Arnold & Porter > Washington DC, United States > Firm Profile

Arnold & Porter > The Legal 500 Rankings

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 1

Arnold & Porter continues to be a top-tier destination practice for business-critical mergers with a significant public profile, with the team regularly called upon as specialist antitrust counsel by global household-name businesses including AT&T, Cargill, and Sony for DOJ and FTC clearance proceedings, investigations and litigation, as well as multijurisdictional merger approvals. The Washington DC-based team is led by the vastly experienced Debbie Feinstein, who served as Director of the FTC Bureau of Competition, and maintains her record in high-level merger clearances, advising AT&T on the spin-off of WarnerMedia to its shareholders and the merger of the WarnerMedia business with Discovery, alongside Jonathan Gleklen , who specializes in high tech and network industry mergers. Michael B. Bernstein is advising Kroger on its $24.6bn proposed merger with Albertsons, and also acts for a number of other major public and private companies across industries, while Matthew Tabas is noted for his expertise in antitrust litigation, including representing clients against DOJ and FTC merger action.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 1

With a team of seasoned trial and appellate product liability litigators spread across both coasts alongside a strong regulatory offering from Washington DC, Arnold & Porter is well-positioned to support manufacturers of consumer products across the spectrum of their needs, from risk management advice, through to representation in high-stakes litigation. As well as the firm’s extensive knowledge and technical aptitude, it excels at putting forward persuasive, often first-of-kind strategic arguments, including as it relates to removal strategies and personal jurisdiction arguments – ensuring that clients are not stymied at having to be heard before traditional “plaintiff-friendly” jurisdictions. Many of the lawyers within the team have vast experience at representing clients in major class actions and MDLs, including a continued flow of work as a result of its longstanding representation of Altria and Philip Morris in relation to tobacco litigation. Washington DC-based partner Daphne O’Connor has been pivotal to this work, and as well as continuing to represent Philip Morris in cigarette smoker lawsuits is, along with John Massaro (also based in Washington DC), also defending Altria in private economic damages class actions, public entity actions, certain Attorney General (AG) actions, and individual personal injury actions regarding alleged damages caused by Juul e-vapor products. Michelle Gillice in Washington DC is also a key member of the team, particularly on the regulatory front; her previous tenure at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ensure that clients receive highly tailored product safety compliance advice enabling them to effectively reduce liability risks and protect their brands. New York-based partner Anand Agneshwar  co-heads the overarching product liability litigation offering alongside O’Connor.  

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

Leveraging a deep bench of pharma-focused product liability experts, based primarily out of the firm’s New York and Washington DC offices, Arnold & Porter has the strength-in-depth, subject matter and procedural expertise to effortlessly handle a sizeable array of concurrent high-profile mandates. The firm regularly acts as national coordinating counsel on large-scale class actions and MDLs, resourcing matters throughout the litigation life cycle with  a compelling mix of science, procedural and trial experts. In addition, a strong regulatory grounding, including regular interactions with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ensures that clients are also well served from a risk management perspective, particularly in terms of bringing new drugs to market. As well as having deep regulatory knowledge, New York-based partner Anand Agneshwar  is regularly at the forefront of many of the firm’s key mandates, while head of the firm’s New York office, Arthur Brown frequently has a hands-on role directing and implementing overall litigation and trial strategy for key pharmaceutical clients, including AstraZeneca, which he represents as national counsel in relation to the sprawling Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) litigation. Washington DC-based partner Paige Sharpe  also continue to impress and is a vital member of the team, not least as a result of her ability to effectively represent pharma companies in private personal injury litigation, as well as in parallel actions brought by State Attorney Generals. Agneshwar co-heads the overarching product liability litigation group alongside Washington DC-based Daphne O’Connor.

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

Combining a core environmental practice headed from Washington DC by Brian Israel , with overarching product liability expertise led by Anand Agneshwar and Daphne O’Connor, from New York and Washington DC, respectively, Arnold & Porter is well-placed to defend high-profile multinational clients from a range of industry sectors, including energy and biotechnology, in toxic tort disputes involving diverse chemicals and other contaminated materials. In this context, as well as regularly guiding clients through large consolidated private litigation, it is also well-equipped to handle any attendant government investigations and enforcement actions and has an excellent insight into regulatory thinking. Washington DC-based Michael Daneker maintains a vibrant environmental law and toxic tort practice that not only defends high-profile clients including Honeywell in private and government-initiated proceedings, but also works with clients regarding strategies for contaminated site resolution. Also based in Washington DC, Elissa Preheim is very adept at working alongside scientific and other technical experts to provide the most robust defense available to clients and alongside Daneker has been involved in a considerable amount of work relating to co-called “forever chemicals”, including for Honeywell in the Hoosick Falls PFAS litigation. In Washington DC, experienced trial and appellate lawyer William Hoffman is skilled at managing large product liability and toxic tort matters, as well as in relation to state attorney general investigations; he continues to serve as national counsel to Bayer in the sprawling litigation involving the legacy Monsanto product Roundup. The firm is also very accomplished at helping clients navigate various state regulations, most notably as it pertains to California’s Proposition 65.

Environment > Environment: litigation

Arnold & Porter offers clients excellent geographical coverage, with attorneys based on both coasts of the US; its environmental litigation team is led by Brian Israel, who is based in Washington DC and Los Angeles, and represents top-tier clients in toxic tort litigation, climate change issues and public nuisance matters. Israel is a name for natural resource damages (NRD) claims, while other key practitioners include Elissa Preheim, who has a strong track record in Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) or ‘forever chemicals’ cases, Michael Daneker, who defends federal and state enforcement actions, and Ethan Shenkman, who is a name for both litigation and regulatory matters, particularly those pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions and renewable fuel standards. In California, Zachary Fayne has notable expertise in Clean Air Act (CAA) and vehicle emissions issues. Judah Prero recently joined as counsel from the American Chemistry Council, Lauren Daniel was promoted to partner and Sarah Esmaili left for an in-house role at the California Coastal Commission. All lawyers based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Environment > Environment: regulatory Tier 1

Arnold & Porter’s environmental team fields a strong bench and offers clients broad expertise in regulatory compliance and in the defense of enforcement proceedings pertaining to the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Oil Pollution Act (OPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA), among other areas. Brian Israel, who splits his time between Los Angeles and Washington DC, heads the practice and is strong in both regulatory matters and contentious issues, with a strong track record in contaminated sites across the US. Jonathan Martel  is recommended for CAA issues and often represents clients before the environmental protection agency (EPA), while Ethan Shenkman is a key name climate change policy and regulatory matters. California’s Zachary Fayne is another name for air quality issues, as well as consumer protection law matters, while Sarah Grey in Colorado, who was recently promoted to partner, acts for clients in the energy, manufacturing, and automotive sectors on EPA and transactional matters. Judah Prero joined as counsel from the American Chemistry Council and Lauren Daniel was promoted to partner. Attorneys are based in Washington DC, unless otherwise stated.

Government > Government contracts Tier 1

Arnold & Porter‘s practice is typically engaged in some of the most high-profile government contracts matters in the market, recently defending HomeSafe’s award of a $20bn military move logistics contract, for example. With a particular strength in the aerospace, defense, IT,  life sciences and communications industries, typical mandates include high-stakes bid protests, False Claims Act investigations and litigation, national security issues and M&A-related government contracts matters. Leading the team is Kara Daniels, who has extensive experience in representing contractors in bid protests and false claims investigations. Craig Holman is a key litigator in the team, with significant expertise in all levels of the judiciary. Kristen Ittig is seasoned in contract and subcontract negotiations, compliance programs, audits and investigations. Transactional matters is the area of expertise of Michael McGill, who typically handles M&A involving government contracts. Charles Blanchard is a popular choice among defense and aerospace companies. Paul Pompeo focuses on accounting, cost and pricing issues while Mark Colley is recommended for litigation and investigations. All named lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 1

The large team at Arnold & Porter assists a diverse client base consisting of medical device and diagnostic product manufacturers, biologics companies, and vaccine developers. The team assists clients with a variety of mandates, including clinical trials, transactional diligence, and exclusivity matters. Daniel Kracov and Allison Shuren co-head the team; Kracov, in particular, has considerable experience handling congressional investigations concerning biomedical product policies. Jeffrey Handwerker often assists pharmaceutical companies with the implementation of healthcare reforms; Mahnu Davar handles federal enforcement actions, including the misuse of clinical research and foreign kickbacks; and Ariane Horn has ample experience in advising biotechnology companies on FDA regulation, particularly in relation to biological products and pharmaceuticals. Kristin Hicks maintains her focus on price reporting, and routinely advises clients on issues arising under the Medicaid Rebate Act, in addition to PBM and GPO arrangements. Working out of the New York practice, Daniel DiNapoli‘s area of expertise is patent litigation, often representing biotech companies in contentious matters concerning anti-TNF antibody products, transgenic mice, and mainstream drugs. Deborah Fishman supports the team from Silicon Valley with her vast contentious expertise, routinely assisting biopharmaceutical companies with the enforcement of IP rights. All named practitioners are based in Washington DC unless specified otherwise.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 1

Strategic buyers and sellers regularly turn to Arnold & Porter for guidance on the negotiation of M&A, leveraged buyouts and other transactions involving changes in corporate control. The firm’s impressive client roster also features an array of investors and their portfolio companies engaged in middle-market deals involving a range of industries, most notably tech, financial services, healthcare, energy and consumer goods. Derek Stoldt in New York – a key contact for transactions in the life sciences space – and Ronald Levine in Denver – whose notable areas of activity include public and private M&A deals, private equity and venture investments – jointly coordinate the corporate and finance department. Private equity funds and their portfolio companies, and publicly traded and privately held corporations trust Washington DC-based Kevin Lavin with the full spectrum of M&A matters. Also in DC, Matthew Owens excels in healthcare transactions, especially on behalf of private equity funds. Edward Deibert stands out in the San Francisco office for his wealth of experience in a variety of corporate deals in the financial services, tech, hospitality and consumer products industries.

Transport > Aviation and air travel: litigation and regulation Tier 1

Transport > Aviation and air travel: litigation and regulation Tier 1

Arnold & Porter‘s multidisciplinary transportation practice houses specialists in commercial, cargo and corporate aircraft. A go-to team for crisis incidents, the sizeable practice is sought out by national, international and regional clients for substantial commercial disputes and transnational litigation. Its coverage includes claims that involve foreign parties, such as issues involving the jurisdiction of US courts, foreign sovereign immunity, forum non conveniens, multi-district litigation, and service of process and discovery abroad. Recent highlights include representing Airbus in major product liability litigation across the US, which arises from alleged toxic fume contamination of jetliners’ cabin air. The principal figures are Washington DC-based class action specialist David Weiner; and Christopher Odell, who is well known for transportation-related mass tort claims. The practice additionally features litigation group co-chairs Kenneth Chernof in Washington DC and New York-based James Herschlein. The senior associates to note are Amanda Thomson and Washington DC’s Megan Pieper, whose practices include handling major litigation in the aviation industry. All the practitioners mentioned are based in the firm’s Houston office, unless otherwise stated.

Antitrust > Cartel Tier 2

The Washington DC-based team at Arnold & Porter draws on the team’s significant agency experience to offer a strong antitrust litigation practice, advising major domestic and multinational clients on the full range of antitrust issues across a wide range of sectors, including life sciences, publishing, financial services, and auto parts. The firm has a strong record in successfully guiding clients throughout large and complex government investigations and follow-on civil enforcement proceedings. The antitrust team is jointly headed by Debbie Feinstein and Jonathan Gleklen, while Andre Geverola leads the firm’s cartel investigations practice. Geverola, a ‘deeply experienced cartel practitioner who brings an unmatched skillset and exceptional judgment,‘ is the former leader of the Antitrust Divisions criminal program whose practice focuses on criminal cartel litigation, compliance, and government investigations. James L. Cooper is another standout cartel litigator who is currently representing the University of Chicago in ongoing class action litigation concerning an alleged cartel conspiracy among a group of elite US universities to limit student financial aid. Other key names include Sonia Kuester Pfaffenroth and Laura Shores, who specialize in representing clients from the life sciences industry and in complex monopolization and price-fixing proceedings, respectively.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 2

Arnold & Porter is known for its representation in a comprehensive range of individual and class action litigation concerning claims of price fixing, monopolization, no-poach agreements, and group boycotts. It particularly excels in the representation of life sciences companies such as Astra Zeneca and also has experience in advising prominent names across a range of other sectors such as Visa and Bloomberg. Debbie Feinstein heads the firm’s global antitrust practice, and offers experience in merger enforcement and investigations, and civil litigation across the retail, food, and automotive parts industry as well as experience from her previous role as director of the Bureau of Competition at the FTC. Feinstein jointly heads the team alongside Jonathan Gleklen, who focuses on assisting clients in the high technology and network industry and experienced litigator James Cooper. Laura Shores has significant expertise in the life sciences industry, having assisted clients such as Novartis. Anne Davis specializes in representing clients in class actions and opt-out litigation. Scott Lent in New York has experience in high-profile litigation with recent work involving price-fixing and anticompetitive distribution allegations. Sonia Kuester Pfaffenroth, who has previously held several senior positions at the DOJ, is also noted. All attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise noted.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Arnold & Porter fields a corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense practice with particular strengths in anti-corruption investigations and FCPA-related cases. The firm’s vast international network also allows the team to handle complex cross-border matters in a number of areas such as life sciences, financial services, and government sectors. Amy Jeffress, who is active in the firm’s Washington DC office, counts national security investigations among her areas of expertise and leads the practice jointly with Marcus Asner in New York. New Jersey-based Paul Fishman is another key member of the team, regularly handling internal and government investigations on behalf of counseling executives and board of directors. Chicago-based Valarie Hays’ recent work includes matters pertaining to allegations of sexual harassment. Lawyers are in DC unless otherwise stated.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 2

Arnold & Porter’s premier sovereign state offering is reflected in its arbitration practice, where it is a popular choice to represent sovereign clients as respondents in investor-state disputes. The team’s strength in this sphere is evidenced by an impressive winning streak that has seen it secure 45 consecutive positive results in final awards or decisions for sovereign states in investment arbitrations. It also continues to make strides on the commercial arbitration front, with growing expertise in technology and life sciences proceedings. Among its recent commercial cases, San Francisco-based global department co-chair Maria Chedid acted alongside the firm’s Shanghai office to represent POSCO Energy in an ICC arbitration, seated in Singapore, initiated by FuelCell Energy. Washington DC-based Paolo Di Rosa co-heads the global international arbitration group and is a go-to specialist in representing states in complex investment treaty arbitrations. Di Rosa recently successfully defended South Korea against a $4.7bn claim in an ICSID arbitration. Other key contacts include New York’s Mélida Hodgson, who handles investor-state and commercial arbitration cases, and DC-based Whitney Debevoise, whose arbitration practice has a significant financial dimension.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 2

Arnold & Porter fields a multi-disciplinary team handling matters on behalf of sovereign states and companies involving foreign parties including personal jurisdiction of US courts and claims regarding ATS, ATA and FSIA statutes. The firm also has specific experience defending companies receiving federal funds in False Claims Act investigations and subsequent litigation. The firm’s anti-corruption team features prominently, defending clients in government investigations and enforcement under the FCPA and other anti-bribery regulations across different jurisdictions. Experienced arbitrators, Mélida Hodgson, based in New York, and Thomas Kruse, in Houston are key contributors to the firm’s established international arbitration capacity. New York’s Marcus Asner concentrates his practice on investigations, often relating to the FCPA, obtaining a declination from the DOJ on behalf of Samsung Heavy Industries in this area. Soo-Mi Rhee, based across Washington DC and Seoul, shares this concentration, focusing on criminal and regulatory investigations, often regarding the FCPA, and anti-corruption, compliance, export controls and sanctions. Co-chair of the practice Paolo Di Rosa, based in Washington DC, focuses on representing sovereign states as well as private companies, particularly relating to Latin America. Also in DC is co-chair Kenneth Chernof. James Herschlein and Maria Chedid also co-chair the practice, based in New York and San Francisco respectively, with Chedid a specialist in international arbitration.

Government > Government relations Tier 2

Benefiting from its deep bench of former government officials, the Arnold & Porter‘s ‘accessible and collaborative’ Washington DC-based team has strong relationships with key congressional committees and major executive branch agencies. The bipartisan group is active across a wide range of areas, most notably cybersecurity, life sciences, education, energy and environment, financial services and healthcare. Headed by Kevin O’Neill, the practice has been increasingly sought after by leading foreign manufactures in the tech space to handle complex trade matters and interactions with the US government. Mark Epley  is a key contact for tax policy, trade and Medicare matters as well as congressional investigations. Also noted is senior health policy advisor Eugenia Pierson.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 2

The intellectual property group at Arnold & Porter defends the copyrights of sports leagues, broadcast and cable networks and major motion picture studios involved in high-stakes litigation. The practice is headed by experienced IP litigators Matthew Wolf in Washington DC and Dina Hayes in Chicago. Representing such household names as Fox and Disney, Dori Hanswirth brings media and entertainment expertise to the firm’s New York office, along with Theresa House, who represents major clients in television production and tech, and advises on complex First Amendment issues. Rhonda Trotter at the Los Angeles office currently represents consumer credit giant Experian in ongoing matters. In Washington DC, counsel Michael Kientzle specializes in the sports sector, representing Major League Baseball, the NBA, WNBA, NCAA, NFL and the NHL. In Los Angeles, counsel Oscar Ramallo employs a skill set in online marketing and a background as a clerk for the Chief Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 2

Arnold & Porter is a strong choice for clients requiring assistance with corporate governance matters with an insolvency angle, as well as for companies involved in litigation relating to alleged breaches of duty. Washington DC-based practice head Michael L. Bernstein  founded the practice group and is the go-to lawyer for the corporate governance aspects of bankruptcy and restructuring matters. Among the wide variety of issues include board and committee composition, Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank Acts compliance, and board fiduciary duties, the latter of which is an area of activity for former practice head Kevin Lavin, also based in Washington DC, who often advises boards of directors on fiduciary duties, governance and compliance issues and regularly assists government clients.

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

Climbing a tier in 2023 for its Court of Appeals work, Arnold & Porter secured a slew of recent victories in high-stakes business appeals and constitutional law cases in lower appeal courts across the country. On the US Supreme Court side, the group continues to cement its reputation as a safe pair of hands for landmark matters, particularly those concerning sovereign and constitutional rights. John Elwood heads the practice and successfully represented Allergan at the Fourth Circuit in a significant case discussing the False Claims Act. In a precedent-setting voting rights victory, Stanton Jones represented the National Redistricting Foundation in challenging North Carolina’s congressional and state legislative maps as unconstitutional. Other experienced names include Allon Kedem, who has argued 12 times before SCOTUS, and Denver-based Reeves Anderson. The group also benefits from an impressive cadre of younger lawyers, including next-generation partner Elisabeth Theodore, who successfully acted for the American Civil Liberties Union in challenging an Iowa law banning schools from offering masks to children with disabilities. Talented senior associate Andrew Tutt recently argued, and won, an employment law case before SCOTUS concerning sovereign immunity. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation Tier 3

Arnold & Porter is concentrated on defending claims, including class actions regarding securities fraud, fee practices and mortgage services, and regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, while occasionally representing plaintiffs. Clients include banks, companies, non-bank lenders, and trade associations. The practice consists of several attorneys with trial, appellate and Supreme Court litigation experience. New York’s Veronica Callahan is the chair of the firm’s securities, enforcement & litigation practice group, representing clients in DOJ criminal proceedings, as well as SEC and CFTC regulatory enforcement actions. The head of the firm’s financial services practice group is David Freeman, based in Washington DC, who advises financial institutions at both state and federal level on banking and securities regulatory matters. Based in New York, Kathleen Reilly and Aaron Miner are focused on regulatory litigation in relation to securities and enforcement actions.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 3

Arnold & Porter‘s disputes team provides comprehensive counsel to clients at the overlap of various regulatory fields, including antitrust, energy, financial institutions, environmental, and health care. The firm are well versed in crisis-related litigation such as Carnival Cruise Lines’ COVID-19 and refund litigations, Deepwater Horizon, the Costa Conordia grounding and the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster. The team also handles a wide range of commercial disputes, trials, class actions, mass torts, product liability, and trade secret cases. Washington DC based Kenneth Chernof leads with James Herschlein in New York, both of whom have a strong track record of representing tech firms.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 3

Arnold & Porter has a very broad practice that handles high-stakes federal and state class action securities and derivative actions, as well as SEC, DOJ, PCAOB, CFTC, and FINRA investigations. Veronica Callahan in New York is chair of the securities enforcement and litigation practice. She worked closely with Kathleen Reilly to defend RSM US LLP, a national accounting firm, in a complex case involving assessed unpaid taxes and penalties associated with one of Yorkville Global Ltd. offshore entities exceeding $100 million. Callahan and Aaron Miner served as independent counsel to the special committee of the board of directors of the Western Union Company charged with reviewing and investigating shareholder demand letters alleging breaches of directors’ and officers’ duty to oversee anti-money laundering and fraud compliance related to the cross-border transfer of funds. In Washington DC, up-and-coming partner Jane Norberg, former Chief of the Office of the Whistleblower for the SEC, is prominent in corporate and regulatory investigations as well as securities litigation. Michael Trager  has retired.

Energy > Energy regulation: electric power Tier 3

Arnold & Porter is noted for its expertise in the electric utility industry, including generation and transmission, how electric markets work, and representing clients in administrative litigation before FERC. Based in Washington, DC, Sandra Rizzo counsels energy sector clients on regulatory and compliance matters, and represents them in enforcement and administrative proceedings before FERC. Rizzo was involved in the matter of Peter Jones; Robert Jones; and Jack Wells, which involved representing Mr. Peter Jones, a partner in Coaltrain Energy LP, and two employees in defending against market manipulation claims brought by FERC.

Finance > Financial services regulation

Arnold & Porter‘s capabilities in the field of financial services regulation extends to both banking and consumer finance issues, with the department handling work surrounding the Bank Secrecy Act and AML rules, ESG guidance, fintech programs and fair lending matters, having had recently expanded its offering by forming a multidisciplinary cryptocurrency group. David Freeman leads the practice and is a key contact for financial institutions, investment managers, and broker-dealers seeking counsel on securities regulatory, M&A and product development matters. Michael Mancusi represents a portfolio of leading banks and credit unions in state and federal regulatory, as well as enforcement work, while senior counsel and enforcement expert Christopher Allen is regularly engaged to advise on AML compliance, fair-lending investigations and consumer protection. All named lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 3

Industry focus > Cannabis Tier 3

Often representing financial institutions, funds, and investors, Arnold & Porter is well-equipped to advise clients entering the cannabis industry on issues of compliance, risks and legal requirements. The department is also engaged in the designing and development of policy pertaining to antimicrobials, fungicides and pesticides used for cultivating cannabis crops. Evelina Norwinski oversees the team and frequently advises distributor, manufacturer and retailer clients on federal and state laws concerning cannabis, as well as practical risks. Co-chair of the firm’s life sciences and healthcare regulatory practice Daniel Kracov has advised a breadth of cannabis companies on navigating regulatory frameworks concerning hemp products and CBD. All mentioned individuals are located in Washington DC.

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

The patent litigation team at Arnold & Porter frequently represents Fortune 500 companies and major industry players including Crocs, Google, Adobe, Nike, and Pfizer. 2022 saw the Federal Circuit rule in favor of the firm on behalf of Hologic, after the team prevailed the year previously on the matter of assignor estoppel in the Supreme Court. Similarly displaying the team’s strengths, the firm successfully represented Crocs, Inc in a series of both patent infringement claims asserted by Crocs themselves, and the team concurrently dismissing counterclaims spanning antitrust, tortious interference, and false advertising. Matthew Wolf  in Washington DC is the co-chair of the intellectual property practice, often acting as lead trial counsel and consistently successful across district courts, the ITC, and appellate courts. Based in Chicago, Dina Hayes also co-chairs the group, with extensive experience in multi-patent and multiple-party patent litigation. The team has seen substantive growth, with Jessica Kaiser joining the Denver office from the US Patent and Trademark Office in March 2022, and Abigail Struthers from Sandoz in April 2022.

Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings) Tier 3

Washington DC’s Matthew Wolf and Chicago’s Dina Hayes co-lead the practice at Arnold & Porter, which combines strategic advice to its clients and developing patent portfolios, with representing in key patent prosecution matters. The team is particularly renowned in the area of developing technology in the life sciences industry, an example being its work in the patent prosecution of transgenic plants for Bayer. It also acts for such notable clients as Finch Therapeutics and Regeneron in this field. DC-based senior associate Alice Ho is developing a particular specialism in prosecution, inter partes and ex parte matters involving biotech, medical devices, pharma and life sciences, while, also in DC, David Marsh has significant experience advising on the full range of IP matters. Silicon Valley’s Deborah Fishman is another name to note in the team, focusing on biopharma and medical devices litigation.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation Tier 3

Backed by a network spanning the US, Europe, and the Asia Pacific, the team at Arnold & Porter employs the full bench strength of its team to represent clients such as Hershey, Google, Nike, and Pfizer, in high-stakes infringement and unfair competition lawsuits. The team is headed by two seasoned litigators Dina Hayes in Chicago, and tech sector specialist Matthew Wolf in Washington DC. At the New York office, Dori Hanswirth brings over 25 years to the practice space, Paul Llewellyn delivers expertise to pharmaceutical, luxury goods, and consumer products sectors, and Louis Ederer handles complex anti-counterfeiting matters. In Chicago, Christopher Renk and Michael Harris act for clients at the federal and appellate levels. Other key figures include counsel John Rynkiewicz in DC, and Theresa House and Matthew Salzmann in New York.

International Trade > Trade remedies and trade policy Tier 3

Regulatory powerhouse Arnold & Porter possesses an effective trade litigation offering, which is particularly prominent in representing foreign governments and industry; reflecting the wider firm’s formidable sovereign state practice. On the trade remedy front, department chair David Park acted for Hyundai Steel Company in 15 trade related proceedings over the past year, including eight separate proceedings before the DOC. Park splits his practice between Washington DC and Seoul and is particularly noted for his involvement in Asia-related cases. Among the team’s recent work for sovereigns, Lynn Fischer Fox—a former Deputy Assistant Secretary with DOC—is advising the Province of Alberta as respondent in the US countervailing duty case concerning imports of softwood lumber from Canada. In another significant sovereign-side matter, senior counsel Claire Reade is leading the team’s ongoing representation of the Government of Israel on international trade matters, including advice on US laws and regulations.

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory Tier 3

Arnold & Porter is very active in representing public broadcasting stations in both television and radio, advising clients who operate in this space across the country on the full range of of regulatory matters, including issues of policy, spectrum, and licensing. The team also has a strong track record in representing clients on the regulatory aspect of major transactional work, advising AT&T and WarnerMedia as US and international regulatory and antitrust counsel on matters arising from the market-leading WarnerMedia merger with Discovery. Maureen Jeffreys chairs the Washington DC-based practice with experience in regulatory, transactional, and litigation mandates before the FCC and NTIA, and in strategic counselling on federal policy developments across the telecoms and broadband space. She works alongside senior counsel Peter Schildkraut, whose key areas of specialism include broadband, AI, and transactional work, and senior counsel Scott Fiera, who has represented clients before the FCC on merger reviews, licence transfer proceedings, service agreements, and consumer protection.

Tax > Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) Tier 3

The tax-exempt organizations team at Arnold & Porter, led by James Joseph and Laurie Abramowitz in Washington DC and New York respectively, often assists high-net-worth donors with negotiating and structuring grants, and helps organize tax-exempt and taxable entities for nonprofit and international companies. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, the team often acts as general counsel for market leaders in the nonprofit space. Joseph leads the firm’s national tax team, and is active in litigation, and Bridget Weiss in Washington DC is a key individual for corporate and regulatory matters, and counsel Andras Kosaras, also in DC, is another core member for these matters.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings Tier 4

Arnold & Porter has a solid record in investment grade, high-yield and convertible debt offerings. It remains best known for its work in headline sovereign debt offerings in Latin America, Turkey and Hungary. Liability management and restructuring-related transactions are also a forte. Its sector strength includes life sciences, healthcare, technology and financial services. New York partner Christopher Peterson is an experienced figure in investment grade and high-yield debt, and is prominent in sovereign finance. Washington DC’s Whitney Debevoise has an outstanding record in sovereign offerings, especially in Latin America. San Francisco partner Teresa Johnson is another key member of the team.

Finance > Capital markets: global offerings Tier 4

Arnold & Porter is a recognised leader in sovereign finance, advising on sovereign and sub-sovereign offerings, along with issuances by state-owned enterprises. It has a long track record in Latin America - along with Hungary and Turkey - and notably represents Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF), the development bank, on international offerings. Washington DC’s Whitney Debevoise and Gregory Harrington are hugely experienced in sovereign finance, along with New York partner Christopher Peterson, who represents the Republic of Turkey.

Finance > Fintech Tier 4

Arnold & Porter represents a mix of investment funds, banks, fintech companies and strategic investors. Cryptocurrency and digital assets-related work is a growing area of focus, and the firm recently represented Inter-American Development Bank on its two-year $10 million blockchain-based bond issue. On the startup and venture capital front, it advised Revolution Ventures as an investor in the $125m Series E financing of Policygenius, an online insurance marketplace. Financial services chair David Freeman  leads the team, which includes regulatory expert Christopher Allen (both Washington DC), who has a strong track record on investigations and compliance. New York partners Lawton Camp and Michael Penney are both active on the corporate finance side.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 4

With experience advising lenders, bondholders, agents, indenture trustees, hedge funds, and borrowers in relation to distressed situations, workouts, and bankruptcy proceedings throughout the US, Chicago-based Michael Messersmith heads Arnold & Porter’s bankruptcy and restructuring practice, which has recently been involved in several major Chapter 11 cases and is best known for its lender-side work. Brian Lohan in Chicago plays an important role in the team and has been involved in a range of complex bankruptcy proceedings across sectors, while Tyler Nurnberg is managing partner of the firm’s Chicago office and has recently represented BP in connection with a number of bankruptcy proceedings.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 4

Leading the practice at Arnold & Porter are Scott Lent in New York and Dan Cantor in Washington DC, the latter of whom specialises in high-profile complex intellectual property and royalty litigation issues impacting the finances of major sports leagues. Elsewhere, the team advises clients on such issues as IP, bankruptcy, environmental, tax, and licensing. Another key team member is Daniel Asimow, who has deep experience in sports litigation, and recently represented Oakland Raiders in an antitrust case.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 4

New York-based Jami Vibbert leads Arnold & Porter’s privacy, cybersecurity & data strategy practice, advising a range of clients, including leading pharma, telecoms, technology and media companies on compliance programs, incident response strategies and cybersecurity due diligence pertaining to M&A. Kenneth Chernof in Washington DC defends clients in class action claims, while also in DC, Ronald Lee and counsel Nancy Perkins are key cyber and data privacy practitioners respectively.

Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing Tier 4

Representing both innovators and customers, spanning a wide array of industries including car manufacturers, banks and telecoms, forms a large part of Arnold & Porter‘s Los Angeles-based outsourcing practice. Head of the tech transactions practice Thomas Magnani advises clients at the intersection of technology, entertainment and consumer products, frequently working on M&A and sponsorship deals. Matthew Maccoby assists clients with BPOs, ITOs as well as the licensing and distribution of technology. Ira Moskatel is a key contact for technology transactions involving infrastructure, software developments, call centers and supply chain management. The arrival of Niket Rele, focused on global outsourcing transactions, in particular cross-border India-US transactions, from Reed Smith LLP in August 2022 signficantly bolstered the practice.

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactions Tier 4

Arnold & Porter works with high-profile clients such as AT&T on their most substantial transactions from Washington DC, while also advising on a wide range of business-critical deals for regional broadcasters. Practice head Maureen Jeffreys has experience covering all mandates arising from transactions in the telecoms space, with comprehensive regulatory, transactional, and litigation expertise. Senior counsel Peter Schildkraut co-leads the team, with a background in assisting AT&T in all of its recent major communications transactions, working alongside senior counsel Scott Feira, who has represented clients before the FCC for merger reviews, license transfer proceedings, and debt and equity financing transactions.

Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 4

Bringing deep experience to Arnold & Porter‘s real estate finance group, practice head Steve Gliatta acts on behalf of leading financial institutions and non-bank lenders on first mortgage loans, mezzanine financing, preferred equity investments, and restructurings and workouts, throughout the US. Louis Hait lends his extensive experience in negotiating inter-creditor and co-lender agreements, and acquiring portfolios of performing and non-performing loans, and is also involved in representing hedge funds, opportunity funds, and pension plans that provide mezzanine, preferred equity, and common equity joint venture investments. Co-head Jeffrey Kapner has led numerous workouts and restructurings of complex senior debt, mezzanine financing, construction loans, distressed loans and asset sales.  

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 5

Working with a range of medical centers, healthcare companies, and universities, Arnold & Porter‘s healthcare team often advises on transactions concerning the ownership of vascular access clinics, independent physician associations, and clinically integrated delivery systems. Allison Shuren and Daniel Kracov jointly head the practice; Shuren, in particular, possesses key expertise in fraud and abuse matters, as well as FCA cases and physician self-referral issues. Mahnu Davar is well versed in compliance program management, regularly advising multinational corporations on government enforcement matters and regulatory inspections. All named practitioners are based in Washington DC.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+) Tier 5

Having established a strong reputation in the mid-market, Arnold & Porter represents buyers and sellers across a broad array of complex transactions including M&A, carve-outs, leveraged buyouts, and tender offers. Stephen Koval co-heads the team from New York, having an abundance of experience across key industries from retail and consumer goods to health care and industrials. Washington DC-based Andrew Varner also leads the team and is a specialist in ADG matters, being regularly instructed to advise on complex cross-border transactions. Key figures in New York are Kevin Lavin and Derek Stoldt, both lead the firm’s corporate and finance group and regularly act for PE funds and their portfolio companies, the former being a trusted advisor to DC Capital Partners.

Real estate Tier 5

Supported by its base in Washington DC and led by co-chair, Amy Rifkind, Arnold & Porter  has a focus real estate transactions involving federal government interests, as well as on large-scale office leasing. Its New York group is headed by fellow co-chair, Jeffrey Kapner , a top counsel for institutional lenders and property owners involved with commercial real estate finance and development. The firm also represents hotel owners and developers in the acquisition and sale of existing hotels, hotel financings, development and workout of distressed hotels.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 5

Arnold & Porter advises on federal, state, local, and international taxation concerns for a diverse roster of businesses, individuals, foundations, and governments. New York-based co-head Laurie Abramowitz, who is also a member of the firm’s life sciences and financial services groups, handles the tax aspects of M&A for private equity funds and public companies, in addition to her financing and restructuring expertise. Fellow co-head James Joseph focuses his practice on tax-exempt organizations, working with a mix of public charities, private foundations, international NGOs, and trade associations on various business ventures – an area in which Bridget Weiss further excels. Other recommended individuals include the REIT-focused Joseph Howe and estate planning expert Thomas Richardson. All named lawyers are based in Washington DC unless noted otherwise.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: transactional and regulatory

Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs)

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration Tier 1

Undoubtedly the "go-to" firm for State-side representations in the wake of an peerless track record of 48 (out of 49) positive outcomes, Arnold & Porter counts some 14 Latin American states among its clients; this perhaps unfairly overshadows its fine credentials as regards representing Latin American corporates in ICC arbitrations. The firm's sizeable arbitral group houses practitioners with government experience, who are members of ICSID's panel of arbitrators and/or have the linguistic and bicultural expertise to allow the team to conduct proceedings in Spanish. 30-year arbitral veteran Paolo Di Rosa founded the firm's international arbitration practice (which he subsequently led for 15 years) and has an exceptional record of success as a counsel; fully bilingual (Spanish/English) he has represented a dozen Latin American states in public international law matters and/or international litigation and arbitration. London partner Patricio Grané Labat is another deeply experienced figure in investor-state arbitration, including cases under the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but also handles international commercial arbitration, public international law, and international trade matters. A January 2022 lateral hire, New York partner Mélida Hodgson impresses in both international commercial cases and investor-state arbitrations (particularly on behalf of Venezuela); she has a notable focus on the infrastructure construction, mining, transportation and energy sectors. The experienced and versatile Whitney Debevoise provides further senior level gravitas and Latin America experience in the arbitral sphere. Emerging talent Mallory Silberman has represented the governments of Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, as well as representing investors in investor-State disputes against Argentina. Trilingual (English, French & Spanish) counsel Álvaro Nistal is also highly active in Latin America as part of his broader, global practice.

Latin America: International firms > Capital markets

Arnold & Porter remains at the forefront of sovereign and sub-sovereign representation. It advises a range of state entities, including ministries of finance, central banks, state-owned companies, states, and municipalities. Clients include the Republic of Panama, Republic of Colombia, Republic of El Salvador, and Banco Central do Brazil. The firm’s longstanding commitment to Latin America has also brought it a number of private sector corporate and financial institution clients. It is also noted for derivatives, structured finance and securitisation transactions, including diversified payment rights deals. The core Latin America team features a number of senior and experienced practitioners that have specialised in the region for decades and speak fluent Spanish and/or Portuguese. Whitney Debevoise is a veteran of the region, having represented Brazil, El Salvador, Panama and Honduras on numerous capital markets offerings over the years. Gregory Harrington is similarly experienced with a large number of sovereign and multilateral development bank clients. Panama native Raul Herrera, and counsels Arturo Caraballo and Carlos Pelaez, are also key figures in the team. All named individuals are based in Washington DC. The practice was further boosted in September 2023 with the hire of capital markets, PE and M&A partner Carlos Lobo (formerly at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP) to the firm's New York office; the Brazilian-born Lobo should significantly enhance the firm's network of relations in the Brazilian market.

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

Arnold & Porter is widely known for its representation of sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities but also acts for an extensive list of corporate and financial institution clients in Latin America. It has a particularly strong record in Brazil, where team members have worked on a range of project finance, acquisition finance, export prepayment and trade finance, and general corporate lending mandates. The practice is also noted for derivatives, structured finance and securitisations, including future flow diversified payments rights (DPR) transactions. More generally, firm has continued to advice sovereign governments and central banks on major financings, regulatory matters and disputes. Washington DC’s Gregory Harrington and Whitney Debevoise  have extensive sovereign connections, bringing a wealth of engagements; while New York’s Christopher Willott has a fine record in Brazil financings. Raul Herrera (a former IDB General Counsel) has a 25 year track record and experience across the LatAm and Caribbean regions; he and counsel Arturo Caraballo are also key members of the team.

Latin America: International firms > Compliance and investigations

Arnold & Porter has an impressive history in Latin America, which includes extensive geographic experience. This has provided a foundation for its well-established white-collar defence and investigations practice to build a solid Latin America-facing business, notably in internal investigations, government investigations, due diligence reviews and compliance, and risk assessment. The practice group features a number of former prosecutors and lawyers from the DOJ and SEC, and various of its practitioners are native or fluent Spanish and Portuguese speakers. Recent mandates saw the team continue to represent Samsung Heavy Industries in obtaining declinations from the DOJ related to a large FCPA case. New York’s Marcus Asner  is a key partner with strong Latin America experience.