Washington, D.C. – Global law firm Hogan Lovells Cadwalader announced today that Forbes has named CEO Miguel Zaldivar and partners Des Hogan, Jessica Ellsworth, and Cate Stetson to its 2026 America's Top Lawyers list, recognizing their leadership and impact across some of the nation's most significant transactions and disputes.
Their selection reflects the depth of talent across the firm, from leading a historic law firm combination and advising on transformative global transactions to securing landmark courtroom victories and shaping the development of the law through appellate advocacy.
Miguel Zaldivar, CEO, has led the firm through a period of sustained strategic growth. In 2026, he led the merger that created Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, the largest law firm combination in history—creating a firm of approximately US$4 billion in annual revenue, 900 partners, and more than 3,100 lawyers—uniting Wall Street's oldest law firm with premium practices in London, Washington, D.C., Germany, and FRIS (France, Italy, and Spain), and across other key G20 economies. The combination delivered on a strategy Miguel first articulated in 2020 after becoming CEO: to build New York into a core engine of the firm's global platform and to position the firm to lead cross-practice, cross-border mandates at the intersection of business, finance, and government. A first-generation U.S. immigrant and one of the few Hispanic CEOs leading a major global law firm, Miguel built his career as a cross-border dealmaker focused on major infrastructure and energy projects in Latin America.
Des Hogan, Global Head of our Disputes practice, is one of the nation's leading trial lawyers and litigation strategists. He has led clients through some of the country's most complex antitrust, cybersecurity, class action, commercial disputes, and high-profile congressional investigations, while overseeing the continued growth of one of the world's largest disputes practices. His recent successes include securing a complete victory in the Uber Data Breach litigation and obtaining a US$111 million trial verdict for two wrongfully convicted brothers, the largest wrongful-conviction jury verdict in U.S. history. Des and his team currently are handling two of the largest antitrust MDLs in the country, both of which involve novel legal theories. A trusted advisor to clients facing their most significant legal challenges, he is widely recognized for combining exceptional advocacy with strategic leadership.
Jessica Ellsworth, head of the firm's Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation practice, is among the country's foremost appellate advocates. She has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, every federal court of appeals, and many federal district courts and state appeals courts. During the past year, she handled some of the nation's most significant appeals. Her recent successes include obtaining emergency U.S. Supreme Court relief for Danco Laboratories in litigation concerning access to mifepristone and persuading the Court in Pitchford v. Cain to grant habeas relief to a defendant challenging the exclusion of Black jurors in a capital case. Recognized by Forbes earlier this year as one of America's Top Women Lawyers, Jessica is widely sought after for her ability to shape complex legal arguments and help clients navigate issues of national significance before the nation's highest courts.
Cate Stetson has built one of the most distinguished appellate careers in the country. Over decades of practice, she has helped shape appellate law while advancing some of the firm's most significant pro bono matters, including preserving on appeal the firm's record-setting wrongful-conviction verdict for two North Carolina brothers and challenging the federal death-penalty execution protocol in the D.C. Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court. Recognized by Forbes as one of America's Top Women Lawyers, Cate's influence extends far beyond her courtroom successes through decades of leadership, mentorship, teaching, and service to the profession.
The recognition of Miguel, Des, Jessica, and Cate underscores the depth of talent and leadership across Hogan Lovells Cadwalader and reflects the firm's continued commitment to helping clients navigate their most complex and consequential challenges at the intersection of law, business, and government.
The full Forbes 2026 America's Top Lawyers list is available here.