Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP > Philadelphia, > Firm Profile
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Offices
1701 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103-2921
PENNSYLVANIA
- Go to...
- Rankings
- Firm Profile
- Main Contacts
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
United States > Labor and employment > Labor-management relations Tier 1
The labor and employment practice group at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is vastly experienced in labor-management relations across a full range of both litigation and counselling matters, with particular emphasis on collective bargaining, corporate campaigns, labor arbitrations, mediations and union organization campaigns. The team frequently practices before all federal, state and local agencies, and has a demonstrable track record at all levels of the court system including significant involvement in significant public policy matters, including the National Labor Relations Board governing ‘quickie’ election procedures. Based out of Washington DC, Daniel Bordoni maintains his focus on labor-management relations across the defense, manufacturing, transportation and consumer products industries. In the same office, Jonathan C. Fritts is a key name on mandates spanning the transport, construction and energy industries. Los Angeles-based attorney and former NLRB board lawyer Nicole Buffalano represents high-end clients in critical labor issues across multiple sectors. Philadelphia’s Joseph Ragaglia provides employers with strategic advice and jointly leads the firm’s global labor and employment practice in conjunction with transport expert Harry I. Johnson, III who works out of Century City, California. Former chairman of the NLRB, Philip Miscimarra is based in both Washington DC and Chicago, handling complex labor law disputes and union representation election cases. Philadelphia-based Steven R. Wall is the firm’s managing partner and a senior name in the team.
Practice head(s):
Joseph Ragaglia; Harry I. Johnson, III
Other key lawyers:
Daniel Bordoni; Jonathan C. Fritts; Nicole Buffalano; Philip Miscimarra; Steven R. Wall
Key clients
Aramark
Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
Georgetown University
Hackensack Meridian Health
Littler Mendelson
MedStar Health
Southwest Airlines
Tesla
US Chamber of Commerce
US Soccer Federation
United National Foods
Work highlights
- Successfully negotiated the collective bargaining agreement for the United States Soccer Federation, leading to historic equal-pay agreements for the women’s and men’s US national soccer teams and ending years of labor conflict between the federation and its national teams.
- Successfully defended the law firm Littler Mendelson P.C. in three NLRB cases alleging that questioning by Littler lawyers in three NLRB union representation hearings (involving union organizing at particular Starbucks stores) constituted violations of the NLRA.
- Successfully defended Southwest Airlines in two separate matters alleging violations of the RLA.
United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing Tier 1
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 > Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 2
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s ‘well-rounded practice group’ includes lawyers, legal design professionals and engineers, enabling the team to remain attuned to new technologies, while advising clients at every stage of discovery in the full range of controversies, investigations, and litigation. The group is active on behalf on prominent national and multinational clients, with experience managing disputes and data management policies at the international and global level. Practice group leader Tess Blair and deputy practice group leader Scott Milner head the group from Pennsylvania. Blair is a litigator with more than 20 years’ experience in the e-discovery space, who remains active as a thought leader. Milner, who has worked within the team since its launch in 2004, advises on discovery strategies and management plans in numerous industries and jurisdictions. Litigator Tara Lawler, also in Pennsylvania, regularly serves as lead discovery counsel for the team’s core clients.Practice head(s):
Tess Blair
Other key lawyers:
Tara Lawler; Jennifer Williams; Scott Milner
Testimonials
‘MLB has built a very well-rounded practice group that can assist clients with as much or as little e-discovery as needed. They are very nimble and flexible, which makes them unique.’
‘The team, led by Tess Blair and Scott Milner, are clear industry thought leaders. I value their willingness to collaborate to create case-specific solutions and not try to “fit square pegs in round holes.”’
‘The biggest differentiator is the knowledge. This team does not just know discovery case law or legal best practices, they know the technical side.’
‘Scott Milner has been the main partner. He knows the space and understands the concerns of in-house counsel. Scott was available 24/7, responsive, and hit his timelines. Scott doesn’t over sell, but delivers results. I would recommend Scott to others.’
Key clients
General Electric Company (GE)
Merck & Co., Inc.
Work highlights
- Handling General Electric’s entire internal legal hold management process, including all aspects of the legal hold process, including running GE’s legal hold technology platform and working side by side with GE’s legal department attorneys.
- Serving as national discovery counsel for Cigna on all aspects of discovery across its entire litigation/investigation portfolio. Following Cigna’s merger with Express Scripts, our work has now expanded to counseling and serving as NDC to the combined Cigna/Express Scripts organization.
- Acting as national discovery counsel for Capital One, representing the bank across all lines of business.
United States > Intellectual property > Patents: licensing Tier 2
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is noted for its expertise in patent and technology transactions, specifically matters relating to patents licensing and strategic alliances in the semiconductor, software, and life sciences industry, also offering expertise across including e-commerce, medical devices, fintech, and specialty chemicals. The team further stands out for its strength in handling both domestic and international matters and is a destination for global companies in Japan, China, and India as well as US companies seeking to expand into the Asian market. The practice is led by Dion Bregman in Silicon Valley whilst Benjamin Pensak oversees matters in both Chicago and San Francisco. Louis Beardell leads the firm’s global intellectual property practice from Philadelphia with a focus on emerging life science companies, specialty chemical companies, and defense sector companies. Princeton’s Alan Leeds heads the firmwide life sciences transaction practice with decades of experience representing emerging and established pharmaceutical companies in complex collaborations. Silicon Valley-based Rahul Kapoor is noted for his breadth of experience coordinating cross-border technology-licensing deals across Asia.Practice head(s):
Louis Beardell; Dion Bregman; Alan Leeds; Benjamin Pensak
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘David Glazer and Alan Leeds are outstanding lawyers – amongst the very best.‘
Key clients
Merck
Eli Lilly and Co.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.
GlaxoSmithKline
Regeneron
Affini-T Therapeutics, Inc.
Acrivon Therapeutics, Inc.
Xperi Corporation
Western Digital (SanDisk)
SpotOn Transact
Samsung
Work highlights
- Assisted Xperi Corporation with the technology and IP aspects of splitting this public company into two public companies—a product company and an IP licensing company.
- Represented Merck in its collaboration agreement with Orna Therapeutics.
- Represented Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. in its collaboration agreement with Code Biotherapeutics Inc to design and develop gene therapies for rare-disease indications.
United States > Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings) Tier 2
The team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, which has a bicoastal presence, is led by Philadelphia-based Louis Beardell and Silicon Valley-based Dion Bregman. The team handles matters spanning a broad array of industry sectors, including life sciences, automotive, consumer products and electrical, with standout work including advising on internet technologies which have developed as an indirect result of Covid-19, for such major clients as Walmart, a key relationship for partner Manita Rewat, who joined the Silicon Valley office from Duane Morris LLP in September 2022. Internal team changes have also significantly impacted the firm’s practice, notably the October 2022 promotions to partner of Silicon Valley-based patent prosecution and PTAB specialist Alexander B Stein, and Philadelphia-based Deping Chai, who is developing a specialism in international prosecution matters, particularly in the area of material sciences. Boston-based Stephen Altieri, noted as ‘outstanding’, has strong capabilities in advising emerging life sciences companies in particular.Practice head(s):
Louis Beardell; Dion Bregman
Other key lawyers:
Gary Williams; Tae-Woong Koo; Hosang Lee; Janice Logan; Todd Hales; Stephen Altieri; Manita Rawat; Alexander Stein; Deping Chai; Christina MacDougall
Testimonials
‘The attorneys and technical specialists in the team have deep and useful insights into the field; many team members hold PhDs.’
‘Janice Logan is particularly adept in assisting Asian clients as she is multilingual. She and her team members can discuss cases in detail with us, which makes them special.’
‘The team at Morgan respond quickly and efficiently to our issues, and did so throughout the pandemic.’
‘Todd Hales handles all our patent and IP work and is exceptional. He is patient, effective and efficient and manages all members of my team in this area very well.’
‘Stephen Altieri is outstanding. Far and away the best patent attorney with whom I have ever worked in my 30 years of biotech experience.’
‘Stephen Altieri provides all aspects of patent services from writing and prosecuting, to providing business and freedom-to-operate advice, to negotiating licenses. He is highly skilled. His prosecutions are very effective. He also has an unequalled capacity to understand the nuances of the science presented to him and to identify those aspects that would be most valuable and protectable.’
Key clients
Tanium Inc.
Walmart Inc.
Heat Biologics (renamed NightHawk Biosciences, Inc.)
SalioGen Therapeutics Inc.
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors
POSCO
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. Ltd.
JC Medical, Inc.
Becton Dickinson and Company
Vyaire Medical
Work highlights
- Filing and prosecuting hundreds of patent applications for Walmart, related to its online computing retail platforms.
- Working with Hyundai and Kia entities and their local Korean counsel in the filing of large numbers of US patent applications and in responding to the USPTO actions related to those applications.
- Assisting POSCO on the prosecution and ex parte re-examination of, and are currently providing legal advice on strategy in, the patent-infringement case asserted by a world-renowned steel manufacturing company.
United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 2
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 > Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 3
The team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is co-led by Louis Beardell ,who works from the Philadelphia office and Silicon Valley-based Dion Bregman, heading up up an offering featuring specialists in litigation, antitrust and employment that frequently pursues misappropriation claims for both plaintiffs and defendants at both state and federal level, often in cross-border contexts. There is a focus on trade secrets matters in relation to employee mobility, which is Century City, California’s Debra Fischer ‘s area of expertise, with standout work in the space for Allianz Insurance Services. At the same office, Seth Gerber is also a partner to note. Notable additions to the team include partner and experienced trade secrets litigator Molly Terwilliger who joined the Washington DC office from Calfo Eakes in June 2022; partner and patent specialist Manita Rawat to the Silicon Valley office from Duane Morris LLP in September 2022; and IP counselor and litigator Meaghan Kent to the Washington DC team from Venable LLP in October 2022.
Practice head(s):
Louis Beardell; Dion Bregman
Other key lawyers:
Debra Fischer; Seth Gerber; Joshua Dalton; Molly Terwilliger; Manita Rawat; Meaghan Kent
Key clients
Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
Hong Kong uCloudlink Network Technology Limited
Aon Risk Services Companies, Inc.
SpotOn Transact, LLC
Work highlights
- Represented uCloudlink in defense of trade secret counterclaims filed, which concluded that the counterclaimants failed to allege a plausible conspiracy theory to misappropriate trade secrets in China from a Chinese company.
- Led the successful defense of claims for breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation arising from the departure of insurance professionals from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. to join Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
- Represented SpotOn and three former Toast employees in allegations all stemming from the individual defendants’ previous employment with Toast and then-current employment at SpotOn, wherein a confidential settlement agreement was reached.
United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+) Tier 3
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP regularly represents significant private equity firms including Apollo, Kohlberg, Oaktree and Ares, working closely with the firm’s tax, regulatory and antitrust practices’ to provide a multidisciplinary offering. The practice focuses on the middle market and specializes in a broad range of industry sectors including retail, healthcare, fintech and energy. One of those leading the team from New York is Christina Melendi, who is active across the spectrum of transactions including M&A, minority investments and divestitures. Orange County-based Todd Hentges is another leading figure, vastly experienced in a broad variety of industries from technology and healthcare to sports and entertainment. In Philadelphia, Kevin Schmelzer handles SPAC, corporate carve out, and distressed transactions. Jonathan Morris and Allison Gargano add to the depth in New York, both having represented Varsity Healthcare Partners in the sale of its portfolio company Probo Medical to Avista Capital Partners.Practice head(s):
Christina Melendi; Todd Hentges; Kevin Shmelzer
Other key lawyers:
Jonathan Morris; Allison Gargano
Testimonials
‘This team provides excellent service, supports and responsiveness on a par with any other market-leading law firm in our space. What sets them apart in my view is the use they make of their experience, vertical market knowledge and contact network.‘
Key clients
Apollo Global Management
Ares Capital
Blitz Capital
Corridor Capital
Freeman Spogli
Guardian Capital
Kohlberg & Co.
LLR Partners
Lovell Minnick Partners
New Mountain Capital
New State Capital Partners
Palladin Consumer Partners
Platinum Equity
StoneCalibre
Sun Capital
Work highlights
- Represented Ingram Micro, a portfolio company of Platinum Equity, in the $3 billion sale of its Commerce and Lifecycle Services activities, including Shipwire and the company’s technology forward logistics businesses in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, to CMA CGM Group
- Represented Freeman Spogli and its portfolio company, US Med-Equip, LLC, in its acquisition of Freedom Medical, Inc., a provider of rental medical equipment and related outsourced support services.
- Represented Spire Orthopedic Partners, a portfolio of Kohlberg and Company, in its acquisition of Sports Medicine North, a company that offers comprehensive orthopedic and spine care, and its affiliated Orthopedic Surgical Center of the North Shore.
United States > Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 4
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 > Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP’s capital markets team is spread across multiple offices, including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Silicon Valley and New York. It has a particularly strong record in utilities and energy, financial services, technology, and life sciences. The firm advises an impressive mix of issuers and underwriters. Building on its background in IPOs, the team has continued to advise on follow-on offerings, at-the-market offerings. Justin Chairman and Joanne Soslow are key figures in Philadelphia, along with Albert Lung in Silicon Valley.Practice head(s):
Joanne Soslow; Celia Soehner; Edwin Luk
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
NextEra Energy Capital
Florida Power & Light Co.
Entergy Louisiana
American Water Works Company, Inc.
Ameren Corporation
Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.
Tucson Electric Power Company
Entergy Corporation
Northwest Natural Gas Company
Nevakar Inc.
New Science Ventures
Abercrombie
American Eagle
Freshpet
23andMe
Denny’s
AmerisourceBergen Corporation
Cross Country Healthcare
Antares Pharma
Onconova Therapeutics
CompoSecure
Work highlights
- Advised Amerisourcebergen on its $2bn common stock public offering.
United States > Labor and employment > ERISA litigation
With broad ERISA experience, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is well-regarded and has achieved significant recent victories for clients including Oshkosh Corp, establishing precedent for other 401(k) fiduciary breach class actions, and Boeing and Partners Healthcare, a case significant in the actual equivalence class action space. The firm has also achieved successes across stock-drop, cash-balance plans, ESOPs and denial of benefits claims, as well as defending several private universities in claims challenging 403(b) retirement plan fee and investment options. Lastly the firm has been engaged in numerous class action lawsuits against major 401(k) and 403(b) plans alleging unreasonable recordkeeping and investment fees as well as breaches of fiduciary duties. The practice heads are Grace Speights, based in Washington DC, Jeremy Blumenfeld, based between New York and Philadelphia, and Deborah Davidson and Christopher Boran, both operating in the firm’s Chicago office. Key New York-based partner, Melissa Hill concentrates her ERISA practice on class actions and benefit pension plans in connection with 401(k) and 43(b) management. Senior practitioner Brian Ortelere in Philadelphia is regarded for his extensive ERISA experience, particularly in defending class action claims challenging the administration of defined benefit pension plans, 401(k) savings plans, and ESOPs. Chicago's Matthew Russell focuses his practice on defending plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers against a variety of employee benefits claims and ERISA litigation around the United States.
Practice head(s):
Grace Speight; Deborah Davidson; Christopher Boran; Jeremy Blumenfeld
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Oshkosh Corporation
Boeing Company
Northwell Health, Inc.
Partners Healthcare, Inc.
adidas America
Baptist Health South Florida
American Electric Power Service Corp. (AEP)
Westinghouse Electric Company
Silver Point Capital
Plexus Corporation
Work highlights
- Obtained a precedent-setting victory for Oshkosh Corporation in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, convincing the court to affirm the dismissal of Albert v. Oshkosh Corp, impacting dozens of other 401(k) fiduciary breach class actions across the country.
- Secured summary judgment for Partners Healthcare System in a decision rejecting the fundamental theories articulated in actuarial equivalence ERISA class actions.
- Secured a precedent-setting win for Boeing in the Seventh Circuit in Burke v. Boeing Co. affirming the dismissal of employer “stock-drop” claims, addressing issues of first impression in the Seventh Circuit regarding fiduciary status, the scope of fiduciary duties for appointing fiduciaries, and the application of Dudenhoeffer pleading standards to claims based on nonpublic information.
United States > Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional
Maintaining its strong position in the field, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP specializes in representing clients from many industries, including education, automotive and technology, in complex M&A and IPO transactions. The firm’s transactional practice provides a comprehensive service to global and domestic clients, demonstrating significant strength in drafting and negotiating employment, severance, and executive compensation agreements. Craig Bitman heads the department, bringing in-depth knowledge of assisting corporations with health and welfare plans and equity compensation from the New York office. From Philadelphia, Amy Pocino Kelly acts as the deputy practice leader, while Robert Lichtenstein handles executive compensation issues arising in spin-offs, and David Zelikoff’s expertise lies in benefits-related negotiations for M&A and private equity buyouts. In New York, Gary Rothstein supports employers, financial sponsors and executives in compensation arrangements, and Austin Lilling focuses on corporate and partnership equity, having joined the firm from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP in October 2022. Washington DC-based Patrick Rehfield concentrates on payroll tax and employee fringe benefits, and in Chicago, Julie Stapel advises clients on ERISA fiduciary issues. Philadelphia-based associate Gena Yoo is noted for her knowledge of prohibited transactions rules.
Practice head(s):
Craig Bitman; Amy Pocino Kelly
Other key lawyers:
Robert Lichtenstein; Austin S. Lilling; Patrick Rehfield; Gary S. Rothstein; Dan Salemi; Julie K. Stapel; Mims Maynard Zabriskie; David Zelikoff; Gina Lauriero; Erin Randolph-Williams; Sage Fattahian; Carley Clark; Rachel Mann; Gena Yoo
Key clients
Frontline Education
Ellucian
Rue Gilt Groupe
Greater Sum Ventures
Infinity Biologix
KONS MSO Holdings, LLC
FirstLight
Work highlights
- Advised Rue Gilt Groupe, Greater Sum Ventures, Infinity Biologix on a range of corporate, regulatory, M&A, securities, and employee benefits and executive compensation issues.
- Represented the management of Frontline Education in Thoma Bravo’s sale of the portfolio company to Roper Technologies Inc. for $3.725 billion.
- Represented the management team of Ellucian in the company’s sale to Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners, advising Ellucian’s management team with regard to employment, equity, and compensation issues.
United States > Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP maintains its leading role advising on employee benefits and executive compensation plans, boasting an extensive client list of blue chip and Fortune 500 companies. The department has a number of key specialisms, including a management representation practice, an IRA and annuities practice, and an interdisciplinary multiemployer plan practice. Group head and New York-based Craig Bitman helps businesses comply with their fiduciary duties and qualified and nonqualified deferred compensation plans, while deputy head Amy Pocino Kelly offers strategic guidance on the design, governance and operation of retirement plans and executive compensation arrangements from the Philadelphia office. Washington DC’s Rosina Barker is intimately familiar with ERISA compliance measures and has experience counselling clients on the Internal Revenue Code, while Jonathan Zimmerman is a crucial point of contact for clients concerned with the fallout of Dobbs vs Jackson and other complex and unique health and welfare matters. The firm is also able to cover a range of emerging fiduciary issues; the Pittsburgh-based Elizabeth Goldberg is well-informed of the potential influence ESG and cybersecurity factors may have on her clients’ operations. Althea Day, who is also at the Washington office, has been highly active in practice matters, possessing expertise regarding the regulatory compliance of retirement plans, health and welfare benefits, and compensation arrangements, while Michael Gorman advises on a range of legal issues surrounding ERISA, the Affordable Care Act and the Multiemployer Pension Protection Act from Pittsburgh.Practice head(s):
Craig Bitman; Amy Pocino Kelly
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
Amtrak
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Maersk Inc.
CSX Corporation
DHL
The Kroger Co.
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Work highlights
- Represented CSX Corp. in a Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA) refund suit involving employee moving expenses.
- Assisting Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with an application for a prohibited transaction exemption before the United States Department of Labor.
- Represented Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and Amtrak in all facets of its benefit programs, including retirement, health, and executive compensation.
United States > Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP continues to exhibit its expertise in the labor and employment space, with the team’s work covering the entire spectrum of issues such as class actions, discrimination matters, and trade secret misappropriation. The practice is led by Grace Speights in Washington DC and David McManus in New York, and has particular expertise in advising clients within the financial services space, with other industry experience including insurance, retail, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. Key names include Philadelphia-based Michael Banks and Sarah Bouchard, who specialize in litigation and internal investigations respectively. Anne Marie Estevez in Miami is a key name for defending clients in complex class and collective actions, while Samuel Shaulson, who splits his time between Miami and New York, has a particular expertise for complex litigation. In New York, Lincoln Bisbee is experienced in litigating whistleblower claims, while Melissa Rodriguez advises clients on the full gamut of labor and employment matters.Practice head(s):
Grace Speights; David McManus
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Alliant Insurance Services Inc.
Amazon
Aramark
Bank of America
Bank of New York Mellon Corp.
Best Buy
Bimbo Bakeries USA Inc.
BioClinica
Delta Air Lines Inc.
Deutsche Bank
Franklin Templeton
Gates Corp.
General Motors
Home Depot
JPMorgan Chase
McDonald’s Corporation
MetLife
Morgan Stanley
Northwestern Mutual
Novo Nordisk Inc.
Pacific Maritime Association
Saint-Gobain
Toyota Motor North America
Triad National Security
Work highlights
- Secured dismissal of all claims brought against Franklin Templeton alleging race and gender discrimination and defamation in a case filed by the “Central Park Karen” who was terminated following her encounter with a Black birdwatcher.
- Defended challenges to employers’ COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other policies, defeating motions for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions seeking to enjoin vaccine requirements, prevent employers from terminating employees who refused to comply with vaccine mandates and were not granted accommodations, and block companies’ mask and testing requirements.
- Represented Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. in seven actions filed in the Southern District of West Virginia on January 10, 2022 alleging various FLSA and state law claims.
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 > 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 > 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 > Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP expanded its footprint in June 2022, absorbing Seattle-based litigation boutique Calfo Eakes and subsequently boasting the practice’s client roster of national and international corporations, in addition to financial institutions. Noted for its capability in class actions and trials, the team has demonstrable experience across the healthcare and life sciences, technology and energy sectors. In the firm’s Philadelphia office, Gordon Cooney heads the global litigation practice and is noted for his expertise representing clients in crisis situations, while New York-based Susan DiCicco leads the commercial litigation practice. Philadelphia’s Troy Brown focuses on M&A disputes and New York-based Brian Herman acts for banks, private equity funds and hedge funds across a range of civil disputes and class actions, while Chicago’s Elizabeth Herrington has experience in the automotive and mobility sector. New members of the team following the merger include Patty Eakes and Angelo Calfo, who co-lead the firm’s Seattle office.Practice head(s):
Gordon Cooney; Susan DiCicco
Other key lawyers:
Brian Herman; Elizabeth Herrington; Patty Eakes; Angelo Calfo; Michael Kraut; Molly Moriarty Lane
Key clients
Anthem Inc.
Oracle USA, Inc., Oracle America, Inc., and Oracle International Corp. (Oracle)
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and Sempra Energy
Toyota
NiSource, Inc.
NIBCO Inc.
Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc.
Expedia, Inc.
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Work highlights
- Defended Anthem in several cases in California arising under concerning the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which requires health plans to cover “essential health benefits”.
- Secured a complete motion to dismiss victory for Zimmer, Inc. in a post-stock purchase agreement dispute in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
- Successfully negotiated favorable settlements with three property developer plaintiffs, resolving substantial damages claims against SoCalGas, leaving just one active trial plaintiff remaining.
United States > Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
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 > Government > State attorneys general
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is skilled at handling state attorneys general matters alongside criminal proceedings, lawsuits and class actions. Led by Philadelphia-based Eric Sitarchuk, the team regularly acts on individual and multistate investigations across a wide range of areas, most notably product liability, environment, antitrust, data privacy and cybersecurity. Sitarchuk is highly experienced in complex federal and state investigations and a popular destination for leading tech and pharmaceutical companies. Other key names include Philadelphia-based John Dodds, who is well versed in healthcare fraud, public corruption, and environmental violation cases, and white-collar crime expert Kelly Moore in New York.Practice head(s):
Eric Sitarchuk
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Rite Aid
Teva USA
Cephalon
Work highlights
- Represented Rite Aid in litigation against attorney generals in West Virginia, New Hampshire and Utah regarding allegations of improper dispensing and self-distributing of certain opioid medicines, securing a settlement with West Virginia.
- Acted for Teva on investigations by a large multistate group of attorneys general based on alleged false and misleading marketing of opioid medicines.
- Assisted Teva and its affiliates in securing a favorable settlement with the West Virginia attorney general.
United States > Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage)
The intellectual property team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP handles high-stakes multijurisdictional litigation and administrative proceedings for clients in a broad range of industry sectors, with the firm offering expertise in life sciences, tech, oil and gas, marine, and consumer products. Key team members include Chicago-based Michael Abernathy and Krista Vink Venegas who co-head the IP life sciences disputes practice, Jason White, also based in Chicago, who co-leads the IP tech disputes practice of the firm, alongside Michael Lyons, based in Silicon Valley, and John Gorman in Wilmington.Practice head(s):
Michael Abernathy; John Gorman; Michael Lyons; Krista Vink Venegas; Jason White
Testimonials
‘Dollar for dollar there is no one out there better than Morgan Lewis. Their teams are extremely strong, the budget certainty they provide is unmatched, and their results speak for themselves.‘
Key clients
Baxalta (affiliate of Takeda Pharmaceuticals)
Boviet Solar Technology
Brunswick Corporation
CommScope, Inc.
ConocoPhillips Company
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
NETGEAR, Inc.
Nippon Shinyaku
Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.
Visteon Corporation
Zebra Technologies Corporation
Work highlights
- Represented Nippon Shinyaku in Nippon Shinyaku v. Sarepta Therapeutics, which overturned the district court’s denial of a preliminary injunction against Sarepta’s filing of IPR petitions.
- Represented Hewlett Packard Enterprise/Aruba, NETGEAR, and CommScope in a complex patent case involving wireless networking and routing technology, in which the ITC affirmed an administrative law judge’s earlier finding that the clients did not infringe various computer gear patents and did not violate Section 337.
- Represented Zebra Technologies Corp. in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Intellectual Tech LLC.
United States > Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission)
The intellectual property team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP represents clients in complex IP disputes before the ITC, acting for clients across industry sectors including consumer products, tech, energy, and life sciences. In addition to domestic clients, the team often acts for international clients, with offices across Europe and Asia. In a standout mandate, 2022 saw the group representing General Electric Company and Consumer Lighting in complex matters related to LED packaging technology. The last year has seen significant growth in the team, with Manita Rawat and Daniel Tarr joining from Duane Morris LLP in September 2022. Eric Namrow, based in Washington DC, is the chair of the ITC practice, with experience litigating section 337 investigations. Stephanie Roberts, based in the Washington DC office is a key figure in the team.
Practice head(s):
Eric Namrow
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
General Electric Company and Consumer Lighting
Zebra Technologies Corporation
Boviet Solar Technology Co. Ltd., Boviet Renewable Power LLC, and Boviet Solar USA Ltd. (collectively, Boviet) and Ningbo Boway Alloy Material Co. Ltd. (Boway)
Iljin Diamond
One World Technologies, Inc. and Techtronic Power Tools Technology Ltd.
Work highlights
- Represented General Electric Company and Consumer Lighting in three complex cases regarding LED packaging technology.
- Represented Hewlett Packard Enterprise/Aruba, NETGEAR, and CommScope (including ARRIS and Ruckus), in a complex patent case involving wireless networking and routing technology, in which the ITC affirmed an administrative law judge’s earlier finding that our clients did not infringe various computer gear patents and did not violate Section 337.
- Represented Iljin Diamond and five of its global subsidiaries in a high-profile, multipatent litigation at the ITC against allegations of patent infringement brought by US Synthetic, involving multiple co-respondents and intense discovery.
United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies
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 > M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+)
Praised for providing ‘sound advice that is grounded in the commercial realities of a transaction‘, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP works closely with its network of offices around the globe to advise sellers, buyers, investors, boards of directors and private equity funds on complex transactions and corporate governance issues. Andrew Milano in New York and Philadelphia-based Benjamin Wills jointly oversee the global M&A practice; both practitioners bring together deep experience in domestic and cross-border transactions in an array of sectors, including life sciences, energy, technology and financial services.Practice head(s):
Andrew Milano; Benjamin Wills
Other key lawyers:
Richard Aldridge; Laurie Cerveny; Conor Larkin
Testimonials
‘Morgan Lewis provides sound advice that is grounded in the commercial realities of a transaction. They are pragmatic, collaborative and professional in their approach, putting the client’s needs above all else. Their full-service offering capabilities mean they are a one-stop shop.’
‘Morgan Lewis has a staff of attorneys with broad experience in deals across all sectors, with a particular ability to understand the key business drivers behind a deal and focus on the issues critical to each client’s definition of a successful transaction. They don’t come in “knowing what the client needs” but instead listen carefully to the client and apply their expertise toward the client’s goals. They add tremendous value by working to understand their clients.’
Key clients
Apollo Global Management
HF Sinclair
A.P. Moeller- Maersk
Fanatics
Shiseido Americas Corporation
Lightspeed
ADT
Oracle
HollyFrontier Corp.
Jefferies Financial Corp.
Work highlights
- Represented HollyFrontier Corporation in the $2.1bn acquisition by HollyFrontier and Holly Energy Partners, L.P. of Sinclair Oil Corporation and Sinclair Transportation Company, respectively, from The Sinclair Companies.
- Represented A.P. Moller-Maersk in the $1.7bn acquisition of Pilot Freight Services from ATL Partners and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation.
United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is known for its contentious work in the cybersecurity and data privacy space, routinely defending companies in class actions arising from alleged compromises of payment card data and alleged improper use of online recording on ecommerce websites. Reece Hirsch in San Francisco is a go-to advisor for clients in the healthcare sector on matters pertaining to compliance with HIPAA and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Philadelphia-based Gregory Parks focuses on class action defense and assists clients with responses to data breaches. Co-head Mark Krotoski, stationed in Silicon Valley, co-heads the practice with Hirsch and Parks. Krotoski is the key name for criminal and civil cybersecurity matters, using his experience of working in the criminal division of the DOJ to assist clients on computer intrusions and criminal IP violations. Also based in the Philadelphia office, Ezra Church is a key name for consumer-facing firms dealing with contentious matters, while the strategic placement of litigation practice leader Beth Herrington in Illinois enables her to defend clients against BIPA class actions. With the acquisition of Calfo Eakes, a specialist white-collar crime and litigation firm, into the Seattle office, the firm has deepened its bench of trial lawyers.Practice head(s):
Reece Hirsch; Gregory Parks; Mark Krotoski
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Reece Hirsch is responsive and engaged. He provides high quality work and solid industry knowledge.’
Key clients
Hudson’s Bay Co.
Miklos Daniel Brody
Xperi
SimpliSafe
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Aramark
Rue Gilt Group
Snap Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing Hudson’s Bay Co. against class actions arising from a data security incident involving Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor.
- Represented Snap Inc against a putative class action in the southern district of Illinois arising from alleged violations of BIPA.
United States > Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has maintained its strong focus on energy and utilities, along with the financial services, technology and life sciences sectors. It has an established record in investment grade, high-yield and convertible debt, along with MTN programmes and other debt instruments. New York partner Thomas Giblin has continued to be active in the DCM space for energy and utilities businesses, notably representing NextEra Energy Capital in a series of debt issuances. Also in New York, Kimberly Reisler is making an impression in energy and utilities, while Joanne Soslow is another key partner in Philadelphia.Practice head(s):
Joanne Soslow; Celia Soehner; Edwin Luk
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
NextEra Energy Capital
Florida Power & Light Co.
Entergy Louisiana
American Water Works Company, Inc.
Ameren Corporation
Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.
Tucson Electric Power Company
Entergy Corporation
Northwest Natural Gas Company
Nevakar Inc.
New Science Ventures
Abercrombie
American Eagle
Freshpet
23andMe
Denny’s
AmerisourceBergen Corporation
Cross Country Healthcare
Antares Pharma
Onconova Therapeutics
Work highlights
- Represented Nextera Energy Capital in a $4bn debenture offering.
- Represented American Water Works in a public offering of $800m senior notes.
- Represented Entergy Louisiana in its $1bn offering.
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.
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 |
Other
Chair : Jami Wintz McKeon Managing Partner : Steven R Wall- United States > Labor and employment > Labor-management relations
- United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- United States > Dispute resolution > E-discovery
- United States > Intellectual property > Patents: licensing
- United States > Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings)
- United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions
Firm Rankings
- United States > Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters)
- United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+)
- United States > Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
- United States > Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings
- United States > Labor and employment > ERISA litigation
- United States > Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional
- United States > Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design
- United States > Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)
- United States > Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- United States > Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds
- United States > Tax > US taxes: contentious
- United States > Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
- United States > Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- United States > Government > State attorneys general
- United States > Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage)
- United States > Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission)
- United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies
- United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+)
- United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
- United States > Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings
- United States > Finance > Commercial lending