The Legal 500

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

1888 CENTURY PARK EAST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90067-1725, USA
Tel:
Work +1 310 712 6600
Fax:
Fax +1 310 712 8800
Web:
www.sullcrom.com
Email:
Washington DC, Tokyo, Sydney, Paris, Palo Alto, New York and 6 more

Founded in New York in 1879, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP comprises approximately 800 lawyers conducting a global practice through 12 offices on four continents. The firm offers clients the benefits of a global and multidisciplinary partnership that relies primarily on internally generated growth. S&C’s lawyers dedicate themselves to providing clients with consistently high-quality legal services.

Main areas of practice

Capital markets: S&C’s prominent capital markets practice leads global rankings in both volume and value of offerings, and on its ability to structure novel and effective transactions in the representation of issuers, underwriters, selling and controlling shareholders, and other market participants around the world.

Financial institutions: S&C remains the leading global law firm on transactional, regulatory, enforcement and other matters affecting financial institutions. The firm’s expertise extends to clients in the banking, broker-dealer, commodities, futures and derivatives, insurance, and investment management sectors. The firm has continued to work with its clients on achieving their strategic business objectives despite the challenges of an unpredictable and often difficult global economic climate. In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, S&C has been at the forefront in educating clients about legislative and regulatory developments.

M&A: S&C mobilizes teams of lawyers worldwide for clients on their largest and most important domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. S&C has been the leading firm in global M&A over the past five years, advising principals in more than $1.2tn in announced transactions from 2007 to 2011. The firm has advised parties in eight of the ten largest announced deals worldwide during that time frame.

Litigation: the firm’s litigation group takes a global, multidisciplinary approach to every matter and is regularly chosen as lead counsel in many of the highest profile and most complex matters before courts, arbitration panels and regulators. The strength of its practice is regularly chosen as lead counsel in many of the highest profile and most complex matters before courts, arbitration panels and regulators. The strength of its practice is reflected in independent rankings, including top rankings, by Chambers for dispute resolution, general commercial, securities, white-collar crime and government investigations litigation. The firm maintains a strong record of success in its intellectual property and technology practice, and in its labor and employment practice.

Project development and finance: S&C’s strength in corporate finance, including project, leveraged and infrastructure finance, is widely recognized. The firm is a noted leader in natural resource projects and PPP structures for infrastructure in developed and emerging markets, and its projects lawyers have advised on many award-winning projects worldwide.

Real estate: S&C’s global real estate group combines public/private market expertise and innovative deal-making skills to assist clients in purchasing, selling, developing and financing real estate companies and assets worldwide, and represents clients in restructuring real estate and other assets to facilitate generational transition and/or resolve disputes. The practice includes bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, financial institutions, M&A, private equity, securities, structured finance and professional sports-related transactions.

Tax: S&C’s highly regarded tax group has a global reputation for innovative tax planning, the successful resolution of important tax controversies, as well as providing pivotal tax advice on corporate transactions. S&C plays a significant role in structuring new, tax-advantaged financial instruments and complex M&A transactions, and represents prominent industrial and commercial enterprises in US, French, UK and cross-border tax matters.

Senior Chairman H Rodgin Cohen

Chairman Joseph C Shenker

Other Offices:
Beijing
Frankfurt
Hong Kong
London
Melbourne
Paris
Tokyo
Sydney

Number of Partners: 176

Number of Other Fee-earners: 608

Above material supplied by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.

Legal Developments worldwide

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • Jersey Royal Court considers measure of damages for dilapidations claims

    In the absence of any statutory provision in Jersey addressing how dilapidations claims are to be quantified, the Royal Court's decision in JSSL v Barclays has provided some much needed guidance, particularly in circumstances where there is an acceptance that works to redress dilapidations have not been and will not be carried out.
  • English Supreme Court rules on Mistake and Hastings Bass

    On 9 May 2013 the English Supreme Court handed down a unanimous judgment on the seminal cases of Pitt-v- Holt and Futter -v- Futter , with Lord Walker's valedictory judgment conclusively resolving the English position on the rule in Hastings Bass and rescission on the ground of mistake.
  • Getting the breaks

    Shook, Hardy & Bacon currently authors the Insurance section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here .
  • Product liability and dietary supplements

    Shook, Hardy & Bacon currently authors the Insurance section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here .
  • The calm before 
the storm: are 
you prepared for 
a dawn raid?

    WilmerHale currently authors the Fraud and Corporate Crime section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here .
  • International shipment of waste: transporters beware

    Burges Salmon LLP currently authors the Environment and Energy section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here
  • Cyprus Shipping Industry : Business as usual. Why despite recent events Cyprus remains an internatio

    Cyprus is the third most populated island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Traditionally Cyprus has always been at the heart of the seafaring trade and therefore always functioned as an important centre for trade and commerce. Today as a member of the European Union it remains an optimal business base. It is one of the most attractive locations for foreign investments worldwide. Foreign companies have been given the opportunity to invest and establish business in Cyprus on equal terms with local investors as no distinction is made between foreign and Cypriot companies.
  • FOREIGN EXCHANGE OPERATIONS

    The excellent support system in combination with the ideal jurisdiction provided in Cyprus set the country in the list of the most desirable countries through which you can offer foreign exchange operations. In addition, the accession of Cyprus within the European Union and, most importantly, the extremely beneficial economic advantages available due to the low costs and the outstanding taxation, create a covetable environment for foreign investors.
  • National public order. Adoption of the Draft

    The Presidium of the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation (hereinafter - SCC RF) adopted by the Informative Letter No. 156 dated the 26th of February, 2013 (hereinafter - the Informative Letter) on Review of the consideration by arbitrazh courts of the cases on the implementation of the public order clause as the ground for rejection of the recognition and enforcement of the foreign court decisions and arbitral awards.
  • China Customs New Interpretation

    For many products, tariff classification can be technically complex, confusing, and subject to multiple interpretations. Often several different Harmonized System Codes ("HS Code") may seem applicable for one given product with different tariff rates. Tariff classification is indeed a process of application of customs classification rules, including customs rulings and decisions, and misclassification may trigger severe legal consequences. The sad fact is, unfortunately, that many companies rely on non-legal professionals to determine the HS Codes for imports or exports. A recent interpretation issued by the General Administration of Customs of China ("GACC") (Circular No. [2012] 495 Shu-Fa-Fa) (the "Interpretation") reinforces the process of tariff classification as a legal matter, and formulates the test as to what counts for regulatory violation if tariff classification rules are improperly applied by the importer or exporter in a given case. If the legal defense is successful, misclassification may only be treated as a non-violation misclassification, with the possible obligation to pay up additional customs duties, if any, but without administrative or criminal consequences. The Interpretation took effect as from February 1, 2013.