Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP‘s derivatives and structured products practice is a key point of contact for banks, investors, hedge funds, commodity pools, private equity funds, issuers and many other actors for expertise in the full range of asset classes and product types. The team fields heteregenous OTC derivative experience, having previously operated in caps, floors, forwards, swaps, and other options linked to equity, currency, interest rate, income, and other underlying asset classes. Ivan Loncar is a fields a strong track record in unfunded derivatives, such as interest rate and total return swaps, along with funded derivatives such as credit linked notes. He co-heads the team with Lary Stromfeld , who has extensive experience in credit derivatives, swaps and other transactions, along with a strong track record in ISDA and Dodd-Frank regulatory queries. Jed Miller is turned to by clients for his risk transfer expertise. Brian Foster’s practice encompasses OTC trades, forwards, swaps and equity derivatives, while Peter Malyshev is highly active in the cross-border OTC derivative transaction space, including including those involving fintech and digital assets. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is retained by issuers, banks, clearing hosues, sovereigns, exchanges, investors, and numerous other clients for its holistic derivatives practice, noted for its ability in ‘bridging practical commercial/transactional matters, regulatory and financial institution issues’. The team is particularly well-versed in developing novel products, and remains a cornerstone of the market for equity, commodity, interest rate and credit linked products, along with swaps, forwards and unconventional carbon credit, digital assets and ESG derivatives. Deborah North  is frequently turned for her expertise in CFTC regulation and OTC derivatives clearing, offering great exence in representing both buy-side and sell-side clients. She co-heads the team with Clayton Simmons and Brandon Hammer, with the former leveraging considerable experience in securities-backed credit facilities, and the latter frequently assisting asset managers, hedge funds, banks and Fintech companies in a variety of regulatory, swaps, repurchases and collateral deals. Michael Dayan remains a cornerstone of the market for sophisticated OTC derivative products, and is often retained for his expertise in margin, commodities and securities regulatory queries and deals.  Brian Morris is also a highly active member of the team. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP‘s derivatives offering is sought after by financial institutions, hedge and mutual funds, companies, brokers, and asset managers for its expertise in the full range of financial instruments and asset classes. The team is experienced in advising on equity derivative transactions, OTC derivatives, and cleared products, along with interest rate and currency swaps, forwards, repos, accelerated stock repurchase programs and more. Ray Shirazi heads the team, and is particularly well versed in structured products, traded securities and equity derivatives, and has been retained to advise on income structured products, equity, currency, commodities and other underlying assets, credit and equity derivatives. William Breslin is a proficient member of the team in OTC, exchange-traded, and cleared derivatives transactions, along with CFTC and Dodd-Frank regulation compliance. David Mitchell‘s practice focuses on commodities, derivatives and futures, swaps, especially in regulatory queries. Nihal Patel and Michael Yu are both highly active members of the team, with the former’s expertise in prime brokerage, commercial papers and other derivatives complementing the latter’s experience in ISDA Master Agreements, hedge funds, fixed income and insurance derivatives. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

The derivatives and structured products department at Latham & Watkins LLP is a strong choice for clients requiring expertise in the full gamut of OTC, futures, options, swaps, and other exchange-traded derivative contracts, along with considerable international expertise in derivative regulations. The team is The team’s strength in equity-linked products and OTC derivatives is complemented by a strong track record in the fintech and digital asset space, including cryptocurrency, digital assets, and blockchain products. The team is headed by its New York-based partners, which includes Yvette Valdez, who is well-regarded for her expertise in crypto derivatives, complex digital assets, and distributed ledger technology. Rafal Gawlowski is a key member of the team for unconventional derivative products, including accelerated forwards, call spread overlays, and various transactions linked to the equity market . Witold Balaban includes JP Morgan, UBS, Goldman Sachs as others among his portfolio of clients for his expertise in the OTC derivatives market. Doug Yatter is a point of contact for contentious matters and investigations requiring expertise in CFTC regulation, while Courtenay Myers Lima is experienced in note issuance programs, commercial paper and initial public offerings. Reza Mojtabaee-Zamani and Catherine Lee are also key members of the team.

Mayer Brown is relied upon to provide a diverse array of services in the derivatives and structured products market. The team has a strong track record in the sector’s transactions, offering a broad spectrum of deal expertise, including swaps, share repurchase programs, credit risk transfers, credit repackaging, issuer-based equity derivatives, and other products. The team also fields considerbale experience in structured note offerings, and includes Goldman Sachs, UBS, and HSBC among its portfolio of clients. The team is also a port of call for regulatory mandates, advising clients on LIBOR, Basel III, and Dodd-Frank related matters. Anna Pinedo oversees the department, and is well-versed in a wide range of structures and transactions, ranging from forward to collars and swaps. Bradley Berman has a longstanding record in currency, interest rates, and equity related structured products, while Marla Matusic is a key member of the team for novel products and transactions in the equity derivatives, structured notes and commercial paper program space. Anthony Kim joined the team in 2024, and is experienced in OTC derivatives linked to FX, commodities, interest rates and other underlyings. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

White & Case LLP‘s derivatives and structured products department is praised by clients for its ‘technical background, collaborative approach, ingenuity’, frequently advising buy-side and sell-side actors in a broad spectrum of derivative product transactions, while often being retained for its multifaceted regulatory and compliance capacities. The team specializes in complex, novel asset classes, operating on credit, equity, interest rates, currency and commodities hedges, swaps, forwards, repo transactions, and others in unconventional sectors, including digital infrastructure and green energy. The team also leverages considerable cross-border capacities, often overseeing cross-border regulatory compliance matters, along with multijurisdictional transactions. New York-based Ian Cuillerier heads the team, and remains a cornerstone of the market for commodity transaction hedging, large scale structured finance transactions, equity derivatives and risk management structures. Also in New York, Edward So is praised by clients as ‘responsive and commercially-minded’, and is sought after by fintech companies, financial companies, asset managers, and other clients for his expertise in OTC derivatives, especially those pertaining to ESG and digital infrastructure.

Clifford Chance‘s derivatives team is praised for its ‘commercial and economic aptitude’, which covers the full array of esoteric ad conventional derivatives transactions, which includes note issuance programs, consumer recievables, repurchase facilities, ABCP programs, and others. The team also leverages broad regulatory expertise in the OTC derivatives market, including ISDA protocols, EMIR, MiFID2, and related cross-border compliance. The team is headed by its New York-based partners, including Gareth Old, who is sought after by financial companies, investors, investment managers, funds, and other clients for his repo transactions and derivatives expertise. Lee Askenazi is well-regarded for his experience advising investment funds in derivatives, swaps, and other structured products, and co-heads the team with Darren Littlejohn, who is experienced in OTC derivatives pertaining to loan hedging, equity, credit, repacks and forwards. Alistair Dunlop remains well-regarded for cross-border structured debt deals.

Katten‘s derivatives offering holds in-depth expertise in regulatory, investigatory and transactional derivatives matters. The team is highly proficient in matters requiring insight into CFTC and NFA regulations, and is often retained by financial institutions and investors in high-stake enforcements and contentious matters. Aditionally, the team’s transactional expertise extends to esoteric asset classes, notably digital infrastructure and cryptocurrency. Chicago-based Christian Kemnitz is sought by cleints for his experience in derivative enforcements and regulations, alongside experience in options, swaps, securities, futures and other structured products, and co-heads the team with Lance Zinman. Based in Washington DC, Daniel Davis also co-heads the team, and oversees the gamut of derivatives market regulations, fraud investigations, and other CFTC and SEC-related matters. New York-based Carl Kennedy is well-versed in Dodd-Frank and CFTC regulations, while Matthew F. Kluchenek is a key member of the team for matters involving fraud, noncompliance and trading investigations.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s derivatives practice is well-regarded for its regulatory and enforcement capacities, alongside a breadth of experience in derivative transactions. The team has considerable expertise in CFTC, SEC, FERC, NFA and Dodd-Frank regulations, and is often retained by clients for contentious matters before the CFTC, along with helping clients navigate regulatory environments. The team is also turned to for its breadth of expertise in derivative asset classes, including OTC swaps, forwards, caps, floors, collars, and hedging linked to interest rate, currency, commodities, equity and esoteric asset classes.  New York-based Thomas D’Ambrosio has great experience in derivative transactions and product structuring, ranging from repos and crypto to equity, credit currency, and commodities. He co-heads the team with Michael Philipp , based in Chicago, and often involved in OTC derivative transactions and CFTC regulatory matters. Chicago's Stacie Hartman is sought by financial institutions in the derivatives market for her expertise in contentious matters, while Boston-based Katherine Dobson Buckley is a frequent port of call for hedge funds, investors, and mutual funds.

Morrison Foerster is sought after for its domestic and international expertise in derivative transactional and regulatory matters. The team fields broad capabilities in derivative asset classes, including conventional derivatives such as equity, commodities, and credit derivatives, alongside unconventional derivatives in the carbon credit and cryptocurrency space. The team is also retained by clients for its breadth of experience in regulatory matters, including those pertaining to CFTC, SEC, Dodd-Frank Act, and EMIR regulations, an area that department head David Kaufman is highly active in from the firm's New York office. Washington DC-based Chrys Carey is turned to by hedge funds, investors, financial institutions and other clients for his expeirence in structured transactions. New York-based Rhys Bortignon is sought after by investors, banks, private equity firms and funds for his broad derivative experience, including credit, equity, digital asset and interest rate

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP‘s derivatives and structured products department is well-regarded for its broad capacity in transactional mandates, advising clients on OTC  derivatives, total return swaps, repurchase agreements, forwards along with its noted capabilities in the regulatory space. Manuel Frey, whose practice encompasses domestic and international derivative transactions, including OTC derivatives involving fixed incomes, currency,  equity and credit. Kerri Durso is sought after by both buy-side and sell-side clients for her experience in a wide range of asset classes, while Matthew Goldstein assists real estate, infrastructure, private equity and hybrid funds in structured transactions. Brian Grieve is broadly experienced in tax-related components of derivative transactions, advising real estate, private equity and credit funds. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Ropes & Gray LLP’s derivatives and commodities department has a strong showing for regulatory and transactional matters, and is the firm of choice for many mutual funds, banks, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds and private fund sponsors. The team leverages broad expertise in derivatives, advising clients on forwards, collaterals, OTC derivatives, swaps, options and various other structured products. Boston-based Leigh Fraser heads the team, and is the port of call for derivatives regulatory queries, hedge fund and derivative formation. Also in New York, Isabel Dische advises asset managers and investors in a variety of asset class funds, while Chicago's Jeremy Liabo is a key member of the team for equity derivative transactions and total return swaps. Washington DC-based Molly Moore is often trusted to advise on Dodd-Frank Act derivative provision matters, along with various buy-side mandates.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP assists  lenders, producers, trading houses, hedge funds, financial companies and other clients in a broad spectrum of OTC and derivatives transactions, regulatory and policy-related matters. The team fields considerable experience in commodity-linked derivative hedges, alongside notable experience in cross-border regulatory compliance issues. John Thomas heads the practice with expertise in commodity-based derivative transactions. Rita Molesworth is a key member of the team for transactions involving, futures, swaps, and other derivatives, while Tamika Bent  is sought by swap dealers, broker-dealers, financial institutions and futures commission merchants for her expertise in structured transactions and CFTC regulation. Lawyers are in New York unless otherwise stated.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP‘s derivatives offering remains a cornerstone of the market for regulatory and policy related advice, alongside a diverse array of transactional expertise encompassing equity, commodity and credit derivatives, interest rate and currency hedging and total return products. Washington DC-based Jeffrey Steiner heads the practice, and is a key member of the team for complex regulatory matters, having previously been retained for domestic and cross-jurisdictional compliance, SEC and CFTC-related matters. In New York, Darius Mehraban is sought after by clients for his expertise in transactional matters, especially hedging, total returns and synthetic debt products, and is frequently accompanied by Adam Lapidus..

Hogan Lovells US LLP‘s derivatives offering is well-placed to offer both regulatory and transactional services. The team has considerable experience in regulatory and contentious mandates, advising clients in mandates requiring expertise in forwards, lien facilities, commodity ad income-based derivatives. Marvin Goldstein is a key member of the team for derivatives involving energy, traditional and financial commodities, which can include base metals, coffee, and interest rates. Evan Koster departed the team in February 2025.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP is ‘pragmatic, commercially-minded lawyers with deep experience in all corners of the derivatives and structured products space’ according to clients, and has a strong track record in transactions involving derivative products, OTC, equity, interest rate and commodity-linked products. The team’s expertise in a broad selection of derivative products is also matched by their capacity in regulatory and tax matters for derivative products. Jonathan Ching is described by clients as a ‘a true talent’,  and frequently advises clients in complex derivative transaction structuring. He co-heads the practice with New York-based David Taub, an expert in municipal derivatives, while Andrew Kummer continues to be sought after for his expertise in public equity and debt offerings.

Sidley Austin LLP‘s derivatives and structure products practice is noted as ‘exceptionally experienced in the interplay between capital markets and equity derivatives’, and leverages broad expertise in advising on buy and sell-side derivatives transactions, alongside diverse asset class mandates, including esoteric assets. New York-based William Massey is highly experienced in structured product offering involving equities, currencies, commodities, and hedge funds, and co-heads the team with Ellen Pesch and Elizabeth Schubert, based in Boston and Chicago respectively. Pesh is highly experienced in derivatives regulatory queries, including cross-border compliance matters, while Schubert is turned to by clients for her experience in buy-side derivative transactions. Michael T. Kohler and William Mahouski are also key members of the team.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP‘s derivatives offering includes JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Blackstone and Citibank among its portfolio of clients for its extensive experience in OTC derivative transactions. The team is particularly at transactions involving backleverage, equity-linked margin loans, alongside a broad array of hedge transactions, including interest rates, deal-contingent, commodity and currency hedges. Jonathan Lindabury heads the team out of New York, and remains the cornerstone of the practice for his expertise in hedging transactions, backleverage, equity hedging, forwards, collars, and other OTC transactions.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP‘s derivatives practice is a key contact for issuers, investors and investment banks for structured product transactions and related regulatory queries. The team routinely advises clients CFTC, SEC and FERC regulations, alongside its strong presence in the convertible note and equity transaction space. Yossi Vebman heads the team out of New York, and remains one of the department’s most turned to experts for swaps, puts, repos, accelerated repurchase programs, and various other structured transactions. Also in New York, David Meister is turned to by clients for his extensive experience in CFTC regulation and enforcements.