The most influential lawyers are well-known within the legal field for their courtroom victories, wealth amassment and contributions to society.
Joe Jamail was best known for representing Pennzoil in a class action lawsuit and amassing an estimated fortune worth $1.7 billion during his lifetime.
William Howard Taft
Taft graduated from Yale’s Skull and Bones society and quickly rose to become one of America’s most powerful lawyers, serving as a federal judge, Supreme Court justice and then president before his untimely demise in 1930.
Taft clashed with the progressive wing of his Republican Party over issues like tariff reductions and environmental conservation, as well as initiating antitrust prosecutions.
Taft attempted to run for reelection as a Republican in 1912 but suffered due to division within his own party and lost, giving Woodrow Wilson victory as president. Yet even with defeat at hand, Taft never abandoned his desire for service on the Supreme Court.
Robert Kardashian
Though the Kardashian family may be best-known for its reality television show, their father actually had an impressive legal career that earned him national renown during O.J. Simpson’s 1994 murder trial defense team.
He invested in several businesses, such as a frozen yogurt manufacturer and music video production house. His net worth estimated around $50 Million.
Rob seems to be struggling with “father hunger”, the need for strong male figures in his life. While Bruce does provide some form of fatherly guidance, it still falls far short of ideal fatherly figures.
Andrew Jackson
Jackson began his legal career by filing suits to collect debts. Over time, as white settlers expanded into new areas of North America, so did Jackson’s practice grow accordingly.
As President, he advocated populism as an effective representative of the people. He condemned anti-slavery agitation, advocated cheaper public lands, and coerced Indian tribes into moving west of the Mississippi River.
Jackson experienced an economic setback due to devalued paper money and distrusted national banks, ultimately shutting down the Second Bank of the United States and leaving his legacy in Martin Van Buren as president before retreating to The Hermitage for retirement.
Rudy Giuliani
Giuliani revolutionized city government, brought accountability to law enforcement, and made New York an example of safety for other cities. He led in prosecuting Mob bosses from the Five Families which met secretly as ruling commissions.
He prosecuted high-profile public corruption cases, such as that involving Bronx Democratic leader Stanley Friedman’s involvement with an alleged bribery scheme involving the city parking violations bureau. Furthermore, he served as one of the lead lawyers at what is perhaps the most powerful US attorney’s office outside Washington.
Hillary Clinton
Hillary was raised in Park Ridge, an upper middle class neighborhood of Chicago. Her father Hugh owned a textile business which offered competitive wages to his employees; as part of this legacy he instilled within Hillary a commitment to public service and fighting on behalf of those most in need.
After graduating Wellesley, she enrolled at Yale Law School where she met Bill Clinton – later becoming her future husband. Following graduation she declined jobs from large law firms in favor of helping the Children’s Defense Fund and congressional committee investigating President Richard Nixon.
David Boies
David Boies is an iconic lawyer renowned for his involvement in major cases such as Microsoft’s antitrust suit and election related litigation in 2000, along with legalizing gay marriage through one of his first cases ever argued in court.
Boies remains a partner at his firm but has stepped down as chairman following conflicts arising from representing disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein as a client. Despite this setback, Boies isn’t retiring just yet.
Richard Scruggs
Dickie Scruggs, estimated to be worth approximately $1.7 billion, first made his mark as a lawyer by taking on mass tort litigation on behalf of Pascagoula shipyard workers and then Big Tobacco. However, after trying to bribe a judge he has now been disbarred.
He remains an unassailable force today. At his Oxford home, he spoke candidly about the highs and lows of his career while outlining a plan to go after HMOs as a way of atoning for a decade of divisive cases that brought great difficulty but few results.
Jane Wanjiru Michuki
Jane Wanjiru Michuki is an esteemed Kenyan lawyer and one of the richest women worldwide. As partner at Kimani and Michuki Advocates in Nairobi, Kenya she handles major deals in corporate areas – such as Equity Bank – which puts her among Africa’s richest women.
She recently was appointed chair of the appeals board at National Construction Authority, an organization responsible for registering and regulating contractors nationwide. In addition, she provides clients advice regarding investments on the stock market.
These lawyers have left an imprintful imprint on the legal landscape through notable court victories, high-profile clients or wealth accumulation.
