litigator

noun

lit·​i·​ga·​tor ˈli-tə-ˌgā-tər 

plural litigators

: one who carries on a legal contest by judicial process : one who litigates legal cases

As a civil-rights litigator, Payton had argued a Richmond, Va., case before the Supreme Court …

—William Greider

For thirty years he had been a ruthless litigator, the meanest, nastiest, and without a doubt one of the most effective courtroom brawlers in Chicago.

—John Grisham

In the 1950's and 60's, he became known as the consummate litigator. Lawyers and judges describe him in the courtroom as wily, charming, eloquent and erudite, with a light but deft touch at cross-examination.

—Jan Hoffman

Examples of litigator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To fill this key post, President-elect Trump has tapped Harmeet K. Dhillon, a veteran civil rights litigator from California. —The Editors, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024

Carolyn Rosenblatt practiced nursing for 10 years and in her legal career, was a litigator for 27 years. —Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

Indeed, Kaffee can get more done over a beer, often with his best buddy and fellow litigator Jack Ross (Kevin Bacon), than teams of legalheads can accomplish with months of paper maneuvering. —Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Dec. 2024

Garre also insisted that the teams, who are represented by famed sports litigator Jeffrey Kessler, fail to address why Whitney denied a preliminary injunction. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

litigator

noun

lit·​i·​ga·​tor ˈli-tə-ˌgā-tər 

: one that litigates

especially : a lawyer skilled at litigation