News & Events

The National Law Journal honored the legacy of former Simpson Thacher Litigation Partner Roy L. Reardon in an article that highlighted his Supreme Court victory for famed golfer Casey Martin in PGA Tour v. Martin. Simpson Thacher Litigation Partner Joe McLaughlin and Global Co-Chair of the Litigation Department, Lynn Neuner, who teamed with Roy on the case, commented in the article about his strategy and approach in litigating the matter. The case stemmed from the PGA’s denial of an accommodation in the PGA tour that would have enabled Martin to use a golf cart, which he required due to a degenerative leg impairment. Roy won on behalf of Martin in cases brought before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2000 and the U.S. Supreme Court in 2001. In describing Roy’s process in preparing for his arguments, Joe noted him as exhaustive, saying, “He would read every document, every line of the trial record. And then he would highlight and annotate it with his personal commentary.” Lynn remarked that, despite knowing that he was likely to face tough questioning from Justice Scalia, Roy was equal to the task. “Roy did not shy away from the contest. Roy was superb at oral argument,” she said. The article noted that, in reflecting on the impact of the case, Roy said, “It was the most rewarding pro bono effort I had ever made, and it was a good thing for Casey and the disabled.”  

To read the National Law Journal article, please click here.