The Legal 500

Within Asset finance and leasing, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s equipment finance and leasing practice is ‘outstanding in all respects’ and acts on a wide range of aircraft leasing and loan finance deals from its bases in New York and Los Angeles. The group has colleagues in London, the Middle East and Asia. The team has been particularly busy with the financing of aviation assets and renewable energy equipment, which included Junaid Chida acting for Citibank as equity investor and underwriter on the first leveraged lease financing of four wind farms to be built in California. Chida has also advised on a significant number of tax-credit structures, leveraged leases or structured finance vehicles for other renewable and clean energy power projects including the $1bn Coso geothermal power project leveraged lease financing and the $1bn equity investment in Frontier Wind power project. Practice head Marshall Stoddard in Los Angeles has ‘the ability to build consensus’ on the full range of bank finance matters.

Within Capital markets: debt offerings, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Providing ‘excellent counsel’, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP maintains top experience and expertise in healthcare, insurance, energy and retail. The firm has a well-established reputation in these areas, and often attracts major instructions from multinationals and other corporations. The firm advises both issuer and manager clients, and reports an increase in high-yield debt offerings, an area in which the practice has a steadily developing profile. Co-chair of the firm’s global corporate finance practice Frank Adams manages a ‘great team’ of ‘smart and efficient’ lawyers. In August 2010, Adams led in providing advice to Johnson & Johnson regarding a $550m registered public offering of 2.95% notes and a further offering of 4.50% notes. The transaction was particularly significant as all notes were issued with the lowest coupon ever achieved by a corporate issuer. Also on the issuer side and demonstrative of the firm’s strength in the insurance industry, co-chair John Schwolsky together with Vladimir Nicenko advised Metlife in several offerings to raise $15.6bn for the acquisition of ALICO. The deal comprised a $3.6bn offering of common stock, four senior notes offerings of total value $3bn, $3bn common equity units seller financing and $6bn of other seller financing, including common stock and tracking preferred stock. Acting as manager counsel, the team represented Barclays Capital regarding a $225m senior notes offering by The New York Times Company in November 2010. Clients rate the firm’s ‘partner attention’ and are also appreciative of the team’s ‘efficient billing’.

Within Capital markets: equity offerings, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s securities team is praised as providing ‘cogent and clear advice’, and advises several key managers in equity capital markets matters. Leading the team on the equity side is practice co-chair Donald Murray, who, together with the rest of the team, is described as ‘a pleasure to deal with’. The team handles IPOs, follow-on offerings and other equity transactions. Murray and Eric Blanchard represented UBS and JPMorgan as underwriters to a $342m registered convertible notes and bond swap public offering by a healthcare industry REIT. Murray is also advising the underwriters, led by UBS and Jefferies & Company, in several pending IPOs in the life sciences and clean technology arenas. Peter O’Brien represented BNY Mellon Capital Markets as sales agent and Bank of New York as the forward counterparty in the establishment of Westar Energy’s $500m equity shelf programme with a forward purchase option: the first transaction of its kind within the energy sector. Clients commend the ‘nimble’ team as providing ‘very quick’ responses.

Within Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is gaining increasing visibility in the high-yield debt arena. John Cobb, who joined the firm from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP in March 2009, is experienced in providing underwriter-side counsel. The ‘very knowledgeable’ Chris Peterson is ‘flexible and creative’ and helps clients ‘reach a mutually agreeable solution within the boundaries of relevant regulation’. The team advises a host of investment banks, and in 2010 acted for Barclays Capital on numerous instructions. Cobb, Michelle Rutta and the newly promoted partner Jacqueline Rose represented Barclays Capital and Goldman Sachs in a $825m Rule 144A/Reg. S 9.5% senior notes offering and a $950m credit facility, as part of a $1.6bn refinancing by DineEquity. The group also represented Barclays Capital, TD Securities (USA) and Wells Fargo in the $400m 8.25% senior secured notes offering by NAI Entertainment Holdings. It also assisted TD and Wells Fargo in a further $50m senior secured revolving credit facility and a $10m letter of credit subfacility. The firm also acted for Barclays Capital and Banc of America Securities in two registered securities offerings of aggregate amount $1bn to finance Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation’s acquisition of Tommy Hilfiger. Peterson, together with key issuer counsel and co-chair of the practice Frank Adams, also advised Central European Distribution Corporation in its registered public offering of common stock, a $380m Rule 144A/Reg. S 9.125% senior secured notes offering and a $380m 8.875% senior secured notes offering.

Within Corporate restructuring, tier 4

Led by the ‘wonderful, dedicated and brilliant’ Martin Bienenstock, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s ‘top-notch’ New York-based team provides ‘incredible insight and depth of understanding’ to an impressive roster of clients within the financial, energy and insurance sectors including Bank of America, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, CNR Properties and Ambac Assurance. Praised for its ‘outstanding professionalism’ and ‘strength in knowledge and resources’, the team combines corporate governance and restructuring expertise with the intention of avoiding liquidations and seeking ‘creative solutions’ in order to maintain shareholder values. Involved in a number of the problems besetting the automotive industry, Bienenstock has recently handled work for GM in the development of its Chapter 11 strategy, as well as the representation of Chrysler Financial during Chrysler’s Chapter 11 proceedings. Peter Ivanick is also a central figure within the team and is pivotal to the firm’s unparalleled expertise at handling insurance restructurings. Indeed, following his recent representation of Scottish Re on its $8bn global restructuring, Ivanick is currently acting for another major insurance company in the restructuring of its global operations. The ‘excellent’ Timothy Karcher is also recommended, in particular for his representation of retail, insurance and financial companies. At the beginning of February 2011, the firm’s West Coast office was given a major fillip by the arrival of the ‘extremely bright’ Bruce Bennett LLP and his nine-strong team from Hennigan Dorman LLP.

Within Financial services: regulatory, tier 5

Although Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP has broadened the scope of its practice somewhat to include occasional matters for banks, it is still predominantly centered on the insurance industry. Increasingly transactional in its focus, the firm has been particularly active advising on significant M&A transactions and capital raisings within the insurance industry. It is advising MetLife on its $16bn acquisition of American Life Insurance Company from AIG. In what was one of the largest acquisitions in the history of the insurance industry, the mandate involved complex regulatory issues, including co-ordinating regulatory approvals in more than 50 jurisdictions. The team also represented Fairfax Financial Holdings on its $370m acquisition of General Fidelity Insurance from Bank of America. The practice has also been involved in advising insurers on product development, including Karson Capital in the structuring and implementation of a novel product to enable life insurance securitizations. John Pruitt and Cynthia Shoss are pivotal members of a team that acts for a raft of key players in the insurance industry including Ambac Financial Group, AIG, Aviva, Fidelity National Financial, MBIA, Metropolitan Life Insurance, Munich Re and Zurich Financial Services. The firm is also active on the SEC enforcement side, where Ralph Ferrara and Ann Ashton are the main contacts.

Within Project finance, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP ‘excels at providing legal advice that supports practical realities and positive business outcomes’. New York based global chair Joseph Tato leads a team of 12 partners that comes highly recommended for its expertise in electrical power and municipal infrastructure, and has seen strong growth in renewable energy matters and a significant increase in emerging markets transactions, particularly in Africa. It advised Angola LNG in its ongoing $10bn project to eliminate gas flaring and monetize associated natural gas produced from Angola’s oil fields. In renewables, the team has acted on well over half of such projects in the US in recent years, and is representing Citibank in relation to the Alta Wind project, involving a $1.6bn leveraged lease financing of four wind farms to be constructed in California and operated by Terra-Gen Power; this is the first leveraged lease financing of wind-generating facilities, with a construction debt component and a grant bridge loan being marketed to public and private lenders prior to the construction of the scheme. It is also acting for BP in a significant $35bn ongoing deal, as a potential shipper on a proposed gas pipeline from the North Slope of Alaska. Tato, mentioned above, has a ‘high degree of technical skills and excellent client services’, and Betty Cerini has a ‘high level of professionalism and integrity’ and attracts high praise for her work in Latin America. Gregory Smith in Washington DC is ‘extremely bright and personable’, ‘gentle yet assured’. Karl Hopkins and Steven Otillar joined the Houston office from Baker & McKenzie, and have a specialism in oil and gas.

Within Structured finance , Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s ‘advice is prompt, well reasoned and researched and, above all, practical’. Stephen Rooney, whose ‘overall knowledge of securities is astounding’, heads the securitization and structured finance groups, and insurance derivatives expert Eileen Bannon fronts the derivatives team. The New York office houses the principal US lawyers, and the practice is well-represented across other US locations and in Asia and Europe. Clients comment on the effective utilization of resources, and the close working achieved with other groups, particularly in restructuring assignments. The defection of former co-chair Chris DiAngelo and a small group to Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in November 2010 impacts mainly in the securitization and municipal bond sector. Insurance expertise is the jewel in the firm’s crown, with clients including Allstate Insurance, Ambac Assurance, Legal & General and MBIA. For insurance matters, apart from Eileen Bannon’s ‘invaluable expertise’, Scott Avitabile is commended for his ‘real focus and attention to detail, he can recall where clauses are in massive documents’. In recent insurer instructions, the firm advised SCOR and Flagstone Re in the development of a repurchase agreement collateral structure in connection with catastrophe bonds, and numerous clients including Aon Benfield and Groupama in relation to insurance-linked securities and catastrophe bonds. Barbara Goodstein, expert in a wide range of receivables-backed products and offering ‘broad knowledge and good ideas’, led the team which represented Financial in the creation of its $400m commercial paper liquidity facility, funded by four major bank conduits. Evan Koster is also recommended, advising in derivatives, structured products and finance transactions in the US and Latin America.

Within Energy: transaction and regulatory, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a second tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP has a ‘very deep bench of knowledge’ and is ‘excellent across the board’, and the ‘excellent and pragmatic’ team is best known for its transactional focus and supporting regulatory approvals. The firm combines its FERC practice and state regulatory experience across numerous jurisdictions with commercial, project finance and M&A capability. The group’s scope spans all major energy sectors including a prominent position in renewable energy, in which it has power, solar and winds clients. The team recently advised Iberdrola USA’s subsidiary, Central Maine Power Company, on all FERC submittals in a $1.5bn electric transmission project, which will upgrade the company’s transmission system, the Maine Power Reliability Project. It also represents New York State Electric & Gas and Rochester Gas and Electric in the New York State Public Service Commission’s energy efficiency and renewable energy proceedings, in which it has worked with the companies to develop, implement and obtain approval for numerous energy efficiency programs. Catherine McCarthy and Scott Mueller co-head the team’s energy regulatory department. Bud Ellis, who is ‘responsive and always keeps the big picture in mind’, co-heads the firm’s utilities, power and pipelines practice. Peter O’Brien, who has expertise in capital markets transactions, has a ‘wealth of experience in the public utility industry generally, with SEC matters, and with various types of financings in which energy companies engage’. Thomas Moore, who co-heads the energy M&A practice, ‘is very responsive to customer needs and has positioned the firm as a “go-to” firm for any complex problem’.

Within Healthcare and life sciences, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Although it acts for some hospitals across the US and for Omnicare, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is recommended on the strength of its representation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biologics manufacturers in corporate finance, licensing and partnering deals, clients for which the firm also handles some litigation. Underwriter representation is also a sizeable part of the life sciences practice. In 2010, the firm acted for Novartis to purchase shares in Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and represented Merz Pharma on its $253m cash tender offer to acquire outstanding shares in BioForm Medical. New licensing clients include ProNovo and Axcan Pharmaceuticals. The practice is representing Organon Teknika in a Seventh Circuit appeal originating from a royalties arbitration with the University of Illinois. Stanton Lovenworth heads the practice from New York.

Within Insurance: advice to insurers, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a second tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, with nine offices across the US, has built an ‘outstanding’ reputation for its insurance and reinsurance work, with its dispute resolution practice bolstered by the firm’s regulatory and transactional expertise. Head of the insurance and reinsurance disputes practice John Nonna receives praise as a ‘very senior, trustworthy and competent advisor’ who ‘knows which strings to pull and in what way’. Eridania Perez impresses as an ‘excellent lawyer with an absolute client focus’, providing ‘accurate work even when under high pressure’. The firm is acting for MBIA in its defense at federal court level of a putative class action (over $1bn) seeking to set aside a transaction whereby MBIA transferred certain insurance business to a subsidiary. It is also representing the primary fidelity bond insurer and an excess bond insurer (certain underwriters at Lloyd’s) in connection with a coverage dispute arising out of underlying ‘Bernard Madoff’ investor actions brought against the insureds. Although involved in high-end coverage matters, the firm stands out as a ‘top choice’ for reinsurance litigation. It represented a major reinsurance company in its defense against allegations of fraud raised in connection with an inter-governmental investigation. Active clients include Ambac, AXA Financial, Berkshire Hathway Reinsurance Division, Chartis, General Reinsurance, Partner Re and Munich Reinsurance. Larry Schiffer is recommended.

Within Insurance: non-contentious, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a first tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a formidable force noted for its ‘outstanding’ service, and is ‘willing to go above and beyond’ when it comes to insurance transactional and regulatory work. The ‘highly personable and effective’ Donald Henderson is acting for Karson Capital in the structuring and implementation of life insurance securitizations (Triple-X and A-Triple X), and the group has been successful in obtaining a positive ruling on the product from the New York Insurance Department. In another highlight, transactional practice co-heads John Schwolsky and Alexander Dye led the advice to MetLife on its $16.2bn acquisition of American Life Insurance Company from AIG; this complex transaction involved the purchase of affiliated life insurance companies in over forty countries, and required regulatory approvals in over fifty jurisdictions. Indicative of its ‘sophisticated current industry knowledge’, the firm is also advising Ambac in a complex restructuring, including the establishment of a segregated account for certain of the client’s liabilities and the commuting of its remaining collateralized debt obligations of asset backed securities to $2.6bn in cash and $2bn in newly issued surplus notes. Other names on the firm’s client roster include Liberty Mutual, MBIA, Munich Re, Nationwide Mutual, SunLife Financial and Fidelity National. Michael Groll (another co-head of the insurance transactional practice) has ‘exceptional knowledge’, and can ‘grasp the issues and come up with an action plan in one phone call’. The insurance regulatory practice is co-headed by John Pruitt and Cynthia Shoss.

Within Overview,

New York-based Darby & Darby, one of the oldest IP boutiques in the US, was dissolved, with lawyers leaving to join general practice firms such as McDermott Will & Emery LLP and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, while San Francisco’s Townsend and Townsend and Crew merged with Kilpatrick Stockton to form Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton at the start of 2011. Once one of the IP powerhouses, Howrey LLP dissolved in April 2011. Among the key high-profile partner moves, former IP co-chairs William Rooklidge and Alan Grimaldi went to Jones Day and Mayer Brown respectively, while Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP hired a number of West Coast-based lawyers, including former vice-chairman Henry Bunsow. Bert Reiser, a key lawyer in Section 337 cases, and Matthew Moore, went to Latham & Watkins LLP. Matthew Wolf and counsel Marc Cohn moved to Arnold & Porter LLP.

Within Patent litigation: full coverage Leading lawyers

Within Trademarks: non-contentious (full coverage), tier 4

The trademarks team at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is small but specialized, with the bulk of the work being done from the New York office. The non-contentious group is led by Stanton Lovenworth, who has more than 30 years’ experience and has particular expertise in technology licensing. The team has experience across a broad range of industries, including technology-driven transactions. In 2010 the group represented The Walt Disney Company in its acquisition of Palo Alto-based Tapulous, a leading developer of music games for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, which involved trademark elements. Other clients include eBay, Starbucks, Hewlett-Packard and Dell.

Within Private equity funds, tier 5

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s private equity funds practice is ‘consistently excellent across the board’, offering ‘deep domain knowledge and good value for money’. It advises fund sponsors, asset managers and institutional investors on securities, governance, ERISA, Investment Advisers Act and structural issues. Despite unfavorable market conditions, the practice has expanded its sponsor client base, notably including Silverfern Group and Adva Capital. It has also seen an upturn in work relating to emerging markets, and advised on the formation of one of the largest real estate funds in Brazil. The team also advised GE Asset Management on forming International Private Equity Fund II. In an indication of its capability in the secondaries market, it advised an institutional investor on the $653m sale of a portfolio of 26 limited partnership interests, the largest private equity secondaries sale of the year. Practice head Joseph Smith and associate Russell Perkins are ‘outstanding fund counsel and conversant with all aspects of a comprehensive funds practice’.

Within International trade, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

The trade team at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is ‘very strong, always responsive, with a vast amount of knowledge’. Trade policy and FCPA work are particular areas of strength for the firm as part of a broader practice. The firm is preparing a major published study for the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) on China’s Renewable Energy Generating Equipment Industries designed to be a landmark study of China’s policies affecting the growth of its renewable energy equipment sector. The practice also acted for Alcoa in a successful appeal at the Commerce Department of an export classification request that had place an important company technology under a highly-controlled export classification. Alan Wolff leads the international trade practice and is described by clients as a ‘very fine lawyer’. Harry Clark is ‘excellent’.

Within Securities: shareholder litigation, tier 4

Praised for its ‘extraordinary client service, superior knowledge, and thoughtful yet practical advice’, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP impresses on the back of some excellent client feedback and mandates. The ‘extremely experienced and talented team of securities lawyers’ are ‘as creative and hard-working as they come’, and are commended for their ability to ‘excel in big picture strategy yet do not miss any detail’. Among the partners, Washington DC’s Ann Ashton ‘is by far the best attorney in the United States in the field of shareholder litigation. She combines extraordinary knowledge, customer service with a calm and practical manner that provides the utmost client satisfaction. She is truly without peer’. Alan Salpeter is singled out for his ‘great judgment and business litigation skills’, and his ‘expertise on how to handle complex litigation against auditors. He is one of the top, possibly the very top, Chicago expert in this area. His performance has been brilliant, and, to my surprise, reasonably priced’. The ‘clever and energetic’ Ralph Ferrara is a ‘quick thinker, very creative and top notch within this area’ and ‘should be at the top of anyone’s list for securities litigation’, while Jonathan Richman is an ‘excellent legal writer’. A major recent highlight was achieving an appellate victory for Omnicare in the affirmance of the dismissal of federal securities class action claims. Other major recent clients include Wachovia Capital Markets, Royal Dutch Shell, Zurich Financial Services and Alimentation Couche-Tard.

Within Supreme Court and appellate, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s busy appellate practice is co-chaired by ‘highly knowledgeable’ global litigation head Jeffrey Kessler. While the focus is primarily on the appellate side, the firm also has US Supreme Court experience and filed an amicus brief for players associations of the NFL, NHL and NBA, which supported the NFL’s stance in American Needle, Inc v National Football League. Ralph Ferrara is also experienced in the US Supreme Court, having argued five cases there. In appellate matters, the firm fields specialists by sector, including Kessler for antitrust and international arbitration appeals, as well as sports and entertainment matters; Harvey Kurzweil for securities litigation and corporate governance issues; and the ‘brilliant’ Alan Salpeter for class action litigation and disputes involving large groups. IP cases are led by Henry Bunsow, who was recruited from Howrey LLP prior to its dissolution.

Within Marketing and advertising, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s ‘responsive, thorough and savvy’ media and entertainment practice and intellectual property transactions group bring together expertise in trademark, copyright, advertising and privacy, advising one of the world’s largest consumer products companies on its diverse portfolio. Clients commend its lawyers’ ‘top-notch litigation skills’. The practice focuses on integrated marketing campaigns designed to communicate a consistent multimedia message across traditional and new platforms with a particular focus on targeted advertising, mobile devices, including tablets and interactive advertising including new developments such as click-over TV. Doron Goldstein and practice co-head Stanton Lovenworth advised on contracts relating to a variety of campaigns notably for Sun Products. As well as representing banks, insurance companies and power companies, the practice undertakes pro bono work for Seven Bar Foundation. Jeffrey Kessler and David Feher are ‘smart, detail oriented and responsive both on substance and timeliness’, and commended for their ‘strong industry knowledge’.

Within Technology: data protection and privacy, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

John Kennedy at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP advises on data privacy and security aspects of commercial transactions, M&A deals, outsourcing agreements and software-as-a-service agreements. The group has particular expertise in privacy aspects of acquisitions in the insurance industry, having advised on MetLife’s $16.2bn purchase of AIG’s ALICO. Regulatory work focused on compliance with the new Massachusetts data security regulation and the potential application of the FTC Red Flags Rule. Other work includes advising on data breaches and workplace data privacy issues, including those involving social networking. John Brockland in Silicon Valley is advising Catholic Healthcare West on the data privacy aspects of IT outsourcing and other transactions. Nathan Dee is also recommended.

Within Technology: outsourcing, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a second tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s ‘best in class’ international technology practice handles complex cross-border outsourcing deals. Led by global practice head Eric Reifschneider in Silicon Valley, commended for his ‘strength in legal/industry knowledge, business acumen and practicality, balanced and thorough advice’, it continues to gain ground in the hi-tech and healthcare sectors, notably with the hire of ‘fantastic outsourcing lawyer’ Robert Finkel in New York from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP. John Brockland offers specialist expertise in cloud computing, clean energy technologies, open source software. John Kennedy in New York also works on the customer side, handling comprehensive outsourcing projects for large enterprises in the financial services and insurance sector. Highlights included advising MetLife on complex IT issues involved in its $16bn acquisition of American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) from AIG and advising utility and energy companies on IT procurement.

Within Technology: transactions, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a second tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s technology transactions practice is supported by its global reach and IP prowess. In 2010, it continued to expand its technology capabilities in IT outsourcing and technology M&A in California, New York, Europe and Asia. Practice head and ‘tough, but principled negotiator’ Eric Reifschneider became leader of the firm’s global technology practice and managing partner of its Silicon Valley office. Clients appreciate his ‘outstanding command of the law and remarkable ability to draft complex provisions in the heat of negotiation’. The group handles high-stake, complex IP-related transactions and cross-border work for major technology companies. Highlights included advising Qualcomm on a $1.3bn cross-licensing deal with Samsung Electronics. John Brockland represented eBay in negotiating a joint venture agreement with Young Bae Ku, the founder of Gmarket, a leading e-commerce company in Korea. John Kennedy in New York handles M&A and outsourcing work for utilities, financial services companies and Fortune 500 companies. The team was further strengthened by outsourcing specialist Robert Finkel joining from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP. Key clients include Applied Materials, Blackboard, Blue Coat Systems, Catholic Healthcare West, Sanyo Electric, Sony, Yahoo! and Zynga.

Within Antitrust, tier 6

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP has demonstrated the capability to deal with multiple cases across a broad practice covering cartels and related private litigation, conduct cases, Robinson-Patman Act price discrimination cases, antitrust enforcement and patent rights, and standard-setting cases. The group also expanded its IP and antitrust law expertise by recruiting Washington DC-based Joseph Lavelle from Howrey LLP. Global practice co-head Jeffrey Kessler in New York is ‘an absolutely wonderful lawyer who pulls together highly competent and effective teams but remains fully engaged and in control’. His recent highlights include advising Panasonic on the cathode ray tubes investigation and compressors investigation, and the firm regularly represents Panasonic in major antitrust matters. In multi-district actions, New York-based Eamon O’Kelly has been defending JSC Uralkali, a Russian potash producer, regarding price-fixing allegations made by competitors; and defending Munich Reinsurance America against bid-rigging allegations. David Turetsky, who is ‘very thorough’ and has ‘deep subject matter expertise’, advises broadly on antitrust matters. He recently scored an important Supreme Court victory for the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), which won a decision against the National Football League’s (NFL) bid to be viewed as a single entity and thereby immune from antitrust rules. Turetsky is also representing the NFLPA in Tom Brady et al vs the National Football League et al, concerning alleged antitrust violations by the NFL resulting from a breakdown in negotiations over collective bargaining agreements. Turetsky also acted for MetLife on its $16bn purchase of American Life Insurance from AIG, which involved filings in over 70 countries.

Within M&A: large deals ($1bn-5bn), Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a second tier firm,

Based in northern California, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is widely praised for its technology M&A practice, and has reaped the benefits of its hires of ‘phenomenal’ practice head Rick Climan and partner Keith Flaum from Cooley LLP. While continuing work for longstanding clients, such as eBay and Applied Materials, the firm’s client roster has added a dozen new clients, including pre-public technology companies such as social gaming leader Zynga, as well as industry leaders Dell, Synopys and SANYO Electric. The group has also leveraged the firm’s global platform into a host of international acquisition and joint venture transactions, handling both inbound and outbound cross-border deals in Europe and Asia. Highlights included representing Japan’s SANYO Electric in the company’s pending sale of its chip making unit SANYO Semiconductor to ON Semiconductor in a cash and stock transaction, acting for Onyx Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded biotechnology company, in its $850m acquisition of Proteolix, and representing Zynga Game Network in its acquisition of XPD Media, a Beijing-based social gaming company. Clients say that this is an ‘excellent firm with superb insight that provides top-level service and value for complicated transactions. I personally find its lawyers more enjoyable to work with than most others’. Global M&A chair Morton Pierce is recommended.

Within Real estate, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Stuart Saft is the new real estate global practice head at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, where the 12-partner team provides ‘best-in-class legal services’ and ‘a much higher level of personal attention’ than most competitors. The group operates from New York and Washington DC, and is conversant with acquisition, disposition, development, conversion, land use, financing, leasing, and workout transactions. The practice has formed two specialty teams to assist clients when an economic downturn or disaster occurs. Recent highlights include Saft’s handling of the due diligence for MetLife’s $18bn acquisition of American Life Insurance Corporation, and representing the owners of The Apthorp on the $1.06bn renovation and conversion to condominium status of a landmark, mixed-use property in Manhattan. Stephen MacDonald represented TIAA on a $151m loan secured by mortgages on the Graybar Building in New York. Other clients include O’Connor Capital, The Moinian Group and Square Mile Capital.

Within Domestic tax: East Coast, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP ‘is as good as any firm in its tier, with the added benefit of lawyers that are not only smart and technically competent, but also nice to work with’. The East Coast tax group comprises some 30 fee-earners, substantially based in New York. Clients comment that New York-housed practice head Gordon Warnke, and Washington DC partner Joseph Pari, ‘a go-to adviser with unparalleled technical tax knowledge in all areas of corporate tax/M&A’, have created ‘the best M&A and corporate tax practice’. The department lost New York partners Devon Bodoh and Monica Coakley to KPMG in June 2010. Also in Washington DC, Abraham ‘Hap’ Shashy is highly recommended for structuring transactions. Partly due to the firm’s reputation in the insurance sector, Warnke led the team which advised MetLife on the tax aspects, of the record breaking $16bn acquisition of ALICO from a special purpose vehicle affiliate to AIG and the NY Federal Reserve. The group’s clients include Cenovus, Macquarie, Molson Coors Brewing and Walt Disney.

Within Domestic tax: West Coast, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s two-partner, four-associate Los Angeles-based tax team represents the equity investors and finance providers in an estimated 70% of major renewable energy projects in the United States. Sean Moran, who divides his time between the Los Angeles office and New York, is one of the nation’s experts in renewables energy taxation: Moran represented Citibank in connection with the first leveraged lease of wind generating facilities in which Citibank committed to purchase the Alta Wind Projects from developer Terra-Gen Power and leased them back to a Terra-Gen subsidiary in a deal worth $1.2bn. Michael Duff, in the Los Angeles office, also has considerable experience of structuring complex partnerships and limited liability companies in the renewables sector. Practice clients include MetLife, Citigroup and Wells Fargo Bank.

Within International, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a third tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP has ‘the best combination of technical tax knowledge and real-life deal experience’. In international as in domestic tax instructions, the group regularly provides clients with structuring and planning advice on complex corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, restructurings, sales and dispositions, and post-merger integration. In a recent instruction, New York-housed practice head Gordon Warnke, and Arthur Hazlitt joined with Washington DC-based Abraham ‘Hap’ Shashy andJoseph Pari, to advise EnCana on the US tax aspects of the spin-off of its integrated oil business in a complex transaction structured to be tax free in both Canada and the US. The group’s clients include Cenovus, Macquarie, Molson Coors Brewing and Walt Disney.

Within Tax controversy, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is a second tier firm,

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s New York-based ‘pre-eminent specialist in tax controversy, procedure and administration’ Lawrence Hill heads the 53-fee-earner tax controversy practice, which provides ‘excellent service and sound judgment’. The group has established a strong following of financial institutions and insurers whose instructions include cross-border issues, as well as US federal tax matters, and is also active in white-collar criminal defense. Insurance taxation guru George Abramowitz is handling crucial litigation on behalf of second-biggest bond insurer Ambac Assurance; the IRS is disputing the effect of a restructuring intended to ring fence liabilities and is demanding payment of an incorrectly claimed tax refund of $700m, a sum in excess of available cash sufficient to trigger a process which would require the closing of open swap positions to a value of $3bn. In Washington DC, Abraham ‘Hap’ Shashy, a former chief counsel of the IRS, bridges controversy and complex transaction planning, and Tamara Ashford is an experienced appellate litigator with considerable expertise in complex offshore and international matters. In New York, Seth Farber combines tax controversy with antitrust litigation, and Mark Allison has represented several international banks in IRS examinations and appeals. Practice clients include AIG, Barclays, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, G-I Holdings, Mirant Corporation and HSBC.