Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP > BOSTON, > Firm Profile
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Offices
ONE FEDERAL ST.
MASSACHUSETTS
MA 02110-1726
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Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
United States > Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 2
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is highly regarded not only for its work in issuer-based class actions, but also high-profile regulatory matters before the SEC and the DOJ. Timothy Burke in Boston and Philadelphia-based partners Jeff Boujoukos and Kelly Gibson lead the securities enforcement and litigation practice. Gibson, who joined in 2022 from the SEC, is a key advisor on regulatory enforcement matters. Charlene Shimada in San Francisco is the firm’s standout partner for securities litigation defense, corporate governance, class actions, and complex commercial litigation. She is representing JP Morgan Securities LLC and nine other underwriters in a case arising out of Bloom Energy’s $270m IPO, in which plaintiffs allege that the offering documents contained false or misleading statements about the company’s products and operations. She has already narrowed the case by securing dismissals of restatement-related securities claims. Jordan Hershman in Boston is the lead litigation partner in the practice, and he recently secured the dismissal of a derivative suit against Synchronoss Technologies, Inc., which was accused of breaching its fiduciary duties in its sale of a business line. Also noteworthy is Michael Kichline in Philadelphia.Practice head(s):
Timothy Burke; Jeff Boujoukos; Kelly Gibson
Other key lawyers:
Jordan Hershman; Charlene Shimada; Michael Kichline
Key clients
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Needham & Company, LLC
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Bank of America Securities, Inc.
Jefferies LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.
Casa Systems, Inc.
Tudor Ventures
Buckeye Partners LP
Axsome Therapeutics Inc
The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company
Work highlights
- Representing J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and 9 other underwriters for Bloom Energy’s July 2018 initial public offering in parallel securities class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and California Superior Court.
- Secured a dismissal with prejudice in a shareholder derivative lawsuit against the directors of Synchronoss Technologies Inc.
- Secured the complete dismissal of a securities class action for our clients, Casa Systems Inc. and several of its current and former directors and officers (D&Os).
United States > Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 2
United States > Energy > Energy transactions: electric power Tier 3
United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies Tier 3
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has established a good track record for guiding companies from startup through to maturity. Lawyers in different offices in the US, Asia, Europe and the Middle East regularly work together on cross-border matters. Life sciences and healthcare, including biotechnology and medical devices, are key areas of focus, though the firm also carries out plenty of work on technology investments, with Silicon Valley partner John Park particularly active on this front. Steven Cohen chairs the practice from Princeton, and receives strong support from Julio Vega and Michael Conza in Boston. Philadelphia-based partner Jeffrey Bodle also comes highly recommended by clients who consider him and his team ‘instrumental throughout multiple fundraising rounds‘.Practice head(s):
Steven Cohen; Jeffrey Bodle
Other key lawyers:
Julio Vega; Michael Conza; John Park
Testimonials
‘Jeffrey Bodle and his team have been instrumental throughout our multiple fundraising rounds. From their expertise to their attentiveness, every interaction has enabled my company to make critical decisions that have resulted in fundraising success.’
‘There have been numerous tricky situations where we were facing tight timelines, exploding term sheets, unconventional investors and deal terms, and key negotiations – each time, the team helped us overcome the challenges smoothly’
Key clients
Fanatics
CapitalG
Third Point
Comcast Ventures
G20 Ventures
New Science Ventures
OMERS
SandboxAQ
bloXroute Labs
SpotOn Technologies
Work highlights
- Represented Third Point Ventures in the more than $900 million Series E financing of N26, a company focused on mobile banking.
- Represented Fanatics, an online sports retailer, in its $1.5 billion funding round which now values the company at $27 billion.
- Represented CapitalG in the $150 million Series C funding of Whatnot, a livestream shopping platform for collectors.
United States > Transport > Rail and road: litigation and regulation Tier 3
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s transportation practice is highly focused on the evolving legal issues surrounding the development and deployment of electric vehicles (EV). Leveraging the firm’s strong energy sector credentials, the team represents developers of EV charging stations that access energy grids and energy storage solutions to establish new transportation corridors. The broad practice also represents automotive and mobility companies in litigation, labor and employment issues, and corporate and structured transactions, along with IP protection and disputes, and antitrust and consumer protection matters. In Boston, Daniel Savrin acts for manufacturers, distributors and allied finance companies in high-stakes civil and class action litigation and government investigations; and Levi McAllister in Washington DC acts for EV charging station developers. Over in Los Angeles, David Schrader regularly tries high-stakes cases, while Lisa Weddle is a litigation and class action expert. Jackson (Jack) Stoddard is the name to note in San Francisco.Practice head(s):
Daniel Savrin; Lisa Weddle
Other key lawyers:
Levi McAllister; David Schrader; Jackson (Jack) Stoddard; Noah Kaufman; Mark Fanelli
Key clients
BMW Manufacturing Co
BMW
Uber Technologies
Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor North America
Evergo
Nuvve Corp
Toyoda Gosei North America Corp
High Performance Industries
Work highlights
- Obtained the dismissal of all claims with prejudice asserted against BMW in Braman Motors v. BMW of North America in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
- Represented Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor North America in several class action lawsuits, which alleged that HVAC systems in various Toyota vehicles are defective and promote mold growth and odor.
- Assisted Nuvve Corp and its affiliate, Levo Mobility, with the creation of first-of-its kind V2G operations on behalf of clean, electric fleet vehicles.
United States > Finance > Project finance Tier 4
United States > Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings)
United States > Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing)
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP leverages the bench strength of a global network spanning the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific regions, to advise household names such as Uber, Office Depot, and the New York Times, on the protection and management of their international portfolios. Headed by brand protection expert Anita Polott in Washington DC, and Josh Dalton in Boston, who brings expertise to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings, the firm’s portfolio spans the sectors ranging from retail, tech, food and beverages, media, sports, and entertainment to e-commerce, software, apparel and hospitality. Rachelle Dubow in Boston specializes in the the licensing of trademark rights and licensed products and services. Other key figures include Carla Oakley a seasoned trademark development and registration strategist, and Gene Park, who drafted and negotiates transactional, e-commerce, and software agreements in San Francisco, and Kristin Altoff, in Washington DC, who was promoted to partner in October 2022 and who manages global title update work. Former co-department head Kevin Fee departed in May 2022.Practice head(s):
Anita Polott; Josh Dalton
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
High Performance Industries, Inc. (HPI)
Office Depot, Inc.
International Beverage Conglomerate
Uber Technologies Inc.
Diageo plc
Edgewell Personal Care
Kerzner International
Gensler Architecture, Design & Planning, P.C. (Gensler)
Elevance Health (formerly Anthem, Inc.)
The New York Times Co.
HF Sinclair Corporation
Exploding Kittens, Inc.
United States Soccer Federation
Work highlights
- Advising Elevance Health, Inc on trademark issues in the United States and the European Union and act as coordinating counsel internationally.
- Representing Diageo plc and its affiliates in connection with a wide range of trademark matters, including US and global brand strategy.
- Representing Exploding Kittens in connection with international trademark clearance, registration, and enforcement issues worldwide.
United States > Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has strong expertise in handling antitrust matters particularly across the tech, financial services, and healthcare sectors, defending key clients such as Fanatics and Google LLC. Recent work has involved class actions resulting from monopolization claims and no-poach agreements. Philadelphia-based global practice leader Steven Reed acts in high-stake matters across trial and appellate levels, offering previous experience as in-house lawyer at a large pharmaceutical company. Co-deputy practice leader Ryan Kantor is based in Washington DC. ‘National leader in the antitrust and competition arena’ and co-deputy practice leader Brendan Fee in Philadelphia, specializes in high-stakes antitrust class litigation for clients in a variety of industries including life sciences and energy. Brian Rocca leads the firm’s California antitrust practice with expertise in defending against monopolization claims in the technology sector. DC based Jon Roellke leads in many matters, focusing particularly on antitrust and trade regulation matters including class action and enforcement matters concerning financial services and technology clients. Noah Kaufman, promoted to partner in Boston in October 2022, represents clients across the higher education, automotive and retail sectors. Clayton Everett Jr and Stacey Anne Mahoney in DC and New York respectively, are also noted by peers and offer extensive counseling and litigation experience. Willard Tom retired in October 2022.Practice head(s):
Steven Reed; Ryan Kantor; Brendan Fee
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Develops a truly deep understanding of your business as part of the engagement to understand motivations relevant to the matters being handled.’
‘Patient, knowledgeable and well-connected in the industry.’
‘Provides outstanding tactical advice across all sectors, excellent judgment, and an outstanding defense for its clients.’
‘Brendan Fee is a national leader in the antitrust/competition arena. He serves as a walking encyclopedia of antitrust legal knowledge, deploys supreme judgment and tactical advice to represent and defend his clients’ interests, and is our company’s go-to resource on all areas of competition law, in terms of litigation, M&A, and regulatory.’
Key clients
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana
BMW North America LLC
Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Comcast Cable Communications
Fanatics
Google LLC
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
Merck & Co. Inc.
Morgan Stanley
Perrigo Company Plc
Qualcomm Incorporated
Realogy Holdings Corp.
Securus Technologies Inc.
Shell Oil Company
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
TDK USA Corp.
Teva Pharmaceuticals
The Clearing House Payments Company, LLC
Tradeweb Markets LLC
Uber Technologies, Inc.
Vyera Pharmaceuticals
Work highlights
- Representing Google in all facets of Google Play Store Antitrust Litigation, a multi-district litigation pending in the Northern District of California related to the distribution of apps by developers to end users.
- Represented Vyera Pharmaceuticals and its Swiss parent company, Phoenixus AG, and resolved a lawsuit filed by the FTC and the attorney generals of seven states in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
United States > Antitrust > Cartel
Led by ‘outstanding attorney’ Clayton Everett Jr, the practice at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP regularly represents a bevy of high-profile corporates in global and domestic cartel investigations and enforcement actions before both US and international antitrust agencies. Everett, praised for his ‘mastery of antitrust law,’ takes the lead on complex and precedent-setting criminal cartel trials from his base in Washington DC, securing immunity and leniency for clients in multijurisdictional investigations and litigation. In addition to significant government agency expertise, the team also has considerable industry-specific expertise, having represented clients from the pharma, electronics, energy, and automotive industries. In Silicon Valley, former DOJ and federal prosecutor Mark Krotoski is a prolific cartel litigator, with a successful track record arguing appeals before federal circuit courts. Boston’s Daniel Savrin represents corporations and executives in criminal antitrust and civil enforcement matters, specializing in consumer protection issues at the state and federal levels.
Practice head(s):
Clayton Everett, Jr.
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘This team combines subject matter expertise, experience with government agencies, and a record of trying cases that makes it top in class in the antitrust space.’
‘Clay Everett – Clay exhibits a mastery of antitrust law, sees angles on factual issues in light of his legal knowledge, and is a strong advocate in the courtroom.’
‘Their team is very minimal and efficient.’
‘J. Clayton Everett, Jr. is an outstanding attorney. He is not only strategic, precise, and responsive, but also has a deep understanding of industries and international business customs/protocols.’
Key clients
BMW Group
United States > Insurance > Advice to policyholders
The ‘extremely practical’ practice at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP handles claims concerning an extensive number of liabilities, including cyber, environmental, product liability, class actions, mass torts and catastrophes among others, while also assisting with captive insurance and reinsurance disputes. Paul A. Zevnik leads the practice, splitting time between Washington DC and Los Angeles and representing clients in mass tort, environmental, securities and product liability matters. In Houston, Brady Edwards specializes in mass torts concerning asbestos and talc contamination, while in DC, Daniel Chefitz is a captive insurance expert, and Gerald P. Konkel is adept at handling disputes with ties to Bermuda and London, advising on matters pertaining to business interruptions, medical device liability and food recalls. Sergio F. Oehninger, also Washington-based, handles insurance, reinsurance and bad faith disputes, with a cross-border practice, particularly in regard to Latin America. San Francisco’s Jeffrey S. Raskin handles matters of commercial general, D&O, fiduciary and cyber liability, while in Washington, associate Teri Diaz is noted for her work on toxic tort, property damage and business interruption claims.Practice head(s):
Paul A. Zevnik
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Extremely practical and cost-effective in running a coverage dispute to an amicable settlement.’
‘Thorough, diligent and creative.’
Key clients
Ansul
Tyco Fire Products
Kroger-Harris Teeter
H-E-B
Rite Aid
New-Indy Catawba LLC
Aircastle Ltd.
Covil Corporation and Other Receiverships
Delticus Group, LLC
InTel Management, LLC,
ITT LLC
Goulds Pumps LLC
Santa Fe Braun, Inc./The Braun Trust
PepsiCo, Inc./Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company, Inc.
Greenleeds LLC
GSF Management Co.
Green Meadow Insurance Corporation
Scott Figgie LLC
Port of Portland
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.
MMGL, LLC
Duke Energy Indiana, LLC
Lifetime Brands and Wallace Silversmiths de Puerto Rico, Ltd.
H-E-B Grocery Company, LP
Mars Incorporated
Mars Incorporated, ITT Inc.
Walters & Mason d/b/a Altar’d State
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
Peet’s Coffee
SNL
OTG
Albemarle Corporation
NiSource Inc.
Work highlights
- Advised Ansul/Tyco Fire Products on securing coverage under historic insurance policies responsive to novel and complex claims arising from the manufacture, sale and use of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (“AFFF”).
- Assisting ITT Inc. and its former liability management subsidiary InTelco Management LLC in efficiently managing InTelCo Management’s subsidiaries ITT LLC’s and Goulds Pumps LLC’s underlying liabilities and recovering and securing over ten figures in insurance.
- Represented Covil Corporation in a series of discovery and pretrial motions, and extended mediations, reaching settlements with all of Covil’s historical insurers except for USF&G and Pennsylvania National Insurance Company.
United States > Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has a top-of-the-market offering in exchange-traded funds and acts for ’40 Act ETFs, exchange-traded commodity pools, and metals trusts. Seven partners dedicate significant portions of their practices to ETF work, while the broader investment funds group also regularly acts for blue chip registered mutual funds, closed-end investment companies, and variable insurance products. A trio of practitioners oversee the department: John McGuire in Washington DC, a leading name in the US when it comes to ETFs, and strong counsel for regulatory matters; Timothy Levin in Philadelphia, a seasoned advisor of institutional asset management firms and financial services companies on a variety of legal, compliance, and commercial matters; and Boston's Roger Joseph, a standout name in assisting clients with navigating the ever-evolving regulatory environment. From the deep bench of lawyers at the Washington DC office, Laura Flores is valued by clients for her assistance with ‘developing new and innovative fund structures‘, while Thomas Harman is a senior figure across the gamut of funds matters, and Mana Behbin, promoted to partner in October 2022, is an up-and-coming figure to note.Practice head(s):
John McGuire; Timothy Levin; Roger Joseph
Other key lawyers:
Thomas Harman; Laura Flores; Barry Hurwitz; Toby Serkin; Christopher Menconi; Lea Anne Copenhefer; Lance Dial; Sean Graber; Paul Raymond; Beau Yanoshik; Mana Behbin
Testimonials
‘Excellent China origin export controls practice.’
‘Deep domain expertise specifically in exchange-traded funds.’
‘Laura Flores has helped our firm in developing new and innovative fund structures.’
Key clients
SEI/SEI Funds/Advisors’ Inner Circle Funds (I, II, and III)
WisdomTree ETFs
Penn Mutual/Penn Series Funds
Morgan Stanley Investment Management/Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds
Franklin Resources (Legacy Legg Mason Funds)
Amundi Pioneer Asset Management
State Street Bank and Trust/SSGA/SPDR Funds/Select Sector SPDR Trust
Transamerica Funds
Invesco
Precidian Investments
Brinker Destination Funds
BNY Mellon Investment Management
UOB Hampshire US REIT
Aquila Group of Funds
Virtus Investment Partners
Manning & Napier, Exeter Trust
Work highlights
- Assisted SEI Investments and the Christian Brothers Investment Services with the creation of a new mutual fund complex that commenced operations with approximately $10bn in assets under management.
- Represented The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (AIC) mutual fund platform in the tax-free reorganizations of Westwood Management’s mutual fund family into seven newly created mutual funds on the Ultimus Series Trust mutual fund platform.
- Represented five pioneer stock exchange–listed closed-end funds and their investment adviser, Amundi Asset Management US, in the funds’ redomiciling from Delaware to Maryland.
United States > Investment fund formation and management > Alternative/hedge funds
As part of a substantial international offering on hedge and alternative funds, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s US practice group advises clients ‘on every action of alternative/hedge funds life‘. Its client list features all types of domestic and offshore hedge funds seeking a broad range of investment and financing strategies, including customized and captive funds, crossover funds, hybrid hedge/private equity funds, and permanent capital vehicles. Amongst its varied caseload, 2022 saw the team follow the trend in macro-focused funds being particularly active. Jedd Wider, appreciated by clients for his ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of both the hedge fund/alternative and asset owner side‘, leads the department from the firm’s New York office. Joseph Zargari is another key contact in New York, while at the Boston office, Stephen Tirrell and Richard Goldman are experienced names in the market. In Miami, Ethan Johnson comes with client recommendation as ‘a reservoir of expertise on US regulatory and fund matters‘, and at the associate level, Justine Le in Boston is an up-and-coming name in the market.
Practice head(s):
Jedd Wider
Other key lawyers:
Richard Goldman; Stephen Tirrell; Zeke Johnson; Ethan Johnson; Joseph Zargari; Ruoke Liu; Christopher Dlutowski; Justine Le
Testimonials
‘Morgan Lewis is one of the few firms that take a true 360 approach to their client – they assist their clients on every action of alternative/hedge funds life, from inception, formation, securities, regulation, transaction, labor and employment, immigration, intellectual property to succession planning. There are very few major law firms that approach the quality, global reach and consistency of superb service that Morgan Lewis routinely provides. A truly exceptional alternative/hedge fund practice. The firm is constantly on the cutting edge of new fund structures and products. Morgan Lewis was one of, if not the pioneer, of the fund-of-one and hybrid fund products, representing many of the largest SWF, Pension and alternative fund managers. They were effectively among the first to reconfigure standard hedge fund economics into hybrid private equity fund economics, at a time when very few if any competitors were.’
‘Jedd Wider’s encyclopaedic knowledge of both the hedge fund/alternative and asset owner side, enables him to play chess as a grandmaster does, where he is always multiples steps ahead of both the market and the other side of the negotiating table. His work ethic and dedication to his clients is unparalleled, and he is available 24/7. Jedd’s knowledge, enthusiasm, legal expertise and leadership are the driving force that inspires the innovation of Morgan Lewis’s hedge fund/alternative practice. What differentiates Jedd from competitors is his negotiating skills as he is the ten thousand pound gorilla in the room in a negotiation, and superior to most if not all competitors. Jedd’s knowledge of the industry and the fact that he constantly has his finger on the pulse of new directions and trends within the market, and how to best extract the economic value of those for his clients truly differentiates him from the rest of the industry.’
‘Morgan Lewis assists us on our investment funds and US regulatory matters. Morgan Lewis is uniquely positioned in being one of the early US firms in Asia doing funds work so they really understand the Asia market, while still providing expert US regulatory advice.’
‘Ethan Johnson is a reservoir of expertise on US regulatory and fund matters. Not only does he understand the law, but perhaps more importantly, he understands our business and is able to tailor advice that directly addresses our concerns.’
Key clients
AQR Capital Management
Calamos Wealth Management, LLC
California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
Capula Investment Management LLP
Credit Suisse Hedging-Griffo
Davidson Kempne
ExodusPoint Capital Management
Fortress Investment Group
Geode Capital Management
Goldman Sachs
The GreensLedge Group
Innocap Investment Management
Lone Alpha Capital Management
Millennium Management
Morgan Stanley
Parsifal Capital Management
Sculptor Capital Management (f/k/a Och-Ziff Capital Management)
Sciens Capital Management
State Board of Administration of Florida
Two Sigma Investments
Tenaron Capital Management
Tudor Investment Corporation
United States > Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital)
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s private funds practice appreciate the ‘exceptional project management and communication‘ of its lawyers. The department acts in numerous matters on both fund and investor side, advising on numerous formations and giving counsel to a host of public pension plans and sovereign wealth funds on fund reviews, co-investments and secondary transactions. Another busy area is in drafting and negotiating documents for special customized private capital formations, including consortia, platform investments, bespoke co-investments and joint ventures. Jedd Wider in New York and Stephen Tirrell in Boston co-lead the department, and Louis Singer in New York is a standout advisor for institutional investors. Courtney Nowell at the Washington DC office is another name to note for inbound and outbound transactions for institutional investors, while on the west coast, Peter Phleger assists with fund structure, formation, governance, and investing activities, including both primary investments and secondary transactions.Practice head(s):
Jedd Wider; Stephen Tirrell
Other key lawyers:
Louis Singer; Courtney Nowell; Christopher Dlutowski; Joseph Zargari; Jerry Kehoe; Peter Phleger; Gregg Buksbaum; Carrie Rief; Jarrod Huffman; Daniel Losk; Brian Jacobson; Monica Chang; Ruoke Liu; John Cleaver
Testimonials
‘Exceptional project management and communication. They can be trusted to run workstreams without much guidance or direction, and get things done as a natural extension of the business. Commercial acumen always on point. Consistently available and very quick work turnaround despite multiple legal streams running in parallel. Absolutely zero excuses!’
Key clients
JP Morgan Asset Management
TIAA (Nuveen)
Credit Suisse
MetLife
Morgan Stanley
California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS)
New York State Common Retirement Fund
New York City Retirement Systems
State Board of Administration of Florida
Teachers’ Retirement System of Texas
New York State Teachers’ Retirement System
Work highlights
- Acted for a global alternative asset manager in more than 40 primary fund investments and 10 co-investments, as well as the formation of funds-of-one focused on infrastructure, co-investing, primary, and secondary transactions.
- Represented a global asset manager and one of the five largest real estate investment managers globally, in the formation and operation of four sector-specific, open-ended private real estate funds with total capital commitments of more than $3bn.
- Represented an investor in the alternative asset secondary market with more than $42bn in assets under management in secondary transactions involving more than 2,700 interests for an aggregate transaction volume of approximately $10bn.
United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is regularly the first port of call for leading outsourcing consultants, advising on negotiating platform modernising contracts, shifting from on-premises to cloud solutions and the implementation of emerging tech, such as AI, robotics and automation. Global leader of the tech, outsourcing and commercial transactions practice Barbara Melby, who works across the New York and Philadelphia offices, assists leading financial institutions, financial services companies, healthcare and life sciences clients as well as global outsourcing providers with high value, tech-driven transactions. Alongside Vito Petretti, Melby also advises leading outsourcing providers on transactions with buyers, including RFPs for complex finance and accounting outsourcing transactions, while Petretti supports clients in the life sciences, consumer products, retail and automotive industries on the full spectrum of issues that pertain to outsourcing transactions, for example, data rights, software licensing and ownership, service transition and liability allocation. Philadelphia based pair Christopher Archer and associate Kelli Boyle, are key members of the team. Archer is called upon by clients for the development of future strategies and negotiating long-term contract structures. Doneld Shelkey leverages his expertise in emerging solutions, such as cloud, data analytics, NFTs and blockchains to provide advice for major Silicon Valley giants. Rahul Kapoor, group leader of the Silicon Valley and San Francisco teams, works on corporate transactions focused on intellectual property and tech. Peter Watt-Morse is a go-to name for global investment management firms, while Katherine O’Keefe is routinely involved in the early phases of the outsourcing process, working with clients on the RFI and RFP processes. Michael Pillion has retired.Practice head(s):
Barbara Melby; Doneld Shelkey
Other key lawyers:
Vito Petretti; Christopher Archer; Kelli Boyle; Rahul Kapoor; Peter Watt-Morse; Katherline O’Keefe
Key clients
AmerisourceBergen
Becton Dickinson
Elevance Health
Embecta
Genpact
Merck
Morgan Stanley
Sabre
SEI
Vanguard
Work highlights
- Advised Merck in connection with six-plus IT outsourcing transactions.
- Representing Vanguard in connection with its transformative outsourcing transaction with Infosys.
- Advising Elevance Health in connection with its strategic IT outsourcing transactions with IBM and Kyndryl.
United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is praised for its ‘clear depth of experience‘ and its ability to always ‘help find creative alternatives to the most complex of situations‘. Clients also credit the firm for being ‘a true business advisor that can help you think through the business impact of the legal decisions‘. The practice has a strong focus on the full range of IP transactions and licensing agreements, as well as other forms of outsourcing and commercial contracts. Coupled with this is a high level of support on technology-related M&A across multiple sub-sectors, including telecoms, cleantech, semiconductor devices., social media and software. Boston-based global practice head Doneld Shelkey has a good track record in cloud-based technologies, NFTs, robotics, data analytics and blockchain. Other key partners include Barbara Melby in Philadelphia and Rahul Kapoor in Silicon Valley, who leads the West Coast practice. New York corporate partner Sheryl Orr is particularly active on the M&A side.Practice head(s):
Doneld Shelkey
Other key lawyers:
Barbara Melby; Rahul Kapoor; Sheryl Orr
Testimonials
‘Clear depth of experience, always able to help find creative alternatives to the most complex of situations, an understanding of the importance of legal strategy in managing company initiatives phase by phase.’
‘What I appreciate about the legal team at Morgan Lewis is that they provide me sound guidance on not simply the pure legal issues affecting my company, but how the legal strategy/ approach can further assist my business partners in achieving their goals.’
Key clients
AES Corporation
AmerisourceBergen
Aras Corporation
Axon Enterprise, Inc.
Becton Dickinson
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana
Colgate-Palmolive
DigitalBridge Group, Inc.
Elevance Heath (fka Anthem)
Embecta
GW Lisk Co., Inc.
Independence Blue Cross (IBC)
Ingram Micro
Merck
New Imagitas (a Red Ventures portfolio company)
Omnispace
Oracle
Ortholite
OTO Systems, Inc.
Platinum Equity
Ravenswood Solutions
Relay Networks
Sabre
Samsung
SanDisk
Sandvik, Inc.
SEI
SpotOn Transact
Third Point Ventures
Turtle Beach
Vanguard
Western Digital (SanDisk)
Xperi Corporation
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc.
ZOA Energy, LLC
Work highlights
- Representing Sabre, a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, in several transactions, including the negotiation of a 10-year strategic partnership with Google as Sabre’s preferred cloud provider.
- Representing Vanguard, the wealth management giant, in its 10-year strategic partnership with Infosys that is designed to deliver a technology-driven approach to DC plan administration and fundamentally reshape the corporate retirement plan experience for Vanguard’s 1,500 plan sponsors and 5 million participants.
- Representing Avalon Corp, an electronics entertainment start-up developing patentable technology to deliver a metaverse style gaming experience primarily leveraging blockchain technologies.
United States > Tax > US taxes: contentious
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has expertise in many specialty areas, including transfer pricing, benefits and payroll tax, and R&D credits, and is frequently active in litigation for multinationals, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals. The group has particular strength in complex cross-border matters, due to the firm’s extensive international network of offices. Barton Bassett, who splits his time between Silicon Valley and San Francisco, leads the tax litigation practice on the West Coast with Rod Donnelly, in Silicon Valley. Bassett and Donnelly share a focus on the outbound and inbound operations of domestic and foreign multinationals, and cover issues such as transfer pricing matters, Subpart F, and foreign tax credits. Alex Sadler, a leading name in R&D tax credit controversy and litigation, is based in Washington DC, alongside international tax specialist Scott Farmer, federal tax expert Sheri Dillon, and Doug Norton, who made partner in October 2022. Thomas Linguanti, who leads the Chicago practice, covers audits, alternative dispute resolution proceedings, and trial and appellate litigation. John Magee and William Nelson retired in December 2021.Practice head(s):
Barton Bassett
Other key lawyers:
Alex Sadler; Thomas Linguanti; Michael Kummer; Douglas Norton; Scott Farmer; Rod Donnelly; Sheri Dillon
Key clients
Perrigo Company
George Weiss Associates LLC (GWA)
Western Digital
Medtronic
Best Buy Co., Inc.
CSX
Work highlights
United States > Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is noted for its capability in handling transactional, regulatory and enforcement matters across a broad range of asset classes, including equity, commodity, interest rate, currency, agricultural and weather derivatives products. The team, which is well-placed to advise on insolvency-related mandates, sits within the firm’s wider investment management group and has experience in the financial services, energy and agricultural sectors. Praised as ‘exceptionally sharp, resourceful and responsive’, New York based Thomas D’Ambrosio focuses on structured and derivatives transactions, often encompassing regulatory and insolvency issues, and jointly leads the team alongside Michael Philipp, who operates from the firm’s office in Chicago. In Boston, Edwin Smith handles equity and credit derivatives, interest rate and currency swaps, total return swaps, and other commodity swaps, while Katherine Dobson Buckley advises on cross-border and US futures, derivatives and prime brokerage matters. Key clients include NextEra Energy, Entergy Corporation and KalshiEX Inc., among others.Practice head(s):
Thomas D’Ambrosio; Michael Philipp
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Thomas D’Ambrosio is exceptionally sharp, resourceful and responsive. Incredibly thorough and creative in addressing problems.’
Key clients
Entergy Corporation
Ameren Corporation
NextEra Energy, Inc.
esVolta
Citibank
Corporate Office Properties Trust
Long Road Energy
BNY Mellon
BNP Asset Management
Bitfinex
Exodus Point Capital Management
Citadel
American Water Works Company
KalshiEX Inc.
Merrill Lynch
Work highlights
- Represented NextEra Energy in the sale of a $1.95bn offering of 40 million equity units.
- Assisted KalshiEX Inc. in its event market product listing regulatory analysis and ongoing interaction with the SEC.
- Assisting Entergy Corporation with transactions related to the representation of Entergy’s prior establishment of a $1bn at-the-market equity issuance program and increase of the program to $2bn.
United States > Finance > Commercial lending
With a well-established lender market presence and a growing borrower-side practice, the nationwide team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP advises on a wide range of domestic and cross-border financings. Led by Jonathan Bernstein out of Boston, the team frequently acts as counsel to major banks on asset-based lending matters, investment-grade and leveraged financings, and syndicated loans. Marjorie Crider and Matthew Furlong are further Boston-based key contacts. Daniel Papermaster and Rick Eisenbiegler, who work out of the New York office, also advise private credit clients on acquisition finance matters. On the borrower-side, the firm’s clients include private equity sponsors as well as corporations in the life sciences and real estate sectors, among others. Multicurrency and cross-border financings are a key strength for the firm, with California’s Steven Miller and Philadelphia’s Andrew Budreika serving as key contacts for such work. The firm also maintains major offices in Houston and Chicago. Keith Fujiu departed the firm in September 2022.Practice head(s):
Jonathan Bernstein; Andrew Budreika; Marjorie Crider; Matthew Furlong; Steven Miller; Daniel Papermaster
Other key lawyers:
Rick Eisenbiegler; Mark Kirsons; Shah Nizami; Patricia Brennan
Testimonials
‘Morgan Lewis is very responsive and easy to work with. They have tremendous resources and can handle complex matters. They are also cost-effective vs. other firms. Our clients have an excellent working relationship with them.’
‘Mark Kirsons, who is the main Partner I deal with, is an excellent attorney and is always available to answer any questions. He has a strong reputation with his peers. For our most complex and important transactions, Mark is who I trust.’
Key clients
ADMA Biologics
AmerisourceBergen Corporation
Amneal Pharmaceuticals
Ares Capital Corporation
Armstrong Flooring, Inc.
Armstrong World Industries
ATN International, Inc.
Bank of America, N.A.
Basalt Infrastructure
Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.
Brookwood Financial Partners
Callodine Commercial Finance, LLC
Capital One NA
Carvana
Cimpress N.V.
Citibank, N.A.
Citizens Financial
Corridor Capital LLC
Crystal Financial d/b/a SLR Credit Solutions
Denny’s Inc.
East West Bank
Fanatics, Inc.
Freeman Spogli
FMC Corporation
Gordon Brothers Finance Company
Greystone Select
Guardian Capital Partners
HCT Packaging, Inc.
HSBC
The Huntington National Bank
Independence Blue Cross LLC
Institutional Investors
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Linx Partners
Livent Corporation
Lovell Minnick Partners LLC
LLR Partners
MicroStar Keg Management LLC
MSD Partners
Obagi Cosmeceuticals
OpenGate Capital Management LLC
Pathlight Capital
Prudential Insurance Company of America
Spindrift
SpotOn Transact, LLC
The Reinvestment Fund
TouchPoint, Inc.
Rue Gilt Group
Solar Capital Ltd.
StoneCalibre LLC
Vesta Holdings LLC
U.S. Bank National Association
Walker & Dunlop, Inc.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Work highlights
- Represented Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. in the financing for Clearlake Capital Group LP’s agreement to acquire Intertape Polymer Group Inc.
- Represented U.S. Bank National Association as administrative agent on behalf of a syndicate of lenders providing $2bn of revolving and term loan commitments to The Andersons, Inc.
- Represented Bank of America NA as administrative agent in a $1bn five-year senior, unsecured revolving credit facility to Brighthouse Financial Inc.
United States > Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation
The financial services team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is regarded for its class action defense practice, frequently representing major banks in a range of matters including consumer credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending under a variety of statutory consumer protections such as FCRA, TCPA, SCRA and EFTA. In addition to its consumer class action defense, the firm is also active in a range of regulatory consumer protection inquiries and investigations by bodies including the FTC, CFPB and OCC. The practice is co-headed by New York-based Michael Kraut and Susan DiCicco. Kraut is experienced defending banks and other financial institutions in securities and class action litigation. Boston’s Elaine McChesney focuses on consumer class actions, credit card disputes, fiduciary services and unfair or deceptive practices, and has achieved several dismissals for clients in these areas. Kenneth Kliebard, operating out of Chicago, is an experienced consumer protection litigator who concentrates on class actions and regulatory investigations.Practice head(s):
Michael Kraut; Susan DiCicco
Other key lawyers:
United States > Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP frequently handles post-acquisition disputes for large US corporates, among them high-profile names in the financial services. Troy Brown in Philadelphia, Brian Herman in New York and Carl Solomont in Boston are the lead partners. The team has a track record of late in sectors spanning food, fast-moving consumer goods and energy.Practice head(s):
Troy Brown; Carl Solomont; Brian Herman
Key clients
Savencia, S.A. (“Savencia”), Zausner Foods Corp. (“Zausner”), and five individual current and former officers and directors of the companies
Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc.
Medacta USA
Edison Energy/Altenex LLC
New-Indy Containerboard LLC (joint venture of The Kraft Group and Schwarz Partners)
Work highlights
- Successfully represented Zimmer, Inc. in a post-stock purchase agreement dispute in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. The former shareholders of CelgenTek Innovations Corporation sued Zimmer seeking damages in excess of $50 million, alleging that Zimmer breached its obligation to use “commercially reasonable efforts” to sell the acquired company’s products post-acquisition and generate additional earnout value for the plaintiffs.
- Representing Medacta and a distributor it acquired in Southern California in an American Arbitration Association proceeding and in a lawsuit pending in Tennessee federal court.
- Representing New-Indy Containerboard in its defense of a claim by Resolute Forest Products pending in the Commercial Division of New York’s Superior Court and arising from Resolute’s sale to New-Indy of a paper mill for $260m.
United States > Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is reputed in the market for its extensive False Claims Act and qui tam work, which the firm handles across a number of jurisdictions for companies and individuals alike. Regulatory inquiries, civil litigation, and criminal investigations brought by enforcement agencies like the DOJ and SEC form part of the group’s portfolio. Seasoned trial lawyer Eric Sitarchuk in Philadelphia is a go-to attorney for corporations in white-collar matters and leads the practice together with Boston-based Timothy Burke, whose specializations span securities regulatory and litigation matters. The firm further broadened its group with the addition of three former government officials: Justin Weitz and David Plotinsky from the DOJ, as well as Kelly Gibson, who has held varied positions at the SEC, including acting deputy director of the Division of Enforcement.Practice head(s):
Eric Sitarchuck; Timothy Burke
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Extensive knowledge of SEC practices and personalities both at the local level and in Washington.’
‘Susan Resely. Empathetic, great at managing a team as well as the expectations of the client.’
‘Jeff Boujoukos: Extraordinarily thoughtful at thinking through legal issues in an objective manner.’
Key clients
DaVita
Teva USA and Cephalon
Rite Aid Hdqts Corp.
Philips Respironics
Paul La Schiazze
Sun Oh
Louie Sanft
Bernard Ross Hansen
Charles Cui
Brian Rice
Delyan Peevski
Tudar Ventures
Dennis Chack
Thom Fischer
Work highlights
- Representing an individual defendant, Louie Sanft , along with the company Seattle Barrel, in an environmental prosecution brought under the Clean Water Act.
- Secured a complete defense verdict for Denver-based dialysis company DaVita Inc. in a criminal jury trial alleging that agreements not to solicit employees violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.
- Representing Teva in national multistate opioids investigations and litigations based on alleged false and misleading marketing of opioid medicines.
United States > Industry focus > Sport
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is particularly noted for its work on sports industry private investment deals; one such deal was assisting The Family Office of David Blitzer in its investment in the Cleveland Guardians and in other deals to add to his investment portfolio. A key team member, based in Orange County, is the chairman of the firm’s global sports industry initiative Jeffrey Moorad, whose role as a consultant and former sports agent enables the team to handle a wide range of mandates for key clients in the sports sector. Moorad leads the team alongside Andrew White in Boston and Andrew Rocks in Philadelphia.Practice head(s):
Jeffrey Moorad; Andrew White; Andrew Rocks; Jocelyn Cuttino
Other key lawyers:
Jack Concannon
Key clients
U.S. Soccer Federation
Fanatics
MSP Sports Capital
Family Office of David Blitzer
The New York Times Co.
Gametime
Juggernaut Capital Partners
Work highlights
- Represented the U.S. Soccer Federation in the groundbreaking equal pay collective bargaining agreements for the US women’s and men’s national teams.
- Acted as counsel to Fanatics in various matters and transactions, led the financings that resulted in Fanatics being valued at $27 billion.
- Represented the family office of David Blitzer in the purchase of the MLS team Real Salt Lake and other club-related assets, and in the purchase of a minority interest in MLB’s Cleveland Guardians, with a path to control.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP > Firm Profile
From the firm’s 33 offices* in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Morgan Lewis works across all major industries with clients that range from established, global Fortune 100 companies to enterprising start-ups. The firm provides comprehensive corporate, transactional, litigation and regulatory services that help address and anticipate challenges across vast and rapidly changing landscapes. Founded in 1873, Morgan Lewis stands on the shoulders of more than 150 years of achievement, but never rests on its reputation.
Main areas of practice
Corporate and business transactions: Morgan Lewis provides corporate, finance and investment counsel to a diverse clientele of public and privately held businesses of all sizes and across industry sectors including banking and financial services, energy, life sciences, technology, telecommunications, media and retail.
Litigation, regulation and investigations: clients turn to Morgan Lewis when their vital interests are at stake, looking to the team’s trial legal and business sophistication, broad scope of litigation services, and ability to find solutions to complex challenges. Litigators at the firm handle cases in virtually every jurisdiction in the United States and globally and serve as trial, strategic, permitting and co-ordinating counsel in large, complex matters.
Intellectual property: from start-ups to celebrated global brands, clients around the world rely on the diverse strengths of Morgan Lewis patent, trademark and copyright lawyers and professionals and IP litigators. The firm’s full range of IP services includes litigation, patent preparation and prosecution, trademark and copyright registration, counseling and opinions, transactions and due diligence.
Labor, employment and benefits: the firm’s labor, employment, executive compensation and benefits practitioners apply a solution-oriented approach to give clients a competitive edge and help employers around the world navigate the constantly changing landscape of global, US state, and local laws and regulations that govern the workplace.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Appellate | Thomas Peterson | ||
Appellate | David Salmons | ||
Antitrust | Steven Reed | ||
Class actions | Molly Moriarty Lane | ||
Class actions | J. Gordon Cooney Jr. | ||
Class actions | Peter Sharp | ||
Class actions | Steven Reed | ||
Class actions | Grace Speights | ||
Class actions | Scott Schutte | ||
Corporate and business transactions | Steven Browne | ||
Corporate and business transactions | Alec Dawson | ||
Corporate and business transactions | Joanne Soslow | ||
eData | Scott Milner | ||
Employee benefits | Craig Bitman | ||
Energy | Neeraj Arora | ||
Energy | Stephen Spina | ||
Energy | Kirstin Gibbs | ||
Energy | Elizabeth Hanigan | ||
Energy | James Tynion | ||
Environmental | James Dragna | ||
Environmental | John McGahren | ||
FDA | Kathleen Sanzo | ||
FDA | Scott McBride | ||
FDA | Michele Buenafe | ||
FDA | Howard Young | ||
Finance | John Goodchild | ||
Finance | Jonathan Bernstein | ||
Finance | Daniel Papermaster | ||
Intellectual property | Dion Bregman | ||
Intellectual property | Louis Beardell | ||
International trade | Giovanni Cinelli | ||
Investment management | Dan Nelson | ||
Investment management | Steve Stone | ||
Investment management | Timothy Levin | ||
Labor and employment | Grace Speights | ||
Labor and employment | David McManus | ||
Life sciences | Alan Leeds | ||
Life sciences | Suzanne Filippi | ||
Life sciences | Kathleen Sanzo | ||
Life sciences | Michael Abernathy | ||
Litigation | J. Gordon Cooney Jr. | ||
Litigation | Jami Wintz McKeon | ||
Litigation | Eric Sitarchuk | ||
Litigation | David Schrader | ||
Litigation | Brady Edwards | ||
Product liability | Paul Zevnik | ||
Product liability | Yardena Zwang-Weissmann | ||
Product liability | John Lavelle | ||
Product liability | David Schrader | ||
Product liability | Brady Edwards | ||
Retail | Anne Marie Estevez | ||
Retail | Greg Parks | ||
Retail | Nick Bolter | ||
Retail | Christina Melendi | ||
Securities litigation/enforcement | Kelly Gibson | ||
Securities litigation/enforcement | Timothy Burke | ||
Securities litigation/enforcement | Laura Hughes McNally | ||
Securities litigation/enforcement | Michael Kichline | ||
Securities litigation/enforcement | G. Jeffrey Boujoukos | ||
Securities litigation/enforcement | Susan Resley | ||
Structured transactions | Reed Auerbach | ||
Structured transactions | Jeff Weinstein | ||
Structured transactions | Theresa Kradjian | ||
Structured transactions | Jeff Johnson | ||
Tax | Barton Bassett | ||
Tax | Kate Habershon | ||
Tax | Daniel Nelson | ||
Tax | Sanford Stark | ||
Technology | Dion Bregman | ||
Technology | Rahul Kapoor | ||
Technology | Sarah Jane Morin | ||
Technology | Laurie Cerveny | ||
Technology | Barbara Murphy Melby | ||
Technology | Catherine Wang | ||
Telecommunications, media and technology | Andrew Lipman | ||
White-collar/government investigations | Tinos Diamantatos | ||
White-collar/government investigations | Patty Eakes | ||
White-collar/government investigations | Alison Tanchyk | ||
White-collar/government investigations | Kelly Moore | ||
White-collar/government investigations | Chris Warren-Smith |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Amy Maloney | Amy Maloney focuses her practice on project finance and development, working with… | View Profile | |
Benjamin Stein | An associate in the corporate business transactions practice at Morgan Lewis, Benjamin… | View Profile |
Other
Chair : Jami Wintz McKeon Managing Partner : Steven R Wall- United States > Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- United States > Healthcare > Life sciences
Firm Rankings
- United States > Energy > Energy transactions: electric power
- United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies
- United States > Transport > Rail and road: litigation and regulation
- United States > Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings)
- United States > Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing)
- United States > Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- United States > Antitrust > Cartel
- United States > Insurance > Advice to policyholders
- United States > Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds
- United States > Investment fund formation and management > Alternative/hedge funds
- United States > Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital)
- United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing
- United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions
- United States > Tax > US taxes: contentious
- United States > Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products
- United States > Finance > Commercial lending
- United States > Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation
- United States > Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
- United States > Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
- United States > Industry focus > Sport