The Legal 500

United States

Real estate

Real estate - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown is ‘a trusted partner in complex negotiations, particularly in acquisition transactions and joint ventures’. The firm’s client base consists of public and private companies, private equity firms and institutional investors, and the team regularly handles the full range of real estate matters, including transactions, joint ventures, financings and restructurings. The firm is also noted for its strong cross-border practice, representing a mix of overseas investors in inbound transactions from Asia, Europe and the Americas. Chicago-based Jeffrey Usow heads the practice, which recently acted for Principal Financial Group in its exchange of tenancy in common interests in approximately 100 industrial warehouse buildings in Los Angeles, and also advised Isle of Capri Casino on the $1.7m sale of its portfolio to Eldorado Resorts. The firm is also representing HFZ Capital Group in the $1.7bn debt and equity financing of its ground-up construction of a mixed-use project in New York City, a development consisting of 240 residential condos, the five-star Six Senses Hotel and a significant retail component. Heather Adkerson and Brian Davis are key figures in the Chicago office, and in Houston, Gerami Granello advises on cross-border transactions with Latin America.

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United States: Antitrust

Cartel

Cartel - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s team is led by Mark Ryan and has a strong track record acting for corporates and individual executives. In addition to handling matters initiated by federal and state authorities in the US, the firm’s global reach gives it a strong footing in investigations and litigation in Europe and Asia. Ryan, Richard Favretto, William Stallings and Robert Bloch bring the experience of having held high-ranking positions in the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. Nestlé USA, Google and Cargill are among the firm’s notable clients.

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Civil litigation/class actions: defense

Civil litigation/class actions: defense - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s practice is led by Mark Ryan, who was the first-ever director of litigation at the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. The team has an excellent record of securing summary judgments and appellate victories at US federal and state level. Andrew Marovitz and Britt Miller, who are located in Chicago, are defending Lear Corporation against direct, indirect and public entity purchaser putative class actions connected with alleged price-fixing and bid-rigging by manufacturers of automotive wire harnesses and related components. Elsewhere, litigated merger challenges are another pillar of the practice; William Stallings, Ryan and others acted for CNH Industrial as the initial complainant in the DOJ’s lawsuit against Deere & Company’s proposed acquisition of Precision Planting from Monsanto. Other notable practitioners include Carmine Zarlenga and Adam Hudes. Named lawyers are based in Washington DC, except where otherwise noted.

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Merger control

Merger control - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown has a full-service practice covering all aspects of merger control, including pre-merger analysis (such as advice on strategic structurings and transactions to balance competition concerns), Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) and international filings, and merger investigations and litigation. William Stallings and Mark Ryan acted for CNH Industrial as the initial complainant in the DOJ’s lawsuit seeking to block Deere & Company’s proposed acquisition of Precision Planting from Monsanto. The team also advised CNH on a review of the same transaction by Brazilian antitrust agency CADE. In 2016, Stallings, Ryan and counsel Meytal McCoy advised Virgin America on the DOJ’s review of its proposed takeover by Alaska Air Group, and also on a related private lawsuit. More recently, Scott Perlman and senior counsel Adrian Steel are acting for Global Houghton in the FTC’s second request investigation into the proposed $1.4bn sale of the business to Quaker Chemical; the firm’s Brussels office is handling a related investigation in Europe. All named individuals are based in Washington DC.

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United States: Dispute resolution

Appellate

Appellate: courts of appeals - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal) - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

‘Gold standard advice’ attracts the most complex mandates at Mayer Brown’s ‘outstanding’ team of ‘superstars, who think beyond the case to see the big picture and plan for it’. The group houses ‘exceptional partners, whose high-octane brain power provides actionable solutions and competitive business advantage’. Andrew Pincus, whose ‘oral advocacy and strategic acumen are unsurpassed’, argued for the petitioner in Impression Products, Inc. v Lexmark International, Inc, the US Supreme Court patent infringement appeal; Paul Hughes was also part of the team, which secured a 7-1 victory. A team led by Pincus obtained another 7-1 judgment in the US Supreme Court in Kindred Nursing Centers Limited Partnership v Clark, also acting for the petitioner. Evan Tager ‘has a jeweler’s eye for legal issues, sees things that no one else does, and communicates them to courts as no one else can’. Both Brian Netter and Michael Kimberly ‘produce jaw-droppingly good work and are a joy to work with’. Charles Rothfeld is also recommended.

Leading lawyers

Next generation lawyers

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Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to corporates - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to individuals - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s team is led by the ‘well-regarded’ Greg Deis and William Michael Jr in Chicago; Kelly Kramer in Washington DC; and Daniel Stein in New York. The group represented Las Vegas Sands in connection with DOJ and SEC FCPA investigation involving whistleblower allegations regarding the company’s conduct in Macau, resulting in a deferred prosecution. Washington DC’s Laurence Urgenson (who is noted for his ‘extensive white-collar expertise’) was selected by the DOJ and SEC to lead LATAM Airlines Group’s independent monitorship, in connection with an FCPA enforcement action. New York’s Michael Martinez represented Hugo Jinkis, who was indicted by the Eastern District of New York US Attorney’s Office for his alleged role in obtaining broadcasting and advertising rights to FIFA soccer tournaments through $110m in commercial bribes. In January 2018, Glen Kopp joined the New York office from Bracewell LLP.

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Financial services litigation

Financial services litigation - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Leveraging the expertise of lawyers in the US and across the most significant global financial locales of London, Frankfurt, Paris and Hong Kong, Mayer Brown has particular strength in cross-border matters, including the extraterritorial application of US law to global financial institutions, forum non-conveniens and personal jurisdiction grounds for dismissal, and foreign data protection and bank secrecy laws. Mark Hanchet regularly handles work for well-known foreign banking institutions such as HSBC, which he represents as one of the defendant banks accused under the Anti-Terrorism Act of helping Iran process billions of dollars in transfers and finance terrorists who attacked American military personnel serving in Iraq. Matthew Ingber has gained an excellent reputation in the market, particularly for his work on behalf of securitization trustees in litigation brought against them alleging a failure to adequately protect the interests of the noteholders. In a market-defining matter and one which has huge ramifications for other bank trustees going as it does to the very essence of their corporate trust business model, Ingber successfully represented Bank of New York Mellon (BNYM) in a four-week bench trial (the first case to proceed to trial among the dozens pending against RMBS trustees) brought against it by insurance company Western & Southern. Christopher Houpt is also noted for his structured finance litigation expertise and had a key role in the aforementioned BNYM litigation. Steven Wolowitz continues to represent Société Générale in class action litigation surrounding its alleged role in Libor market manipulation. Lucia Nale is recommended for consumer finance-related litigation.

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General commercial disputes

General commercial disputes - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

At ‘outstanding’ firm Mayer Brown, ‘the lawyers are all superb, with great depth, including at the associate level’. The team has an impressive track record representing leading technology companies in antitrust, privacy and class action cases; Edward Johnson, Lee Rubin and Donald Falk in Palo Alto, the ‘very professional’ John Nadolenco in Los Angeles and New York-based Lauren Goldman have been taking key roles in such high-stakes cases. The firm’s highly regarded appellate practice is another distinguishing feature. Key contacts in Washington DC include Reginald Goeke, ‘brilliant strategist and counselor’ Evan Tager and Archis Parasharami, who has a ‘calming presence’. Highly experienced litigator Lori Lightfoot is based in Chicago.

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International arbitration

International arbitration - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown regularly handles complex international arbitrations, such as BIT disputes, across the construction, energy, finance, insurance, life sciences, mining, real estate, environmental, IP, telecoms, maritime and aerospace sectors. Suzlon Wind Energy, Merck & Co, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Panama Canal Authority are clients. New York-based Ted Howes heads the team, which spans the firm’s Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Houston offices. Michael Lennon is the key contact in Houston. Sarah Reynolds in Chicago and Soledad O’Donnell, who splits her time between Chicago and Houston, were recently promoted to partner.

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International trade

International trade - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Based out of Washington DC but also aided by numerous pivotal international offices including Brussels, Mayer Brown provides ‘practical and responsive’ advice to corporates, trade associations and governments across a broad cross-section of trade compliance, remedies and CFIUS matters. With numerous former high-ranking government officials in its ranks, including two former USTRs, the team has excellent credibility before government agencies and in contentious matters it is equally at home handling work for petitioners as it is for respondents. Formerly resident in the firm’s Beijing office, Matthew McConkey specializes in handling US trade remedy proceedings involving Asian companies/products and is representing the US Aluminium Extrusions Council as an interested party in the Section 232 investigation into the national security implications of aluminium imports from China into the US. Team head Duane Layton is well versed in handling WTO disputes and is representing the Indonesian government in a high-profile and closely watched WTO challenge of Australian measures requiring "plain packaging" on tobacco products. Sydney Mintzer spearheads the firm’s customs offering, while the arrival in February 2017 of Tamer Soliman from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP enhances the team’s strength in relation to export control and sanctions matters. Timothy Keeler provides excellent trade policy insight in light of his private practice experience and former high-ranking position at the USTR.

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Product liability, mass tort and class action: consumer products (including tobacco)

Product liability, mass tort and class action: consumer products (including tobacco) - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s 17-strong product liability and mass torts practice is experienced in the tobacco, electronics, food and beverages sectors and stands out for being ‘extremely knowledgeable about the substance of food labeling issues’. Led by practice co-head and ‘committed subject matter expert’ Dale Giali in Los Angeles, the team defended Kind in 12 consumer class actions related to misleading labeling claims on snack bar products. In other work, ‘excellent’ New York-based co-head Lauren Goldman continues to act as national counsel for Philip Morris in consumer fraud and health-related lawsuits and, separately, represents the client in several Engle Progeny cases. Nestle, Whirlpool and Chobani are also part of the firm’s client roster. Carmine Zarlenga co-heads the practice in Washington DC.

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Product liability, mass tort and class action: pharmaceuticals and medical devices - defense

Product liability, mass tort and class action: pharmaceuticals and medical devices - defense - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s ‘excellent’ life sciences litigation team is jointly headed by Henninger Bullock in New York and Chicago-based Michael Olsen and Daniel Ring, who is particularly experienced in medical device litigation. Together with Washington DC-based ‘pre-emption expert’ Andrew Tauber, who is recommended for his ‘great depth of knowledge’, Ring continues to act as national pre-emption counsel for Medtronic in relation to nationwide product liability litigation involving the client’s Infuse bone-graft device, and recently obtained dismissal of several related lawsuits. St Jude Medical, Abbott Laboratories and Eli Lilly are also part of the firm’s client roster.

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Product liability, mass tort and class action: toxic tort - defense

Product liability, mass tort and class action: toxic tort - defense - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

The department at Mayer Brown regularly handles product liability lawsuits, class actions and mass torts arising from claims in the environmental and chemical products areas. The practice is jointly headed by Henninger Bullock in New York, and Michael Olsen and Daniel Ring in Chicago. Washington DC-based Michael Lackey continues to represent Veolia and its US subsidiary in a putative class action and individual cases related to its alleged contribution in the high-profile Flint Water Crisis. Cargill, Lockheed and Union Carbide are other clients of the firm.

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Securities litigation: defense

Securities litigation: defense - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s New York securities litigation team is ‘highly responsive, very detail oriented and provides high-value advice from subject matter experts’. Joseph De Simone, Richard Spehr and Steven Wolowitz (who is a ‘thought leader and an expert in his field’) are the key partners in the practice. The firm, which was heavily involved in securities litigation arising from the global financial crisis, is noted for the close integration of its litigation, investigation and enforcement capabilities. Its highlights included the work of Christopher Houpt, Michael Martinez and Matthew Ingber for Bank of New York Mellon in cases related to its role as trustee of RMBS transactions. In re The Bank of New York Mellon saw the bank settle claims for $8.5bn, the largest private settlement in history, but litigation continues in regard to how the settlement is distributed. In another key case, Wolowitz advised Société Générale on class actions alleging manipulation of reference rates including Libor. Michele Odorizzi in Chicago is also recommended.

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United States: Finance

Capital markets: debt offerings

Capital markets: debt offerings - advice to issuers - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Capital markets: debt offerings - advice to underwriters - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s comprehensive national group regularly advises corporate issuers and most major underwriters on debt capital markets transactions. Edward Best heads the group from Chicago and acted for the underwriters on several high-profile offerings over the past year, including advising Morgan Stanley on Kellogg’s €600m notes issuance. On the issuer side, Chicago-based Michael Hermsen assisted Prologis with its £500m notes offering, while Palo Alto-based Jennifer Carlson advised Plastipak Holdings on a $500m notes offering. The group has also recently undertaken work for AGT Food and Ingredients, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Halcón Resources. Chicago-based David Schuette is also recommended. The firm hired a senior capital markets team from Morrison & Foerster LLP in 2018, which included new global practice co-head Anna Pinedo and Jerry Marlatt, as well as tax specialists Thomas Humphreys and Remmelt Reigersman - all join the New York office, except Reigersman who joins in Palo Alto.

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Capital markets: equity offerings

Capital markets: equity offerings - advice to issuers - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Capital markets: equity offerings - advice to managers - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s national practice is led out of Chicago by Edward Best and also draws upon key names in New York, Houston and Palo Alto. The team is well versed in the full spread of equity deals and routinely acts for issuers, investment banks, financial sponsors, placement agents and selling shareholders in major deals. In a significant highlight, New York’s George Baptista advised Companhia de Saneamento do Paraná on its $496m IPO. New York’s David Bakst is a high-profile figure in the team and assisted Adaptimmune Therapeutics with its $61.9m offering of American depositary Shares. New York-based John Berkery and Houston-based William Heller are also recommended. In a significant development, the firm recently hired a new capital markets team from Morrison & Foerster LLP, which included new global group co-head Anna Pinedo and Jerry Marlatt, as well as tax specialists Thomas Humphreys and Remmelt Reigersman - all join the New York office, except Reigersman who joins in Palo Alto. In November 2018, Phyllis Korff joined in New York from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

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Capital markets: global offerings

Capital markets: global offerings - advice to issuers - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Capital markets: global offerings - advice to underwriters - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s diverse practice, which attracts a high volume of both equity and debt work, routinely advises issuers and underwriters on public and private offerings - it also acts for financial sponsors and selling shareholders on equity transactions. Edward Best heads the group from Chicago and has a robust record in debt and equity matters; he recently advised Fédération des caisses Desjardins Du Québec on its $300m issuance of floating-rate senior notes. In another Canada-related highlight, a cross-office team comprised of London, New York and Chicago lawyers advised Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on its $1bn notes offering. The firm’s longstanding relationship with Brazil firm Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown also ensures it is regularly involved in Latin American deals. In a recent example, New York’s David Bakst worked alongside a Sao Paulo team to act as US counsel to the underwriters on BK Brasil Operação e Assessoria a Restaurantes’ R$2.2bn IPO. The firm hired a new capital markets team from Morrison & Foerster LLP in 2018, which included new global group co-head Anna Pinedo and Jerry Marlatt as well as tax specialists Thomas Humphreys and Remmelt Reigersman - all join the New York office, except Reigersman who is based in Palo Alto.

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Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings - advice to issuers - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s high-yield debt practice, which is led out of Chicago by Edward Best, has a strong emphasis on issuer representations but also has significant underwriter-side experience. Houston’s William Heller is a key contact for energy-related securities matters and recently assisted Halcón Resources with its $850m notes offering. Palo Alto-based Jennifer Carlson advised Plastipak Holdings on its $500m notes issuance. Among its manager side work, the firm acted for an underwriter on Cydsa’s $330m offering of senior notes. John Berkery and Houston’s Harry Beaudry are also noted. In 2018, the firm hired a new capital markets team from Morrison & Foerster LLP, which included new global department co-head Anna Pinedo, and Jerry Marlatt as well as tax specialists Thomas Humphreys and¬ Palo Alto-based Remmelt Reigersman. Individuals are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

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Commercial lending

Commercial lending: advice to borrowers - ranked: tier 5

Mayer Brown

Commercial lending: advice to lenders - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s ‘overall excellent’ finance team is popular for lender and borrower work, and has well-stocked teams in New York, Chicago, Charlotte and Houston. Jointly led by David Duffee in New York and Douglas Doetsch in Chicago, the firm is strong in several areas, including energy finance, fund finance and Latin American financings (an area where Doetsch has particular expertise). Recent highlights on the lender side include advising the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, BNP Paribas, Citigroup Global Markets and HSBC Securities on a $1.5bn loan extension to Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation is another client, which it advised on a $1.25bn syndicated loan to KKR Asian Fund III. Significant borrower mandates included advising Yum! Brands on a $3.5bn refinancing, and acting for Frontier Communications Corporation on $1.5bn term loan. Other major clients include Plastipak Holdings, Brookfield Real Estate Finance Fund, and the Jordan Company. Key partners include Adam Wolk and the ‘top notch’ Kristin Rylko. The firm recently expanded in New York following the recruitment of Scott Zemser from Allen & Overy LLP.

Leading lawyers

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Financial services regulation

Financial services regulation - ranked: tier 5

Mayer Brown

Though primarily based out of the firm’s Washington DC office, the team at Mayer Brown is able to leverage the expertise of its lawyers based in the global financial centres of New York, London and Hong Kong to provide a comprehensive regulatory offering to domestic and international banks, broker-dealers, as well as the full array of consumer finance participants. David Beam has significant payments expertise and was the lead regulatory partner in the firm’s restructuring of American Express’ prepaid business. Beam also provides ongoing regulatory compliance advice to numerous fintech companies offering payment services. Steven Kaplan handles standalone consumer finance advisory work, as well as transactional-driven regulatory work; he is acting for Goldman Sachs on the regulatory aspects associated with its acquisition of Genesis Capital. Phillip Schulman’s broad-ranging consumer finance compliance practice includes particular expertise within the real estate finance and mortgage banking sectors. Other recommended partners include Ori Lev, for CFPB-related work; Jerome Roche, for broker-dealer matters; and Thomas Delaney, whose work encompasses compliance and agency enforcement/investigations work across the panoply of financial services matters, including OFAC-related issues.

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Project finance

Project finance: advice to lender - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Project finance: advice to sponsor - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

In 2017 Mayer Brown acted for procuring entities on a large of number of public-private partnerships, including advising California High-Speed Rail Authority on the procurement and financing of its proposed state-wide high-speed rail network, and acting for

Leading lawyers

Next generation lawyers

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Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate

Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate - ranked: tier 5

Mayer Brown

‘Knowledgeable in both corporate trust theory and practice as well as litigation strategy and execution’, Mayer Brown is largely known for representing international banks as creditors and investors in distressed companies. New York-based Frederick Hyman led a team advising Malayan Banking Berhad as creditors in the cross-border Chapter 11 proceedings of China Fisheries Group. In the bankruptcy case of Peabody Energy Corporation the team advised PNC Bank and PNC Capital Markets on the asset-backed DIP financing facility. Brian Trust in New York heads the group which also includes Sean Scott and the ‘tough and knowledgeable’ Matthew Wargin; both are based in Chicago.

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Structured finance: derivatives and structured products

Structured finance: derivatives and structured products - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown has played a significant role in assisting banks and trade organizations with adjusting to new US regulatory requirements, and has also seen a resurgence in its structured transactions practice. Curtis Doty has broad transactional experience covering structured derivatives for project and leveraged finance transactions, insurance products and securitizations. Doty’s highlights included a deal-contingent foreign currency hedge and multiple interest rate hedges. Counsel Pamela Sackmann has provided derivatives advice on various securitized transactions. The team also acts for major industry associations and has provided opinions on novel points of regulatory interpretation such as risk-sharing and the effects of Dodd-Frank on non-US institutions. Anna Pinedo, who has expertise in the establishment of exchange-traded funds, joined the team in 2018.

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Structured finance: securitization

Structured finance: securitization - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s ‘impressively versatile’ practice is increasingly involved in cross-border transactions ABS, MBS and CLO transactions, which have included multiple market-firsts in 2017. Stuart Litwin led a multi-jurisdictional team that advised Dell Bank International, as issuer, on a €600m financing transaction, which was the client’s first securitization in Europe. Litwin also advised Guggenheim Securities as initial purchaser of securitized small-business marketplace loans, which was the issuer’s first Rule 144A ABS transaction. Jason Kravitt and Paul Forrester assisted a number of major US, European and Asian trade organizations with a joint comment letter regarding the Basel Committee proposal to revise the regulatory capital treatment of securitization investments. Jon Van Gorp and Angela Ulum are also recommended. In the Chicago office, Susannah Schmid was promoted to partner in 2017, while Darius Horton and Lindsay O’Neil made partner in 2018. Similarly, Michael Gaffney was promoted to partner in the Charlotte office. Also in 2018, a large team including Anna Pinedo and covered bond expert Jerry Marlatt joined the New York office from Morrison & Foerster LLP. Unless stated otherwise, all lawyers mentioned are based in Chicago.

Leading lawyers

Next generation lawyers

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United States: Government

Government contracts

Government contracts - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s government contracts practice has a solid track record in assisting contractors from a wide spectrum of industries across the entire life cycle of the awarding process and throughout contract performance. The team advises clients on bid protests, litigation, FCA issues, regulatory matters and compliance. It represented QTC Medical Services as an intervenor in a bid protest concerning the award of a $6.8bn contract by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the provision of medical disability examination services. Washington DC-based Marcia Madsen, who heads the practice, Cameron Hamrick and David Dowd are key names. The group also attracts praise for its notable state and local government contracts practices in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Leading lawyers

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Government relations

Government relations - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

The ‘excellent’ team at Mayer Brown is noted for assisting international, federal, state and local clients with government affairs matters; based in Chicago, where John Janicik and Mitchell Holzrichter are names to note, and Los Angeles, where Philip Recht and Edgar Khalatian are based and singled out for their expertise. Recht leads ongoing advice to the California High-Speed Rail Authority on the development of the high-speed rail network, currently the largest public works project in the US. Alongside Andrew Kugler, Recht advises the Lytton Rancheria tribe on state legislative and regulatory issues pertaining to internet gaming, alongside handling negotiations with Congress to enact legislation to place Sonoma County, the land selected for the tribe’s proposed housing development project, in trust for the tribe. In an example of its international capabilities, the group represented the government of Puerto Rico in advocacy for the development of a US-Puerto Rico tax policy relationship. Michael Kantor, Timothy Keeler and Duane Layton are recommended in the Washington DC office.

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United States: Industry focus

Energy transactions: oil and gas

Energy transactions: oil and gas - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown regularly features on significant Latin American transactions for clients such as Ecopetrol, and the team is also experienced in advising power companies on the acquisition and financing of LNG terminals. Houston-based Thomas Moore heads the practice.

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Energy: renewable/alternative

Energy: renewable/alternative - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown continued to be active on project finance mandates for a range of investors and banks. New York-based Christopher Erckert acted for the noteholders on the private placement of bonds issued by Invenergy to finance the operation of its Campo Palomas wind energy project in Uruguay. Houston-based Robert Goldberg and Washington DC-based tax specialist Jeffrey Davis jointly head the team.

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Environment: litigation

Environment: litigation - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s ‘service is extremely good’. The team acts in high-stakes matters, such as air enforcement cases involving the CAA New Source Review program, criminal environmental prosecutions, and major development projects. It represented several industry groups in challenging the legality of the EPA’s new regulation defining the waters of the US. The team also defended CSX Transportation in several environmental tort lawsuits that alleged personal injuries and property damage resulting from the 2012 derailment of a Conrail train. The practice’s co-chairs are Chicago-based Richard Bulger, who acts for clients in the chemical, utility, scrap metal, railroad, and ranching industries, and Mark Ter Molen, whose experience includes toxic tort trials and appeals, as well as putative class actions. Also in Chicago, Timothy Bishop has substantial experience in environmental and land use litigation; in Washington DC, ‘the extremely knowledgeable’ John Hahn ‘always has the client’s best interests at heart’; and Dan Himmelfarb and Evan Tager, and counsel Roger Patrick, are also widely praised.

Leading lawyers

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Insurance: non-contentious

Insurance: non-contentious - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown handles international transactional mandates for global insurance players and is active in M&A, corporate finance and capital raising transactions in the insurance sector. The team is particularly adept at catastrophe bond transactions, advising insurers and reinsurers, banks and other financial institutions, insurance brokers, and investors such as private equity firms, hedge funds and dedicated funds. Department heads David Alberts and Stephen Rooney in New York led advice for The Hartford on its acquisition of Aetna’s US group life and disability business for $1.45bn. Alberts and Richard Spitzer represented Armour Group in the formation of a new insurance fund for run-off insurance investments in collaboration with Credit Suisse Asset Management. Munich Re, Beazley, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Catalina Holdings and AllLife are also clients. Lawrence Hamilton in Chicago, Francis Monaco and Magnus Karlberg are also recommended. Named lawyers are based in New York unless otherwise stated. James Woods has left the firm.

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Transport: rail and road - finance

Transport: rail and road - finance - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s New York-based asset finance group regularly handles complex leasing transactions and public and private capital markets deals, including equipment trust certificate (ETC) and enhanced equipment trust certificate (EETC) issuances. Led by George Miller, the team has been most active as lender’s counsel in railcar securitizations and lease warehouse facilities. Indeed, the department, which includes Barbara Goodstein, has acted for domestic and foreign lending institutions in a variety of finance and leasing transactions in 2017, but also acted for the purchasers in an ABS issuance backed by a fleet of locomotives, and advised a rail corporation in connection with the establishment of a high-value loan facility.

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Transport: rail and road - litigation

Transport: rail and road - litigation - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

The Washington DC-based team at Mayer Brown specializes in appellate work for major railroad companies and has played a major role in the development of precedent concerning railroad tort liability. Indeed, Evan Tager is leading a team defending CSX Transportation in more than 25 environmental tort claims arising from the derailment of a train carrying chemical cargo. Senior counsel Adrian Steel and counsel Peter Denton are representing BNSF Railway Company in a high-value dispute with Union Pacific Railroad Corporation concerning the allocation of costs associated with certain tracking rights agreements between the two parties. Andrew Tauber is involved in an environment-related claim concerning federal pre-emption.

Leading lawyers

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Transport: rail and road - regulation

Transport: rail and road - regulation - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

With dedicated specialists in the rail and road sectors, Mayer Brown is often involved in legislative and rulemaking procedures and advises railroads, auto manufacturers and tech companies on the most pressing industry regulations. Acting for CSX Transportation, Andrew Tauber and Evan Tager successfully advocated against proposed legislation that would have prohibited one-person train crews. Senior counsel Adrian Steel led a team assisting BNSF Railway with the exercise of its access rights to a rail line jointly owned by Union Pacifc and Kansas City Southern Railway. The auto group, which includes Linda Rhodes, has expertise in cybersecurity and traffic safety issues. Erika Jones is another key contact, and Los Angeles-based partners Philip Recht and Andrew Kugler have experience in driverless car projects.

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United States: Intellectual property

Copyright

Copyright - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s team regularly represents content distributors in disputes with copyright owners and has significant expertise in online and digital distribution channels. The team recently defended Spotify in class action copyright litigation in which the plaintiffs alleged the client had failed to pay proper royalties to songwriters, securing a more favorable settlement than initially anticipated. The firm is also representing Nestlé and Scotia Bank as defendants in separate copyright infringement claims. Litigators John Mancini and Allison Stillman in New York, and Richard Assmus in Chicago are recommended.

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Patent litigation: full coverage

Patent litigation: full coverage - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown focuses on the technology and life sciences sectors, flanked by expertise in the telecoms and consumer goods industries. Alan Grimaldi in Washington DC, New York’s Lisa Ferri and Gabriela Kennedy in Hong Kong direct the practice. In Washington DC, appellate expert Andrew Pincus led the successful representation of Impression Products in a much-publicised Supreme Court case regarding the patent owner’s right to post-sale product control. The team also acted as co-lead for plaintiffs Gilead Sciences and Emory University in Hatch-Waxman litigation against Mylan, involving patents on blockbuster HIV drug Truvada. Additionally, the group assisted LG Electronics with an international arbitration against Nokia regarding FRAND rates for patents on cellular standards. Other clients include Endo Pharmaceuticals, Google and Marvell Semiconductor. Joseph Mahoney in Chicago, John Mancini, Jamie Beaber and Colleen Tracy James in New York as well as Stephen Baskin in the Washington DC office, are the key contacts.

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Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters)

Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

From trial through to appellate work, the Mayer Brown team’s comprehensive contentious expertise attracts clients such as Integra Connect, Hypertec and Gemalto. Highlights included obtaining summary judgment in a federal trade secrets misappropriation claim for Frank Russell Company, thus rebutting the plaintiff’s $60m damages claim. New York-based John Mancini and Reginald Goeke head the group, while Dale Giali in Los Angeles is recommended.

Leading lawyers

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Trademarks: litigation

Trademarks: litigation - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s group is known for its strong international reach. New York-based group head John Mancini and Washington DC-based Carmine Zarlenga continue to advise Nestlé in various disputes, including opposition proceedings brought against third-party users of its mark in foreign jurisdictions. Mancini as well as Emily Nash and Kristine Young in Chicago have been acting for Nespresso in various trademark and trade dress disputes brought against a number of competitors. The group also includes Allison Levine Stillman in New York and Richard Assmus in Chicago.

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United States: Labor and employment

ERISA litigation

ERISA litigation - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

According to one client, ‘no firm compares to’ Mayer Brown when it comes to ERISA litigation. The team is ‘very responsive and provides practical and proactive advice’ under the leadership of the Chicago-based Nancy Ross, who represents clients such as Northrop Grumman and universities including Columbia and Cornell. In Washington DC, Brian Netter is also defending universities and their 403(b) plans, but other recent work includes acting for the Chamber of Commerce in the filing of amicus briefs in two separate cases: one alleging breach of fiduciary duties and one concerning the availability of mandatory, non-opt-out class actions in cases involving defined contribution plans. Los Angeles-based Elizabeth Mann is also a key contact.

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Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design

Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown has a strong pension plan investment practice and a client roster which includes domestic and multinational companies across a vast range of industry sectors. A large retailer engaged a team led by New York-based practice head Maureen Gorman to oversee the restructuring of its existing pension arrangements to reduce cash flow, and Lennine Occhino represented a financial institution in its efforts to obtain DOL relief from a disqualifying criminal conviction in a foreign jurisdiction. Debra Hoffman is also a key contact and oversaw the implementation of employee stock purchase plans, deferred compensation plans and director compensation programs. Named individuals are based in Chicago unless otherwise indicated.

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Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional

Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s executive compensation team is largely based in Chicago but is led by Maureen Gorman, who splits her time between Palo Alto and New York. CIBC appointed a team led by Ryan Liebl to oversee its $3.8bn acquisition of PrivateBancorp, while Debra Hoffman advised Isle of Capri Casinos on its merger with another public company. Wells Fargo, UBS, Caterpillar and the Wendy’s Company also feature among the group’s enviable client roster. Lennine Occhino is also a key name to note.

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Immigration

Immigration - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s practice houses a ‘thoughtful, responsive and knowledgeable’ team which is ‘very well versed in immigration law’. Based in Washington DC, the group handles visa and work permit applications, PERM program issues, M&A due diligence, compliance matters, enforcement issues and policy development. Department lead Elizabeth Stern ‘instils confidence with her deep subject-matter expertise and positive attitude’. Stern and the ‘very talented’ Grace Shie are advising the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce on various immigration matters. American Express is another key client for the firm. Other names to note include Paul Virtue and associate Timothy D’Arduini. In May 2017, counsel Lisa Pino, formerly a senior counselor at the Department of Homeland Security, joined the group; she specializes in global mobility issues.

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Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense

Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s ‘responsive team’ is ‘extremely knowledgeable about how to handle complex matters’ and has recently been involved in several class action cases. Los Angeles-based practice co-chair John Zaimes is defending PetSmart in a nationwide FLSA collective action and in a Rule 23 class action; and John Nadolenco, who is also based in Los Angeles, defended Tyson Foods in a putative nationwide class action alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Nestlé Waters North America and CSX Transportation are also clients. In Chicago, practice co-chair Marcia Goodman, Lori Zahalka, Laura Hammargren, Andrew Rosenman, Nancy Ross and associate Richard Nowak are recommended. Los Angeles-based Ruth Zadikany was recently promoted to partner.

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Workplace and employment counseling

Workplace and employment counseling - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown is praised for its ‘expertise’ and ‘astute advice’, as well as its ‘commitment to quality’. It handles strategic organizational change involving benefits restructuring, outsourcing, and the de-risking of liabilities, as well as data protection, terminations, discrimination and harassment investigations, and OSHA matters. The team is also commended for its expertise in cross-border matters. TH Foods is a key client. Counsels Roxanne Wilson, who is based in Los Angeles, and the ‘brilliant’ Kim Leffert and Maritoni Kane in Chicago are also noted. The team is led by Marcia Goodman in Chicago, where Lori Zahalka is also based, and John Zaimes in Los Angeles.

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United States: M&A/corporate and commercial

M&A: large deals ($1bn+)

M&A: large deals ($1bn+) - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown takes on a considerable volume of large-cap domestic and cross-border M&A. The firm has an especially strong presence in Chicago, but also has key M&A practitioners in New York, Houston and elsewhere. Life sciences, financial institutions, energy, technology and gaming are among its most active industries. Recent work includes advising CIBC on its $3.8bn cash and stock acquisition of PrivateBancorp and its subsidiary The PrivateBank, a middle-market commercial bank with $17.7bn in assets, and representing TransCanada in the $2.2bn sale of its power business assets in the northeast of the US. It also advised The Hartford Financial Services Group on its $1.45bn acquisition of Aetna’s US group life and disability business. Other clients include Ally Financial, AT&T, Caesars Entertainment, Cargill, Caterpillar, Dow, ExxonMobil, Macquarie, Wells Fargo and Yum! Brands. William Kucera and Jodi Simala are chairs of the M&A practice, which also includes Frederick Thomas and Marc Sperber. Andrew Noreuil is another frequent adviser on large-cap M&A transactions, as are New York-based David Alberts and Philip Brandes. Attorneys are Chicago based unless stated otherwise.

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United States: Media, technology and telecoms

Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)

Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Rajesh De heads Mayer Brown’s group; his expertise encompasses security breach preparation and response, data privacy litigation, regulatory and compliance issues, and supply chain and vendor management. The practice also leverages its global footprint to advise clients on the new GDPR requirements and other international regulatory matters. David Simon is a key name for cybersecurity, regularly advising the victims of state-sponsored cyber activity, and Chicago-based Rebecca Eisner handles global data transfers and e-commerce issues. All attorneys, unless otherwise specified, are based in Washington DC.

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Outsourcing

Outsourcing - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown ‘really knows what it is doing in the outsourcing space’ and has ‘a widely respected practice and a strong team’. The firm’s business and technology sourcing practice, which predominantly advises buy-side clients such as Sears Management Holding Company, has ‘a big presence across the US market and has a lock on the Midwest’. Clients also remark that it ‘understands market standards, which allows it to quickly resolve any issues’. Brad Peterson leads the practice from Chicago, where Rebecca Eisner, Paul Roy and rising star Joe Pennell are also recommended. Daniel Masur in Washington DC is also regarded as a leading light. Peterson’s recent highlights include assisting Caterpillar with the negotiation and governance of an agreement with technology company Uptake for a data analytics platform. Eisner’s work included advising Albemarle on the implementation, hosting and licensing of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, including on-premises and cloud software licenses.

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Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory

Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown handles regulatory and legislative matters for both telecoms and broadcasting clients, who say that the firm’s ‘depth brings appropriate expertise to bear on all issues intersecting with telecoms practice and policy’. Angela Giancarlo jointly heads the practice and is highly experienced in satellite-, broadband- and digital-related proceedings. She worked with Wells Fargo Securities on legislative and regulatory issues pertaining to the wireless, satellite and cable sectors. Fellow head Howard Waltzman is commended for his ‘depth of knowledge’, ‘analytical skills’ and ‘service quality’. He recently advised the CTIA on regulatory issues. Other key figures include the Chicago-based litigators Tyson Covey and Hans Germann as well as appellate specialist Donald Falk, who is based in Palo Alto.

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United States: Real estate

Construction (including construction litigation)

Construction (including construction litigation) - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s construction group is spread across the country, with experts based in Chicago, New York and Houston. Joanna Horsnail heads the team, which advises a plethora of public and private entities, including Benteler International, California High Speed Rail Authority and the University of Notre Dame. Recent work includes Horsnail representing Garver Engineering on the procurement and negotiation of a design-build contract for a large road and bridge infrastructure project, and John Schmidt and David Narefsky advising Chicago Transit Authority on the proposed $4bn design, reconstruction, financing and maintenance of the Red Line. Senior associate Sara Hess is noted for advice on complex government transactions and construction projects, especially PPPs and alternative project delivery methods in infrastructure. Named attorneys are based in Chicago.

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Land use/zoning

Land use/zoning - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Jointly led by the ‘politically savvy’ Edgar Khalatian and Patricia Tubert, Mayer Brown is one of the ‘best in class in LA’ and provides land use and entitlement advice to national and local developers. The group is particularly experienced in mixed-use projects; it advised the property owner/developer of 8150 Sunset on all land use aspects of the mixed-use site on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights in the City of Los Angeles and counselled The GPI Company on the development of a 28-story mixed-use project that includes the redevelopment of the Amoeba Music site in Hollywood to a residential tower.

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United States: Tax

Financial products

Financial products - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown provides an ‘excellent service in terms of time, cost and quality of response’ and the highly rated Mark Leeds is a ‘global leader in the tax aspects of financial products and an excellent source of tax information’. The team works across offices in New York, Chicago and Charlotte for a broad range of clients, including CarVal Investors, Societe Generale and Macquarie Group. Recently the team advised NationStar Mortgage on the tax aspects of the $400m securitization of a pool of non-performing reverse mortgages. Another highlight was advising Ally Bank on an offshore Irish issuing vehicle for a $535m securitization of US receivables to access foreign markets. Key partners include Chicago-based George Craven and Steven Garden, Jeffrey Cantrell in Charlotte, and New York’s Michael Marion. The firm’s ambitions in this area were demonstrated by the recruitment of two extremely well-regarded partners from Morrison & Foerster LLP, leading lawyer Thomas Humphreys in New York, and Remmelt Reigersman in Palo Alto.

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International tax

International tax - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown delivers ‘a high level of service’ in transactional tax matters, tax planning, transfer pricing, and cross-border tax controversies. The firm acted as co-counsel to multinational power management company Eaton (along with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP) in a tax court victory against the IRS in which it was determined that the IRS’s cancelation of two advanced pricing agreements (ABAs) was an abuse of discretion; the ABAs governed the transfer pricing of products manufactured by Eaton in its Puerto Rican and Dominican Republic facilities and sold to its US subsidiaries. Other recent highlights include advising TransCanada on the sale of its US Northeast Power business to Helix Generation. The ‘excellent’ Jason Bazar in New York, Chicago’s James Barry and Washington DC-based Kenneth Klein and Jason Osborn are all recommended. Lee Morlock moved to Kirkland & Ellis LLP in August 2017.

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US taxes: contentious

US taxes: contentious - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

The ‘incredibly knowledgeable’ team at Mayer Brown includes Chicago-based Thomas Kittle-Kamp, who has been advising Altera on an IRS appeal seeking to overturn the Tax Court’s decision agreeing with the client that the IRS equity compensation regulation is invalid due to procedural and substantive faults under the Administrative Procedure Act. Joel Williamson and John Hildy (both located in Chicago) have been acting for Hyatt Hotels in a Tax Court case concerning the treatment of Hyatt’s customer loyalty program. New York-based Brian Kittle, a ‘clear star’, has been assisting Canada Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) with a matter involving the deductibility of certain settlement expenses and the allocation of such expenses among CIBC’s various entities in Canada and the US. Palo Alto’s Larry Langdon and Washington DC’s Gary Wilcox are other notable names.

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US taxes: non-contentious

US taxes: non-contentious - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s tax practice ‘always delivers a high level of tailored service and has a strong bench of talent to call upon’. Its core clientele includes financial institutions, funds and international corporations, which it assists with tax planning, M&A, financing transactions, securitizations, derivatives taxation and SALT matters. Major highlights included advising Altice USA on its $1.9bn IPO on the NYSE and assisting TransCanada with the sale of its US Northeast Power division for $2.2bn. Macquarie, Nestlé and Société Générale were also clients in 2017. In New York, Jason Bazar is ‘quick to understand issues and very easy to deal with’ and transactional partner Michael Marion is also recommended. Chicago-based James Barry heads the practice together with Bazar. In February 2018, the practice was boosted by the arrivals of former Morrison & Foerster LLP attorneys Thomas Humphreys and Remmelt Reigersman, who joined in New York and Palo Alto respectively.

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