trials.

As Hughes Hubbard continues to represent clients in some of the world’s most consequential disputes, the Elite Trial Lawyers award reflects both the firm’s recent successes and its longstanding commitment to trial excellence.