The corporate governance practice at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton gives ‘practical advice’ to multinational corporations, boasting a strong track record in the technology, financial services, and healthcare sectors. In New York, Francesca Odell and Helena Grannis form the cornerstone of the practice, which covers the full spectrum of governance work, assisting clients with SEC compliance, shareholder proposals, and ESG strategy. The team is actively involved in how the clients run their companies, advising them on matters involving executive compensation, directorial appointments, financial reporting, and non-GAP financial measures. Odell is actively involved in the boardroom of major corporations, assisting them with cybersecurity protocols, crisis management, and managing activist shareholders. Grannis has a broad skill set and regularly advises clients on SEC and public disclosure obligations. Jeffrey Karpf is a commercially astute lawyer who utilizes a multidisciplinary approach in his governance work for clients such as Google. Lillian Tsu handles governance matters in multiple jurisdictions, demonstrating skill in handling proxy battlers, SEC reports, and risk management. Shuangjun Wang splits her focus between capital markets work and helping clients with their ESG strategy.

John Beckman chairs the practice at Hogan Lovells US LLP, which is reputed for its depth of expertise in the governance area, advising both Fortune 500 and newly listed companies. The team is well-regarded for its knowledge of securities law and maintains an active presence in the retail, real estate, and life sciences sectors. It provides clients with day-to-day assistance on governance matters ranging from CEO transitions and executive compensation to internal reviews and investigations. Notably, they represented the board of directors at Abecrombie and Fitch in an internal investigation after their CEO was criminally indicted in a high-profile misconduct case. In DC Beckman is a special securities counsel to many listed companies and international law firms whilst Alan Dye is an authority in work involving the 1934 Securities Exchange Act Section 16. In Northern Virginia, Kevin Greensdale advises public and private companies on SEC compliance, M&A, and governance matters related to capital markets transactions. Weston Gaines and Catalina Santos Parkinson in Washington DC are rising stars in the team. Rupa Briggs is another key name.

 

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is widely recognized as a market-leading governance practice, assisting high-profile international and domestic clients with risk and crisis management, ESG strategy, the drafting of artificial intelligence protocols, and executive compensation. The team which is jointly led by Lyuba Goltser and Howard Dicker, has a large presence in the entertainment, retail, real estate, and financial services sectors. Dicker has a background in audit and tax work, contributing to his strong record in ensuring that clients remain compliment with federal regulations. However, his expertise also extends to proxy contests, shareholder activism, and boardroom best practices. Goltser is a reference in the governance landscape, providing clients with day-to-day advice in the boardroom but also acting in a supporting advisory role during lucrative capital markets transactions. Adé Heyliger is a key member of this team, leveraging previous experience in the SEC to advise clients on legislative compliance and investigations, both from government agencies and internal sources. Kaitlin Descovich in Washington DC and Rebecca Graspas in New York add valuable strength to the bench.

Wallgreens, Lionsgate Entertainment, and other corporations in the technology, banking, and financial services sectors rely upon the corporate governance advice of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, from a team jointly led by Elizabeth Ising in Washington DC, Orange County’s James Maloney, and New York’s Lori Zyskowski. It is knowledgeable of securities law due to the wealth of SEC experience on its bench, and is also equipped to advise on NASDAQ/NYSE board requirements, public disclosure obligations, and the best practices for drafting governance documents. Both Zyskowski and Ising have broad skill sets and regularly advise on executive compensation and ESG protocols. New York’s Julia Lapitskaya is a key part of the team, who provides a lot of advice on 1934 Securities Exchange Act compliance to various clients whilst Aaron K. Briggs in San Francisco spends a lot of time in the boardrooms of technology and life science companies. The practice has grown recently with the addition of new partners Rosemary Spazziani from an in-house position in May 2024 and Kevin Bettseller from DLA Piper LLP (US)  in May 2023.

The corporate governance department at Jones Day focuses on activism matters for major F&B, technology, and pharmaceutical corporations. The practice is jointly led by Randi Lesnick  in New York and Joel May in Atlanta, who has expertise that extends to proxy contests, internal investigations and executive compensation front. In the activism space, a notable recent achievement was the negotiation of a cooperation agreement between the board of Catalent Inc. and an activist shareholder that resulted in the appointment of 4 new independent directors. Lesnick is adept at a variety of corporate matters, focusing on M&A, ESG, and general governance issues. May spends a lot of time in the boardroom, ensuring that clients in the telecommunications, real estate, and manufacturing sectors are SEC-compliant. Andrew Levine excels in activism defense in New York and recently negotiated a cooperation and information-sharing agreement on behalf of BioMarin Pharmaceutical with an activist shareholder. Other key names in the team include Braden Mccurrach in New York, Kimberly Pustulka out of Cleveland, and Pittsburgh’s David Grubman.

Latham & Watkins LLP’s broad and varied corporate governance clientbase encompasses large publically traded companies, advising boards 0n SEC regulatory compliance, ESG program development, internal elections, and government investigations. The team is particularly active in the financial sector, representing the Bank of America, Citibank, and JP Morgan. Keith Halverstam is a key figure in the New York team, noted for his skills in crisis management and securities reporting. Jenna Cooper predominantly works with companies listed on NASDAQ and NYSE that operate in a variety of sectors. She excels at working on sec reports, proxy contests, and overseeing the internal control of financial reporting. In Washington DC Joel H. Trotter, Alexander F. Cohen, and Julia Thomson add invaluable knowledge of the ever-changing securities and governance landscape.

Anna Pinedo leads the team at Mayer Brown,  which is active in the financial services, biotechnology, and banking sectors, advising on a wide range of matters which range from drafting proxy statements to ensuring clients remain Sarbanes Oxley and Dodd-Frank compliant. It leverages an international network of lawyers and the regulatory background of much of the practice to ensure public companies abide by the relevant exchange rules whilst also continuing to work with private corporations pre-IPO on best governance practices. Pinedo works out of New York, advising financial institutions, REITS, and life sciences companies on the full range of governance matters. The practice is bolstered by the recent addition of SEC alumni  Jennifer Zepralka and Kimberly Hamm, strengthening the team’s capabilities when advising on regulatory issues and securities law. Jason Parsont recently arrived from Clifford Chance in September 2024 and has extensive equity and debt markets experience, introducing an interdisciplinary approach to his work. Together alongside Brian Hershberg, Camilla Panama, and Paul Theiss in New York, the team ‘come up with pragmatic advice which also shows a deep understanding’ of the client’s business and the governance landscape.

The  practice at White & Case LLP is chaired by Gary Kashar in New York, which provides governance support to corporations such as Shutterstock, The Hertz Corporation, and Gogo Inc. The scope of the team’s work is quite broad, they advise clients on regulatory compliance, public company disclosure obligations, and shareholder engagement. Amongst a team of ‘very bright, emotionally intelligent lawyers’, Maia Gez has been praised for ‘her exceptional ability to combine in-depth legal expertise with a strategic, client-focused approach’ which is evidenced by her work with Critical Metals Corp, where she led the governance work for a newly listed company which included ongoing board training on best practices and advice on cybersecurity protocols. Scott Levi mixes capital market experience with deep knowledge of federal securities regulation, he regularly advises clients on compliance with the 1934 Securities Exchange Act, looking at section 13(d) and 16 in particular.

Akin is particularly active in the energy sector, advising domestic and international corporations on management changes, shareholder proposals, disclosure obligations, and activism matters. Led by Kerry E Berchem in New York, the practice is also equipped to advise on ESG work, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, board reviews, and internal investigations. Berchem is hailed as an ‘exceptional leader’ and regularly advises private and public companies on the full spectrum of governance matters. Alongside her, Dan Fisher focuses on issues that will arise after a company goes through restructuring under Chapter 11. Garrett DeVries in Dallas works on IPOs, mergers, and stock acquisitions, leveraging his corporate finance background into his governance work whilst Houston’s John Goodgame focuses on SEC compliance for clients predominantly in the oil & gas sector.

DLA Piper LLP (US) is active across the retail, pharma, and technology sectors, demonstrating a strong track record in developing artificial intelligence and cyber security protocols for domestic and international corporations. The practice is jointly led by Era Anagosti in Washington DC and New York’s Joshua Kaufman. Their team is adept at ensuring that clients remain compliant with SEC and other federal requirements, whilst simultaneously helping them develop anti-takeover measures, prepare periodic reports, and introduce best ESG practices. Anagosti’s SEC background helps clients remain federally compliant and she is equipped to advise on the full spectrum of governance matters. Sanjay Shirodkar in Washington DC, Seattle’s Andrew Ledbetter, and Austins John Gilluly are other key members of this practice. Stephen Wortley  is also a key name.

Goodwin is jointly led by Jonathan Hecht and Dave Lynn in Washington DC, serving listed companies with public disclosure obligations alongside board assistance, executive compensation, and broader governance advice. The practice is very active in the F&B, energy, and industrial manufacturing markets. Recently, the team advised UDR, an S&P 500 real estate trust, on the public offering of $300m of medium-term notes, assisting them with their disclosure obligations. Lynn, a November 2024 arrival from Morrison Foerster, is well-versed in SEC protocols, having helped draft the federal rules on executive compensation. Hecht’s federal background contributes to his reputation as a reference in the area of government investigations. In San Francisco, Karen Ubell introduces an interdisciplinary approach to her governance advice, advising clients on their obligations whilst dealing with digital assets such as NFTs, blockchains, or cryptocurrencies.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is active in all facets of the evolving corporate governance landscape in the United States, utilizing the multi-disciplinary skillset of the team to advise on ESG measures, proxy contests, shareholder activism, and internal investigations. The firm is very active in the transportation, pharmaceutical, and hospitality sectors, boasting Boeing, Immunotech, and Six Flags as long-term clients. The practice incorporates broad expertise and market reach. In New York, Sophia Hudson has extensive experience in capital markets working on IPOs, private equity work, and general corporate governance in international and domestic deals. Working alongside her, Shaun Mathew excels at crisis management and defending clients from activist investors and shareholders. Chicago’s Mark Filip and Evan Johnson in New York add valuable expertise to the team.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP works with several public companies across the fashion, technology, and healthcare sectors, showcasing expertise in securities law, due to a stock of SEC alumni making up its ranks. The practice is jointly led by Celia Soehner, a capital market specialist who advises on the full range of governance matters, and Joanne Soslow, who regularly serves boards as outside counsel, focusing on the biotech, energy, and telecoms sectors. Rahul Patel joined the firm in October 2024 from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

The growing corporate governance practice at Cooley LLP specializes in assisting boards of established publicly traded corporations and private companies preparing for their IPO. The practice works with high-profile clients such as NVIDIA and Zoom, advising on best board practices, institutional investor voting policies, and SEC compliance. The team is led by San Francisco’s David Peinsipp alongside New York’s Beth Sasfai  and Brad Goldberg. Goldberg excels at ensuring clients remain in accordance with securities law and the rules of exchange listings whilst Safsai works with both domestic and international clients with ESG regulations, risk management, and stakeholder management.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP utilizes a multidisciplinary strategy in its corporate governance practice, bringing leading corporate lawyers and industrial experts into the team, led by William Regner and Maeve O’Connor out of New York. It handles matters for clients in a variety of industries but is particularly involved in the investment and insurance sectors. O’Connor’s experience extends to securities litigation and ensuring that clients remain regulatory compliant in their AI practices. Regner is well-regarded in the telecommunications and financial sectors, working with public companies on risk management, the structuring of board proposals, and damage control post-crisis. Gordon Moodie joined the firm in September 2024.

Jones Walker LLP ‘demonstrates a deep understanding of the complexities involved in corporate governance’, serving both growing and listed public companies with SEC public disclosure obligations, shareholder management, and proxy contests. In Baton Rouge, Alexandra Clark Layfield is active in a variety of sectors, possessing experience in securities law and capital market transactions. Corporate security specialist Clinton Hansford Smith is based in New Orleans and works on matters arising out of stock issuance and acquisition. Smith and Layfield spearhead the practice. Kelly Simoneaux‘s work focuses on executive compensation.

In Washington DC, Scott Lesmes chairs the practice at Morrison Foerster, which leverages extensive government and corporate finance sectors to assist clients with SEC compliance, ESG best practices, risk management, and shareholder management. Lesmes, a former in-house securities attorney, introduces a multidisciplinary approach to his governance work. Strengthening the practice in DC, DOJ alumn Brandon Van Grack focuses on internal investigations and crisis management, whilst Ryan Adams is a reference in securities regulation.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe‘s capital markets practice is led by Albert Vanderlaan out of the Boston office, and is active in the tech, artificial intelligence, financial, and biotech sectors. Vanderlaan works with a variety of public and private companies on governance issues relating to corporate transactions. In San Francisco, JT Ho focuses on public companies, helping them with shareholder activism, executive compensation, and remaining compliant with federal regulations whilst Bill Hughes advises on securities offerings, Securities Act 1934 compliance, and insider trading policies.

Sidley Austin LLP is ‘very well versed in current best practice and developing trends in the Board Governance arena’, assisting market-leading technology, telecommunications, and financial corporations, helping the client satisfy their fiduciary duties as well as ensuring that they remain Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank Compliant. The practice is jointly led by Holly Gregory in New York, who excels at dealing with problems raised by activist investors, proxy contests, and CEO transitions, alongside Chicago’s John Kelsh , a public company specialist who focuses on ensuring that clients abide by the relevant securities law and regulation, implementing best practices for the boards to follow.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is extremely knowledgeable regarding trends and best practices’ in the corporate governance space, advising clients on public disclosure obligations, securities law, shareholder proposals, and executive compensation. The team, which is led by Karen Hsu Kelley in New York, has a strong track record in the investment, real estate, and banking sectors. Hsu is ‘an outstanding lawyer’ who excels at advising public companies on their regulatory and stock exchange obligations. James Raap joined from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in August 2024 whilst Jennifer Nadborny retired in September 2024.

Boston’s Johnathan Wolfman and Lillian Brown in Washington DC jointly lead the corporate practice group at WilmerHale, which assists the Coca-Cola Group, the Danaher Corporation, and several other publically traded corporations with their corporate governance matters. The practice has a securities and regulation focus and assists clients with cybersecurity breaches, SEC compliance, and internal investigations. Brown has significant experience working on ESG protocols, shareholder proposals, and activism. Alex Bahn, Meredith Cross, and Alan Wilson strengthen the practice in Washington DC whilst Liz Graffeo works out of the firm’s Denver office.