The Legal 500

United States

Real estate

Real estate - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

The ‘quick and responsive’ team at Dentons has ‘a good sense of what is customary in the industry’ and ‘is able to use its extensive geographic and subject matter knowledge to the client’s advantage whilst remaining conscious of costs’. The firm primarily handles a mix of corporate matters and real estate finance, including investment transactions, property development and structured, securitized and mezzanine loans. Regulatory matters are also a key area of expertise and the firm regularly advises on planning and zoning policy, debt restructuring and the application of environmental initiatives to new developments and existing buildings. Notable highlights for the last year included the firm’s representation of Blackstone in its $550m-plus renovation of Willis Tower, which included major upgrades to tenant amenities and the Skydeck Chicago viewing platform, and its representation of Riverside Investment & Development in a redevelopment agreement with Amtrak for the redevelopment of four blocks around Chicago’s Union Station. Robert Fernandez chairs the firm’s real estate practice and recently acted for Shire Pharmaceuticals in the negotiation of its lease of a 343,000 sq ft building in Cambridge. Other key practitioners include Linda White, who has notable experience in the telecoms sector, and finance expert Scott Kapp.

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United States: Dispute resolution

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to corporates - ranked: tier 5

Dentons

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

Dentons

Kansas City-based Stephen Hill Jr serves as chair of Dentons’ white-collar and government investigations practice group, which has particular strength in cross-border matters. Washington DC’s Treazure Johnson represented the former sector president of a defense contractor in parallel DOJ and SEC investigations into allegations of revenue manipulation, which were resolved with declinations. Johnson also successfully represented the National Securities Exchange in connection with an SEC investigation into alleged ‘spoofing’. Chicago’s Stephen Senderowitz, Rachel Cannon and New York’s Sandra Hauser are representing 3Red Trading in a ‘spoofing’ case before the CFTC as well as in 20 related class actions. Washington DC’s Maxwell Carr-Howard is recommended for high-profile FCPA matters.

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General commercial disputes

General commercial disputes - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

Dentons’ extensive office network sees it litigating in various states across the country, while its cross-border capabilities allow it to handle commercial litigation with international elements. It achieved a significant victory for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe in a case before the District Court for the District of Columbia concerning the Department of the Interior’s ability to take land into trust for a tribe that was federally recognized after 1934; litigator Kenneth Pfaehler worked alongside Native American law expert Heather Sibbison. In ongoing matters, Chicago-based Natalie Spears and New York-based Sandra Hauser are representing Condé Nast in a consumer privacy class action filed in the Southern District of New York. Tami Lyn Azorsky heads the team. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC except where otherwise indicated.

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

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

Dentons

Dentons’ toxic tort practice handles product liability and mass tort trials, and is primarily focused on personal injury claims in asbestos-related matters. San Francisco-based counsel Frank Berfield recently obtained a complete defense verdict for CertainTeed in a case involving claims alleging that asbestos in products manufactured by the client caused the plaintiff to develop mesothelioma. Exxon Mobil, Metalclad Insulation and ArvinMeritor are also clients of the firm. The practice is headed by Dara Mann in Atlanta.

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Securities litigation: defense

Securities litigation: defense - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

Dentons has ‘a track record of extraordinary successes for its clients’ and climbs the ranking. The firm has carved out a niche representing financial services and insurance companies in securities litigation. Sandra Hauser in New York had a stellar 2017, which included winning the dismissal of a five class actions for Metropolitan Life Insurance, which plaintiffs alleged has misrepresented its financial status and strength through the use of captive reinsurance transactions. Hauser and Reid Ashinoff acted for Genworth Financial in a stockdrop class action that alleged it made materially false statements about the planned partial IPO of its Australian mortgage insurance subsidiary and that it concealed allegedly negative financial and adverse claims developments from investors. In Chicago, Stephen Senderowitz leads on regulatory enforcement matters and with Hauser is now defending Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in a high-profile class action filed in New York, Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado et al v Bank of Montreal et al, which alleges manipulation of the Canadian Dealer Offered Rate.

Leading lawyers

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United States: Finance

Financial services regulation

Financial services regulation - ranked: tier 7

Dentons

Aided by an extensive global network, Dentons’ ‘extremely intelligent’ Giorgio Bovenzi leads the firm’s offering for handling global credit risk management for major financial institutions. Bovenzi has a ‘comprehensive understanding of both the industry and the related legal issues’ and is ‘able to reconcile common law legal concepts and continental law legal concepts in a practical manner’. The other discrete part of the firm’s financial services regulatory offering is the consumer finance practice which is co-headed by Matthew Yoon and John Holahan. Both Yoon and Holahan are particularly well-versed at handling regulation relating to the primary and secondary residential mortgage markets and provide ongoing regulatory work to Citibank’s mortgage trading and underwriting desks on Wall Street in connection with the management of billions of dollars of financing line and residential mortgage assets. Other consumer finance regulatory clients include Barclays, Nomura and JPMorgan Chase.

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Structured finance: securitization

Structured finance: securitization - ranked: tier 2

Dentons

Dentons’ structured finance department is well known for its work in the mortgage and real estate finance space. Stephen Kudenholdt advised the initial purchasers of three securitizations originated by a REIT and backed by a portfolio of seasoned loans totaling $5bn. Kudenholdt also acted for Westgate Resorts and Central Florida Investments on a securitization of timeshare and mortgage-backed notes. Erik Klingenberg acted for the initial purchasers on a $1.4bn master trust issuance backed by triple net leases on commercial property. Scott Swerdloff advised the initial purchasers of a $1.3bn securitization backed by seasoned performing mortgage loans. As underwriter’s counsel, Swerdloff assisted clients such as Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse Securities with a series of issuances by Volt of mortgage loans and real estate owned properties.

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United States: Government

Government contracts

Government contracts - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

Jessica Abrahams leads Dentons’ government contracts practice, which is particularly active in FCA matters; the group represented Shaw Environmental in two qui tam cases concerning alleged failure to comply with Louisiana liquefied petroleum gas laws and alleged wrongful billing in the provision of temporary housing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The practice has seen a significant uptick in bid protest work, including recently prevailing in a challenge on behalf of unsuccessful offerors Strategi and VariQ Conviso against awards worth $30m by the US Department of Health and Human Services under Strategic Partners Acquisition Readiness Contract (SPARC) procurement; the clients’ bid protest was successful, resulting in corrective action being taken. In Washington DC, Safety Act applications expert Dana Pashkoff and cybersecurity expert Erin Sheppard are names to note. In Denver, litigator Thomas Lemmer and Steven Masiello are recommended.

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Government relations

Government relations - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

Following the opening of an office in Sacramento, Dentons’ public policy and advocacy network now reaches across 50 states and also operates at a federal level. The attorney general practice is a core strength of the firm, and provides ongoing assistance to DeVry Education Group pertaining to investigations and multiple claims regarding marketing materials and statements made to prospective students on the subject of graduation and job placement rates. Washington DC-based Gordon Giffin combines public policy and energy expertise to assist the Canadian Electricity Association with providing strategic advice to Congress on Canadian electricity imports into the US. Giffin also leads the advice to Brookfield Renewable on federal energy legislation, including the EPA’s efforts to revise and/or rescind the Clean Power Plan. Other clients include Charter Communications, Northside Hospital and Boy Scouts of America. Daniel Gibb and Michael Zolandz are other names to note in the Washington DC office. Jeffrey Bleich is a key name in San Francisco, while Edward Lindsey and Eric Tanenblatt are recommended in the Atlanta office.

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United States: Industry focus

Energy litigation: conventional power

Energy litigation: conventional power - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

The conventional power team at Dentons combines its regulatory and litigation strengths to represent clients in contentious FERC matters, such as rate cases and enforcement proceedings. The broad client base includes Kansas City Power & Light and Navopache Electric Cooperative. Kansas City-based Curtis Woods is representing Transource Missouri, a joint venture of Great Plains Energy and Ameren, in a dispute related to the construction of the Midwest Transmission Project which also involved compensation claims brought by more than 400 landowners. Practice head Clinton Vince represented the City Council of the City of New Orleans in various proceedings before FERC, the US Court of Appeals and at the local level of New Orleans, including the successful integration of ENO into the MISO regional transmission organization and the termination of Entergy’s multi-state system agreement. Former co-chair Stuart Caplan and Andrew Schifrin joined Troutman Sanders.

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Energy regulatory: conventional power

Energy regulatory: conventional power - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

In addition to its track record in advising municipalities on their energy compliance work, Dentons has a solid FERC practice that represents its clients in rate cases, project developments and enforcement proceedings. Led by Karl Zobrist, the department is assisting Kansas City Power & Light and its parent holding company Great Plains Energy (GPE) with the obtainment of the Missouri regulatory approval of GPE's proposed merger with Westar. Another key client is the City Council of New Orleans; Clinton Vince, Presley Reed and Emma Hand continue to advise the client on a wide range of regulatory matters, including the oversight of Entergy New Orleans’ securitization of a $100 million storm reserve.

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Energy transactions: conventional power

Energy: transactions: conventional power - ranked: tier 5

Dentons

Dentons’ workload includes advising municipals on project issues relating to smart cities, as well as assisting electric co-operatives and utility companies such as Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association with M&A. Washington DC-based global energy head Clinton Vince and LA-based Carl Steen were both active.

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Energy: renewable/alternative

Energy: renewable/alternative - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Dentons handles a range of disputes arising in the renewables sector, and in one example Washington DC-based practice head Clinton Vince is defending Dr Christopher Clack in a defamation claim relating to deep decarbonization. Other work included acting for sponsors on the development and financing of projects, and assisting Royal Bank of Canada with a tax equity investment in two Pattern Energy wind projects. Washington DC-based Peter Thieman and LA-based Carl Steen are additional contacts.

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Environment: regulatory

Environment: regulatory - ranked: tier 2

Dentons

Dentons’ practice covers regulatory compliance, defense of enforcement actions, litigation, and due diligence on the environmental aspects of commercial transactions. Its major areas of work are environmental impact assessments, chemical and product regulation, and climate change. The team acted for Syngenta Crop Protection in Proposition 65 matters. San Francisco-based Matthew Adams is particularly focused on issues arising under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act. Nicholas Yost retired from the practice and Peter Gray joined Crowell & Moring LLP.

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Environment: transactional

Environment: transactional - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Dentons fields lawyers with expertise in environmental impact assessments, chemical and product regulation, and climate change. The practice’s clients include Topgolf USA, which it assists with the environmental aspects of acquisitions, as well as development and operational issues. San Francisco-based Matthew Adams chairs the firm’s US environment and natural resources practice.

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Healthcare: health insurers

Healthcare: health insurers - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Dentons’ department covers the full gamut of work for health insurers including transactions, regulatory mandates and insurance litigation. In a recent highlight, Bruce Baty and Jodi Adolf in Kansas City advised the Medical Protective Company on the design and implementation of reinsurance programs for healthcare facilities; the pair also acted for Luxottica and EyeMed Vision Care on its vision plans and various compliance issues. Matthew Gaul in New York is a key name for regulatory advice; he recently assisted Berkshire Hathaway with its attempts to bring one of its subsidiaries out of runoff and reactivate its licenses in New York as well as applying for other licenses nationally. Baty and Kara Baysinger in San Francisco jointly lead the group; Baysinger’s expertise includes market conduct and sales practices, licensing matters, reinsurance and transactional work. Other key names include San Francisco-based Michael Barnes and Bruce Merlin Fried in Washington DC.

Leading lawyers

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Healthcare: life sciences

Healthcare: life sciences - ranked: tier 5

Dentons

At Dentons, the group advises a diverse range of clients in the pharmaceutical industry, including manufacturers, distributors and service providers. In New Jersey, group co-head Jeffrey Baumel, Ilan Katz and Ira Kotel led advice to PharmAthene on a $100m merger with Altimmune. Dallas-based Robert Hanson has been representing Monsanto in various patent matters, including opposition proceedings. The group is also headed by Stephanie Seidman in San Diego and Peg Donahue Hall in Dallas.

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Healthcare: service providers

Healthcare: service providers - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

Dentons’ expertise spans regulatory compliance, reimbursement issues, transactions, legislative matters and litigation. In a recent highlight, the group acted for HCA Holdings on multiple issues including compliance matters, Medicare and Medicaid advice and government enforcement actions. Other mandates include assisting Gardens Regional Hospital and Medical Center with Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings relating to a 110-bed hospital in Los Angeles County, defending Essilor of America and its affiliates in multi-district criminal and civil False Claims Act suits and an Anti-Kickback Statute subpoena investigation, and acting for Northwestern Memorial Healthcare on a debt restructuring. Kathryn Ashton leads the team from Chicago; other key practitioners include Mary Wilson in Chicago, Gadi Weinreich in Washington DC and San Francisco-based Daniel Higgins.

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Insurance: advice to insurers

Insurance: advice to insurers - ranked: tier 1

Dentons

Dentons’ ‘responsive, pro-active, creative and extremely knowledgeable’ department is commended for its ‘strong’ contentious practice and regularly handles class actions for high-profile insurer clients. Reid Ashinoff in New York defended Genworth Financial and its former CEO and CFO in a securities "stock drop" putative fraud class action alleging that it made materially false statements concerning the planned partial IPO of its Australian mortgage insurance subsidiary. Department co-head Keith Moskowitz in Chicago is representing XL Catlin in several disputes including cases involving claims for coverage related to landfills owned and operated by policyholder Republic Services. Matthew Gaul in New York and Kara Baysinger in San Francisco, who co-leads the firm’s global insurance sector practice, regularly advise AXA Equitable's public policy group on regulatory issues. MetLife, Travelers, Arrowood Indemnity, Zurich, Nationwide and AIG are also clients. Ronald Kent and Susan Walker in Los Angeles are recommended as is New York-based Sandra Hauser. In Atlanta, Stephen Berry and Randy Evans, who ‘can think outside the box and establishes a plan many moves down the road’ are noted, and department co-head Shari Klevens in Washington DC is ‘super-smart’ and ‘can handle difficult adversaries’. Michael Barr in New York is also noted. John Sarchio joined Crowell & Moring LLP in 2017.

Leading lawyers – Coverage

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Insurance: non-contentious

Insurance: non-contentious - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Dentons is a ‘fantastic choice for regulatory matters’ and houses a nationwide spread of expertise for insurance regulatory mandates. It advises Luxottica on its insurance operations, including advising its managed vision care company EyeMed Vision Care on a range of regulatory and compliance matters, and assists AXA Equitable’s public policy group with a variety of regulatory issues. The team also advises multiple insurers on market conduct examinations and investigations. Prudential, Swiss Re, Chubb and Cigna are also clients. Kara Baysinger, who is based across the Chicago and San Francisco offices, co-heads the team with Bruce Baty in Kansas City. Matt Gaul in New York, Los Angeles-based Stephanie Duchene and recently promoted counsel Kate Morgan in San Francisco are also key contacts. Dan Brown joined Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in 2017.

Leading lawyers

Next generation lawyers

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United States: Intellectual property

Patent litigation: full coverage

Patent litigation: full coverage - ranked: tier 5

Dentons

Dentons’ team primarily assists clients from the consumer products, technology and electronics sectors. The team of practice heads Song Jung in Washington DC and Robert Hanson in Dallas includes ‘team leader’ and co-chair of the patent litigation practice Mark Hogge, the ‘clear and concise’ Shailendra Maheshwari and counsel Carl Bretscher, all in Washington DC. A recent highlight was the representation of Pulse Electronics in long-running litigation in which the award of treble damages for egregious infringing conduct was the main point of contention. Additionally, the group successfully advised plaintiff FastShip in patent infringement litigation against the US government before the United States Court of Federal Claims regarding a patent covering the lifting stem on a war vessel. Clients also include Nistica, Silver Spring Networks and Inteplast Group. Co-head of the patent litigation group Robert Kramer in Silicon Valley and Tyler Goodwyn in Washington DC are other key contacts. Joshua Curry joined Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP.

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Patent: prosecution (including reexamination and post-grant proceedings)

Patent: prosecution (including reexamination and post-grant proceedings) - ranked: tier 6

Dentons

At Dentons the arrival of Peter Yim and Brian Ho in San Francisco and Christopher Eide in Silicon Valley, all from Morrison & Foerster LLP, has significantly increased the group’s prosecution strength. Life sciences, technology and electronics are core areas of expertise. Dallas life sciences expert Robert Hanson, who led in successfully representing Monsanto in tree IPR proceedings regarding soybean seed oil patents, and Washington DC-based technology specialist Song Jung share the lead of the IP and Technology group. Eric Sophir in Washington DC is another main contact. Clients include Coca Cola, LG and the University of Texas at Austin.

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Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters)

Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

At Dentons, Mark Hogge led a team representing Flextronics International in a patent and trade secrets misappropriation action filed by Jawbone and BodyMedia before the International Trade Commission, while Lora Brzezynski defended Shane Boone and Bridge Diagnostics against allegations of trade secrets misappropriation, conversion and unfair competition. Both attorneys are based in Washington DC; the team also operates from Chicago, Boston and Atlanta.

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Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing)

Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing) - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

The ‘very good’ team at Dentons handles the full range of portfolio management issues, including prosecution and enforcement. In Chicago, well-regarded co-head Samuel Fifer has been leading advice to the Drucker 1996 Literary Works Trust in enforcement and protection matters. The team has also been assisting South Coast Plaza with domestic and international trademark matters, including advertising. Co-head Carol Been is also based in Chicago and the team also includes Monica Richman in New York. The practice was strengthened by the arrivals of former Morrison & Foerster LLP partners Peter Yim and Brian Ho in San Francisco and Christopher Eide in Silicon Valley.

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United States: Labor and employment

ERISA litigation

ERISA litigation - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Dentons’ Alan Gilbert in Chicago is currently representing Hanover Insurance Group in a nationwide class action in which the plaintiffs are seeking the recovery of allegedly underpaid lump sum distributions from its cash balance pension plan. In New York, practice head Brian Cousin and Richard Scharlat are defending Chimes District of Columbia and its self-funded health and welfare plan in an excessive fee suit brought by the Secretary of Labor. Other names to note include Douglas Scullion in San Francisco and Jason Scheiderer in Kansas City.

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Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design

Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Dentons assisted a government-owned healthcare system on the termination of its underfunded defined benefit plan, and implemented complex equity compensation arrangements on behalf of a private equity-backed Cayman Islands company. Kansas City-based Martin Moderson represented a 401(k) plan investment committee in the successful resolution of a DOL audit, while Michael Maryn in Washington DC guided an American citizen based in the UK through the cross-border tax issues arising from the grant of an equity interest in an affiliate of their employer. In Chicago, Pamela Baker and Frank VanderPloeg transitioned to the position of of counsel.

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Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional

Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional - ranked: tier 5

Dentons

Dentons’ team is led from the Kansas City and Washington DC offices by Martin Moderson and Michael Maryn respectively. The group recently advised DoubleVerify on its sale to Providence Equity Partners, and assisted an electronic entertainment company with its acquisition of the equity interests of a video game developer. Other noteworthy clients include McDonald’s, Singing River Health System, Hewlett Packard and H&R Block. Pamela Baker and Frank VanderPloeg transitioned to of counsel roles in the firm’s Chicago office.

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Immigration

Immigration - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Dentons’ practice focuses on business immigration matters on behalf of employers, investors, professionals and entrepreneurs, with applications for all types of business visas and the global movement of personnel. With group head Matthew Schulz based in Silicon Valley, a major pipeline of work for the practice is from technology companies. However, it is also adept at representing clients in agribusiness, entertainment and financial services. Representative clients include Driscoll Strawberry Associates and ROC-Connect. Recent work includes advising Clarke Financial Partner on corporate and immigration strategies for companies and high-net-worth individuals in Vietnam in order to expand their business presence in the US.

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Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense

Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Dentons handles class actions, collective actions and single-plaintiff litigation as well as arbitrations, mediations and other forms of dispute resolution. Its West Coast offering is noted for its wage and hour expertise, while the East Coast team is adept at restrictive covenant, trade secret and unfair competition litigation. Gregory Wolf in Kansas City is defending two national class actions for Sprint Corporation brought by employees who assert Sprint's failure to properly pay commissions. Department head Brian Cousin in New York is representing Stallion LLC in a case involving the termination of an executive employee. The Society Model Management, Summit Materials and CDI Corp are also clients. Sandra McCandless, who is based in the San Francisco, Oakland and Silicon Valley offices, Richard Scharlat in New York, Jim McNeill in San Diego, Daniel Beale in Atlanta, Cynthia Jackson in Silicon Valley and Nick Pujji in Los Angeles are also recommended.

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Workplace and employment counseling

Workplace and employment counseling - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

Dentons regularly advises clients on litigation avoidance and is commended for its cross-border expertise. Brian Baggott in Kansas City is advising Summit Materials on issues relating to disciplinary proceedings, terminations, and wage and hour matters. San Francisco-based Sandra McCandless is assisting Skidmore Owings & Merrill with a range of matters, including cross-border issues, and Cynthia Jackson in Silicon Valley is advising clients such as Maxim Integrated Products, Mozilla and Vista Outdoor on global codes and data privacy. In Los Angeles, Nick Pujji, who is active in ADA compliance matters, and Jim McNeill, who also operates out of the San Diego office, are also noted. Brian Cousin in New York heads the team.

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United States: M&A/corporate and commercial

M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m)

M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m) - ranked: tier 2

Dentons

Traditionally focused on the middle-market, Dentons has a growing track record in large-cap transactions. The ‘highly impressive and reliable M&A team’ has extensive experience advising Fortune 500 and middle-market companies, private equity investors, bidders and targets, financiers, and independent board committees, and it has particular skill in highly regulated sectors such as financial services, healthcare, life sciences, energy and technology. The team acted for family-owned global dairy products group Lactalis in its purchase of organic yogurt-maker Stonyfield Farm; and advised Intercontinental Exchange on its acquisition of global extranet and wireless services business TMX Atrium. Other highlights included the Kansas City team advising DiversiTech Corporation (DTC) - North America’s largest manufacturer of air conditioning condenser pads - and the DiversiTech management team on the sale of DTC to Permira funds; and acting for Shapiro Capital Management Company in its sale of a controlling interest of its registered investment adviser subsidiary, Shapiro Capital Management, to the parent company of American Beacon Advisors, Resolute Investment Managers. Michael Cochran is the US corporate practice group leader and divides his time between Atlanta and New York; Michael Froy in Chicago co-chairs the global corporate practice and global manufacturing sector; and New York-based Stephan Mallenbaum is noted for multi-party, multi-disciplinary transactions for global financial services, private equity and technology-driven companies. Jeremy Silverman joined Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta.

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Venture capital and emerging companies

Venture capital and emerging companies - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

Dentons’ truly global venture capital and emerging companies practice has brought an additional pipeline of business to the US team. It now works on a number of venture capital financings for overseas companies, helps foreign emerging companies to establish a footprint in the US and advises US growth companies on establishing themselves overseas. The firm is well plugged into the start-up community and operates incubators in San Diego and Palo Alto. The firm is especially prominent in AI, fintech, cryptocurrency, mobile, life sciences and digital health, and has a large team primarily spread across its New York, Bay Area, San Diego and Los Angeles offices. It is the only international law firm to have a dedicated venture capital and emerging company office in New York’s Meatpacking District, a notable tech hub. It advised Operative Media on its $200m sale to SintecMedia, a Francisco Partners portfolio company. Other clients include DoubleVerify, Voxy, CommonBond and Zype. New York partner Victor Boyajian heads the department, and medical device expert John Cleary heads the Short Hills office in New Jersey where Jeffrey Baumel is recommended for life sciences.

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United States: Media, technology and telecoms

Media and entertainment

Media and entertainment - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

Dentons’ ‘outstanding’ practice is led by the ‘exceptional’ Natalie Spears in Chicago and advises on a variety of media and communications matters. Recent highlights include representing Condé Nast in a putative class action alleging the client sent unsolicited junk mail and promotional phone calls to plaintiffs and sold the resulting information, assisting MGM Studios with the production guidelines and privacy issues surrounding two television programs, and advising Poker Central on all elements of the development, production and launch of a new subscription digital and mobile content network. Other clients include Tribune Publishing, St Louis Rams, Rodale and CRTV. The department is recognized for defending Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) and Video Rental Privacy Act (VRPA) class actions, and handling reality television matters. Clients also praise the ‘incredible’ David Blood in Los Angeles, who focuses on transactional work. James Klenk retired.

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Outsourcing

Outsourcing - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Ross Docksey in Chicago leads the practice at Dentons, which has a long track record in ITO, BPO, human resources outsourcing (HRO) and facilities management deals. Carol Anne Been is also recommended. A key deal for Docksey in 2017 saw him advise motor vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland on the establishment and operation of its affiliate Hinduja Technology, which provides IT outsourcing services to US companies in the automotive sector and other industries. The firm advises both buy-side clients and service providers.

Leading lawyers

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Technology: transactions

Technology: transactions - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Dentons advises on M&A deals, public offerings, venture capital financing, IP protection strategies, new technology licensing, as well as accelerating new ventures via the firm’s own Startup Program, which provides founders and early-stage companies with services to help scale their businesses. The team acted for Operative Media, which specializes in digital advertising for major media companies, in its sale to SintecMedia; and advised Cyient on its acquisition of CERTON Software. Victor Boyajian in New York advises on venture capital, private equity, securities and strategic transactions.

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Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory

Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

Former engineer Todd Daubert heads the practice at Dentons and has strong expertise in regulatory, contentious and transactional matters. He assisted North American Portability Management with transitioning its services from Neustar to iconectiv. He also advised Nokia on 5G deployments and assisted Pure IP with its entry into the US market. T-Mobile US, Amazon and Under Armour are key clients.

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Telecoms and broadcast: transactional

Telecoms and broadcast: transactional - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Dentons has expertise in transactions relating to telecoms, ISPs, software and application developers and broadcasters. The bulk of the team is based in its Washington DC office, although additional support comes from New Jersey and Atlanta. Former engineer Todd Daubert leads the communications and technology practice. He recently advised XO Communications on its asset purchase agreement with Verizon, as well as its spectrum lease agreement with NextLink Wireless. New Jersey-based Victor Boyajian and Ilan Katz, who both specialize in venture technology, assisted Operative Media with its $200m sale to SintecMedia. John Cleary, who is also based in New Jersey, advised Zype on its financing from Runa Capital.

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United States: Real estate

Construction (including construction litigation)

Construction (including construction litigation) - ranked: tier 2

Dentons

Dentons’ construction practice supports clients across a variety of industry sectors, including real estate, hotels and leisure, oil and gas, power and public sector construction. The firm acts for contractors and owners in the full range of transactional and contentious matters. Practice head John Haug and David Fedder advised the owner on the EPC contract for an estimated $1.5bn chemical facility, and Haug also advised McCormack Baron Salazar on the development of residential units with estimated value of around $750m. On the litigation side, Charlie Vantine represented Central Valley Gas Storage in litigation relating to engineering defects and delays to a $200m natural gas compression and storage facility. Other clients include Granite Construction, LS Power Development, and Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management. Named attorneys are based in St Louis.

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United States: Tax

Financial products

Financial products - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

Dentons has a good reputation for tax advice linked to swaps and other financial products as well as domestic and international capital markets transactions. The firm also has strong expertise in insurance-linked securities, prepaid forward contracts and structures including investment funds and REITs. Recent highlights include advising Xerium Technologies on the tax structuring of a $480m senior secured note offering. It also advised Mizuho Trust & Banking on a $500m cross-border securities loan involving the US, UK and Belgium. Timothy Santoli is well regarded, although the firm will miss Jeffrey Koppele, who joined Ashurst LLP’s New York office.

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International tax

International tax - ranked: tier 3

Dentons

The ‘highly skilled and very professional’ team at Dentons handles matters for US and multinational companies across multiple jurisdictions, focusing on outbound, inbound and international investment, transfer pricing and compliance, as well as on project financing, restructuring and tax treaty interpretation. Washington DC-based John Harrington led a US-Canadian team’s advice to BW Canada Holdco regarding its acquisition of the assets of Ottawa-based digital advertising company MaxBounty. The client portfolio also includes Mizuho Trust & Banking and James Hardie International Finance. New York-based Marc Teitelbaum, Rich Williams and Jon Hutchens, who was promoted to partner in April 2017, are other key contacts.

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US taxes: contentious

US taxes: contentious - ranked: tier 4

Dentons

Dentons handles the full spectrum of IRS actions, including appeals, post-appeals, mediations and fast-tracked matters, and represents clients in a wide range of tax-related civil and criminal disputes before the Tax Court, the US Court of Federal Claims and federal district courts. James Mastracchio, who chairs the practice with Jeffry Erney, advised a prominent Caribbean financial institution on a cross-border investigation between the US and Caribbean regions. Managing associate Sanpreet Dhaliwal is another name to note. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC.

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US taxes: non-contentious

US taxes: non-contentious - ranked: tier 6

Dentons

The tax team at Dentons advises public corporations and pass-through entities on M&A, tax planning, real estate and restructuring, as well as private clients on their trust and estate matters. Spire Capital Partners, Xerium Technologies and James Hardie International Finance are some of the key clients. Bruce Davison in Kansas City and Thomas Stephens in Chicago head the 13-partner team, which promoted Jon Hutchens in New York to partner in 2017.

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