Hannah J. Wigger

Partner
Hannah Wigger

Overview

Hannah Wigger is a first-chair litigator with extensive experience trying cases across the United States. She represents her clients in state and federal courts, as well as in domestic and international arbitrations and before regulatory bodies, including public utility commissions.

Hannah's practice focuses on business disputes involving issues of breach of contract, fraud, trade secrets, statutory compliance, and administrative and international law. On the regulatory side, she advises cable operators and other broadband providers in disputes involving access to rights-of-way, infrastructure deployment, pole attachments and related topics.

Hannah is also dedicated to representing and working with her pro bono clients. Her pro bono practice primarily focuses on clients seeking asylum in the United States and environmental litigation involving the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act.

In addition to her legal practice, Hannah is actively involved in the firm. She currently heads the Washington, D.C., office's Women's Law Group and is an active member of the Recruiting Committee and Pro Bono Committee. Hannah enjoys teaching and has co-taught a communications law short course at Vanderbilt Law School for the past several years.


  • Successfully obtained $100-million plus defense verdict for De Tomaso in federal jury trial in New York’s Southern District. Berris v. Choi et al., No. 1:23-cv-04305 (AS), (S.D.N.Y. 2023). 
  • Successfully defended Octo (an IBM company) in multi-jurisdictional litigations by former senior executive, board member, and shareholder, obtaining multiple favorable trial verdicts exceeding $150 million. Seva Holdings, Inc., v. Octo Platform Equity Holdings, LLC, et al., C.A. No. 2022-0437-PRW (Del. Ch. Ct. 2022); Kakar et al., v. Octo Consulting Group, LLC, C.A. No. N22C-01-104-PRW CCLD (Del. Sup. Ct. 2022); Arvinder “Sonny” Kakar v. Mehul Sanghani, et al., CL-2022-00607 (Va. Cir. Ct. 2022); SGS Props. LLC v. Sevatec LLC, f/k/a Sevatec, Inc., CL-2022-00755, (Va. Cir. Ct. 2022); Kakar v. Sanghani, CL-2024-04620 (Va. Cir. Ct. Jan. 2022).
  • Successfully defended Cal AI and its founders against motions for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction by a former officer and member seeking to unwind sale. Beydoun v. Viral Development, LLC et al., Index No. 650207/2026 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. County).

Education

J.D., Vanderbilt University, 2017

B.A., Vanderbilt University, 2013

Admissions

District of Columbia

Virginia

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

Supreme Court of the United States

  • Gardner Gillespie Environmental Pro Bono Award, 2024
  • Bob Gerber Pro Bono Award, Sheppard Mullin, 2020
  • Bob Williams Award for service to the firm and community, Sheppard Mullin, 2023
  • Washington, D.C. Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2020-2024, 2026
  • Recommended Lawyer - Telecoms and Broadcast: Regulatory, Legal 500, 2022, 2024-2026
Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2024
Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2025

Speaker, "Communications Law and Policy," Vanderbilt Law School Short Course, 2019-2024

Speaker, "Handling Substantive and Procedural Motions in the District of Columbia," DC Bar, 2022-2024