For the third consecutive year and the fifth time since 2006, Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, LLP has been named by the National Law Journal (NLJ) as one of the "hottest" plaintiffs' law firms in the country.

The National Law Journal's prestigious "Plaintiffs' Hot List" features the top plaintiff law firms in the country each year. The award highlights firms that are on the cutting edge of plaintiffs' work and that have demonstrated an impressive record of verdicts and settlements over the past year.

"We are very honored by the National Law Journal's decision to include us on this year's list," said Steve Berman, managing partner for the firm. "This achievement and the firm's success are made possible by some of the hardest working and most talented legal professionals in the country."

This year, NLJ recognized Hagens Berman's work on three noteworthy cases. In litigation against Charles Schwab (NYSE: SCHW), the firm alleged that Schwab misled investors about the risk of funds that included risky mortgage-backed securities. Hagens Berman attorneys won approval for a $235 million settlement, one of the most successful recoveries in securities litigation history, measured as the percentage of losses recovered for investors.

NLJ also commended Hagens Berman on its work in a class-action consumer protection action against online travel giant Expedia (NYSE: EXPE). The case, which alleged Expedia used inaccurate reporting of taxes to cheat consumers out of millions, resulted in the largest summary judgment in Washington state history and was settled for $134 million.

Hagens Berman also received accolades for its work in a case against Washington Mutual on behalf of former employees who claimed the bank included company stock in its 401(k) plan, even after the investment was no longer prudent. The case settled for $49 million.

NLJ also commented on Hagens Berman's forward-thinking approach. The firm recently launched a new intellectual property practice. That practice has already filed a high-profile case against the owners of more than 900 radio stations alleging infringement of a patent for using hard-drive-based systems for storing music.

"As we move forward with new cases and practice areas, we will not forget our core mission," said Berman. "Hagens Berman was founded to practice law in the public interest, and whether we are fighting for investors, consumers, inventors, workers or whistleblowers, our goal remains the same."

The National Law Journal publishes its Plaintiffs' Hot List annually. This year's list appeared on Oct. 3 and can be found on NLJ's website at www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202517530090.