Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP > Miami, United States > Firm Profile

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 1

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s attorneys boast a ‘breadth and depth of knowledge’ across a range of sectors, with particular strength in assisting healthcare, tech, and financial services clients facing FTC challenges to mergers, MDL proceedings and antitrust suits tied to drug pricing, algorithmic pricing, no poach and wage fixing allegations. Philadelphia-based Steven Reed spearheads the firm’s global antitrust group, representing clients in antitrust and merger suits, with a wealth of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He is ably supported by deputy practice heads Ryan Kantor, operating out of Washington DC and appearing for clients before the FTC and DOJ, and Brendan Fee, also based in Philadelphia and noted for his advice on matters such as price-fixing and vertical restraints. In Chicago, Kenneth Kliebard defends financial services companies facing antitrust and consumer protection class actions, with Philadelphia’s Zachary Johns representing clients in civil and criminal antitrust matters, including issues of exclusive dealing, tying, and monopolization, among others.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort Tier 1

Able to field multi-faceted teams with expertise at the trial and appellate levels on civil litigation, as well as having the capacity to respond to any related governmental investigations that may occur, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is well-positioned to provide sophisticated defense strategies for manufacturing and energy clients across a range of toxic tort matters relating to contaminants in the air, water, and soil. The defense of asbestos-related claims remains a particular strength of the firm, an area where it was afforded even greater nationwide firepower following the arrival at the New York office in January 2023 of experienced trial lawyers Jill Berryand Paul Scrudato from ArentFox Schiff. On the West Coast, Los Angeles-based Yardena Zwang-Weissman exemplifies the flexible nature of the offering, excelling at handling work at the intersection between environmental, mass tort, and product liability litigation. She continues to be part of a multi-office team, led from Los Angeles by James Dragna, that represents Sempra Energy and SoCalGas in ongoing itigation and regulatory proceedings following a natural gas leak at its Aliso Canyon facility in Porter Ranch, California, in 2015 and 2016. Brady Edwards is one of several high-profile litigators in Texas with a focus on environmental/toxic tort disputes, another being seasoned Dallas-based trial lawyer Brad Nes, who co-heads the legacy liability litigation practice group alongside Berry.

Energy > Renewable/alternative power Tier 1

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has a well-rounded offering in the domestic renewable energy market, advising on project development and financing, M&A, joint ventures, and corporate financing. Its client base of energy companies includes longstanding market players looking to diversify and move into the clean energy space, as well as newer, innovative project developers. The team has been active across the recent flow of work on tax equity matters, and is also taking on an increasing number of clean energy storage matters. Practice head Elizabeth Hanigan at the firm’s Chicago office is a key name for the acquisition of and financing of wind, solar, and energy storage facilities. Jim Tynion in New York assists with construction, term and tax equity project financings, greenfield development, and M&A, while Laura Neumeister Wright in Chicago focuses her practice on project finance and development of renewable energy generation projects. Infrastructure project expert Neeraj Arora is the key name at the Los Angeles office, and in Boston, Amy Maloney focuses on project finance and development. Senior figure Wayne Song retired from the practice in January 2024.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 1

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP assists clients, particularly underwriters and issuers, in securitization matters across a plethora of industries, from automotive and real estate to telecoms and tech. Its clients include investment funds, credit unions, banks and other financial institutions as sponsors, lenders, purchasers and issuers. Its expertise includes assistance on CLO, second lien mortgaged loan, HELOC and personal loan-backed securitizations. Reed Auerbach, based in New York and head of practice, supports underwriters and issuers in ABS, MBS ad CLO offerings and is experienced in a wide range of asset classes, including auto loan receivables, student loans, consumer loans, credit card receivables and solar loans. Washington DC-based Paul St. Lawrence strengthens the firm’s CLO offering. Asa Herald, in DC, is noted as issuer’s counsel for securitization matters regarding RMBS, mortgage loans and credit card receivables. Matthew Joseph spearheads the firm’s work in the growing unsecured consumer loans securitization market from New York. In DC, Mark Riccardi is equipped to handle the regulatory and structural considerations surrounding securitizations.

Insurance > Advice to policyholders Tier 1

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s insurance practice excels in diverse challenges, securing favorable settlements in high-stakes disputes, with expertise covering areas such as opioid-related recovery, cyber-liability, class actions, COVID-19, and political risk, including risk transfer solutions in high-value insurance disputes, further amplified by their geographical reach. Led by Paul A. Zevnik in Washington, the team specializes in insurance recoveries across various policies, including comprehensive liability, excess, D&O, property, cybersecurity, fidelity, E&O, EPLI, and fiduciary. Also in Washington, Daniel Chefitz regularly advises on captive insurance strategies, alongside Gerald Konkel, well-versed in opioid-related product liability disputes and litigation over coverage issues as well as Sergio F. Oehninger who boasts extensive experience representing policyholders in multi-sector insurance disputes. In Houston, Brady Edwards excels in mass tort litigation defense; meanwhile Jeffrey S. Raskin, in San Francisco, specializes in representing policyholders in insurance-related matters nationwide. Additional key contacts include seasoned attorneys Teri Diaz and Lauren Silvestri Burke , supporting the practice from Washington DC.

Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds Tier 1

Among the blue-chip clientele that Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP assists are investment management and financial services organizations, their managers as well as independent directors, wealth managers and institutional investors. The team is reputed for its depth of expertise in exchange-traded funds, and represents ’40 Act EFTs, exchange traded commodity pools and metal trusts. Beyond EFTs, the firm's full-spectrum registered funds practice also works with registered mutual funds, closed-end investment companies and variable insurance products. The large team is led across three locations: John McGuire leads from Washington DC and alongside his regulatory expertise in investments, is well versed in the establishing and representation of EFTs. Representing the leadership team in Boston is Roger Joseph, who is engaged by funds and managers on developments to the federal regulations, while in Philadelphia Timothy W. Levin is well placed to advise on mutual funds, hedge funds, business development companies and bank collective funds. Washington DC based Thomas Harman is a well-respected name in the field and has extensive experience across various funds, with specialist knowledge in the ’40 Act exemption for corporate issuers, while Laura Flores focuses on providing investment companies and advisors on staying compliant with regulations, in the same location. In May 2023 Lance Dial left the firm.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 1

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has one of the most well-respected employee benefits and executive compensation practices at a full-service law firm. The practice is headed by Craig Bitman in New York. Bitman is proficient in advising clients on complying with fiduciary duties and on compliance surrounding compensation plans, health and welfare benefit plans, and equity compensations. Amy Pocino Kelly, the deputy practice leader, is based in Philadelphia - she is proficient in representing plan sponsors in audit and correction matters before the IRS, DOL, and Pensions Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Rosina Barker is experienced in executive compensation, especially regarding the Internal Revenue Code and Section 409A compliance. Jonathan Zimmerman is adept in matters surrounding ERISA compliance and the Internal Revenue Code. A key contact for plan sponsors, Althea Day counsels both multiemployer funds and contributing employers on matters surrounding multiemployer plans. Barker, Zimmerman, and Day are all based in Washington DC. In Pittsburgh, Elizabeth Goldberg handles DOL ERISA investigations and conducts internal audits to minimize potential liabilities. Also in Pittsburg, Michael Gorman is particularly proficient in advising clients concerning tax-qualified retirement plans and welfare benefit plans.

Labor and employment > ERISA litigation Tier 1

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is well-versed in handling high-stakes and complex ERISA and benefits litigation before the Supreme Court and other appellate courts. With an impressive track-record of successful court trials, the group has enjoyed significant victories for clients such as Oshkosh Corp andBoeing in precedent-setting cases. Practice head Jeremy Blumenfeld co-leads from Philadelphia and New York with a practice encompassing the full gamut of ERISA activities from class action claims to severance-pay plans. Based in Chicago, practice head Deborah Davidson is sought after by clients for her experience in employee benefit plans and litigation whilst co-head Christopher Boran is known for his work defending employers and fiduciaries in ERISA class actions. Brian Ortelere specializes in defined contribution savings plan litigation.

Labor and employment > Immigration Tier 1

Praised by clients as ‘one of the largest and most sophisticated immigration teams’, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP commands strong capabilities in the area of non-US visas and work permits, immigration issues relating to corporate transactions, foreign employment laws, taxation and compliance. Catering to a wide-range of international and high-caliber clients across a range of industries such as technology, media and entertainment and financial services. The strong bench is widely regarded as doyens in the fields of H-1B (nonimmigrant) visas, PERM and compliance. ‘Skilled legal professional’ Shannon Donnelly co-leads the team from the Washington DC office alongside Eleanor Pelta. Donnelly assists her clients on immigration issues arising from corporate transactions and movements of key executives and managers, while Pelta provides strategic advice on immigration programs designed to aid staff retention and talent hiring. The two co-leads are supported by Washington DC-based Eric Bord, who spearheads the firm’s immigration compliance and risk management practice, and Laura Garvin, who focuses on employment-based immigration law from the Miami office.

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) Tier 1

Labor and employment > Labor-management relations Tier 1

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP advises major corporations in the US on a range of contentious and non-contentious labor law issues. These include corporate campaigns, collective bargaining, and strike/work-stoppage preparation and management. On the disputes side, practice head Joseph Ragaglia in Philadelphia is a key name to note, leading the group alongside former National Labour Relations Board member Harry I. Johnson, III. The group hired Adam Abrahms, now based in Century City, from Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. in June 2023, who often works on strategic labor-management relations matters and is experienced in courts at all levels. Daniel Bordoni in Washington DC stands out for his work in relation to multiemployer benefit plans, and David Broderdorf, also in Washington DC, is notable in his representation of both public and private companies. As a whole, the group is known for its work across the country, leveraging good relationships with federal, state and local agencies. DC’s Jonathan Fritts brings a wealth of experience to the team. Steven Wall, located in Philadelphia is the firm’s managing partner and a key lawyer in the team.

Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling Tier 1

The Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP labor and employment team has strong expertise across a wide range of industries, including retail, technology, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences. The firm holds an impressive list of clients; notably, the firm has recently been retained by the State of New York in the sexual harassment case involving former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Grace Speights, based in Washington, DC, co-heads the practice with David McManus, who is based in New York. Speights is often engaged in crisis management assistance, such as investigating workplace misconduct claims and examining workplace cultures, while McManus represents major employers in litigation and arbitration. Terry Johnson, working from Princeton, has great experience on DEI issues, while Sharon Perley Masling, located in the Washington DC office, is hugely experienced in issues concerning workplace harassment and misconduct. Kathryn McGuigan is another prominent practitioner in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing Tier 1

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP enjoys a first-rate reputation in the outsourcing space and regularly leads in high-revenue, complex and innovative transactions. The firm attracts a roster of blue-chip brands and corporations both domestically and internationally. Working across both the firm’s Philadelphia and New York offices, Barbara Melby routinely advises on the structuring of outsourcing relationships, risk mitigation strategies for privacy matters, and the development of contract terms. Melby additionally has niche expertise in advising on outsourcing agreements in connection with emerging technologies in the robotics space. Co-leading the practice alongside Melby is Boston-based Doneld Shelkey, who leverages his expertise in cloud computing, NFTs, and blockchain to advise on technology transactions. Vito Petretti, based in Houston, is reputed for his skill in handling international outsourcing service agreements and assisting with asset and service transitions. Pittsburgh-based Peter Watt-Morse is recognized for his know-how in curating ITO and BPO strategies, especially for clinical trial services. Philadelphia based duo Christopher Archer and Katherine O’Keefe are further notable practitioners within the group: Archer primarily covers digital transformations and modernization activities, while O’Keefe assists clients with the AI and cloud elements of commercial transactions.

Tax > Not-for-profit (Fortune 1000 private foundations, national trade associations, and charities) Tier 1

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP fields a team capable of acting on behalf of prominent charities, foundations, funds, and educational institutions. The department advises on the full array of tax issues faced by clients both domestically and in overseas operations, in addition to covering a range of corporate transactions. Jointly leading the department are Celia Roady and Ann Battle in Washington DC alongside New York lawyer Megan Bell and Tomer Inbar, who works between DC and New York. Roady advises on operational matters such as the structuring of grants, Battle handles investments and corporate governance, Bell is a key contact for issues relating to formation and restructuring, and Inbar advises on corporate transactions in the space. Caroline Waldner in DC has experience in audits and advises on ongoing tax compliance, while Lauren Simpson, who is based in New York has particular expertise in lobbying and political campaign issues. Also in New York is Casey Oetgen, whose practice covers investment structuring matters.

Tax > US taxes: contentious Tier 1

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP advises a broad array of clients in complex and high stakes tax disputes, many of which potentially involve multibillion-dollar sums. The group is active on behalf of domestic and international clients across the retail, energy, and technology sectors, among others, and provides expertise in audits, appeals, and litigation. The department is led by Barton Basett, an expert in international tax issues based in Silicon Valley. Core team members within the department include Sheri Dillon in Washington DC, who is a federal tax controversy specialist with experience acting on behalf of both businesses and high net worth individuals, Chicago-based Thomas Linguanti, who is particularly active in audits and litigation related to transfer pricing, and Alex Sadler, in DC, whose practice covers international tax credit issues. Also based in DC are R&D credit specialist Doug Norton as well as Michael Kummer, a key name for transfer pricing matters. Rod Donnelly in Silicon Valley assists clients with a broad array of tax concerns, including Subpart F, foreign tax credits, and transfer pricing issues. SALT specialist William Gorrod joined the San Francisco office from Baker Botts L.L.P. in February 2024.

Antitrust > Cartel Tier 2

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP offers in-depth knowledge of supporting clients from the automotive, electronics, energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and transportation industries, and is adept at every stage of cartel procedures, from initial investigation to representation in trials and related civil litigation, providing ‘great advice on all areas of competition law’. Clayton Everett Jr in Washington DC spearheads the practice and stands out with a track record of multijurisdictional cartel investigations and litigation, including applications for leniency in various countries. His recent work highlights include a multidistrict litigation in the life sciences sector, arising out of a DOJ investigation regarding allegations of price-fixing and market allocation for generic drug products. Boston-based Daniel Savrin specializes in matters related to the automotive sector, representing corporates and executives in criminal antitrust, civil government enforcement, and civil litigation matters. Mark Krotoski left the firm in November 2023.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

In addition to having a strong false claims practice, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP houses a formidable litigation team that routinely represents clients in criminal and civil enforcement actions. Eric Sitarchuk, Ryan McCarthy, and Jaclyn Whittaker are located in Philadelphia. Sitarchuk has great experience advising corporates embroiled in complex investigations. Whittaker specializes in bribery and corruption matters, while McCarthy acts for clients across a range of industries, including healthcare, technology, and financial services. Practicing in Washington DC, Sandra Moser is well versed in representing senior executives who are facing investigations by the DOJ and SEC. Described as ‘a fantastic trial lawyer’, Tinos Diamantatos is another key member of the team who is based in Chicago; he is particularly skilled at representing both companies and individuals facing securities enforcement proceedings.

Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 2

The practice at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has strong capabilities in handling strategic matters for its clients spanning healthcare, energy, finance and retail industries. In addition, the team investigates and litigates in high-value contentious situations and assists multinational clients with information governance issues and management policies. The practice is led from its Pennsylvania office by experienced litigator Scott Milner, who counsels on all stages of discovery aspects, including preservation and collection. Pennsylvania-based Tara Lawler brings longstanding expertise in complex matters involving ESI and discovery protocols, while Jennifer Mott Williams, based in Houston, focuses on technology-related matters. Tess Blair left the firm in October 2023.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 2

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is notable for the litigation department’s extremely robust track record at trial, particularly when it comes to class actions, and depth of industry-specific experience across healthcare and life sciences, technology and energy sectors. Based in the firm’s Philadelphia office, practice co-leader Troy Brown is equally adept in acting on the defense and plaintiff side of complex post-M&A disputes in state and federal courts across the United States. Co-leader Elisa McEnroe is a go-to name for all aspects of business disputes, including commercial contract and competition cases. McEnroe appears in both US federal and state courts and is well-versed in ADR. In New York, Brian Herman‘s clients include major banks, private equity funds and public companies in civil and class action litigation in state and federal courts. Fellow New York-based attorney David Levy centers his practice on commercial and IP disputes, alongside counseling clients on litigation avoidance and crisis management.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 2

The nimble and flexible team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP excels at handling large-scale aggregated litigation, where it regularly has leadership roles on matters within the pharmaceutical and medical devices space and is able to guide clients throughout the process, from pre-litigation matters and risk management, through to the effective development of litigation strategy. In this context, the firm can provide a multi-faceted offering which leans into Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory prowess as well as governmental investigations and white-collar competence, should the need arise, and is also noted for bringing in appellate lawyers at an early stage, thereby providing a strategic advantage at trial, settlement, and on appeal. The team continues to be very active in the sprawling opioid litigation, recently working with manufacturer Teva to reach a favorable settlement with all 50 US states, putting an end to a large proportion of its outstanding legal jeopardy in the area. Pittsburgh-based Wendy West Feinstein has been heavily involved handling trial work for Teva in the opioid litigation and is also lead trial and co-ordinating counsel for Philips RS in the CPAP MDL. Philadelphia-based John Lavelle also had a key role in the Philips matter, adding gravitas and expertise as a result of his many years’ experience handling trial and appellate litigation for pharmaceuticals and medical device manufacturers. Paul Zevnik and Yardena Zwang-Weissman co-head the overarching product liability and insurance recovery group from Washington DC and Los Angeles, respectively.  

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 2

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has a strong group of securities litigators who work closely together with the firm’s enforcement and regulatory partners to handle high-stakes matters for clients in key industries, including technology and life sciences. The firm is also a key adviser to many of the world’s major broker-dealers, investment managers, and registered and unregistered funds. The practice is led by Timothy Burke in Boston, while Philadelphia-based partners Jeff Boujoukos and Kelly Gibson are of note, as is Charlene Shimada in San Francisco, Michael Kichline in Philadelphia, and Jordan Hershman in Boston. Shimada led the defense of an underwriting syndicate including J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC in a case arising from Bloom Energy’s $270m IPO in 2018. Kichline’s work for underwriters includes In re Zymergen Inc. Securities Litigation, which concerns alleged misstatements and omissions in the $500m IPO of Zymergen Inc.

Energy > Energy regulation: electric power Tier 2

Praised for its ‘deep knowledge within the topic area to draw from’, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is known for its strong nuclear regulatory expertise, fielding a team capable of covering the full nuclear fuel cycle by advising on nuclear waste management, decommissioning, as well as the construction and operation of nuclear reactors. Within the broader energy practice, the team is regularly sought out to handle work pertaining to new transmission facilities and renewable energy generation including solar and offshore wind. Chicago’s Elizabeth Hanigan is well versed in assisting clients with energy-related infrastructure developments and leads the practice with Washington DC-based Stephen Spina, whose portfolio includes representing clients before FERC and advising them on market pricing, rate matters, and reliability standards compliance. Also in DC, Grant Eskelsen and Tim Matthews are further key names with in-depth expertise relating to regulatory issues in the nuclear energy space.

Energy > Energy regulation: oil and gas Tier 2

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s energy and project development team, co-headed by Chicago-based Elizabeth Hanigan and Washington DC-based Stephen Spina, advises clients on a broad range of issues, such as certification and approval of new natural gas pipelines and storage facilities, development of interstate pipeline projects, and other regulatory, permitting, and transactional matters concerning exports and imports of natural gas. Kirstin Gibbs has significant expertise in advising on the development of new oil and gas infrastructure as well as in supporting clients with environmental challenges. Levi McAllister is another key practitioner in the group and advises on gas matters as well as on energy commodity trading. Pamela Wu, who represents clients before regulatory bodies such as FERC and the CFTC, and Arjun Ramadevanahalli, who advises owners and operators of critical pipeline infrastructure on cybersecurity compliance and enforcement issues, are further names to note. Unless otherwise mentioned, all lawyers listed are based in the Washington DC office.

Environment > Environment: regulatory Tier 2

The environmental group at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP offers clients nationwide expertise on investigations, enforcement, compliance, natural resources permitting, infrastructure projects, hazardous waste, contaminated sites, as well as clean up. Los Angeles-based James Dragna, who is a key point of contact for clients in the manufacturing, energy and aerospace spheres seeking assistance with environmental crises co-leads the practice, alongside Princeton’s John McGahren, who is well versed at handling Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act compliance and claims. The Los Angeles office fields Rick Rothman and David Brown, both of whom adeptly handle mandates relating to air quality, energy, climate change and hazardous substances. Other key names to note are Ella Foley Gannon, of the San Francisco office, who deals with natural resource permitting and Doug Hasting in Washington DC, whose practice encompasses a spread of environmental and administrative law, particularly response, compensation and liability mandates relating to the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.

Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products Tier 2

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP supports clients on both sides of transactions and advises on regulatory and enforcement concerns. The firm’s clients come from across the energy, agriculture, and financial services sectors. Its regulatory expertise includes a comprehensive understanding of investigations relating to Dodd-Frank, CFTC and SEC regulations. It is also accustomed to a broad range of derivatives products, from the traditional to the exotic. Practicing out of New York, Thomas D’Ambrosio is widely experienced in transactional matters concerning derivatives and structured products, including commodity, equity, debt, interest rate and crypto derivatives. Chicago-based Michael Philipp covers transactional and regulatory matters relating to derivatives with knowledge in situations raising compliance and enforcement issues. Katherine Dobson Buckley is a noted practice member in Boston representing hedge and mutual funds, investment advisors and endowments on trading, legal and regulatory issues. New York-based Penelope Christophorou joined the firm from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in October 2023.

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 2

Intellectual property > Patents: licensing Tier 2

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s intellectual property practice features IP practice head Louis Beardell in Philadelphia, IP deputy practice lead Dion Bregman in Silicon Valley, Princeton-based leader of the life science practice Alan Leeds and deputy life sciences head Benjamin Pensak, who shares his time between Chicago and San Francisco. This consortium of lawyers brings together expertise for licensing, commercial, and technology transactions, regularly advising on patent licensing, IP strategy, collaborations, strategic alliances, and joint ventures, in addition to providing clients with standards body advice. The group works on the prosecution and counseling of life science and chemistry patents, business methods and e-commerce patents, and electrical, mechanical, and software patents. Silicon Valley’s Rahul Kapoor is noteworthy for his transactional experience in technology-licensing deals.

Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings) Tier 2

The ‘proactive, diligent and rigorous’ patent prosecution offering at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP assists its portfolio of clients in such matters as the management of worldwide patent estates, advising namely on establishment, management, protection and due diligence.In Philadelphia, Louis Beardell harnesses expertise advising life sciences, chemical and defense sector companies as well as venture capital and private equity funds on the array of IP work. Dion Bregman who works from the Silicon Valley hub is described as ‘second-to-none’ in patent matters. Bregman and Beardell co-lead the team. Also in Silicon Valley is Gary Williams who focuses his practice on patent prosecution, pre-litigation patent validity, and infringement investigations. ‘Top line’ attorney Stephen Altieri based in Boston is noted for his capabilities providing ‘insights both on the patent side and on the science’ to his clients, while the ‘excellent’ Silicon Valley-based Manita Rawat is noted for her ‘diligent and high-quality work’. In San Francisco, Christina MacDougall has a focus on life sciences, chemistry and healthcare-related matters. Deping Chai departed from the Philadelphia office to an in-house role in August 2023.

Investment fund formation and management > Alternative/hedge funds Tier 2

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP boasts an ‘impressive’ hedge fund practice, led by New York-based ‘exceptional attorney,’ and hedge funds expert Jedd Wider, who handles the full range of structuring and formation of both international and domestic private investment funds. Stephen Tirrell co-leads the Boston branch of the team, including Richard Goldman handles the full range of regulatory and compliance issues, as well as leading on the launch of the Callodine Perpetual ABL fund and structuring compensation agreements. Also Boston based is Jason Traue, who assists with the full range of tax related hedge fund formation matters. The team also regularly serves as legal counsel for asset managers and advisers, representing clients on sub-advisory agreements, and providing ongoing transactional advice. Chicago’s Zeke Johnson helps negotiate single investor funds and co-investments, and the launch of private credit funds. Ethan Johnson is another key contact based in Miami.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 2

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP excels in advising both buyers and sellers on the complexities of benefits and executive compensation during M&A, from initial due diligence to post-deal integration. The firm is also proficient in representing senior executives in negotiations related to compensation or termination agreements in the context of corporate transactions. The group is under the leadership of Amy Pocino Kelly, based in Philadelphia, and Craig Bitman, operating from the New York office. Gary Rothstein, also in New York, has a strong background in assisting executive teams during private equity buyouts and IPOs. Austin Lilling, another New York team member, brings ERISA expertise to financial restructuring and private equity deals. In Washington DC, Patrick Rehfield focuses on executive compensation, employee benefits, and payroll tax issues related to M&A and IPOs. Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s Robert Lichtenstein represents a range of clients, including companies, executives, and management groups, in joint ventures and spin-offs. Gena Yoo, an associate in Philadelphia, is noted for her advice on fiduciary governance and compliance with ERISA’s prohibited transaction rules.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: middle-market (Up to $500m) Tier 2

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s diverse private equity caseload spans bulge-bracket and middle-market transactions, with the team particularly active on sports buyouts and joint investments in the former market segment while guiding its core middle-market clients through a large volume of growth investments, strategic partnerships, and leveraged buyouts. The team frequently collaborates with the firm’s global network to handle cross-border deals in sectors such as life sciences, financial services, and tech, and it is also increasingly active in handling add-on acquisitions for portfolio companies active in the energy and industrials sectors. Todd Hentges, an expert on carve-out and SPAC transactions, co-leads the team from Orange County together with New York lawyer Christina Melendi, who maintains close relationships with key sponsor clients such as Freeman Spogli, and Philadelphia-based Kevin Shmelzer, who is experienced with both platform and add-on deals. In New York, Allison Gargano is noted for her advice on transactions in the sports and entertainment sectors, and Alec Dawson handles a wide range of domestic and international M&A.s

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 2

The multidisciplinary tech transactions, outsourcing, and commercial contracts team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP maintains a wide client roster that encompasses both startups and multinational corporations. The practice handles tech transfers, outsourcing, M&A, and service agreements, and it is well-regarded for providing advice on licensing agreements and transactions in the clean-tech and telecoms spaces. Boston-based Doneld Shelkey works across the sports, e-commerce, and electronics industries, and undertakes work involving cloud computing, blockchain, and data analytics. In Philadelphia, Barbara Melby leverages her experience to assist clients with structuring tech services relationships and implementing transformational platforms. Silicon Valley-based Dion Bregman leads the firm’s AI task force, while New York-stationed Sheryl Orr is a go-to for matters relating to the negotiation and structuring of local and cross-border M&A in the tech sector. Christopher Archer, who works in the Philadelphia office, concentrates on global tech deals spanning procurement, finance, and accounting.

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactions Tier 2

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 2

Transport > Rail and road: finance Tier 2

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP handles merger clearances for public companies and private equity funds, combining a steady stream of HSR filings and joint venture approvals with notable litigation capabilities. In a standout representation for practice head New York-based Harry Robins , the firm represented Intercontinental Exchange Inc. in its $11.9bn acquisition of Black Knight Inc., an unprecedented settlement with the FTC. Jonathan Rich is noted for his expertise in merger approvals and related investigations across industries such as chemicals, soft drinks, music, financial services, and residential real estate, and Ryan Kantor continues to play key roles in business-critical investigations and enforcement actions. The team has been bolstered by the arrival of Joshua Goodman, a former FTC official, expanding its regulatory expertise. Attorneys are based in Washington DC, unless otherwise stated.

Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

Among Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP’s recent appellate work, the team had a strong run of wins in the labor and employment space. Other key areas include bankruptcy, financial services regulation, IP, administrative law and tax. From Washington DC, David Salmons chairs the national group and leverages significant SCOTUS experience from his fifteen appearances before the Court. Salmons recently paired up with fellow Washington DC-based appellate partner Michael Kenneally to score a win for Amazon.com before the Oregon Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit in a putative wage and hour class action brought by a former warehouse employee. In San Francisco, Thomas Peterson stands out for his activity before the California Supreme Court and each of the California Courts of Appeal, while William Peterson is recommended in Houston.

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP represents prominent financial institutions in matters predominantly pertaining to consumer defense. Its class action defense practice is experienced in litigating consumer protection statutes and regulations including the FCRA, TILA, TCPA, and FHA, to name a few. Co-leading the team are Michael Kraut, based in New York, and Arjun Rao, based in Los Angeles. Kraut regularly defends clients in securities and commercial class actions, as well as in government enforcement actions and internal investigations. In Boston, Elaine McChesney focuses on financial transactions and commercial fraud. She is widely recognized for defending clients in consumer class actions, credit card disputes, and fraudulent schemes, among other matters. The firm notably made three lateral hires in April 2023, including practice co-head Rao who joined from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.

Energy > Energy litigation: oil and gas Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP fields a robust team of experienced energy litigators across the United States, routinely engaged by major oil and gas industry clients in a number of upstream, midstream and downstream disputes in the energy space. These include class actions such as toxic torts and major disasters, partnership disputes, natural gas royalties and other environmental claims. Washington DC’s Brad Fagg co-heads the energy litigation practice, advising on complex contractual and regulatory disputes as well as government and internal investigations. Fellow co-chair Michelle Pector is based in Houston and has considerable expertise in litigation related to severe weather events, trade secret disputes and business fraud. The team also includes head of the environmental practice in the Los Angeles office James Dragna and Princeton’s John McGahren, who leads the firm’s litigation practice.

Energy > Energy transactions: electric power Tier 3

Environment > Environment: litigation Tier 3

Headquartered across California, New Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Washington DC, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP boasts a nationwide practice, with a team equipped to handle a wide spread of enforcement actions and hazardous waste lawsuits, regularly assisting clients in remediation matters and natural resource damages claims. James Dragna, of the Los Angeles office, is a key point of contact for energy, aerospace and manufacturing clients seeking aid with hazardous waste proceedings, Princeton-based John McGahren is a key name for mandates under the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, while Stephanie Feingold, also based in Princeton, represents major corporations like chemical and energy companies in investigations and enforcement actions brought by environmental agencies. Over in Washington, Duke McCall is known for his knowledge of issues under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Finance > Commercial lending

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP advises financial institutions, lenders, private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers. The team regularly handles syndicated lending, investment-grade financings, leveraged financings and asset-based lending. Jonathan Bernstein leads the team from the Boston office, with the assistance of sports financing and restructuring expert Matthew Furlong and Marjorie Crider, who is a key contact for ABL’s in the context of the retail industry. In the Hartford office, Daniel Papermaster handles syndicated bank financings for hedge funds, while Steven Miller handles a range of leveraged acquisitions from the Orange County office. Andrew Budreika is a notable mention from the Philadelphia office and is regularly tasked with handling private equity transactions, leveraged recapitalizations, management rollovers and equity restructurings and reorganizations.  

Finance > Fintech Tier 3

Able to draw upon support from the firm’s global network, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is a key contact for broker-dealers, financial institutions, and trading enterprises on cryptocurrency, blockchain, IP, and technology matters. The practice, which is lauded for its ‘excellent knowledge’, is also geared to handle data privacy, M&A, IPOs, outsourcing, and regulatory approvals. In Washington DC, Cory Barry is well-equipped to advise issuers, underwriters, and borrowers in securitization and structured finance transactions. New York-based Kristin Lee is experienced before various federal and state financial regulatory agencies, while in Los Angeles, John Filippone advises on hostile takeovers, proxy contests, public offerings, and private placements. Other key team members include Philadelphia-based Christine Lombardo, who is a strong choice for broker-dealers, private fund managers, and retail asset managers on security regulation matters.  

Government > State attorneys general Tier 3

Leveraging extensive public and private sector experience, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP helps clients navigate relationships with state attorneys general, develop and execute strategies to address enforcement responsibilities, and respond to single and multistate investigations. The team has been particularly successful in obtaining favorable decisions for major pharmaecutical companies involved in the high-profile multistate opioids litigation. The core practice is mainly based in Philadelphia, and led by Eric Sitarchuk, a seasoned litigator who has distinguished himself in the representation of Teva Pharmaceuticals, settling the opioid claims of all 50 state AGs. John Dodds fields a wealth of experience in investigations and litigation pertaining to claims of fraud and abuse, public corruption, and environmental offenses, while Rebecca Hillyer counsels and defends major pharmaceutical and healthcare companies facing multistate, multi-agency or parallel government investigations and litigation, and Jaclyn Whittaker focuses on anti-bribery, corruption, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters. Kelly Moore, who leads the white collar practice in New York, supports on white collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement, and securities and healthcare fraud.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP channels the bench strength of a global network spanning the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific regions, to advise household names in such sectors as tech, media, and the automotive industry on the management and safeguarding of their international copyright portfolios. The practice’s comprehensive service covers matters ranging from counseling on fair use, licensing, and prosecution, to US Copyright Office registration procedures and infringement class actions. The practice is headed by two seasoned intellectual propertyu litigators: Anita Polott in Washington DC, and Josh Dalton in Boston. Meaghan Kent, who operates out of the DC and Miami offices, brings expertise to portfolio development, risk mitigation, and enforcement strategies. Displaying particular strength in the tech sector, Carla Oakley, who operates in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, counsels on matters involving social media and rights of publicity. Of counsel Lindsay Shin in San Francisco brings strength to software industry matters. In October 2023, Andrew Antczak, Victor Ghidu, and Kelly Plummer, were all promoted to partner.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 3

The skilled trial lawyers at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP act for both patent holders and accused infringers at all levels of the US Court system, standing out in particular for their experience litigating Section 337 proceedings at the International Trade Commission. Chicago-based litigator Michael Abernathy has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and tech sectors, having litigated Hatch-Waxman cases, Section 337 investigations, and importation disputes in the Court of International Trade. Also in Chicago, Krista Vink Venegas is experienced in intellectual property disputes in the life sciences and medtech sectors, and Jason White acts in a wide range of contentious IP matters. In San Francisco, Michael Lyons focuses on patent, copyright, trade dress, trade secret and other tech-focused litigation, and Brent Hawkins is an experienced IP and commercial disputes litigator. William Peterson in Houston, who specializes in appellate representation in matters such as patent infringement, is another key practitioner, as is Wilmington lawyer John Gorman, who handles commercial and IT disputes in the tech sector.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission) Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP fields a seasoned group of practitioners who regularly litigate intellectual property disputes before the International Trade Commission and draw on the firm's cross-border expertise to serve a large international client roster. Leading the ITC practice from Washington DC, Eric Namrow is an intellectual property specialist and an expert in handling Section 337 investigations. The group also includes Michael Lyons in San Francisco, who focuses on tech-related IP litigation, Chicago-based IP lawyer Jason White, and Stephanie Roberts in DC, who routinely handles patent infringement and trade secret cases. Other key practitioners in DC include Kandis Gibson, whose practice focuses on Section 337 investigations, and Calvin Brien, who litigates intellectual property and related business tort cases.

Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s trade secrets team, noted for its ‘creative thinking’, is well-equipped to assist its clients with the plethora of matters, from defending companies and individuals in cases of breaches of employment contracts, as well as in matters of misappropriation, namely in tech and life sciences-related work. Seth Gerber is based at the firm’s Century City hub and has a focus on trade secrets, restrictive covenant and employee mobility cases, a specialism shared particularly in litigious contexts by Debra Fischer who is based at the same office. In Boston, Joshua Dalton is noteworthy in the team and described as being ‘proactive and thoughtful’. Team changes include the departure of Sharon Smith to Goodwin in January 2023. Louis Beardell who works from the Philadelphia office and Silicon Valley-based Dion Bregman are at the helm of the group.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing) Tier 3

Active across the consumer products, pharma and tech sectors, to name a few, ‘outstanding’ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP combines its transactional, counseling and trademark portfolio management expertise to support a varied client roster that encompasses Uber Technologies and Office Depot. The practice is jointly spearheaded by Anita Polott in Washington DC, who is noted for her capabilities in brand protection strategies and trademark licensing work, and Josh Dalton in Boston, who strengthens the practice with his experience that spans retail, tech, media and e-commerce sectors. Boston-based Rachelle Dubow is particularly well-versed in trademark prosecution and global brand management, while San Francisco’s Carla Oakley is routinely sought out by clients for her development of trademark portfolios, design protection strategies and IP enforcement program experience. Washington DC’s Kristin Altoff and San Francisco’s Gene Park are other key figures within the practice.

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 3

Fund sponsors and institutional investors in private funds, including notable public pension plans comprise some of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s key clients. The firm's wide-ranging practice handles the forming of new funds, separate accounts, co-investments, secondaries transactions and GP led restructurings. The team is jointly led by Jedd Wider in New York and Stephen Tirrell in Boston, with Wider focusing on global hedge, secondary, private equity and venture capital funds with a particular focus on funds of one and managed accounts and Tirrell advises on seed capital and compensation arrangements as well as the structuring and maintenance of various private fund types across diverse asset classes. Preeminent institutional investor partner Louis Singer leads on a wide range of matters and is based in New York, Courtney Nowell in Washington DC counts sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, family offices and endowments while in San Francisco Peter Phleger is a key name.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies Tier 3

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is a key adviser for life sciences companies across all development stages, providing assistance on intellectual property protection, transactions, and regulatory compliance. The firm’s AI practice is expanding, highlighted by its representation of SandboxAQ in its $500m Series D financing. The group also serves the venture capital units of leading corporations, including Samsung, Alphabet, and Comcast. The practice is jointly helmed by Jeffrey Bodle in Philadelphia, who specializes in company formation, angel and venture capital financings, and IPOs, and John Park in Silicon Valley, who concentrates on debt and equity offerings, recapitalizations, and M&A. Princeton-based Steven Cohen offers expertise to investors and emerging growth companies in the Mid-Atlantic region and is recognized for his ‘deep knowledge’ of the lifecycle of emerging companies.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 3

Transport > Rail and road: litigation and regulation Tier 3

Energy > Energy litigation: electric power Tier 4

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP houses a team of experienced trial lawyers and former regulators, showcasing a strong track record in court, arbitration and regulatory proceedings arising from commercial and regulatory disputes that is particularly well regarded for its in-depth knowledge of the nuclear power sector, which is a focus area of co-chair Brad Fagg in Washington, and the representation of buyers and sellers in disputes regarding power purchase agreements. Fagg leads the group alongside Houston’s Michelle Pector, who is adept at a variety of business and consumer disputes, with her knowledge extending to injunction proceedings, class actions, and litigation out of severe weather events, trade secret and supply chain disputes. Jared Wilkerson, who is also based in Houston, is a key contact for matters with ties to Latin America.

Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 4

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s oil and gas practice continues to provide comprehensive transactional advice to a wide range of clients, routinely assisting with new oil, natural gas and gas generation projects, tariff agreements, complex asset management arrangements, and the sale and acquisition of oil and natural gas assets. From Washington DC and Chicago respectively, Stephen Spina and Elizabeth Hanigan lead the firm, which includes Washington DC’s Kirstin Gibbs, noted for her expertise in developing new oil and gas infrastructure and negotiating midstream transportation and storage agreements, and Philadelphia’s Benjamin Wills, who handles midstream and downstream oil and gas transactions. From Houston, Felipe Alice is a key contact for energy transactions related to oil and gas infrastructure and power plant development.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings Tier 4

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP’s capital markets practice remains largely driven by the energy and utilities sectors, core strengths for the firm in the US. This provides it with a healthy flow of engagements from energy and utilities issuers, such as NextEra Energy Capital and Florida Power & Light, along with financial services, technology and life sciences clients, among others. The team frequently handles large-cap transactions, valued in excess of $1bn. New York-based Thomas Giblin and Kimberly Reisler are both active capital markets practitioners in the energy and utilities sectors.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s national reach and strong focus on technology, healthcare and life sciences, has brought it a vigorous flow of equity offerings engagements. Utilities, energy and financial services are also areas of strength. Representing a mix of issuers and underwriters, it has worked on a series of mid-cap transactions, including follow-on offerings, direct offerings, SPAC transactions and at-the-market programs. The team is well plugged into the emerging growth company and venture capital sectors. Philadelphia partner Joanne Soslow , New York-based David Schwartz and Albert Lung in Silicon Valley have notable pedigree in capital markets offerings.

Finance > Project finance Tier 4

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP offers a strong bench of advisors who are ‘excellent collaborators’ and whom possess the ‘ability to provide market perspective on transactions and negotiating positions.’ The firm handles a diverse stream of financing transactions that includes debt, equity and tax equity financings as well as refinancings and acqusition financings for a wide roster of developers, investors and sponsors particularly focused on wind, solar and battery storage matters. Team lead Elizabeth Hanigan is based in Chicago and covers the transactional waterfront of renewable energy assets, whereas fellow co-head and Washington DC attorney Stephen Spina is a go-to for utility clients. Neeraj Arora has been active on construction loan financings, acqusition financings, and tax equity financings over the past twelve months, sitting in the Los Angeles office. Laura Neumeister Wright splits her time between New York and Chicago and has presided over novel novel production tax credit agreements and sustainability-linked credit facilities as part of a formidable book of renewable energy mandates. Boston’s Amy Maloney continues to be a prominent name in the practice and for sponsors, lenders and developers and has been a leading name on the firm’s large-scale gas-fired energy projects.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 4

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s team, primarily based in Washington DC, regularly collaborates with the firm’s life sciences practice to assist with the full range of regulatory and transactional healthcare-related mandates. Kathleen Sanzo’s main areas of expertise include regulatory matters concerning the distribution of FDA regulated products. Fraud and abuse expert Howard Young has longstanding experience in handling government audits and disputes. Michele Buenafe advises clients on USDA compliance for digital health technology, while Scott McBride represents a number of physician groups and hospitals in FCA litigation in Texas.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 4

Offering the full spectrum of corporate, employment, and IP services to major US sports leagues, universities, and investors, the Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP practice handles a wide array of matters related to broadcasting agreements, debt finance transactions, franchise acquisitions, and commercial disputes. Boston-based Andrew White and Jack Concannon chiefly focus on M&A and private equity investments across the sports and tech sectors, while Washington lawyer Jocelyn Cuttino primarily advises on employment and labor issues. White and Cuttino co-head the practice with Philadelphia lawyer Andrew Rocks, an expert for joint ventures in the sporting space. Further key contacts include Boston lawyer Doneld Shelkey, who stands out for his advice on commercial contract and licensing matters.

International trade > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions Tier 4

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP’s export control and economic sanctions practice demonstrates strong showings on behalf of companies in the life sciences, investment management and technology spheres. It additionally advised several individuals on delisting requests before OFAC. Giovanna Cinelli anchors the overarching international trade and national security group and is well versed in export compliance matters and export enforcement, among other work. Kenneth Nunnenkamp has strong experience in conducting internal investigations into potential compliance issues under ITAR, EAR and OFAC and related regulations. The team is also well placed to advise on import and customs matters.

Real estate Tier 5

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 6

The ‘top-tier’ M&A team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP leverages its expertise across the IP, employee benefits, and cybersecurity fields to deliver bespoke advice on cash and stock transactions in addition to advising on joint ventures and strategic partnerships. From Philadelphia, Benjamin Wills co-leads the practice and specializes in complex joint ventures and securities compliance issues, while New York-based practice co-head Andrew Milano is a ‘master’ in assisting clients with transactions in the infrastructure, media, and software spaces. Alec Dawson focuses on financial services M&A, and Boston-based Laurie Cerveny primarily handles corporate governance matters.

Healthcare > Health insurers

International trade > CFIUS