The Legal 500

United States

Real estate

Real estate - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown's real estate team acts for public and private companies, joint ventures, private equity firms, individuals and institutional investors on acquisitions, dispositions, developments, asset management, financing and leasing of all types of real estate asset classes. On the financial side the firm advises on senior secured, syndicated acquisition financing, mezzanine financing, refinancing and recapitalizations. Chicago-based Paul Meyer represented Allianz Real Estate of America and affiliated companies on the acquisition of a 43% stake in 1515 Broadway, a mixed-use building in New York City, from SL Green Realty, while Los Angeles-based Scott Cooper and Daniel Liffmann acted for Windsor Capital Group and affiliates on a series of coordinated transactions for the strategic restructuring and recapitalization of ten hotels. Another highlight included advising Principal Real Estate Investors on the $269m sale of a new office building in Seattle. Jeffrey Usow and Brian Aronson head the team from Chicago and Los Angeles respectively. Heather Adkerson, also based in Chicago, advises US and foreign REITs, insurance companies, opportunity funds and developers on various transactional matters. Washington DC-based Keith Willner specializes in acquisitions, financing, leasing, workouts and dispositions. Robert Bressman in New York and Brian Davis in Chicago are also recommended.

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United States: Antitrust

Cartel

Cartel - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown's global antitrust offering is led by Washington DC-based Mark Ryan, who has substantial experience representing clients in high-stakes investigations and criminal litigation before the FTC and DOJ. The group was recently strengthened by the promotions to partner of Matthew Provance in Chicago and Stephen Medlock in Washington DC. Other key names include Adam Hudes and Carmine Zarlenga in Washington DC.

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Civil litigation/class actions: defense

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

Mayer Brown

Mark Ryan leads Mayer Brown's global antitrust practice. The team was recently bolstered by the promotion to partner of Matthew Provance in Chicago and Stephen Medlock. In the banking sector, HSBC appointed the group to advise on a putative class action alleging a conspiracy among financial institutions to manipulate the market for USD-denominated SSA bonds, as well as a separate class action claiming financial institutions harmed competition in the trading of interest rate swaps. Chicago-based Britt Miller is acting for CDK Global and its partially owned joint venture CVR in multi-district litigation alleging CDK conspired with its primary competitor - the Reynolds and Reynolds group - to exclude third parties from the data integration market and monopolize the after-market for applications. Andrew Marovitz recently provided counsel to clients such as  ArcelorMittal, Lear Corporation and BASF, and is also a name to note in Chicago. Carmine Zarlenga, Adam Hudes and William Stallings are also key names to note. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

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Merger control

Merger control - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown fields merger control experts such as the 'responsive, insightful and practical' William Stallings, who has 'strong knowledge of antitrust issues in the airline industry'. Mark Ryan leads the group from Washington DC.

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United States: Dispute resolution

Appellate

Appellate: Courts of Appeal - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

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

Mayer Brown

Acting across a broad spectrum of practice areas, Mayer Brown’s ‘spectacular’ practice is highly recommended for ‘delivering first-class results’. At the US Supreme Court level, in the case of National Association of Manufacturers v Department of Defense, Chicago-based Timothy Bishop and Washington DC-based Michael Kimberly secured a unanimous win for the petitioners, thereby successfully challenging the EPA's definition under a 2015 regulation of the term 'the waters of the United States', which is used in the 1972 Clean Water Act. In a recent success for Weyerhaeuser in Weyerhaeuser Company v United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Bishop presented arguments concerning the interpretation of the 1973 Endangered Species Act before the US Supreme Court, which unanimously vacated the Fifth Circuit’s decision and sent the case back for further review. The ‘diligent, well-prepared and thoughtful’ Paul Hughes successfully argued for R. Scott Appling in proceedings brought by petitioner law firm Lamar, Archer & Cofrin, LLP before the US Supreme Court, which resolved a circuit court split and unanimously backed the reading of the Bankruptcy Code suggested by Hughes’ client. At the Ninth Circuit and the US Supreme Court, Andrew Pincus successfully led the team on defending a prior decision concerning consumer protection issued by the district court in favor of mobile telecom company AT&T Mobility. Nancy Ross and Brian Netter lead the Chicago and Washington DC teams, respectively, in defending a number of elite universities in a series of class actions across the country, alleging breaches of the fiduciary duties of prudence and loyalty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). ‘Handling matters to perfection’, Evan Tager (‘the best brief writer in the country’) and Charles Rothfeld (‘a great strategic appellate thinker’) are highly recommended. Following a move from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in November 2018, Nicole Saharsky assumed the position of co-head of the appellate department. Karen Lin is a promising associate in the practice group.

Leading lawyers

Next Generation Partners

Rising stars

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Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

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

Mayer Brown

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

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown's team, which leverages the firm's presence in London, Hong Kong and São Paulo, is co-led by Greg Deis and William Michael in Chicago, Kelly Kramer in Washington DC and Daniel Stein in New York. The group expanded in 2018, adding Audrey Harris in Washington DC, who joined from an in-house position with BHP Billiton and, in New York, Glen Kopp, who was hired from Bracewell LLP. Kramer is representing Fadi Nahas, former senior vice president of Anham, in a DOJ qui tam action alleging fraudulent inducements of the US Government to award defense contracts and the shipping of critical goods through Iran; the action was stayed pending the outcome of a parallel criminal investigation. Washington DC's Laurence Urgenson is representing Las Vegas Sands in connection with an FCPA investigation involving allegations from a former executive relating to conduct in Macau.

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E-discovery

E-discovery - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown's Washington DC-based practice head Michael Lackey is praised by one client as 'a go-to resource in the field and a terrific lawyer'. In one highlight, Eric Evans in Palo Alto defended Frank Russell Company against allegations by Freeman Investment Management that the client had breached a non-disclosure agreement and misappropriated trade secrets; Evans successfully argued that the plaintiff had failed to identify its purported trade secrets with the required particularity. Ethan Hastert in Chicago and Washington DC-based senior associate Oral Pottinger are also recommended.

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Financial services litigation

Financial services litigation - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Primarily anchored from its New York office but also able to effectively draw upon the expertise of lawyers based in Washington DC and Chicago, as well as from its international network, Mayer Brown has the strength in depth to handle a wide range of private litigation and agency enforcement actions for banks, funds and broker-dealers. The firm has developed a strong reputation successfully defending trustees in RMBS litigation and, led by the 'smart, practical and business-savvy' Matthew Ingber, recently secured summary judgment for The Bank of New York Mellon in Oklahoma federal court. Christopher Houpt has also been at the forefront of the firm's efforts on the RMBS front, and as well as assisting Ingber in the aforementioned matter, also recently led on behalf of Citibank in its summary judgment victory which dismissed claims for losses made by investors in all but three of 27 RMBS trusts. In addition, Houpt provides 'excellent advice' to foreign banks in US litigation, which includes his recent victory for a German bank in a jury trial involving municipal bond reinvestment contracts. The 'very efficient and commercial' Mark Hanchet also excels in handling work for high-profile foreign banks, including the continued representation of HSBC as one of the defendant banks accused under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of helping Iran process billions of dollars in transfers and finance terrorists who attacked American military personnel serving in Iraq. Notably, he recently won the first decision in New York to apply the newly enacted Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, an amendment to the ATA that provides for secondary liability under certain circumstances. Steven Wolowitz has had a raft of victories for Société Générale as one of the defendants accused of market manipulation across several financial benchmarks, including US dollar Libor. Chicago-based Lucia Nale is recommended for consumer finance-related contentious matters. Named attorneys are based in New York, unless otherwise stated.

Next Generation Partners

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General commercial disputes

General commercial disputes - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown benefits from an extensive office network domestically and abroad, and many of its litigators combine broad commercial disputes experience with specialisms in particular fields. For example, the California-based litigation group excels in technology-related litigation and is often sought out by leading tech companies. From the New York office, Matthew Ingber has been representing BNY Mellon in RMBS litigation; recently, his work has included obtaining a complete victory after a four-week bench trial in Hamilton County, Ohio. Washington DC-based Reginald Goeke and Bronwyn Pollock in Los Angeles co-head the team, which also includes experienced trial and arbitration lawyer Richard Spehr in New York and Archis Parasharami in Washington DC, who has a strong class action and appellate practice. Lori Lightfoot left the firm to run for Mayor of Chicago.

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International arbitration

International arbitration - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Noted for its 'abundant knowledge', the team at Mayer Brown handles a range of complex disputes across the construction, energy, finance, insurance, maritime and aerospace sectors, but has particular expertise in disputes in the petroleum industry. Headed by New York-based Ted Howes, the team successfully represented an environmental company in a $15.7m arbitration concerning a stock purchase agreement. Other key contacts include Michael Lennon in Houston, who has expertise in energy-related arbitration. The practice group also spans the firm’s Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington DC offices, where key figures include Robert Kriss in Chicago, Carmine Zarlenga in Washington DC, and Sarah Reynolds who splits her time between Chicago and Palo Alto.

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International trade

International trade - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

With six partners based out of Washington DC, and the ability to draw on expertise from across its considerable international network, Mayer Brown's 'sophisticated international trade practice' is well positioned to advise corporates, trade associations and governments on a broad cross-section of trade compliance, remedies and CFIUS matters. With numerous former high-ranking government officials in its ranks, including two ex-US trade representatives (USTR), the team has 'practical experience in dealing with the US regulators', and is consequently able to 'provide pragmatic advice in navigating the often complex regulatory landscape'. Matthew McConkey has a strong track record for trade remedies work and is representing the Aluminum Extruders Council in relation to the Section 232 investigation on imported aluminum. Team head Duane Layton has a focus on international dispute settlement (including WTO matters) and has extensive experience representing governments and industries in import relief proceedings, both domestically and abroad. Working alongside lawyers from the firm's Brussels office, Layton continues to act for The Renewable Fuels Association and certain domestic ethanol producers in challenging the EU anti-dumping duty imposed on US ethanol producers. Other recommended partners include customs expert Sydney Mintzer; Timothy Keeler, who provides excellent trade policy insight in light of his private practice experience and former USTR role; and the 'knowledgeable and responsive' Tamer Soliman, who excels at advising foreign companies on the extraterritorial impact of US export control and sanctions laws.

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Product liability, mass tort and class actions: consumer products (including tobacco) - defense

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

Mayer Brown

The team at Mayer Brown is recognized for its ‘remarkable technical skill’ and stands out for its work in the food and beverages sector. The highly regarded Carmine Zarlenga in Washington DC and ‘thought leader’ Dale Giali, who co-lead the practice alongside Keri Borders, successfully defended Nestlé USA in a false advertising action regarding the labeling of Coffee-Mate products. Other work highlights include defending Kind in 12 consumer class actions related to allegedly misleading labeling on snack bar products, and acting for the Big Ten Conference in the putative class actions seeking recovery on behalf of former college football players for alleged concussion-related injuries. Mark Mansour departed to Foley & Lardner LLP in February 2018. Unless indicated otherwise, named lawyers are based in Los Angeles.

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

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

Mayer Brown

The product liability and mass torts practice at Mayer Brown is jointly led by Henninger Bullock in New York and Chicago-based Michael Olsen and Daniel Ring. Ring and Washington DC-based Andrew Tauber are acting for Medtronic as national preemption counsel in nationwide product liability litigation involving the Infuse bone-graft device; the team recently defended the client in appellate litigation. In another recent highlight, the team represented UCB and its subsidiary Schwarz Pharma as discovery counsel in litigation alleging the medication Reglan causes tardive dyskenia.

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

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

Mayer Brown

Jointly led by New York-based Henninger Bullock and Daniel Ring and Michael Olsen in Chicago, Mayer Brown regularly represents clients from the technology, energy and consumer goods sectors in water contamination and chemical exposure claims. Notably, Michael Lackey in Washington DC is defending Veolia in putative class actions and individual cases relating to allegations of wrongdoing in the Flint Water Crisis, while Ring represented 3M in a lawsuit alleging that chemicals were released in the East Metro area of Minneapolis. The firm’s client roster also includes Arkema and Murco Wall Products.

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Securities litigation - defense

Securities litigation - defense - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown has 'a very strong practice across the board' and one client remarks that 'its litigation practice is first rate but reasonable in terms of cost'. The firm combines compliance, investigation, enforcement, litigation and appellate capabilities, and is frequently called upon by leading financial institutions. Joseph De Simone in New York and, in Washington DC, Richard Rosenfeld and Matthew Rossi are the lead partners. In New York, Matthew Ingber and Christopher Houpt acted for Bank of New York Mellon in litigation relating to its role as trustee of residential mortgage-backed securities, in which issues around the distribution of the $8.5bn settlement remain to be resolved. De Simone, Ingber and Richard Spehr handled securities and derivative actions for Frontier Communications that allege improprieties by its directors and officers. Steven Wolowitz, who handled high-stakes class actions for Société Générale, including In Re Libor-Based Financial Instruments Antitrust Litigation and Sonterra v UBS AG, et al, is also recommended.

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United States: Finance

Capital markets: debt

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

Mayer Brown

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

Mayer Brown

Equally adept at representing issuers and underwriters, Mayer Brown houses a ‘very capable and experienced’ debt capital markets group that excels in financial services-related work. Senior names include Chicago-based Edward Best, who co-leads both the capital markets and financial institutions practices; he recently acted alongside the London office to advise Chubb on Chubb INA Holdings’ €1.8bn debt offering. Best also advised the underwriters on Kellogg’s $1bn notes offering. In New York, group co-head Anna Pinedo, together with Jerry Marlatt, advised the underwriters on a $2bn notes offering by the Bank of Nova Scotia. David Bakst, also in New York, is another key contact and advised Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on a $1.2bn offering of green bonds. In 2018, seasoned capital markets specialist Phyllis Korff joined from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York.

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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

According to sources, ‘increasingly active’ Mayer Brown has ‘really upped its game recently’, due in no small part to the arrival of an experienced team from Morrison & Foerster LLP in early 2018, which included new group co-head Anna Pinedo. Pinedo recently advised the underwriters on Mesa Air Group’s IPO. Chicago-based Edward Best co-chairs the group and advised Goldman Sachs, as underwriter, on TD Ameritrade’s $1.4bn secondary offering. The team also secured a significant volume of cross-border deals over the past year, which included David Bakst advising the underwriters on a $208m offering of preferred shares by Brazil-headquartered Banco Inter. Phyllis Korff, who recently joined from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Jerry Marlatt and Chicago-based group co-lead Jon Van Gorp are also recommended. Named attorneys are based in New York, unless otherwise stated.

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Capital markets: global offerings

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

Mayer Brown

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

Mayer Brown

The ‘very solid and experienced group’ at Mayer Brown benefits from its ability to plug into an extensive global network, which spans offices throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East; its close association with Brazil-based Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown is another significant asset. Historically stronger on the debt side, where the group can leverage the wider firm’s premier structured finance expertise, it also has robust capability in equity capital markets, acting for both issuers and managers. Highlights included New York-based David Bakst advising Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on a $1.2bn offering of green bonds. In fact, Canada-related work generally is a sweet spot for the team, which now counts all of the country’s Big Five banks (RBC, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank of Montreal and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce) as clients. New York partners Anna Pinedo and Jerry Marlatt lead the firm’s relationship as designated underwriters’ counsel for the Bank of Nova Scotia, which recently involved advising the underwriters on a $2bn notes offering by the bank. On the equity front, Chicago-based Edward Best advised Goldman Sachs, as underwriter, on TD Ameritrade’s $1.4bn secondary offering.

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Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

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

Mayer Brown

The ‘solid and experienced group’ at Mayer Brown is most active on the issuer side, with notable strength in the financial services and energy and natural resources spheres. Edward Best, who co-chairs the practice from Chicago, is a key contact and recently advised Kirby Corporation on its $500m high-yield debt offering of senior notes. In another energy-related transaction, Houston-based William Heller assisted Halcón Resources with its $200m high-yield debt offering. Anna Pinedo and Jon Van Gorp also co-chair the department from New York and Chicago respectively.

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Commercial lending

Commercial Lending: Advice To Borrowers - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Commercial lending: advice to lenders - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown has a well-regarded and versatile practice that is equally adept at lender- and borrower-side mandates. The firm has expanded significantly in the past year, following the arrival of global co-head Scott Zemser from Allen & Overy LLP in New York. In addition, the team has bolstered its direct lending practice with the recruitment of the new head of global private credit, Matt O’Meara, and a team of lawyers from Jones Day in Chicago. Highlights on the borrower side include advising Tenneco on the financing for its $4.9bn acquisition of Federal-Mogul. On the lender side, the team advised BMO Harris on a $950m senior secured syndicated loan to Ryan Specialty Group. Other key clients include Citibank, Credit Suisse and The Bank of Nova Scotia. Also recommended are Kristin Rylko and joint practice heads David Duffee and Fred Fisher.

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Financial services regulation

Financial services regulation - ranked: tier 5

Mayer Brown

With significant resources in Washington DC, including numerous former regulators, as well as expert lawyers across its domestic and international offices, Mayer Brown is well positioned to represent banks, broker-dealers, payments providers and mortgage companies across the gamut of regulatory issues impacting their businesses. Bolstered by a spate of recent hires, the firm's consumer finance team has the critical mass and expertise to handle a tremendous volume and range of matters in the sector, covering compliance and transactions as well as enforcement actions and examinations initiated by regulatory bodies, including the CFPB and DOJ. Melanie Brody is a key practitioner within the consumer finance team and has recently handled a significant amount of work for credit card issuers and marketplace lenders on issues arising from the use of alternative data in underwriting, dynamic underwriting standards, and 'smart' underwriting engines that adjust underwriting and pricing standards in realtime to reflect correlations observed between portfolio performance and other data. As well as regularly assisting clients that are subject to agency scrutiny, Steven Kaplan provides the regulatory overlay to investments or acquisitions related to consumer loans and other consumer financial products. In the broader bank regulatory sphere, Donald Waack is gaining a strong reputation in the market across a range of standalone Dodd-Frank compliance work, as well as on M&A activity in the sector. On the broker-dealer front, Jerome Roche continues to assist domestic and international entities on compliance with the regulatory regime as set out in Title VII of Dodd-Frank relating to the swaps market. Other recommended partners include David Beam, for payments-related work; the 'strategic' Marc Cohen, who excels in advising on regulatory issues in a global context; and former CFPB alumni Ori Lev, for consumer finance matters. All named attorneys are based out of Washington DC.

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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

The ‘creative, responsive and diligent’ team at Mayer Brown is ‘able to break down complex issues and explain them in a user-friendly manner’. The team is also praised for its ability to ‘take the time to understand the needs of the client’. Particularly experienced in PPP matters, Joseph Seliga advised Purdue University, a public institution of the State of Indiana, on the development of new student housing facilities through a long-term PPP structure. Renewable energy transactions are also a key area of focus for the team; Paul Astolfi, who co-heads the global projects group, acted for Allianz Global Investors in a $760m debt financing transaction to finance a portfolio of ten solar projects in the US. Robert Goldberg in Houston and Jeffrey Davis in Washington DC advised GE Energy Financial Services and JP Morgan as equity investors on the commitment to invest approximately $192m, plus additional contributions, to finance the 200MW Persimmon Creek wind project, which is developed by Elawan Wind and Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners. The team is also noted for its experience in Latin America-facing mandates, where Washington DC-based Christopher Erckert recently advised the note purchasers in the placement of $103m senior secured notes and $11.5m subordinated, secured notes in relation to the refinancing of the Naranjal and Del Litoral Solar power plants in Uruguay. Barry Machlin, Mitch Holzrichter, Douglas Doetsch, Nadav Klugman and David Bakst, who is based in New York, are also key figures. Named individuals are based in Chicago unless stated otherwise. Tax equity specialist David Burton moved to Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP in April 2019.

Leading individuals: Project finance

Next Generation Partners: Project finance

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Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate

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

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown focuses on representing financial institutions in complex multi-tiered financing arrangements. The firm is particularly experienced in creditors' rights, contested bankruptcies and representing distressed investors. New York-based practice head Brian Trust specializes in advising large institutional creditors, including banks, lending syndicates and insurance companies. The team is acting for Maybank, as lender, in connection with a series of bilateral loans to certain of the debtors and affiliates in the China Fishery Group and Pacific Andes bankruptcy cases.

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Structured finance: derivatives and structured products

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

Mayer Brown

With a number of high-profile partner and counsel hires in 2018, Mayer Brown strengthened what was already 'a creative and pragmatic team', which is well known for its expertise in 'complex derivatives-based products' and its 'excellent regulatory knowledge'. Clients in particular single out Anna Pinedo for her 'incredibly broad knowledge of corporate finance and securities regulations'; Pinedo is especially active in linked note transactions, but also handles structuring and regulatory mandates in connection with market infrastructure, from structuring proprietary indices to assisting clients with broker-dealer applications. The team also has relationships with several major Canadian banks, which it advises on structured note issuances. In the regulatory space, Curtis Doty is advising a number of prominent international banks of netting regulations and forex prime brokerage agreements. Doty is also engaged by ISDA and various multinational corporates, including Dow Chemical Company. Further, the team continues to advised a number of structured product issuers on hedging and proprietary trading matters. Also recommended is counsel Bradley Berman, who is 'very knowledgeable of structured products' and also 'understands the commercial issues driving a client's business'.

Leading lawyers

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Structured finance: securitization

Structured finance: securitization - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

Working across the spectrum of traditional and esoteric asset classes, Mayer Brown's 'client-focused' structured finance group is the market's most active issuer-side counsel for public and 144A securitizations. Moreover, with the addition of Ryan Suda from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, the firm added Citigroup Global Markets to its roster of CLO arranger clients. The structured finance department is jointly headed by Stuart Litwin and Jon Van Gorp in the Chicago office. Litwin advised the largest issuer in the container ABS space, Triton International, on a $450m container securitization, and Van Gorp acted for various issuers in multi-currency note offerings collateralized by mortgage loans, which are secured by properties based abroad. The Chicago group is also strong on the underwriter side, where a team led by Julie Gillespie has become especially well known for acting for Canadian financial institutions in transactions involving Canadian credit card receivables. Further, the team recently started acting for Barclays Capital in relation to all auto lease securitizations for a major US auto producer. Key contacts in the New York office include Barbara Goodstein, who acted for SunTrust Bank in a first-of-its-kind securitized warehouse financing facility, and Paul Jorissen, who has been involved in mortgage loan securitizations, and transactions involving esoteric telecoms assets. Also recommended are Angela Ulum and Jim Antonopoulos, the latter of whom joined the firm from Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Leading lawyers

Next Generation Partners

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United States: Government

Government contracts

Government contracts - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown advises clients from various industries, including aerospace and defense, IT, engineering, construction and healthcare. The team handles non-contentious matters, such as advising on statutory, regulatory and contractual issues, as well as contentious matters, such as bid protests, false claims cases and white-collar matters involving government contractors. Marcia Madsen leads the practice and successfully represented Oracle America in a bid protest challenging the US Army’s entry into a non-competitive follow-on production 'other transaction' agreement with REAN Cloud, thereby preventing the Department of Defense from obtaining cloud migration services without the opportunity for other prospective contractors to compete. Other clients include AT&T, QTC Medical Services and Sikorsky Aircraft Company. Litigator David Dowd is also a key contact, and advises on matters concerning conflicts of interest, cost allowability, defective pricing, contract and subcontract negotiation, and procurement fraud.

Leading lawyers

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Government relations

Government relations - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown is recognized not only for its ‘deep experience and strong expertise in the advancement and passage of federal legislation, including tax law’, but also its ‘excellent base of contacts in Congress and the administration’. The group handles international, federal, state and local government affairs matters. John Janicik and Mitchell Holzrichter are key names in the Chicago office. Los-Angeles-based Philip Recht advises Bird Rides on regulatory matters in the City of Los Angeles involving the use and sharing of electric scooters, a new disruptive technology that appeared in the US and abroad in 2018. Joseph Seliga, also in Chicago, excels at ‘advising governments and private sector investors in the development and execution of public-private partnerships of major infrastructure projects’. Other recommended team members include Michael Kantor, Timothy Keeler and Duane Layton.

Leading lawyers

Next Generation Partners

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United States: Industry focus

Energy: renewable/alternative power

Energy: renewable/alternative power - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown provides comprehensive advice on solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biofuels and biomass projects. Jointly headed by Houston-based Robert Goldberg and Washington DC-based Jeffrey Davis, the large multidisciplinary practice group has experience of project finance, asset acquisitions and disposals, commercial power and energy agreements, tax structuring, engineering and construction contracts, environmental regulations, international trade, M&A and dispute resolution.

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Energy: transactions: oil and gas

Energy: transactions: oil and gas - ranked: tier 5

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown advises oil companies, natural gas and liquids pipeline companies, LNG project developers, petrochemical companies and refiners, and lenders and investors on a wide range of industry matters including exploration and production operations, construction contracts, concession agreements, and upstream and midstream project finance and development. Key lawyers include Jose Valera and Thomas Moore, who are based in Houston.

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Environment: litigation

Environment: litigation - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s ‘highly intellectual’ team provides ‘great counseling on strategy and risk management’ on high-stakes cases involving torts relating to greenhouse-gas emissions, site-based mass tort claims, issues of first impression under CWA, challenges to EPA regulations under CAA, criminal environmental prosecutions, renewable energy projects, and complex environmental cleanup projects involving the application of remediation technologies. Examples include its continued representation of several industry groups in litigation attempting to prevent the enactment of certain regulations contained within the CWA, and representing Weyerhaeuser Corporation before the Supreme Court in a case brought by the Fish and Wildlife Service under ESA alleging 1,500 acres of private timberland as critical habitat for the dusky gopher frog; the ‘fabulous’ Timothy Bishop leads both cases from Chicago. He is ‘the name to call if you have environmental litigation before the Supreme Court’. In Washington DC, John Hahn is a ‘great analyst and problem solver, excellent draftsman, and fun to work with’; counsel Roger Patrick has ‘a tremendous ability to dig deep into the law and facts to build a compelling case’; ‘brilliant' Dan Himmelfarb is ‘a winner’. Other names to note are Chicago-based Rich Bulger and Mark Ter Molen, who jointly co-chair the environmental practice.

Leading lawyers

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Healthcare: life sciences

Healthcare: life sciences - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s ‘service level and attention is extremely high’. The practice is jointly led by New York-based corporate lawyer Reb Wheeler, whose team has ‘the full range of skills for the sector’, and IP specialists James Ferguson and Joseph Mahoney in the Chicago office. Highlights include assisting the manufacturer of opioid overdose treatment Narcan Adapt Pharma with its sale to Emergent BioSolutions. Gilead and Medtronic are also clients. Patent litigator Lisa Ferri in New York is another key contact.

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Insurance: advice to insurers

Insurance: advice to insurers - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown's practice focuses on litigation, arbitration, appeals and investigations for insurers and reinsurers in relation to life, P&C, financial guaranty and mortgage guaranty policies. The client portfolio includes names such as Chubb, AXA Advisors, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Beazley. Securities litigator Joseph De Simone is the key contact in New York, while former Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP partners Robert Harrell and Jon Rice joined the Houston office in early 2018.

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Insurance: non-contentious

Insurance: non-contentious - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

The 'knowledgeable, responsive and experienced' team at Mayer Brown 'gives great advice to clients', which include insurers and reinsurers, financial institutions and insurance brokers, as well as private equity firms and investment funds. The practice covers M&A, corporate finance, structured reinsurance and pension risk transfer transactions, as well as capital markets offerings, regulatory advice, investments and company formations. In a recent highlight, New York partner Stephen Rooney assisted The Hartford Financial Services Group with the $2.1bn acquisition of The Navigators Group, while David Alberts advised Premia Holdings on its purchase of Alan Gray from Vanbridge. 'Sound regulatory advisor' Lawrence Hamilton in Chicago represented Everest Re in the negotiation of a strategic collaboration agreement with Hudson Structured Capital Management regarding opportunities in the insurtech sector. The team received a major boost in early 2019 with the addition of three partners from Dentons - Kara Baysinger in San Francisco, Stephanie Duchene in Los Angeles and Matthew Gaul in New York.

Leading lawyers

Rising stars

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Transport: rail and road - finance

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

Mayer Brown

Falling under the firm's wider asset finance group, the team at Mayer Brown acts for equity and loan participants and underwriters as well as lessees and borrowers in public and private transactions. It has recently advised underwriters in railcar securitizations and has acted for lenders in lease warehouse facilities. The team is jointly led in New York by George Miller and Barbara Goodstein, who is noted for her structured finance and restructuring experience. Joseph Seliga in Chicago is also a key figure.

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Transport: rail and road - litigation

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

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown represents railroad-sector clients in a range of litigation, and is best known for its appellate work, which has impacted the law governing railroad tort liability. A key client for the team is CSX Transportation. In a recent highlight, Evan Tager defended CSX in a case that determined that railroads have no duty to provide crews with automatic external defibrillators and other equipment for responding to medical emergencies. Senior counsel Adrian Steel is representing BNSF in a dispute with Union Pacific Railroad Corporation regarding the allocation of certain costs related to over 30 trackage rights agreements between the parties. Pre-emption expert Andrew Tauber represented North Coast Railroad Authority in the US Supreme Court’s review of the California Supreme Court decision holding that the ICCTA does not pre-empt state environmental permitting laws when they are applied to a publicly owned railroad. In the road sector, the team handles regulatory matters involving motor vehicle safety and consumer product safety. Michael Kimberly and counsel Carl Summers are also key figures. Named lawyers are based in Washington DC. Peter Denton joined Steptoe & Johnson LLP in 2018.

Leading lawyers

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Transport: rail and road - regulation

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

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown handles a raft of rail and road regulatory mandates. On the rail side, the team represents major rail operators in the US and Canada, as well as industry associations, in regulatory proceedings; it is also noted for its experience in crafting and defeating rail sector legislation. Andrew Tauber assisted CSX Transportation with its efforts to defeat proposed legislation that would have imposed discriminatory hazardous material-transportation fees on railroads. Senior counsel Adrian Steel advised BNSF Railway Company on the implementation of its rights to access shippers in Lake Charles, Louisiana via a rail line owned jointly by the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Kansas City Southern Railway Company. In the road sector, the team represents clients in regulatory matters involving motor vehicle safety and consumer product safety, and related litigation. Contacts in the road and auto practice include Erika Jones and Philip Recht, who is based in Los Angeles. Evan Tager and Tauber jointly head the team. Named individuals are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

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United States: Intellectual property

Copyright

Copyright - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown's team is led by John Mancini, who 'has incredible knowledge and understanding of copyright infringement disputes'. Music streaming service Spotify regularly engages Mancini, and a recent highlight involved a royalties dispute brought by folk singer Melissa Ferrick. Litigator Allison Levine Stillman is also highly recommended.

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Patents: litigation (full coverage)

Patents: litigation (full coverage) - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

At Mayer Brown, the electronics, pharmaceuticals and biotech sectors form the core of the practice. In particular, the group stands out for its focus on Chinese clients, a specialism of Gary Hnath in Washington DC, whose recent highlights include successfully defended Zhejiang Medicine against infringement allegations regarding CoQ10, a popular dietary supplement, brought forward by Kaneka. In a standout electronics instruction, the practice prevailed twice over ZTE, which had filed a patent infringement suit against Maxell regarding seven patents covering smartphone and tablet technologies in addition to launching IPR proceedings regarding seven Maxell patents. Other clients include Bang & Olufsen, Guangdong Chant Group and LG Electronics. New York's Lisa Ferri directs the practice. Colleen Tracy James left for Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP.

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Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters)

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

Mayer Brown

The trade secrets team at Mayer Brown is led by New York-based John Mancini, who is heavily involved in trade secrets disputes. He acted for Swoogo in a dispute concerning alleged trade secret and unfair competition brought against former employees. Dale Giali is a noteworthy name form the Los Angeles office and focuses on the food and beverage sector.

Leading lawyers

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Trademarks: litigation

Trademarks: litigation - ranked: tier 4

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown acts for various clients in the food and beverage industry such as Nespresso, Goya Foods and Capri Sun. In New York, practice head John Mancini represents Nestlé in a suit filed against Crest Foods for the breach of master franchisee agreements governing the use of the ‘NESTLÉ’ and ‘TOLL HOUSE’ trademarks. The defendant is accused of multiple breaches of the agreement including the use of the ‘NESTLÉ’ mark on non- Nestlé products. Elsewhere, Richard Assmus in Chicago and New York-based Allison Levine Stillman are other key names.

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United States: Labor and employment

ERISA litigation

ERISA litigation - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown’s five-partner ERISA litigation team is instructed by plan sponsors, trustees and fiduciaries in matters ranging from individual benefit disputes to complex class actions. Of particular note is the team’s extensive involvement in seven highly publicized university 403(b) plan ERISA fiduciary breach claims, where it acts for clients such as Columbia University, Cornell University, George Washington University and Georgetown University. The team is jointly headed by Brian Netter and Nancy Ross, the latter of whom is defending the trustees of the National Production Workers Union in a dispute concerning the transfer of assets from a 401(k) to a defined contribution plan. In the health care space, Los Angeles-based Elizabeth Mann is defending American Specialty Health against a nationwide ERISA class action forwarded by over one million plan members. Other significant clients for the practice group include AT&T, AIG, Whirlpool Corporation, Northrop Grunman Corporation and Yale University. Richard Nowak was recently made partner and Laura Hammargren is also recommended. Lawyers are based in Chicago unless otherwise stated.

Leading lawyers

Next Generation Partners

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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

Maureen Gorman in Palo Alto leads the employment and benefits practice at Mayer Brown, which has expertise in domestic and international tax and benefit advice, ERISA fiduciary compliance and preparations for IRS and DOL investigations. Highlights include Gorman and counsel Karen Grotberg advising the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce on its qualified plan structuring, and Lennine Occhico assisting a global private equity fund with the structuring and establishment of an investment vehicle in compliance with securities law and ERISA obligations. The team also serves as primary ERISA counsel for a leading hedge fund. Debra Hoffman is another key contact. Adapt Pharma, Envestnet, Liberty Mutual Insurance and the Hartford Financial Group are also noteworthy clients. Named lawyers are based in Chicago unless stated otherwise.

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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

Maureen Gorman in Palo Alto heads the employment and benefits practice at Mayer Brown, which acts for domestic and international clients across a broad range of industries. A significant matter saw Debra Hoffman assisting The Hartford Group with the integration of 1,800 employees to its benefits scheme following a $1.5 acquisition of an Aetna subsidiary; newly made partner Stephanie Vasconcellos was also involved in that matter. Ryan Liebl advised Envestnet on all benefits and executive compensation matters arising from its $200m acquisition of Folio Dynamix. The team's client base also includes Adapt Pharma, AT&T, Liberty Mutual Insurance and Sempra Energy. Aside from the practice head, in Palo Alto, all named attorneys are based in Chicago.

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Immigration

Immigration - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

Based in Washington DC, Mayer Brown’s immigration practice manages visa and work permit applications, but also deals with risk management and compliance issues. The team is also adept at handling M&A due diligence for visa-holding clients such as Mead Johnson. American Express is also a key client for whom the group handles various immigration matters. Practice head Elizabeth Stern, together with Grace Shie, handles CoStar’s global mobility portfolio, which includes management of all employee visa needs from non-immigrant to permanent residency. Litigation work also features in the firm’s workload; in a specific example, the team is involved as lead counsel in a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS seeking to invalidate a policy regarding unlawful presence that potentially imposes re-entry bans on tens of thousands of students each year. Paul Virtue, counsel Lisa Pino and associate Timothy D’Arduini are the other key team members. Yoshihide Ito joined the group in March 2018, which also coincided with the firm opening an office in Tokyo. Yoshihide, who was previously with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, assists foreign corporations doing business in the US and Japan on, among other things, matters involving immigration. Maria Ferre is another addition, who joined the San Francisco office as counsel from top-tier firm Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP in July 2018.

Leading lawyers

Next Generation Partners

Rising stars

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Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense

Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown has an 'incredible team of lawyers', which defends clients in employment class and collective actions as well as litigates matters involving contemporary issues such as in cybersecurity, social media and privacy. The group, known as 'efficient, pragmatic, and providing excellent advice', is led by Marcia Goodman and John Zaimes in Los Angeles. The latter, together with Ruth Zadikany from the same office, represented PetSmart in a hybrid nationwide FLSA collective action on behalf of employees who alleged that the company misclassified its operations managers as exempt and thus failed to pay these employees overtime. Andrew Rosenman successfully defended Welltec in a similar matter. Counsel Maritoni Kane 'quickly distills complex legal situations'. John Nadolenco in Los Angeles is also noted. Named individuals are based in Chicago unless otherwise stated.

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Workplace and employment counseling

Workplace and employment counseling - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown 'pairs legal expertise with compassion in providing advice in highly emotional environments'. The team, which is led by John Zaimes in Los Angeles and Marcia Goodman in Chicago, counsels on OSHA matters, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, among others areas. Goodman regularly advises TH Foods on workforce structure as well as discipline and termination decisions. Chicago-based counsel Maritoni Kane is an 'incredible lawyer'; she provides tourism and marketing agency Choose Chicago with day-to-day labor and employment advice. Andrew Rosenman and counsel Kim Leffert in Chicago as well as Ruth Zadikany and counsel Roxanne Wilson in Los Angeles are also noted.

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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 has tremendous national and international credibility. Its primary centre of expertise is in Chicago, although it also has strong teams in New York and Houston and further M&A expertise in Los Angeles, Palo Alto and Washington DC. Clients praise the team's 'responsiveness' with one saying it 'works well across disciplines and geographies and is able to handle extremely complicated transactions'. The firm has an especially impressive record in financial services, industrials, energy and tech deals. Clients include ACE, Caterpillar, Credit Suisse, The Dow Chemical Company, Ecopetrol, Exxon Mobil and Prologis. It advised SCANA Corporation, which owns South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, on its $14.6bn stock-for-stock merger agreement with $14.6 billion Dominion Energy. It also represented Prologis in its $8.4bn acquisition of DCT Industrial Trust, the industrial real estate company; it was the largest real estate deal in the first half of 2018. In addition, it advised Nestlé on its $7.15bn acquisition of Starbucks’s consumer products and food service business. William Kucera and Jodi Simala  co-chair the Americas M&A practice from Chicago, where Andrew Noreuil  and Frederick Thomas are prominent M&A names and Jason Wagenmaker continues to impress among the next generation of partners. David Carpenter heads the New York corporate and securities practice, where John Boelter  is another key name. Ameer Ahmad has joined the Chicago office from Greenberg Traurig LLP and Japanese client specialist Satoru Murase  joined the New York office from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Next Generation Partners

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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

Mayer Brown handles work in incident preparation and breach response, litigation and government investigations, strategic counseling and corporate governance, vendor and supply-chain management, contracting and data transfers, regulatory and compliance, as well as policy and advocacy. Practice head Rajesh De is based in Washington DC and specializes in legal and policy issues related to technology, national security, law enforcement and privacy. New York’s Lauren Goldman, who works in a ‘well-reasoned, concise, well-organized, and business-focused’ way, acted successfully for Facebook in the purported Smith v Facebook class action, defending the client from the allegation of having used cookies to communicate with various healthcare websites and then used that information for marketing purposes. Shutterfly and Twitter are other notable clients. Washington DC’s Marcus Christian and Los-Angeles-based litigator John Nadolenco are also recommended.

Leading lawyers

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Fintech

Fintech - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

The 'business savvy' practice at Mayer Brown is always 'up to date on the latest trends in emerging technology' in the financial sector. The group acts for both traditional financial institutions and established financial technology companies including Paypal and Square, which the team advises on a range of federal and state regulations. Washington DC-based David Beam , who is praised for his 'deep expertise' in this area, and Elizabeth Raymond in Chicago lead a team advising American Express and several of its subsidiaries in connection with a significant restructuring of its alternative payments and prepaid businesses. In another work highlight, a team led by the 'creative and flexible' Jerry Marlatt (who is based in New York) acted for LendingClub Corporation on a $300m consumer loan asset-backed securitization transaction involving the issuance by Consumer Loan Underlying Bond Credit Trust 2018-NP1 of asset-backed notes. The firm also defended NCR Corporation, Capital One, ABNB Federal Credit Union and SunTrust Banks in patent infringement claims brought by Capital Security Systems Corporation relating to the technology used in ATMs. Beam and Raymond head the practice alongside Steven Kaplan and Brad Peterson, who are based in Washington and Chicago respectively. 'Great negotiator' Rohith George in the Palo Alto office is a name to note for technology transformation projects.

Leading lawyers

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Outsourcing

Outsourcing - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown ‘provides the perspective and mentoring needed to be a successful and thriving business’.  Indeed, headed by Chicago-based Brad L. Petersen, the team ‘proactively guides its clients through the present issues, while still making sure that the long-run is secure’. The ‘very hard working’ Washington DC-based David L. Beam and Chicago-based Elizabeth A. Raymond advise American Express on the outsourcing of its various assets of its alternative payments and prepaid business. Other key figures in Washington DC include Daniel A. Masur and Linda L. Rhodes (who is ‘always responsive’), while Chicago-based contacts include Joe Pennell, Rebecca S. Eisner and senior counsel Paul J. N. Roy. Chicago-based Lei Shen was promoted to partner in January 2018, and Michelle Ontiveros Gross, who is based in Palo Alto, joined from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in September 2018.

Leading lawyers

Next Generation Partners

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Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory

Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown is noted for its expertise in matters involving international regulations, as well as in satellite and wireless matters. Practice co-head Howard Waltzman has a particular focus on privacy issues, and advises wireless trade association CTIA in a variety of regulatory matters, particularly those relating to spectrum policy, wireless infrastructure and cybersecurity matters. Fellow co-head Angela Giancarlo is a former FCC official and has significant experience in the satellite, wireless, broadband and digital media spaces, as well as advocating for clients before international regulatory bodies such as the International Telecommunications Union. Chicago-based Mitchell Holzrichter is a key contact for clients seeking advice on the implications of new and proposed legislation, while Hans Germann, also based in Chicago, is a name to note in telecoms-related litigation.

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United States: Real estate

Construction (including construction litigation)

Construction (including construction litigation) - ranked: tier 2

Mayer Brown

The team at Mayer Brown handles construction matters primarily out of the firm's Chicago and Houston offices and provides 'high quality legal work', delivered 'in a timely fashion' by attorneys who are not only 'fun to work with' but also 'very knowledgeable regarding their practice areas'. Joanna Horsnail leads the practice from the Chicago office, and recently acted for Bristol-Myers Squibb on drafting and negotiating construction documents for a new $900m manufacturing facility in Ireland. In this, Horsnail was supported by Chicago-based associates Sara Hess and Jeffrey Edwards, who is 'very knowledgeable' and 'strong on industry-related business terms'. Hess and Edwards were also part of a team led by Joseph Seliga, and also including Stephanie Wagner and associate Rachel Smith, that acted for the Texas Department of Transportation on two interrelated projects totaling over $1.25bn, namely advising on the P3 project for the SH 183 highway and assisting with finalizing design-build agreements for the Southern Gateway project. Seliga has also advised the same client on all aspects of bidding, procuring and negotiating more than ten highway projects throughout Texas, including the SH 288 Toll Lane project in Houston; he was supported by Mitch Holzrichter, as well as a number of associates. In other work, Holzrichter and Seliga led the advice on the $2bn Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project for the Alabama Department of Transportation; associate Nicholas Vallorano was also part of the team.

Leading lawyers

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Land use/zoning

Land use/zoning - ranked: tier 3

Mayer Brown

The ‘tremendously talented team’ at Los Angeles-based Mayer Brown is noted for its ability to ‘cultivate the relationships needed to move big projects forward’. Leveraging deep experience in controversial cases, the team has been advising Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City on the construction of a new 18-story, 450-key hotel tower adjacent to Universal Studios that will connect to one of the highest occupancy hotels in the City of Los Angeles, within walking distance of the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park; the project is opposed by the latter’s owner NBCUniversal, which must give the project a green light for it to go forward. The team is also acting for 8150 Sunset in the development of a $600m Frank Gehry-designed project, which includes 229 residential units and 60,000 square feet of commercial space on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights. Practice head Edgar Khalatian is ‘dedicated, pays attention to detail and keeps the ball moving forward among all stakeholders on the project’. Patty Tubert is also recommended.

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United States: Tax

Financial products

Financial products - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown is praised for its 'unique position on the tax consulting side in dealing with the taxation of global equities'. Recently, the team acted for DNB Markets, a Norwegian investment bank, in the private placement of $108m in investment-grade-rated project notes, to finance two Uruguayan solar power plants, operated by Atlas Renewable Energy; New York-based Russell Nance  led this matter. Nance also represented investment funds managed by CarVal Investors in the acquisition of a portfolio of non-prime credit card receivables from Signet Jewelers. In fund formation, Anne Marie Konopack in Chicago  represented LaSalle Investment Management in the formation of LaSalle Property Fund, an open-ended real estate fund. Other key names include Thomas Humphreys and the 'outstanding' Mark Leeds in New York, as well as Remmelt Reigersman in Palo Alto; they work with large banks and other financial institutions on debt products. New York-based Michael Marion's clients include Northcross Capital Management and Goldman Sachs Asset Backed Securities Corporation. James Barry and Jason Bazar lead the team. Incomings included JoonBeom Pae, who joined in New York in October 2018 from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; Michael Lebovitz, who joined in Los Angeles from PwC the following month; and Zal Kumar, who joined in August 2018 was previously a director at the New York City department of finance. Jared Goldberger was recently made up to partner.

Leading lawyers

Next Generation Partners

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International tax

International tax - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

In what has been a successful period for Mayer Brown's international tax practice, James Barry in Chicago led on the tax aspects of Nestlé's $7.15bn agreement for a perpetual license with Starbucks to market, sell and distribute Starbucks consumer and food products globally, outside of Starbucks’ coffee shops. Jason Bazar in New York advised Altice, a Dutch television broadcast company, on its spin-off of Altice USA and group reorganization of Altice Europe. Kenneth Klein and Jason Osborn in Washington DC are also recommended. Recent team changes included Jared Goldberger's promotion to partner in New York in January 2018. In 2018, Remmelt Reigersman and Thomas Humphreys joined from Morrison & Foerster LLP in Palo Alto and New York respectively. In October 2018, JoonBeom Pae joined from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in New York. Michael Lebovitz joined  in November 2018 from PwC.

Leading lawyers

Next Generation Partners

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US taxes: contentious

US taxes: contentious - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

The contentious tax team at Mayer Brown is led by Brian Kittle in New York and Thomas Kittle-Kamp and Joel Williamson in Chicago. Williams and Kittle, as well as John Hildy in Chicago, have been representing Eaton Corporation in multiple matters, including in a first impression Tax Court case in mid-2017 against allegations of impropriety by the IRS, arising from the IRS's cancellation of two advance pricing agreements. Kittle-Kamp and William McGarrity in Chicago are representing Altera Corporation in an appeals case challenging the validity of the IRS’s regulation requiring that amounts attributable to equity compensation be included in the pool of costs to be shared pursuant to a cost-sharing arrangement. Larry Langdon in Palo Alto and Gary Wilcox in Washington DC are also noted. Peter Price was promoted to partner in Chicago in January 2018. New York-based Erin Gladney moved to Baker McKenzie LLP in March 2018. Washington DC's Kristin Mikolaitis joined Nestlé USA in August 2018.

Leading lawyers

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US taxes: non-contentious

US taxes: non-contentious - ranked: tier 1

Mayer Brown

Mayer Brown provides ‘a one stop shop’ for clients and is best known for its capabilities in handling complex cross-border M&A transactions, capital markets issuances, financings and restructuring. Moreover, the team has ‘strategic knowledge’ of tax planning and investment funds. The New York office has expanded its capabilities in SALT matters and private equity and fund formation with the recruitment of JoonBeom Pae, who joined the team from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, and Zal Kumar, who previously served as director of business tax at the New York City Department of Finance. Additionally, Michael Lebovitz joined the Los Angeles office from PwC in November 2018. Chicago-based James Barry acted for Nestlé in the sale of its US confectionary business to The Ferrero Group for $2.8bn, and also advised the client on the structuring of a $7.2bn agreement for a perpetual license with Starbucks to sell and distribute its product range globally. Jason Bazar in New York acted for Caesars Entertainment in its $1.7bn acquisition of Centaur Holdings. Also in New York, Jared Goldberger was made partner in November 2017. Thomas Humphreys and Remmelt Reigersman joined the Palo Alto office from Morrison & Foerster LLP in February 2018.

Leading lawyers

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