Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s New York-based international litigation team benefits from the ability to bring together experts from across eleven of its offices worldwide in complex cross-border disputes. Led by Carmine Boccuzzi, the group combines its impressive global reach with a depth of expertise particularly across financial, regulatory, corporate and antitrust disputes. The group is also very active in high-profile restructuring litigation and recently acted for LATAM Airlines Group in its voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization. For international arbitration and arbitration-related litigation, names to note include Jeffrey Rosenthal and counsel Lawrence Friedman, who also handles IP and media disputes. Roger Cooper focuses on civil litigation and class actions, with particular experience in disputes arising from securities, M&A and derivative transactions; he also has experience of corporate governance issues. The practice group is also well versed in securities disputes for which Jared Gerber and Rishi Zutshi, who has been active in advising on contentious issues arising from the transition from LIBOR, are names to note. Securities and white-collar crime litigator Lina Bensman and Mark McDonald are the newest additions to the partnership, having been promoted in January 2020 and January 2021, respectively. Howard Zelbo retired from the partnership.
International litigation in United States
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Practice head(s):
Carmine Boccuzzi
Other key lawyers:
Jeffrey Rosenthal; Lawrence Friedman; Rishi Zutshi; Jared Gerber; Lina Bensman; Mark McDonald; JonathanBlackman;
Testimonials
‘The team’s has brilliant knowledge of both domestic litigation rules and practices in combination with deep understand of international litigation particularities make it second to none when working on complex multi-jurisdictional matters like arbitral award enforcement.’
‘Jon Blackman is the absolute and outstanding leader.’
Key clients
LATAM Airlines
Medytox
Vale S.A.
Selex Galileo, Inc.
Robert Bosch GmbH and Robert Bosch LLC
BHP Climate Change
Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras
BNP Paribas (BNPP)
Assured Guaranty
Citibank/ Citbanamex
trivago
OJSC Tatneft
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
Sky Solar Holdings, Limited
Odebrecht S.A.
Allergan
HSBC Holdings Plc, HSBC Australia Limited
Work highlights
- Represented LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and its affiliates in Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and the United States in the voluntary reorganization and restructuring of their debt under Chapter 11 protection in the US, including litigation over $2.45bn proposed DIP facility.
- Acted for Medytox in national litigation alleging misappropriation of trade secrets related to the manufacture and sale of botulinum toxin products, including in securing a significant victory in a decision by an administrative law judge of the US International Trade Commission.
- Represented Vale in winning a $2bn LCIA arbitration award against its joint venture partner alleging fraud and breach of contract in connection with a mining investment in Africa, and in pursuing enforcement of the award in the Southern District of New York and English High Court.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP's 'very intelligent and highly experienced' New York-based litigation team combines deep expertise in white-collar and regulatory defense with a breadth of experience in general commercial litigation. Its strong regulatory defense group—which includes former SEC director of enforcement Andrew Ceresney, who leads the team alongside Mary Beth Hogan—means the group excels in politically and public relations sensitive disputes. Other names to note for white collar and regulatory defense matters include Bruce Yannett, John Gleeson, Andrew Levine, Mary Jo White and Washington DC-based David O’Neil. For public international law issues, Donald Donovan, Catherine Amirfar and Ina Popova are names to note Other areas of focus include cross-border intellectual property disputes, as well as commercial litigation in the insurance, private equity and healthcare sectors. The firm is also noted for its strong international arbitration practice where David Rivkin is a key contact.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Ceresney; Mary Beth Hogan
Other key lawyers:
Bruce Yannett; John Gleeson; David O’Neil; Andrew Levine; Mark Friedman; Mary Jo White; Donald Donovan; Catherine Amirfar; David Rivkin; Natalie Reed; Julianne Marley; Aasiya Glover; Ina Popova
Testimonials
‘The team is very professional with lots of knowledge and experience in international arbitration.’
‘The team members are very Intelligent and highly experienced and able to manage the case in the best way, they also very respectful and polite. The whole team stand out headed by Catherine Amirfar, Natalie Reed, Julianne Marley, Aasiya Glover.’
Key clients
Perenco Ecuador Limited
Cuba Export, Havana Club Holdings and Pernod Ricard
The Nova Group Investments B.V.
Government of Qatar
Hydro S.r.l., Costruzioni S.r.l., Francesco Becchetti, Mauro de Renzis, Stefania Grigolon and Liliana Condomitti
Keppel Corporation
Merck KGaA
Audit Committee of Mobile Telesystems
Royal Dutch Shell
Tethyan Copper Company Pty Limited
The Alavi Foundation
Twitter, Inc.
WeWork Companies Inc.
World Health Organization
Work highlights
- Representing the Alavi Foundation (a Persian-American charity) in a civil forfeiture case, in which the government is seeking for forfeit Alavi’s interest in a building it owns located at 650 Fifth Avenue.
- Acting for The Nova Group Investments in an ICSID arbitration against the Romanian government under the Netherlands-Romania BIT arising in response to the expropriation of the company’s Romanian assets and breaches of their BIT protections.
- Acting for Royal Dutch Shell and serving as global coordinating counsel in connection with a criminal prosecution of Shell and four former employees in Milan, Italy.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is regularly involved in transnational disputes on the frontier of quickly evolving areas of practice. Climate change and sustainability-related litigation continue to be an area of growth for the firm as reflected in its freshly launched global environmental, social, and corporate governance practice group; Los Angeles-based duo Perlette Jura and William Thomson are names to note in this area. Jura is also active in defending corporates in transnational supply chain lawsuits and against allegations of aiding and abetting human rights violations. The group also has a strong enforcement practice. In a case led by Thomson and New York-based Andrea Neuman and Randy Mastro, the group defended Chevron against the enforcement in the US of a fraudulent $9.5bn judgment issued against the company in Ecuador. Another contact in New York is Anne Champion, who is recommended for environmental and mass tort disputes, while in Washington DC Miguel Estrada, has a strong track record in the appellate courts and is noted for regulatory, white-collar crime and intellectual property disputes.
Practice head(s):
Perlette Jura; William Thomson; Andrea Neuman
Other key lawyers:
Randy Mastro; Anne Champion; Miguel Estrada
White & Case LLP
The commercial litigation team at White & Case LLP is a top choice for sovereign states and banks in cross-border disputes. It also counts market-leading corporates among its impressive client list. Fielding a number of formidable litigators, the group also benefits from the wider firm's impressive global reach and deep sector expertise. It is increasingly developing a niche in terrorism-related litigation and, in a case led by Washington DC-based trio Christopher Curran, Nicole Erb and Claire DeLelle, successfully defended the Republic of Sudan against several allegations in US courts that the republic provided support or resources to Al-Qaeda for several terrorist attacks. The DC team also recently welcomed the arrival of Tara Lee from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, who is recommended for white-collar crime and investigations, and has particular expertise in sexual harassment investigations and litigation. Practice head Glenn Kurtz is a contact in the New York office, which is particularly well known for representing financial services companies, including Chinese banks. On the West Coast, the group boasts an impressive roster of technology and social media companies; Los Angeles-based Aalok Sharma and Rachel Feldman are key contacts in this space.
Practice head(s):
Glenn Kurtz
Other key lawyers:
Christopher Curran; Nicole Erb; Claire DeLelle; Tara Lee; Aalok Sharma; Rachel Feldman
Testimonials
‘The individuals I worked with have been very honest and sophisticated how to handle the complex disputes efficiently without involving the Client with any unnecessary matters. Therefore, they have been always keen to set out the strategy at an early stage to avoid any unnecessary steps. They are creative and available anytime during the week. Their ability to analyze complex facts and give straightforward solutions makes them highly valuable and distinguishable.’
Key clients
Republic of Sudan
Qatar Islamic Bank
Kingdom of Sweden and National Museums
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Jordan)
Ioan Micula, S.C. European Food S.A., S.C. Starmill S.R.L., and S.C. Multipack S.R.L
Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Construction Bank, China Merchants Bank and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited
Banque Misr Liban s.a.l.
Bulgaria National Bank
Swedish Tax Agency, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, Erik Thedéen, and Katrin Westling Palm
National Bank of Pakistan
Concern Belneftekhim and Belneftekhim USA, Inc.
Futurewei Technologies Inc. and Huawei Technologies USA, Inc.
The Republic of Peru
SGG Management (Curaçao) N.V.; SGG Management (BVI) Ltd.
Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
ANO TV Novosti
CONSTELLIS (Centerra, Triple Canopy, Blackwater)
Work highlights
- Representing the Republic of the Sudan in numerous US litigations alleging that Sudan provided material support or resources to Al-Qaeda for several terrorist attacks.
- Representing Bulgaria’s central bank, Bulgarian National Bank, in litigation filed in the Southern District of New York under the ‘commercial activity’ exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.
- Successfully defended a group of banks (Bank of China, Bank of Communications, China Construction Bank, China Merchants Bank and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China) in a $150m contempt sanctions claims brought by athletic apparel manufacturers which alleged that the banks had failed to comply with the US court orders to restrain the accounts of makers of counterfeit goods in China.
Allen & Overy LLP
Allen & Overy LLP's New York-based litigation team excels in international investigations and cross-border disputes involving complex regulatory components. The group is led by Jacob Pultman, who specializes in corporate litigation and real estate finance disputes, and includes corporate and private equity litigator Bradley Pensyl. Andrew Rhys Davies is a name to note for securities and financial services disputes, while David Esseks and Eugene Ingoglia are recommended for securities litigation and anti-corruption investigations. The group is also growing its US presence in international arbitration, having recently welcomed Patrick Pearsall from Jenner & Block LLP to its Washington DC office. Also in DC, two former DOJ prosecutors William Jacobson and Jonathan Lopez joined from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, boosting the group's regulatory disputes and white-collar crime defense offering. Also of note, patent litigator Paul Keller joined in New York from Norton Rose Fulbright, though Michael Feldberg left the firm for Reichman Jorgensen LLP.
Practice head(s):
Jacob Pultman
Other key lawyers:
Bradley Pensyl; Andrew Rhys Davies; David Esseks; Eugene Ingoglia; Patrick Pearsall; William Jacobson; Jonathan Lopez; Paul Keller;
Work highlights
- Advising a Northern European financial institution on money laundering investigations by the US Department of Justice and by bank regulators in the US and multiple European jurisdictions.
- Representing a UK-headquartered publicly traded company in a global FCPA investigation by the DOJ and SEC concerning potential issues in Brazil, Peru, India, and China.
- Defending the Bank of China Hong Kong in federal court litigation brought by parties to a wire transfer that was misdirected due to the fraud of an unknown person.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Headed up by Washington DC-based Eric Bruce, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP's disputes team excels in white-collar criminal defense, global investigations and crisis management. Contacts in New York include Olivia Radin and Kimberly Zelnick, who focus on white-collar crime defense and financial services litigation, respectively.
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Hogan Lovells US LLP has a solid reputation in cross-border disputes. Dennis Tracey in New York handles civil litigation and regulatory proceedings, including enforcement, while Los Angeles-based Stephanie Yonekura leverages her expertise as a former federal prosecutor in global investigations, white-collar, and fraud issues. Daniel González is a contact in Miami.
King & Spalding LLP
With 22 offices across the globe, King & Spalding LLP stands out for its ability to handle complex multi-jurisdictional disputes and parallel proceedings. The practice group is particularly strong for enforcement litigation, where names to note include New York-based Charlene Sun and James Berger, who is also well regarded for his expertise in sovereign immunity proceeding. Berger leads the team alongside global disputes head Andrew Bayman in Atlanta—who has experience in product liability disputes in the life sciences and healthcare, automotive and manufacturing sectors—and head of US disputes Reginald Smith, who splits his time between New York and Houston and is experienced in handling cross-border commercial disputes in the energy sector. The firm also has complementary expertise in international arbitration, international trade and FCPA investigations.
Practice head(s):
James Berger; Andrew Bayman; Reginald Smith
Other key lawyers:
Charlene Sun
Key clients
Stati (Ascom Group S.A.)
Leidos Inc
Rusoro Mining Limited
Passport Special Opportunities
Union Fenosa Gas
InterGlobe Enterprises Private Ltd
Renewable energy companies
Chevron Corporation
AT&T / Bellsouth
State of the Netherlands
Gillham LLP
State of Mongolia
Salalah Sanitary Drainage Corp.
Gustavo Villoldo
Agency for Policy Coordination on State Property (State of Mongolia)
Work highlights
- Acted for the State of the Netherlands as specialist counsel in an appeal focusing on a question of first impression in Arizona concerning the enforceability of a foreign judgment, which was later argued the appeal at the Arizona Supreme Court; now acting for the Dutch government in enforcement of the judgment.
- Representing multiple award creditors in five US proceedings to enforce arbitral awards rendered under the Energy Charter Treaty.
- Acting for the State of Mongolia’s Agency for Policy Coordination on State Property in multi-jurisdictional asset recovery proceedings relating to natural resource transactions that the government believes was diverted to certain government officials.
Kobre & Kim
Disputes and investigations specialist firm Kobre & Kim fields an international group of lawyers who are 'tenacious in their pursuit of a client's interests'. The practice group benefits from in-house analysts with particular knowledge of financial products making it a popular choice for litigation against major financial institutions. In addition, the group is well placed to handle cross-border asset tracing and recovery, as well as litigation involving complex financial products. New York-based Michael Kim (who founded the firm with Steven Kobre) is well known for international disputes and investigations involving fraud and insolvency, government investigations and complex regulatory issues, while Jef Klazen is noted for enforcement of international judgments and arbitral awards, particularly those arising out of investor-state disputes which may involve state immunity. In Washington DC, Robin Rathmell brings together 'impressive strategic and tactical skills' and 'wide practical international experience' to handle disputes involving allegations of fraud, money laundering and other forms of misconduct.
Practice head(s):
Michael Kim; Steven Kobre
Other key lawyers:
Jef Klazen; Robin Rathmell
Testimonials
‘The team-working in this practice is outstanding, both in terms of developing strategy and tactics and in their practical application. They are tenacious in their pursuit of a client’s interests, extremely pro-active and immediately reactive to developments. Their reach across the many jurisdictions in which they have offices places them ahead of the rest. I have worked with the team for the first time in the last months and been extremely impressed.‘
‘This is one of the best-coordinated teams I have worked with, finding and putting together an international team of advisers and litigators in several jurisdictions but keeping control of the process throughout.‘
‘Robin Rathmell (partner, Washington-based) is a true leader, having very impressive strategic and tactical skills coupled with wide practical international experience, charm of manner and impressive client-handling skills.‘
Key clients
Princess Corinna Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein
Former PDVSA legal counsel Carmelo Urdaneta Aqui and his family
Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd.
A Litigation Trust formed in relation to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case of Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc
Jho Low
Several Unaoil Executives
MLB Properties, Inc
Evergreen Coast Capital Corp. and Siris Capital Group, LLC
Work highlights
- Acting for a litigation trust formed in relation to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case of Aegean Marine Petroleum Network in jurisdictions, including Greece, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Cyprus, the US and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, including in seeking to recover the value related to the removal of assets, as well as damages caused to its stakeholders by the frauds carried out by a European billionaire, and his affiliates.
- Advised several UnaOil executives on a program of asset litigation in offshore jurisdictions relating to international bribery investigations conducted by UK, Australian and other authorities in jurisdictions such as Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands and New Zealand.
- Representing a high-net-worth international businesswoman, Princess Corinna Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, in multiple cross-border legal issues involving Spain, UK, Switzerland, Germany and Paraguay jurisdictions.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP's litigation and trial department assists its impressive roster of multinational corporates with a huge variety of high-stakes multi-jurisdictional disputes. The team is led by Michele Johnson in Orange County who has extensive experience in corporate and commercial disputes, regulatory investigations and enforcement actions. Other areas of focus include antitrust and securities litigation, where names to note include Brian Kowalski in Washington DC, and Peter Wald and Melanie Blunschi, both of whom are based in San Francisco. Elsewhere, the firm has an impressive environmental litigation team led by Mary Rose Alexander in Chicago, and also has a strong IP litigation team, which includes Tara Elliott in Washington DC and David Callahan in Chicago. Other names to note include New York-based Lilia Vazova who has experience in multi-jurisdictional disputes with concurrent criminal and civil proceedings. Moreover, the team was further strengthened by the arrivals of former Williams & Connolly LLP partners Adam Perlman, a patent litigator, and Nicholas Boyle, who is recognized here for unfair competition and trade secrets litigation. Claudia Salomon left the firm in December 2020 and is on track to be named the first female president of the ICC International Court of Arbitration.
Practice head(s):
Michele Johnson
Other key lawyers:
Brian Kowalski; Jamie Wine; Peter Wald; Melanie Blunschi; Mary Rose Alexander; Tara Elliot; David Callahan
Key clients
ABN AMRO
Balform
BMW
Daimler AG
FINA
Genentech
Goldman Sachs, Citibank, and Stifel Bank
LG Chem
Live Nation/Ticketmaster
Pharmaniaga
Philip Morris International, Altra
Philip Morris International
Philip Morris International SA
Rothmans, Benson & Hedges
Samba
SK Rosgosstrakh PAO (RGS)
Toshiba
Work highlights
- Defended LG Chem in the ITC against allegation of misappropriation of trade secrets relating to a broad array of LG Chem’s technological innovation related to lithium ion battery packs for electric automobiles.
- Representing BMW in a pair of purported class actions filed by various direct purchasers (car dealerships) and indirect purchasers (consumers) of German automobiles, alleging that defendants fixed the price of all German vehicles sold in the US, fixed the purchase price of steel inputs, agreed not to develop improved diesel emissions technology, and agreed not to develop hybrid or electric vehicles.
- Represented Live Nation in an arbitration before the ICC, related to Live Nation’s termination of a $462m, cross-border deal to acquire a 51% stake in the largest concert promoter in Latin America (OCESA) and other subsidiaries owned by Mexico’s Grupo CIE, in one of the first known cases to apply Mexican law to the concept of a material adverse effect in a M&A transaction.
Norton Rose Fulbright
The disputes team at Norton Rose Fulbright is jointly led by Richard Krumholz and Gerard Pecht in Dallas and Houston, respectively, and has core strengths in energy and financial services disputes. With a depth of experience in litigation and investigations and the ability to tap into an expansive network of 58 offices globally, the firm is especially well placed to handle parallel proceedings in other jurisdictions. In addition to energy and financial services disputes, the group also stands out in cross-border securities litigation, which is an area of focus for Washington DC-based Kevin Harnisch, who heads the SEC enforcement practice, and Peter Stokes in the Austin office. Also recommended are Washington DC-based Matthew Kirtland and Steve Dollar in New York. The team is complemented by a strong international arbitration group led by Mark Baker in Houston.
Practice head(s):
Richard Krumholz; Gerard Pecht
Other key lawyers:
Peter Stokes; Kevin Harnisch; Sam Ramer; Bill Leone; Matthew Kirtland; Steve Dollar
Work highlights
- Advising Qualcomm Incorporated on global disputes, IP and competition matters, with a particular emphasis on technology, FRAND, and patent licensing issues; this included representation in litigation against regulators and Apple that spanned the globe.
- A cross-border team spanning the US and Canada is representing HEXO Corp (one of the largest licensed cannabis companies in Canada) in securities litigation, including parallel cases in the US and Canada.
- Defending Vicinay Cadenas (leading manufacturer of chains and accessories for the offshore industry) in an eight-year dispute with Petrobras America in federal court involving over $150m of alleged damages.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
Disputes boutique Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP fields an international disputes team with an impressive track record in litigation covering antitrust, patent infringement, product liability, government investigations and general business disputes. It is particularly well known for white-collar crime litigation and investigations, where Juan Morillo, William Burck and former federal prosecutor Ben O’Neil are key contacts. In addition, the team has a dedicated sovereign litigation practice led by Dennis Hranitzky, and is developing a solid reputation for representing clients against sovereign states and instrumentalities. Moreover, the firm is well placed to handle Latin America-related disputes thanks in part to the experience and language skills of team members including Morillo, David Orta, Daniel Salinas-Serrano and Gabriel Soledad. All lawyers noted are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.
Practice head(s):
Juan Morillo; William Burck
Other key lawyers:
John Quinn; Dennis Hranitzky; Gabriel Soledad; David Orta; Daniel Salinas-Serrano; Ben O’Neil
Key clients
Rabobank, Nordic Trustee, ICE Canyon, HBK Investments, et al.
Mubadala Investment Co.
Oro Negro
Trafigura
Fiat Chrysler
Swedbank
NMC Health
UCI
Mayaguez
Cinemex
Moises Cosio
Super Slam Limited and Ion Tiriac
Work highlights
- Representing a large consortium of creditors and investors of Mexican oil services company Oceanografía (which collapsed following its alleged conspiracy with Citigroup to commit a $750m fraud) in civil litigation (valued at over $1bn) against Citigroup for fraud, as well as KPMG for negligence.
- Acting for Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala Investment Company, and its subsidiaries in a number of parallel government investigations and forfeiture actions in the US and abroad relating to 1MDB, the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund.
- Representing Oro Negro, formerly one of Mexico’s largest oil services providers, and its foreign shareholders in multiple complex, cross-border disputes, arising from Oro Negro’s bankruptcy.
Shearman & Sterling LLP
Shearman & Sterling LLP's disputes practice handles a range of high-stakes litigation for a varied client base of corporations and financial institutions in the US and abroad. Jerome Fortinsky is recommended for antitrust and securities litigation and general commercial disputes, and is particularly popular among Chinese clients. Securities litigator Adam Hakki is a key contact for clients in the financial services sector. Other core areas of expertise include white-collar and regulatory disputes, M&A litigation and contentious IP matters. The team, which includes several former federal prosecutors and enforcement lawyers, is also well-placed to handle cross-border investigations and enforcement issues. Hakki leads the practice alongside Richard Schwed and San Francisco-based Patrick Robbins. Jonathan Greenblatt left the team to co-found an alternative legal service provider. Named lawyers are based in New York unless stated otherwise.
Practice head(s):
Adam Hakki; Richard Schwed; Patrick Robbins
Other key lawyers:
Jerome Fortinsky; Paula Anderson; Henry Weisburg; Christopher Ryan
Key clients
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Nikko Asset Management
Citigroup
Sundial Growers Inc.
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
Cemex LatAm
Credit Suisse
BNP Paribas
Etihad Airways PJSC
Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional
Cargolux International Airlines, S.A.
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Nova Scotia
Cyrus Capital Partners L.P.
Work highlights
- Successfully defended Nikko Asset Management Co, its former chief executive officer, and its affiliates, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, in an action for purported violations of the federal securities laws, fraud and contract-related claims.
- Successfully defended CEMEX LatAm Holdings in a putative securities fraud class action brought by investors in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- Successfully defended Bank of America entities in a putative class action alleging that that Bank of America, among other financial institutions, conspired to manipulate the prices at which defendants bought Mexican government bonds at auction and the prices at which defendants sold Mexican government bonds in the secondary market.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP's New York-based complex litigation and trials group acts for its impressive roster of corporates and financial institutions in a range of commercial disputes. It has a particularly strong reputation for global securities litigation. Practice head Scott Musoff, Jay Kasner and Susan Saltzstein are names to note.
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP's litigation group has broad expertise in business litigation, antitrust, white-collar crime and securities litigation. Based in New York, practice head Sharon Nelles represents clients in a range of civil, criminal, regulatory and enforcement matters. Robert Giuffra is experienced in a wide range of matters, including securities litigation and financial services disputes.
Williams & Connolly LLP
Washington DC-based Williams & Connolly LLP's international disputes team is particularly well known for representing sovereigns. Among its core strengths, the team stands out in procurement disputes, foreign sovereign immunity and the enforcement of foreign judgments. It also acts for a range of international companies and has a strong reputation in cases involving complex regulatory issues, including those relating to fraud and corruption, financial services and securities regulation, environmental regulation and taxation. Jointly led by Jonathan Landy and Ana Reyes, the single office team works has the freedom to work with a network of firms in other jurisdictions to handle all aspects of multi-jurisdictional disputes.
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Landy; Ana Reyes
Key clients
Former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and Minister of Defense José Carlos Sánchez Berzaín
The Carlyle Group
Kingdom of Spain
Pfizer, Inc.
Galaxy Entertainment Group
Multiple Asylum Seekers
Lockheed Martin
Precision Castparts Corp.
Work highlights
- Representing the Kingdom of Spain in litigation concerning the enforceability of a $66m arbitral award related to economic incentives for renewable energy projects.
- Successfully defended Carlyle Capital Corporation (a $23bn fund that failed at the onset of the financial crisis in March 2008) in simultaneous multi-jurisdictional litigation, with claims filed or threatened to be filed on three continents.
- Defending the former Bolivian President and his Defense Minister in the first civil case in which a former head-of-state was tried in the US, which alleges that the defendants are responsible for deaths during a violent overthrow of the Bolivian government.
Arnold & Porter
Jointly led by Washington DC-based Kenneth Chernof and James Herschlein in New York, Arnold & Porter's complex litigation team is active in several of the firm's core focus areas including regulatory, antitrust, financial services, environmental law and life sciences. With a host of former government prosecutors and regulators among its ranks, the group is a popular choice for international white-collar defense and investigations; Marcus Asner and Amy Jeffress (in New York and Washington DC respectively) are names to note in this area.
Practice head(s):
James Herschlein; Kenneth Chernof
Other key lawyers:
Thad Dameris; Marcus Asner; Amy Jeffress
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Baker & Hostetler LLP's international litigation team excels in international asset tracing, insolvency actions and bankruptcy, including sovereign bankruptcy. In New York, cross-border asset recovery specialist Oren Warshavsky and international investigations expert Gonzalo Zeballos are representing bankruptcy trustee Irving Picard in claims against major financial institutions for the recovery of funds related to Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme. In Washington DC, practice head Mark Cymrot is particularly active in representing foreign states and sovereigns and international organizations, while Houston-based Sashe Dimitroff stands out for his expertise in the energy sector. The team has a strong presence across the US and routinely collaborates with independent firms worldwide to handle multi-jurisdictional disputes.
Practice head(s):
Mark Cymrot
Other key lawyers:
Oren Warshavsky; Gonzalo Zeballos; Sashe Dimitroff
Key clients
Irving H. Picard, Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) Trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation
TGG Direct
Empresa Siderurgica Del Mutun
Tonejet Limited
Scott Schreer as the Security Holder Representative of the Securityholders of Audiam, Inc
Kevin Hellard and Mike Saville, in their capacity as Joint Liquidators of Hellas Telecommunications (Luxembourg) II SCA
The Susan Zirkl Memorial Foundation Trust and Michael Lissner, Esq., as Trustee
Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien (which is the Jewish Community of Vienna)
Mathew Clingerman as Receiver for M3 Fund, a segregated account of Silk Road Funds
Baker McKenzie LLP
Baker McKenzie LLP acts for US and international corporates in cross-border commercial litigation, antitrust matters, product liability and securities disputes. It also represents senior management and boards in white-collar matters and investigations. Key names to note include Jennifer Semko in Washington DC, and Colin Murray and Mark Goodman in San Francisco.
Practice head(s):
Jennifer Semko
Other key lawyers:
Colin Murray; Mark Goodman
Dechert LLP
Dechert LLP’s international litigation practice is noted for its global reach and broad coverage. New York-based Gary Mennitt leads the practice and counts commercial and bankruptcy litigation among his areas of expertise. Michael McGinley, who splits his time between Philadelphia and Washington DC, is recommended for jurisdictional challenges and foreign sovereign immunity issues.
Diaz Reus International Law Firm & Alliance
Diaz Reus International Law Firm & Alliance is a go-to name for disputes between US and Latin American clients. Based in Miami, the team is jointly led by Michael Diaz Jr., Gary Davidson and Brant Hadaway, and handles a range of cross-border disputes with multi-jurisdictional elements and parallel proceedings, including those involving state-owned entities or sovereign representatives. The group counts commercial litigation, financial fraud, sovereign immunity issues, asset recovery cases and construction disputes among its areas of expertise. Roland Potts is is recommended in particular for construction disputes, while Marta Colomar-Garcia is a name to note for general corporate and commercial disputes. The team also handles international criminal work, particularly with a focus on regulatory and money laundering requirements; Diaz Jr. is stands out in this regard, as does associate Javier Coronado Diaz, who splits his time between Colombia and Miami.
Practice head(s):
Michael Diaz Jr.; Gary Davidson; Brant Hadaway
Other key lawyers:
Marta Colomar-Garcial; Roland Potts; Javier Coronado
Key clients
DRI Mortgage and DRI Capital Fund
Nestor Colon
Ruben Idler
Rosita Gomar
Eddy Salloum
Zev Supplies Corp.
Warren Barthes (individual) and Good Investments, SARL
Certain commercial defendants in Luxottica Group S.p.A. & Oakley, Inc. vs. The Partnerships, et al.
Certain commercial defendants in Ouyeinc Ltd. vs. The Partnerships, et al.
Midway Labs USA, LLC; Midway Tecnologia de Alimentos, LTDA.; Wilton Colle; and Catherine Colle
TCB Advisors, LLC, Inversiones Mirko, Hector Luis Hulian Garcia, Angel Franciso Bernardo Ugueto Otanez, Alberto Jose Sanchez Martinez
Work highlights
- Defending Ruben Idler in a dispute relating to an alleged oral contract to process, package, and sell fish through Venezuelan entities.
- Represented Zev Supplies in successfully obtaining a motion for alternative service under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 to bypass the Hague Service Convention and serve a Chinese personal protective equipment manufacturer that is selling fraudulently labeled personal protective equipment.
- Defended Rosita Gomar and her Guatemalan company, Shalico Financial and Commercial, in a 28 USC § 1782 petition brought by a former employee seeking judicial assistance from the US courts to obtain Shalico’s financial information from a US bank, Banco Santander International.
Foley Hoag LLP
Foley Hoag LLP has been recognized by clients for its ‘in-depth mastery of public international law and its long practice before the International Court of Justice’. Jointly led by Paul Reichler and Lawrence Martin, the group is known for representing sovereign states in US litigation and in international tribunals. The group also has a strong Africa practice led by Tafadzwa Pasipanodya and counts several African states among its clients. Moreover, the firm recently launched a United Nations practice devoted to representing UN member states; a contact in this space is New York-based Christina Hioureas, who was recently promoted to partner. Also recommended are Derek Smith, Daniel Schimmel in New York and 'strategy-maestro' Constantinos Salonidis. Named lawyers are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.
Practice head(s):
Paul Reichler; Lawrence Martin
Other key lawyers:
Derek Smith; Daniel Schimmel; Constantinos Salonidis; Tafadzwa Pasipanodya; Christina Hioureas
Testimonials
‘I highly appreciate their expertise in international arbitration as well as their ability to give prompt answers to legal issues of foreign jurisdictions.’
‘I believe that the international character of the firm, their deep knowledge of the international arbitration field and the wise choice of the people involved are firm’s strong assets.‘
‘Mr Constantinos Salonidis is a leader with a team -spirit, deep knowledge of practice, a strategy-maestro and a person of natural good manners.‘
‘It is very hard to find a law firm that understands the nuances and procedural constraints of dealing with a State bureaucracy (especially regarding billing and reporting). In the case of Foley Hoag, its team has adapted in a constructive way in order to fulfill different requirements that were requested.‘
‘Paul Reichler is perhaps the wisest lawyer I have ever met. He has a deep understanding of law, thoroughly examines the issue at hand; gives you both the objective perspective and the perspective from his viewpoint and provided a well-motivated assessment of the case. This firm does not take a case just for the sake of providing representation.’
‘The team’s strengths lie in its in-depth mastery of public international law and its long practice before the International Court of Justice.‘
‘One of the best international law firms. Thorough expertise in all issues linked with international relations and international law.‘
‘Foley Hoag has the ability to put really fast a team of outstanding lawyers without following a one fits all approach policy but instead focusing on the specific conditions of each case and clients necessities.’
Key clients
Public Gas Corporation of Greece (DEPA, SA)
Natural Gas Transmission System of Greece (DESFA, SA)
Crédit Agricole / CACEIS (France)
Corporación Dominicana de Empresas Eléctricas Estatales (CDEEE) (Dominican Republic)
Bangladesh Power Development Board
Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration & Production Company Limited (BAPEX), Bangladesh Oil Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla)
Tanzania
Ecuador
Brazil
Uruguay
Peru
Municipalidad Metropolitana de Lima
Croatia
Nicaragua
Panama
Bangladesh
Qatar
India
Greece/Hellenic Republic
Albania
Spain
The Russian Federation
Mauritius
Equatorial Guinea
Angola
Djibouti
Ghana
The Philippines
Nigeria
Guyana
Somalia
Uzbekistan
Ukraine
Uganda
International Conference of Asian American Political Parties
Nokia
Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique
Gazprombank (Russia)
Orange SA
Work highlights
- Successfully represented Tanzania before the US District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which affirmed the district court’s dismissal for lack of jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, upholding Tanzania’s immunity against the enforcement of a $120m foreign judgment.
- Obtained a precedent-setting victory for The Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Hellenic Republic when the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sports cannot be sued in the US for attempting to recover Greek cultural heritage property that was about to be auctioned in the US.
- Advising the Government of Peru on its requests to the US government for the extradition of former President Alejandro Toledo for allegedly receiving over $30m in bribes from Odebrecht, the Brazilian company found by the US DOJ to have bribed officials around the world.
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Greenberg Traurig LLP’s global litigation practice represents leading corporates in a range of cross-border disputes. The group is jointly led by Los Angeles-based Jeffrey Scott and Lori Cohen in Atlanta. Scott has particular experience in media, IP and contractual disputes, while Cohen stands out in the areas of healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical devices.
Herbert Smith Freehills
Herbert Smith Freehills' New York-based disputes team is very strong in the US, but is also noted for its ability to utilize its expansive global office network in high-stakes cross-border litigation and investigations. The group is jointly led by managing partner Scott Balber, international arbitration expert Christian Leathley and Gregory Loss, who leads the product liability disputes practice, which includes Benjamin Rubinstein. Acting for sovereigns and multinational companies, the team is experienced across a range of corporate crime and investigations, financial services litigation, general commercial litigation and employment litigation are among the team's core strengths.
Practice head(s):
Scott Balber; Christian Leathley; Gregory Loss
Other key lawyers:
Benjamin Rubinstein
Key clients
Kingdom of Spain
Chevron Egypt Sham Award
Republic of Italy
Garnishee ST Shipping
Amedeo Angiolillo; Renato Angiolillo, Jr.; Patrizia Angiolillo; Luigi Angiolillo; Olga Angiolillo – Princie diamond
Aras Agalarov
Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A.
Russian Olympic Biathlon Team
British American Tobacco (BAT)
Eni
Work highlights
- Successfully represented the Kingdom of Spain in a long-running investor-state arbitration concerning regulatory changes made by Spain in 2011 to the Feed-in Tariff regulation governing the renewables sector in Spain.
- Defending Chevron Corporatio against an $18bn sham arbitral award issued against Chevron and Saudi Aramco by a corrupt “arbitration centre” in Cairo, Egypt.
- Represented a plaintiff group of five heirs of an Italian senator in dispute with Christie’s, and other defendants in the high-end gem industry, concerning allegations that defendants unlawfully auctioned an extremely rare and precious pink diamond that plaintiffs claim was stolen from them.
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Steptoe & Johnson LLP is recognized here for its breadth of expertise in cross-border and multi-forum disputes and international enforcement proceedings. Contacts for enforcement mandates include, Washington DC-based Michael Baratz and Steven Davidson, who heads the practice group alongside insurance sector specialist Antonia Ianniello. In New York, the team is known for financial services sector disputes and white-crime litigation and investigations. Chris Paparella is a name to note in the financial services space, while Michael Miller is a contact for white-collar defense, as well as for general commercial disputes, professional liability cases and securities arbitration.
Practice head(s):
Steven Davidson; Antonia Ianniello
Other key lawyers:
Michael Miller; Michael Baratz; Chris Paparella; Michael Dockterman
Key clients
Cedar Holdings LLC
Stephany Yu
ExxonMobil Corp.
Elliott Broidy
BlackRock
Detroit Bridge
Subsea 7
Work highlights
- Represent ExxonMobil in a complaint against two Cuban state-owned entities, asserting claims for unlawful trafficking in expropriated property in violation of the Helms-Burton Act.
- Represented Subsea 7 against Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) in an ICC arbitration in Mexico. The arbitral tribunal awarded Subsea 7 approximately $55m.
- Representing Cedar Holdings LLC in an early post-Covid 19 litigation case regarding a multinational German co-living company backing out of a long-term lease associated with a real estate development project in a prime Brooklyn location.
Winston & Strawn LLP
Winston & Strawn LLP’s international litigation team has an impressive record in cross-border disputes ranging from criminal extradition to global cartel litigation and multi-jurisdictional enforcement matters. In New York, the group is noted for its antitrust work; a contact in this regard is Jeffrey Kessler, who also handles contentious sports and IP issues. Kessler jointly leads the practice alongside Dan Webb in Chicago and Washington DC-based Abbe Lowell, both of whom have deep expertise in white-collar criminal matters, and are regularly advising on criminal extraditions and cross-border investigations. The team also has particular experience representing Latin American and Caribbean clients; Marcelo Blackburn is the name to note in this space, following Julissa Reynoso's appointment as chief of staff to the first lady of the United States, Jill Biden.
Practice head(s):
Jeffrey Kessler; Dan Webb; Abbe Lowell
Other key lawyers:
Marcelo Blackburn
Testimonials
‘Availability, response time and general know-how of managing and coordinating multiple international teams. That have made our international litigation involving 4 jurisdictions feel like a simple local matter. ’
‘Eric Bloom is the partner that has been managing this matter. Experience and availability that is seldom found together.’
Key clients
CPB Contractors Pty Limited
Michael Leroy Taylor and Peter Taylor
GolTV, Inc. and Global Sports Partners
Rupert Stadler, Audi AG Chief Executive Officer
Jared Kushner
Zhengzhou Harmoni Spice Co. Ltd. and Harmoni International Spice, Inc.
Dimitry Firtash
BP plc, BP America Inc., BP Corporation North America Inc.
NTN, Nippon Seiki, Panasonic, Hitachi Metals, Corning, JTEKT
Jamal Benomar
Rafael Ramirez, former U.N. Ambassador to Venezuela, former Minister of Energy for Venezuela, and former head of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA)
Kingdom of Morocco
Occidental Petroleum Corporation; Occidental Exploration and Production Company
Work highlights
- Successfully defended veteran UN diplomat Jamal Benomar against claims filed by former RNC executive Elliot Broidy and his company on allegations that Benomar and others conspired against plaintiffs via a Qatar-sponsored hacking scheme; secured dismissal of all claims on the grounds of diplomatic and/or sovereign immunity.
- Successfully defended Occidental Petroleum Corporation against claims brought by former Ecuadorian oil workers seeking to recover hundreds-of-millions of dollars they claim are due under Ecuadorian law, which provides for corporate profit-sharing with local employees.
- Representing former US Green Beret Michael Taylor and his son Peter Taylor in connection with an extradition request by the US DOJ and the Ministry of Justice of Japan to face charges that they violated Japanese law by assisting former Nissan CEO, Carlos Ghosn, in departing from Japan where he faces charges.