The Legal 500 > United States > United States > International litigation

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton's reputable practice group claims the world’s leading corporations, financial institution, sovereigns, and senior executives as its clients. Carmine Boccuzzi and John Blackman are defending a consortium of banks, which include the National Westminster Bank, Credit Lyonnais, Commerzbank and BNP Paribas in several different lawsuits under the US Anti-Terrorism Act, spanning three different US district courts. Elsewhere in the banking space, Lawrence Friedman was part of a team that advised global banks such as HSBC on the defense of matters arising from the Bernie Madoff scandal. Other key contacts in New York include Jeffrey Rosenthal and Howard Zelbo, while Washington DC-based contacts include securities litigator Jared Gerber, and Matthew Slater, who regularly acts for foreign governments. Nowell Bamberger in Washington DC was made partner, as was Rahul Mukhi, who is recommended for his expertise in cyber security.

New York-based Debevoise & Plimpton LLP stands out for its 'exceptional attorneys and high level of integrity'. Department co-chairs Andrew Ceresney and Mary Beth Hogan lead the team which includes many star litigators, including former SEC chair Mary Jo White and international disputes group co-chairs Donald Donovan and David Rivkin. The firm excels in high-profile cross-border commercial litigation, white-collar crime, regulatory defense work, and cybersecurity and data privacy litigation. It has represented Société Générale in connection with an investigation by the Department of Justice and France’s Parquet National Financier into the potential corruption of foreign officials in Libya in connection with the client's equity derivatives business; that matter was led by the chair of the white-collar defense group Bruce Yannett. Other clients include the Government of Grenada, Deutsche Bank and Rolls-Royce. Catherine Amirfar of the firm’s public international law group, IP specialist and 'excellent litigator' David Bernstein, Dietmar Prager and experienced trial lawyer Sean Hecker are also recommended.

Dechert LLP is 'excellent' at handling complex multi-jurisdictional litigation matters, where it regularly advises investment funds, corporations and sovereign bodies. Indeed, the team is ‘brilliant, dedicated to its clients and is certainly a tier-one firm’, according to one client. Dennis H Hranitzky, who is co-head of the firm's international and insolvency litigation group in New York, is 'very sharp and very strategic’; he is currently advising funds managed by Argentem Creek Partners LP in litigation and Chapter 15 insolvency proceedings relating to defaulted bonds. Department co-head Gary Mennitt is also recommended. In Philadephia, Michael McGinley joined the group having acted as associate counsel to the President in the White House Counsel's Office.

Latham & Watkins LLP is ‘a terrific firm' where the 'team works seamlessly together’. Michele Johnson in Orange County is global chair of the firm’s litigation and trial department, which handles high-value and cross-border white-collar crime matters, antitrust cases and general commercial litigation. The US-based vice chairs are Brian Kowalski in Washington DC and Douglas Lumish in Silicon Valley. Recent highlights include Chicago-based trial lawyer Sean M. Berkowitz assisting General Electric with several lawsuits arising from Thomas Petters’ multibillion-dollar fraud scheme. Other key contacts in the team include New York-based Jamie Wine, Mary Rose Alexander in Chicago and Al Pfeiffer in San Francisco.

Baker McKenzie LLP's international litigation practice spans the firm's Chicago, New York, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Washington DC and Miami offices, where the team represents US and foreign multinationals in complex disputes and enforcement matters. Key contacts include Jennifer Semko and Edward Baldwin in Washington DC, and Colin Murray in San Francisco.

Hogan Lovells US LLP's team of 'excellent' litigators has vast expertise in the financial services, data protection and cybersecurity, and energy sectors. Leveraging a huge global network consisting of nearly 50 global offices, the practice is ‘very efficient, very responsive and very helpful'.  Recent work includes advising PwC Bermuda on litigation arising out of the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme,  in which the company was accused of malpractice and negligence; that matter was led by New York-based Dennis Tracey, who also heads the firm's litigation practice group in the Americas. Further, Daniel González and Richard Lorenzo in Miami represented IBM México in litigation in the Southern District of New York arising from the premature termination of services. Also of note, the firm’s strength in acting for sovereign clients was showcased by Houston-based Bruce Oakley's Supreme Court victory for the Republic of Venezuela.

The 'excellent' team at Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP has 'deep expertise of the field' and has over 80 litigators in New York, many of whom handle complex cross-border matters. The team is representing a sovereign body with multiple enforcement proceedings in the United States arising from an foreign arbitral award involving a dispute in the energy sector. The firm also advised a former bank executive on criminal and enforcement proceedings brought by the DOJ, the SEC and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority concerning securities fraud. Houston-based Gerard G Pecht leads the global dispute resolution and litigation practice, while Richard S Krumholz in Dallas leads the US group. Also recommended in Houston are Mark Baker and Kevin O’Gorman.

Shearman & Sterling LLP's 'impressive' client base spans multinational corporations and financial institutions on high-profile, and often cross-border matters including global investigations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters and US-based litigation involving non-US entities. Global practice head Adam Hakki and deputy head of the litigation department Richard Schwed are both recommended for their expertise in securities class actions and banking litigation. In Washington DC, Christopher Ryan is acting for Yukos Oil Company in the enforcement of $50bn of arbitral awards from the Russian Federation after its expropriation of investments in the client. Other contacts include Henry Weisburg, who is noted for his expertise in cross-border financial disputes, and rising star Paula Anderson. All named individuals are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

White & Case LLP has ‘outstanding expertise in international litigation and shows both responsiveness and devotion to clients’ interests’. New York-based global chair of litigation Glenn Kurtz is ‘a top-notch lawyer with lots of commercial acumen’ and presides over the deep bench of talent both in the US and across the firm’s global network. The team is representing the Republic of Sudan in several cross-border lawsuits alleging that Sudan provided material support to the al-Qaeda terrorists responsible for certain terrorist attacks; Christopher Curran, who is based in Washington DC, is the lead partner in this matter. Owen Pell in New York recently defended the Republic of Peru in a $213m breach of contract claim concerning an alleged default on sovereign bonds issued in 1875.

Washington DC-based litigation boutique Williams & Connolly LLP provides ‘unparalleled service that is worth every penny’. The firm's core strengths include defending US and foreign corporations and individuals, foreign governments and government agencies in litigation in the US and abroad. The practice group is jointly headed by Peter Kahn, who is 'relentlessly creative', and 'creative litigator' Ana Reyes. Other noted practitioners include Bryan Wilson, Robert Van Kirk and ‘gifted business lawyer’ Nicholas Boyle. Corporate clients include Google, Samsung and the Bank of America.

Arnold & Porter has a growing work load of high-value cross-border disputes, with corporate clients including blue-chip companies and sovereign bodies in Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. The team is led by co-chairs Kenneth Chernof in Washington DC and James Herschlein in New York. Matthew Wolf in Washington DC is defending Boston Scientific in a $1bn patent dispute in which Edwards Lifesciences alleges that various replacement heart valves and related products infringe its patents. Head of the firm's Houston office Thad Dameris is recommended for his expertise in trans-national disputes relating to transportation and product liability.

Baker & Hostetler LLP's litigation team 'works well as part of an international team on cross-border cases’. The 100 lawyer team spans 14 office locations and is led by Washington DC-based Mark A. Cymrot, who has ‘real depth and breadth of knowledge in cross-border fraud and asset recovery’. In New York, Gonzalo S. Zeballos is recommended for his 'unparalleled' expertise in multi-jurisdictional fraud and asset recovery litigation and is ‘someone you want on your side in any conflict'. 'Brilliant lawyer' Oren J. Warshavsky co-leads the asset-tracing and recovery team and represented Irving Pickard in claims involving a group of hedge funds implicated in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme.

The 'tenacious team' at Diaz, Reus & Targ, LLP is noted for its work involving Latin American clients. The Miami based boutique firm has 'a small, but impressive dispute resolution practice’. Managing partner Michael Diaz Jr. (who has earned a reputation as is ‘a guru' among his clients) takes the lead in cross-border criminal disputes and also has experience in commercial arbitration. Gary Davidson, who represented the Venezuelan state entity Ferrominera Orinoco in a complex case concerning sovereign immunity, is ‘a towering force and a master of detail and argument'.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP has significant expertise in cross-border disputes. The global litigation practice group is led by co-chairs Lori Cohen in Atlanta and Los Angeles-based Jeff Scott. In New York, experienced trial lawyer Hal Shaftel, who has particular expertise in antitrust, has represented plaintiffs WR Huff Asset Management and Musashi in the recovery of $1.6bn for consulting services rendered in connection with the financial restructuring of Virgin Media. Respected securities litigator Joseph C Coates III in West Palm Beach is also recommended.

King & Spalding LLP's team comprises 'true litigators in every sense of the word'. Indeed, the litigation department is 'just excellent' and has 'distinguished itself in the enforcement of international judgments’. Andrew Bayman heads the global disputes team, and Reginald Smith in Houston is also recommended. The team has represented the plaintiffs in Ascom (Stati) v Kazakhstan Enforcement, which concerns a $500m arbitral award under the Energy Charter Treaty, and also acted for PwC Brazil in a securities class action arising out corruption investigations of PwC Brazil’s audit client, state-controlled oil and gas giant Petroleo Brasileiro. Los Angeles-based Michael Shortnacy and Chicago-based Livia Kiser both joined the firm from Sidley Austin LLP. Zach Harmon in Washington DC, and Andrew Hruska and James Berger in New York are also recommended.

Steptoe & Johnson LLP's team is ‘well known, well credentialed and capable of getting good results in international enforcement matters’. Michael Baratz and head of international arbitration Steven Davidson frequently defend blue-chip corporate clients in complex litigation; the duo has been representing ExxonMobil in its efforts to enforce its $1bn ICSID award against Venezuela. White-collar defense specialist Reid Weingarten and New York-based litigator Michael Miller are ‘excellent trial lawyers and strong tacticians with real jury appeal’. Headed by Washington DC-based Antonia Ianniello, the commercial litigation and arbitration department also acts a number of global financial institutions. Also of note, Jared Butcher and Molly Bruder Fox were made partners in Washington DC. The team was strengthened in 2019 by the arrival of Christopher Paparella, who joined the New York office from Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP.

Winston & Strawn LLP's 'first-class’ litigation team has a strong track record in high-stakes, high-profile cross-border matters. Led out of Chicago by Stephen D’Amore  and George Lombardi, the team has acted in defense of Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash in an FCPA matter. In New York, one client described Jeffrey Kessler as ‘the most effective advocate I have ever seen in action’. Further, David Feher is recognized as ‘an excellent lawyer with particularly good judgment on how to approach strategy'.