Leon F.DeJulius Jr. (Lee)

Partner-in-Charge New York

New York + 1.212.326.3830

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Lee DeJulius, a former law clerk to Chief Justice William Rehnquist, represents clients across industries and legal subjects in high-stakes trial and appellate matters throughout the country. He has tried cases to juries, judges, and arbitration panels. Lee also has appeared in dozens of appellate matters, presenting argument in several federal circuit courts and state supreme courts. Lee is Partner-in-Charge of the New York Office.

Many of Lee's matters involve high-profile disputes with the government. He has extensive experience in public nuisance lawsuits related to the manufacture, promotion, and sale of products. He has handled commercial, regulatory, and environmental cases brought by government entities and has defended clients in statewide investigating grand jury proceedings.

Lee serves as national counsel for Sherwin-Williams in litigation regarding historical use of lead pigments in paint. He also leads Chevron's defense of thousands of lawsuits, including a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) and coordinated state proceedings, related to alleged health effects from a historical herbicide. Lee recently secured a unanimous reversal in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on a billion dollar dispute involving a consent decree with the Pennsylvania Attorney General regarding the provision of health care in the Commonwealth.

Some of Lee's additional successful representations include recovering over $200 million as a first-chair trial lawyer in a commercial arbitration; defending an oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) company in a $1.6 billion dispute before the High Court of Justice in London, England involving oil concessions in Kurdistan, Iraq; defeating a lawsuit against U. S. Steel alleging unfair competition from its participation in Department of Commerce tariff proceedings; and advising the University of Notre Dame in its investigation following a fatal videography lift collapse during football practice.

Experience

  • Business Roundtable urges court to vacate SEC's climate disclosure ruleJones Day represented Business Roundtable in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit challenging the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) climate disclosure rule.
  • Chevron secures significant wins in paraquat multidistrict litigationJones Day secured two important wins for client Chevron in the paraquat multidistrict litigation (MDL).
  • Sherwin-Williams wins appellate decision from Seventh Circuit affirming defense judgments in more than 150 coordinated lead-pigment casesJones Day client The Sherwin-Williams Company recently won a decision from the Seventh Circuit affirming final judgments in several coordinated cases against approximately 150 personal injury plaintiffs.
  • Sherwin-Williams wins precedential, en banc decision dismissing public nuisance claims involving 300,000 private propertiesJones Day client The Sherwin-Williams Company won dismissal of claims filed by two Pennsylvania counties alleging that former manufacturers of lead paint and pigments should be ordered to abate lead paint in all the pre-1978 homes within their jurisdictions.
  • Catholic Diocese successfully resolves litigation implicating constitutional rightsIn December 2020, the Diocese of Buffalo retained Jones Day to defend a state court civil lawsuit suit filed by the New York Attorney General.
  • Natural gas producer defends against ground water contamination claimsJones Day defended a natural gas company producer in an appeal before the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board of an agency order requiring extensive well remediation and investigation work based on claims that methane gas migrated from a well pad and contaminated ground water and the private water supplies of 12 rural landowners.
  • U.S. Steel wins complete victory in steel tariff unfair competition caseJones Day client United States Steel Corporation won a complete victory in a high-stakes litigation alleging damages from U.S. Steel’s participation in the Department of Commerce’s 232 tariff proceedings.
  • Sherwin-Williams obtains favorable decision from Seventh Circuit in personal injury casesA Jones Day cross-office, cross-practice team obtained a precedential decision from the Seventh Circuit that directed judgment as a matter of law for The Sherwin-Williams Company following a consolidated trial of three personal injury plaintiffs claiming injury from their exposure to white lead carbonate pigments (WLC).
  • UPMC obtains federal officer removal in putative digital data privacy class actionOn behalf of a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Jones Day removed a digital privacy case to federal court, asserting two separate bases for federal jurisdiction.
  • Natural gas producer defends against environmental criminal charges filed by Pennsylvania Attorney GeneralJones Day represented a Marcellus Shale operator in obtaining resolution of misdemeanor environmental criminal charges following a grand jury investigation.
  • Universities defend multidistrict putative class action litigation brought by former football playersJones Day is serving as lead counsel for all NCAA member institution defendants in a multidistrict litigation ("MDL") consolidating more than 500 putative class actions brought on behalf of former football players.
  • Penn State defends COVID-19 tuition refund class actionsJones Day represents The Pennsylvania State University in three class action lawsuits brought by students and parents seeking refunds for tuition and fees for the spring 2020 semester after the university closed its campus and transitioned to online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Sherwin-Williams obtains affirmance of summary judgment in Lewis class actionOn May 21, 2020, Jones Day obtained a decision from the Illinois Supreme Court reversing the appellate court and affirming the grant of summary judgment in favor of The Sherwin-Williams Company (and several other former white lead pigment manufacturers) in a lawsuit pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
  • Consumer products company defends lawsuit claiming marine plastic pollutionJones Day is defending a consumer products company in a lawsuit alleging the client and several other companies named as defendants, are responsible for marine plastic pollution because they (1) use plastic packaging rather than more environmentally friendly and sustainable materials and (2) misrepresent in their labeling and advertising that their packaging is recyclable when (they allege) it is not because of the lack of adequate recycling facilities.
  • U.S. Steel defeats trespass litigation relating to Minnesota iron mining operationsJones Day successfully defended United States Steel Corporation against a lawsuit brought by a mineral rights owner alleging trespass and nuisance claims relating to U.S. Steel's mining operations along the Iron Range in northern Minnesota.
  • IBM defends software services agreement lawsuit brought by Pennsylvania Dep’t of Labor & IndustryIn a lawsuit brought by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Jones Day is defending International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) against breach-of-contract and other claims premised on allegations that IBM failed to deliver a computer system that would aid the administration of both the tax assessment and benefit payment sides of Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation system.
  • UPMC defends lawsuit seeking to recoup $300 million in oncology reimbursement paymentsJones Day is defending the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) against a lawsuit filed by Blue Cross Blue Shield insurer Highmark Inc. in September 2014 against UPMC and its subsidiary hospitals seeking to recoup $300 million in past oncology reimbursements.
  • UPMC prevails in trial before Commonwealth Court of PennsylvaniaJones Day won a bench trial on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center ("UPMC"), one of the nation's preeminent integrated healthcare systems.
  • Sherwin-Williams defends lead paint actions brought by California cities and countiesJones Day is defending The Sherwin-Williams Company against claims brought by ten of California's largest cities and counties.
  • UPMC awarded summary judgment against Highmark in claims concerning federal sequestration cutsJones Day client University of Pennsylvania Medical Center (UPMC) prevailed on claims that health insurer Highmark Inc. breached contracts with UPMC for the provision of health care services to subscribers of Highmark's Medicare Advantage plans.
    • View All

    SEPTEMBER 2024 Alert

    D.C. Appellate Court Revives Case Against Coca-Cola, Placing "Sustainability" Claims Under Scrutiny

    May 2024 White Paper

    Class Actions Worldview: Part IV—China, Japan, Belgium, The Netherlands, and England and Wales

    March 2024 Alert

    New York Legislators Consider Sweeping Bill Banning PFAS

    December 2023 White Paper

    Class Actions Worldview: Part III—Australia, Germany, and France

    December 2023 Commentary

    EPA's PFAS Reporting Rule Requires Broad Retroactive Disclosure of PFAS Data

    October 2023 White Paper

    Class Actions Worldview: Part II—Italy and Spain

    October 2023 Handout

    ESG Roadmap: Real Impacts on Real Property and Infrastructure

    October 2023 White Paper

    The Rise of US-Style Class Actions in the UK and Europe

    August 2023 Podcast

    JONES DAY TALKS®: Class Actions Worldview Guide: Part 1–The United States and European Union

    August 2023 White Paper

    Class Actions Worldview: Part I—United States and the European Union
    View All

    February 21, 2023 Firm Hosted

    ESG: The End, or Just the Beginning? The Future of ESG in Real Estate and Infrastructure

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • May 8, 2024
      US Insights: Litigation Trends and Regulatory Risks
    • May 6, 2024
      US Insights: Litigation Trends and Regulatory Risks
    • April 26, 2023
      Managing ESG Litigation and Enforcement Risks
    • June 7, 2018
      Perils and Pitfalls for German Companies in U.S. Litigation
    • September 29, 2017
      United States Supreme Court
    • November 29, 2016
      CLE Academy: Supreme Court Review
    • October 26, 2016
      Supreme Court Update: A Look at Significant Cases in the New Term
    • September 21, 2016
      Conducting Business in Europe through the Walloon Region in Belgium
    • December 17, 2015
      Success with Summary Judgment Motions: How To Win Before Trial
    • December 1, 2015
      CLE Academy: Supreme Court Review
    • October 15, 2015
      2015 Regional Energy Conference: Navigating Turbulences in Global Oil & Gas Markets
    • July 8, 2015
      U.S. Litigation for Japanese Companies: How to Win at Trial and on Appeal
    • November 5, 2014
      Moderator, American Lawyer's New Partner Forum
    • October 23, 2014
      Speaker Series: Review and Preview of Business Cases at the Supreme Court
    • July 25, 2014
      Jones Day Regional Energy Conference, International Implications of the Marcellus and Utica Shale
    • June 28, 2014
      Supreme Court Wrap-Up, Glen Meakem Radio Show
    • December 18, 2013
      Success with Summary Judgment Motions
    • November 4-5, 2013
      What General Counsel Look For In Outside Counsel, moderator, American Lawyer's New Partner Forum
    • June 22, 2013
      Supreme Court Wrap-Up. Glen Meakem Radio Show
    • April 2, 2013
      Remembering Justice Marshall
    • November 29, 2012
      The Development of the Marcellus and Utica Shale Plays: Reality or Illusion?
    • October 18, 2012
      2012 Speaker Series
      Supreme Court Update: A Look at Significant Cases in the New Term
    • October 3-5, 2012
      NITA Motion Practice Program, faculty
    • April 19, 2012
      Qui Tam Litigation: When Private Parties Pursue Claims for the Government
    • April 12, 2012
      The Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses, Christian Legal Society Lecture Series
    • December 15, 2011
      2011 Speaker Series
      Constitutional Limitations to Economic Regulation and Litigation
    • October 6, 2011
      2011 Speaker Series
      Supreme Court Issues: A Review of Key Cases as the Court Kicks Off the New Term
    • February 2-4, 2011
      NITA Deposition Techniques, faculty
    • November 16, 2010
      Panel discussion regarding legacy of Chief Justice William Rehnquist
    • May 19, 2010
      NITA Motions Practice, Faculty: Introduction to Legal Writing
    • March 5, 2010
      The Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine in Pennsylvania and Beyond
    • October 21, 2009
      Supreme Court Review/ Preview
    • July 14, 2009
      Supreme Court Roundup
    • March 10, 2009
      NITA Motions Practice, Faculty: Introduction to Legal Writing
    • November 3, 2008
      Interview regarding effect of election on Supreme Court nominations, The John Brown Mindset, KTRS-AM
    • October 28, 2008
      Interview regarding impact of next president on federal courts, Max Stevens Show, WGET
    • October 28, 2008
      Interview regarding effect of election on Supreme Court nominations, Bud Hedinger Live Show, WFLA
    • October 21, 2008
      Debate against Professor Douglas W. Kmiec on the 2008 Election and Judicial Nominees, Allegheny HYP Club

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