The Legal 500

United States: Dispute resolution

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

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

Squire Patton Boggs

Squire Patton Boggs’ government investigations and white-collar practice is now led by Joseph Walker following Samuel Rosenthal’s departure to Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP’s Washington DC office in November 2017. The group represented a variety of foreign financial institutions in the Middle East, Africa and Asia in connection with potential violations of sanctions and money laundering law. Washington DC’s Rodney Slater was appointed independent monitor of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles by the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration, in a case concerning alleged FCA violations. Rebekah Poston and Alfredo Anzola lead on several high-profile investigatory and compliance matters from the Miami office.

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International arbitration

International arbitration - ranked: tier 4

Squire Patton Boggs

Squire Patton Boggs ‘fights hard for a good result for the client’. It handles investor treaty and commercial arbitration disputes, with particular strength in the oil and gas sector. Highlights included representing the Slovak Republic in a $1bn ICSID arbitration brought by EuroGas and Belmont Resources concerning a claim for lost investments allegedly resulting from the Slovak Republic’s withdrawal of rights to a talc mining area, and acting for the Republic of Kosovo before ICSID in a claim brought by a German telecoms investor under a 1989 BIT between Germany and the former Yugoslavia. Stephen Anway in New York co-heads the investment treaty practice and department head George von Mehren divides his time between the firm’s London and Cleveland offices. David Alexander in Columbus and Luka Misetic in New York are also key contacts.

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United States: Finance

Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate

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

Squire Patton Boggs

Squire Patton Boggs’ restructuring practice boasts a ‘deep bench’ with ‘exceptional knowledge of complex bankruptcies’. The group is acknowledged for its ‘depth of knowledge in natural resources and commercial litigation’ and was engaged by Midway Gold US regarding its Chapter 11 cases and related disputes. In a complex and unusual assignment, Stephen Lerner (Cincinnati/New York), Andrew Simon (Cincinnati) and Fred Summer (Columbus) alongside colleagues in London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are advising Dana Gas on the restructuring of a $700m Islamic financing vehicle and related multijurisdictional litigation. On the lender-side, the team successfully represented the official committee of unsecured creditors of Optima Specialty Steel in negotiating a plan of reorganization of the company that enabled full payment of all of the unsecured creditors claims plus interest. It has also advised US Bank as lenders to Breitburn Energy Partners and Stone Energy in restructuring proceedings and as indenture trustee in the bankruptcies of Goodrich Petroleum and Sandridge Energy. The ‘excellent’ Lerner - who is recommended for ‘resolving disputes and reaching consensus before critical court hearings’ - heads the practice which also includes recently promoted partner Kelly Singer in Phoenix.

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United States: Government

Government relations

Government relations - ranked: tier 2

Squire Patton Boggs

Squire Patton Boggs is noted for its experience in lobbying, regulatory advocacy, and public policy due diligence into proposed legislation and regulations with the potential to affect business deals. Past clients include SpaceX, Amazon, Mars, Wake Forest University, California Steel Industries and Gazprombank. Jeffrey Turner, who handles public policy matters relating to tax and trade policy issues, heads the public policy practice. Erin McGrain is a name to note.

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United States: Industry focus

Insurance: advice to insurers

Insurance: advice to insurers - ranked: tier 4

Squire Patton Boggs

Squire Patton Boggs’ insurance and reinsurance practice ‘brings a rock-solid commitment to client service’ and is well known for its litigation and arbitration expertise. It is defending Resolute Management against a claim of tortious interference as a result of the handling of a claim under policies issued by Lloyd’s, OneBeacon, Continental and several AIG carriers. It is also representing General Re Life Corporation, as the reinsurer of ReliaStar Insurance Company, in an ERISA action. Representing Alterra America Insurance Company in coverage litigation against the NFL is another key highlight. In New York Larry Schiffer is ‘exceptional’, ‘wonderfully easy to work with’ and is a ‘knowledgeable and experienced reinsurance arbitration practitioner’. Also recommended in New York are Suman Chakraborty, who has ‘deep experiences and is particularly well versed in all discovery issues’, as well as the ‘first-rate’ Eridania Perez. Practice head Patrick Dugan and Mary Jo Hudson in Columbus, who heads the insurance regulatory team, and Newark’s Mark Sheridan are also recommended. Deirdre Johnson and Paul Kalish recently joined the Washington DC office from Crowell & Moring LLP. Former practice head John Nonna has retired.

Leading lawyers – Reinsurance

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United States: M&A/corporate and commercial

M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m)

M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) - ranked: tier 2

Squire Patton Boggs

Headquartered in Cleveland, Squire Patton Boggs’ highly regarded corporate M&A practice has a substantial presence nationally and regularly plays lead roles in significant M&A transactions in key industry sectors, including automotive, aviation, chemicals, financial and business services, food and beverages, and consumer brands. Cleveland-based Americas chair of the global corporate practice Daniel Berick was counsel to Meritor on the sale of a joint venture interest; Frank Placenti in Phoenix advised Cryogenic Industries on its sale to advanced technologies company Nikkiso Co; and Washington DC’s Abby Brown led advice to longstanding client Sterling Bancorp on its definitive merger agreement with Astoria Financial Corporation. Other key work included Stephen Mahon, who divides time between Cincinnati and New York, advising meat processor JBS USA Food Company on the acquisition of Plumrose USA; and New York’s Carolyn Buller assisting South Korea-headquartered SK Global Chemical Co with its $370m acquisition of Dow Chemical’s global ethylene acrylic acid business. San Francisco-based Nicholas Unkovic is a widely praised adviser.

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United States: Media, technology and telecoms

Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)

Next generation lawyers

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Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory

Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory - ranked: tier 3

Squire Patton Boggs

Squire Patton Boggs grew its practice through the additions of Mark Dever and Eduardo Guzmán from Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. Dever advised Northstar Wireless on the FCC’s auction of AWS-3 spectrum rights, and Gusman has been heavily involved in Latin American regulatory matters. Practice head Robert Kelly assisted 800 MHz Transition Administrator with its $4bn spectrum reconfiguration and represented the Intelligent Transportation Society of America before the FCC regarding regulations on autonomous vehicles. Paul Besozzi and Peter Bean advised Securus Technologies on seeking regulatory approval for its takeover by a private equity firm. Robert Stup, worked with American Europe Connect on winning an FCC cable landing license to construct an undersea cable between New York and Ireland.

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