Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP > Washington DC, United States > Firm Profile

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 1

Satisfied clients hail Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP as ‘the best law firm in international arbitration’. Forming a significant part of its global international arbitration practice, the firm’s US offering is split between Washington DC and New York and is active worldwide, with a focus on the Americas. Recognized internationally for its record in ICSID cases, with an emphasis on major investor-state disputes, the group is also well-versed in high-stakes commercial arbitrations. In Washington DC, Latin America practice co-head Nigel Blackaby draws on extensive hands-on experience—he has acted as counsel or arbitrator in over 100 arbitrations—and is particularly revered for energy and mining disputes. Also in DC, Caroline Richard is noted for her focus on investor-state cases, with recent involvement in major multi-jurisdictional matters. From New York, Buenos Aires- and New York-qualified Noiana Marigo co-heads the global international arbitration team and the Latin America practice and is sought after for work across the Americas; she recently teamed up with Blackaby and Richard to represent Glencore on a landmark ICSID arbitration claim against Colombia. New York’s Elliot Friedman fronts the international arbitration group for the Americas and is representing ConocoPhillips in its ongoing attempts to enforce its mammoth ICSID award against Venezuela. Up-and-coming arbitration specialist Lee Rovinescu and Thomas Walsh are also recommended in New York.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 1

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP draws considerable praise from clients, who turn to the team for its ‘depth of knowledge’ and ‘client-focused practical advice’ on a broad range of corporate governance issues, including ESG matters, corporate compliance, and shareholder activism. The firms has continued its growth with the addition of several partners from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Among them are Beth George, who leads the strategic risk and crisis management practice at the firm, Megan Kayo, who regularly works with startups and Fortune, and Janet Kim and Andrew Dockham, both of whom have bolstered the team’s the litigation abilities. Practice head Pamela Marcogliese, who splits her time between New York and Silicon Valley, is described as a ‘standout partner’, praised for her ‘depth of knowledge in the corproate governance and securities space.’ Elizabeth Bieber is noted for her ability to provide guidance on a range of corporate governance issues, including director fiduciary duties, board evaluations and stakeholder engagement issues. Silicon Valley-based Sarah Solum has extensive experience on capital markets transactions and corporate assignments for public and private companies hailing from the tech and life sciences sectors. Unless otherwise mentioned, all named practitioners are based in New York.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 2

The international litigation team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP advises leading US and global companies and financial institutions, with expertise in intricate parallel court proceedings across jurisdictions, or involving the DOJ, SEC, and FCA. Regulatory investigations are another strength of the practice, which also boasts expertise at defending against section 1782 applications. Litigators within the practice have notably represented Rio Tinto in a high-profile US federal climate change class action, and AstraZeneca in a high-profile securities class action. Kimberly Zelnick in New York is a highly experienced figure in SEC enforcement actions, notably leading the firm’s global financial institutions litigation team, while senior associate Paige von Mehren focuses on the enforcement of arbitral awards. The team has grown significantly in the last year, with the arrival of a team consisting of Beth George, Janet Kim, Andrew Dockham, and Megan Kayo from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in June 2023, and Gayle Klein from Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP in August 2023.

Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 2

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP's M&A litigation practice is one of the bright spots for English firms in the US litigation market. Thanks to standout partners and practice heads Meredith Kotler and Mary Eaton, the firm is able to handle market-leading matters for stellar corporate clients, among them Tesla, Google and Pinterest. For AstraZeneca, Kotler and Eaton are involved in matters in Delaware concerning challenges to the sale of spinoff company Viela Bio to Horizon. The case raises important issues of what constitutes a control by a major shareholder. Head of the US technology practice Boris Feldman, who works from the Silicon Valley office, has defended more than 250 shareholder class actions, derivative suits, and merger challenges during his long career, and he frequently works with up-and-coming partner Doru Gavril to handle shareholder inspection demands and major class actions against Tesla and its board of directors. Counsel Nicholas Caselli is an emerging talent whose work in securities and shareholder litigation includes class actions, derivative actions, section 220 books and records demands, and deal-related matters.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 2

The New York office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP continues to make big strides in the securities litigation arena, having built a high-calibre practice around highly regarded practice heads Meredith Kotler and Mary Eaton. They work in tandem with Boris Feldman, who also leads the firm’s global TMT practice, and up-and-coming partner Doru Gavril, both based in Silicon Valley. The practice, which continues to expand at associate level, now acts for known numerous global companies in high-stakes securities and shareholder matters, as well as regulatory investigations. A prime example is the work Feldman and Gavril are doing for Google’s parent company, Alphabet, in multiple matters including its first securities class action. Kotler’s work for 3M is equally impressive- she obtained a string of victories in cases arising from the company’s alleged failure to adequately reserve for and disclose billions of dollars of potential liability for environmental, mass tort, and other claims.

Tax > International tax Tier 2

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP advises on a wide range of transactions, including M&A, joint ventures, carve-out transactions, and other capital market transactions. The team is headed by Washington DC-based Claude Stansbury, who advises domestic and foreign multinational companies, private equity funds, and financial advisors on acquisitions, financings, restructurings, and disposals. In New York, Joe Soltis‘ practice covers taxable and tax-free mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, financing arrangements, investments, partnerships and joint ventures, bankruptcy reorganizations, securities issuances, and real estate matters. Also in New York, Dennis Caracristi advises on M&A, public and private offerings of stock, debt and other financial products, spinoffs and demergers, structured derivatives, complex securitization transactions, conventional and synthetic financings, and specialized tax advisory and structuring matters.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 3

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is well versed in handling antitrust suits brought against tech and food sector clients, while also handling investigations and merger reviews by the FTC and DOJ. Washington DC-based Eric Mahr heads the firm’s US antitrust practice and is requested by clients facing civil suits and regulatory challenges both domestically and further afield, particularly in relation to proceedings initiated by the European Commission. June 2023 saw a pair of arrivals strengthen the group, with former Winston & Strawn LLP attorney Heather Lamberg moving to the firm’s DC office and specializing in market allocation and monopolization claims, and Justina Sessions joining from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Silicon Valley, with a practice centered on antitrust cases in the tech industry.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 3

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP continued its growth in the United States with the arrival of Justina Sessions from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Heather Lamberg from Winston & Strawn LLP in June 2023, contributing significant agency experience of complex merger review processes, including both the DOJ and FTC, while also expanding its work in the tech industry. The team regularly secures clearances for business-critical, global transactions, handling DOJ and FTC investigations, regulatory challenges, and multijurisdictional approvals. In addition to expanding its bench, the team also increased its share of household-name clients, adding Adobe, Uber, Netflix, and Camber Pharmaceuticals on its books. Jamillia Ferris oversees the practice and is distinguished for expertise representing industry-leading companies in navigating complex merger review processes before the FTC and DOJ. Mary Lehner is a key name for merger control work, advising clients such as United Airlines, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca. Lawyers are in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense Tier 3

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has a strong bi-coastal practice with experienced teams in New York and Silicon Valley. The women-led team has a fine presence in investment grade debt and is making a further impression in ESG-related transactions. It is primarily known as an issuer-side practice, including emerging and mid-cap businesses through to large global leaders, though also has close links to a range of underwriters. It is further noted for corporate governance thanks to the presence of Pamela Marcogliese, who splits her time between New York and Silicon Valley. New York partner Valerie Ford Jacob is global co-head of the firm’s capital markets and financial institutions practices, while Silicon Valley’s Sarah Solum is noted for representing large technology businesses, such as Oracle, in high-value debt offerings. New York partner Michael Levitt is active in a range of debt offerings for both issuers and underwriters.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has experienced and strong teams in both New York and Silicon Valley. It has close links to both issuers and underwriters, including growth companies, mid-cap and global businesses. With the slow market for IPOs, the team has remained active in direct offerings, PIPEs, block trades, SPAC transactions, and at-the-market offerings. Valerie Ford Jacob is hugely experienced in major equity offerings with Silicon Valley partner Sarah Solum also having an outstanding reputation, especially for tech clients. Michael Levitt is another key name and Pamela Marcogliese, based in New York and Silicon Valley, is head of US transactions with a strong reputation in capital markets and corporate governance. Silicon Valley’s Scott Blumenkranz was promoted to partner in 2023 and rising star Taryn Zucker is another key member of the team. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 3

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is recognized for its ‘excellent executive compensation practice’, advising on equity arrangements, executive employment, severance agreements, golden parachute taxes, and other aspects of employee benefits and executive compensations in transactions. The practice is co-led by Nicole Foster and Lori Goodman in New York, alongside Brandon Gantus and Sarah Ghulamhussain in Silicon Valley. Foster collaborates with the firm’s European and Asian offices to deliver cross-border executive compensation advice, while Goodman provides US benefits law guidance to international clients such as Roivant Sciences, AstraZeneca, and Ericsson. Gantus’s expertise lies in M&A and capital markets transactions, which is routinely called upon by technology and life sciences companies. Ghulamhussain, who became a partner in May 2023, specializes in compensation structuring for corporate changes, C-suite executive transitions, and succession planning. Jordan Salzman, who rejoined the New York office as counsel in September 2023, advises public companies, private equity funds, and executives.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 3

Acting for the likes of international pharma corporations, tech providers, and energy conglomerates, the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP team comprises a set of corporate specialists who cover matters ranging from cross-border transactions to takeover defense. Ethan Klingsberg and Damien Zoubek co-head the New York offering, with the former routinely advising special committees and boards of directors on impactful mergers and complex governance issues, while the latter is an expert on shareholder activism defense. Also in New York, Jenny Hochenberg frequently tackles transformative M&A transactions, Sebastian Fain is knowledgeable on joint ventures, and both Paul Tiger and Paul Humphreys focus on stockholder activism and all-stock mergers. Based in San Francisco, John Fisher has expertise in the life sciences sector, while Joseph Halloum concentrates on IPOs and SPAC transactions.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism Tier 3

The New York-based team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has broad experience across all aspects of shareholder activism defense and preparation, from negotiations and settlement agreements, to poison pills and navigating wolf packs. Department co-head Elizabeth Bieber focuses her practice on activism and takeover defense preparedness and corporate governance matters. Leading the team alongside her is Ethan Klingsberg, who also co-heads the firm’s broader corporate and M&A offering. Damien Zoubek is familiar with shareholder activism defense scenarios across different industries, and Sebastian Fain is another key contact who regularly counsels management and boards of directors.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 3

The data privacy and security team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP ‘is incredibly impressive’, particularly noted for its speed in dealing with complex data breaches along with ‘deep connections at multiple organizations‘. Team head Christine Lyon, based in Silicon Valley, works with clients in developing privacy and data protection strategies along with compliance programs. In New York, Timothy Howard is recommended for his ‘incredible reach‘ and ‘aggressive approach to problem solving‘: his practice focuses on cybersecurity, data breaches, and cryptocurrency fraud. Brock Dahl works across Washington DC and Silicon Valley and heads the firm’s US Fintech practice. Beth George and Megan Kayo joined the team in June 2023 from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Both based in Silicon Valley, George brings government experience to strategic risk and crisis management work, while Kayo regularly works with clients experiencing data breaches.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 3

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s offers considerable non-contentious tax expertise to major clients in the tech, pharma, energy, and financial services sectors, among others. Practice head Claude Stansbury in Washington DC advises domestic and international companies, private equity funds, and financial advisors on acquisitions, financings, restructurings, and disposals. He also has notable experience representing financial institutions and multinationals in relation to the taxation of derivatives and other financial products. Joseph Soltis in New York advises several Fortune 500 companies on taxable and tax-free M&A, recapitalizations, financings, investments, reorganizations, and securities issuances. Dennis Caracristi, also in New York, advises banking groups, underwriters, companies, private equity and hedge funds, and sovereign wealth investors on a broad range of issues, including stock offerings, spin-offs, derivatives, and securitizations. Robert Scarborough left the firm in 2023 for a role at the Internal Revenue Service.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is capable of representing a broad range of high-end commercial and corporate clients in the full suite of complex litigation and arbitration matters. Linda Martin and Tim Harkness co-chair the team; Harkness focuses on fraud, breaches of contract and post-M&A disputes whilst Martin predominantly counsels multinational corporations on their US litigation exposure. The team's third co-chair is Gayle Klein, who joined the firm in 2023 from Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP and is noted for her strengths in financial services litigation and trade secrets disputes. David Livshiz is a further key contact who stands out for his bankruptcy litigation expertise.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 4

With a stronghold in the borrower side, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s leveraged finance practice is a popular choice among private equity firms, investment firms and corporate borrowers. Its work includes a range of debt financing matters, including syndicated and private credit financings, as well as recapitalizations and incremental debt raises. The New York-based team has significant experience handling debt financings and borrower-side acquisition financings. The practice is jointly led by Allison Liff who bolsters the team’s sponsor-side capabilities in leveraged finance; Kyle Lakin who focuses his practice on corporate financing, leveraged financing and restructuring transactions.

International trade > CFIUS Tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP's team is under the leadership of high-profile national security heavyweight Aimen Mir, whose exhaustive list of government-side roles includes a stint as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Investment Security at the USDT. Under the leadership of Washington DC-based Mir, the CFIUS practice continues to gain traction in the market, where it is acting for major corporate and sovereign clients in the financial services, technology and energy spheres, among other sensitive industries. Special counsel Christine Laciak, also in Washington DC, fronts the global foreign investment review team; she advises on foreign investment review regimes worldwide, with a focus on CFIUS matters.

International trade > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions Tier 4

Among its practice strong suits, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s export controls and economic sanctions team is particularly recognized for its strength in Russia-related sanctions, where it possesses a strong record in handling Russia exit transactions. The group is also extremely active in advising on China and Venezuela-related sanctions regulations. From Washington DC, Nabeel Yousef spearheads the global sanctions, export controls and trade practice and is equipped to advise on an array of civil and criminal issues, including internal investigations and enforcement matters. In New York, the team draws on global financial institutions disputes head Kimberly Zelnick; and newly promoted partner, Stephanie Brown Cripps.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s technology department houses an impressive roster of clients which encompasses the likes of Google and Ericsson. The team is well-versed in advising on data protection concerns, open-source software, cybersecurity matters, and in conducting IP risk assessments. In New York, Menachem Kaplan, who is commended for his ‘excellent depth of expertise’, leverages his software engineering background to handle complex work relating to tech M&A and licensing, particularly for growth companies in the tech sector. Silicon Valley-based Marissa Yu assists clients with matters at the intersection of tech and IP.

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 5

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP represents life sciences clients on both the target and buyer side of transactions in the sector, and is also adept at overseeing licensing agreements and asset acquisitions between pharmaceutical companies. The practice also handles litigious matters, including government investigations into off-label marketing and fraud allegations, and defense of clients facing securities suits. New York’s Adam Golden heads the team, overseeing M&A, VC investments and licensing and cooperation agreements and advising on the IP aspects of such deals. Out of Silicon Valley, Vinita Kailasanath assists with transactions at the intersection of life sciences and technology, while Washington DC-based Kristen Riemenschneider represents biopharmaceutical clients in their transactional matters, including those where liaising with government bodies is required.

Tax > Financial products

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration Tier 1

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s global standing in international arbitration is very much in evidence in Latin America, where it has an unrivalled record in investor-state arbitrations over recent years; it typically represents investors against states and state-owned entities. It has represented parties in some of the largest and most high-profile cases to involve the region, notably expropriation and nationalisation-related cases, including representing ConocoPhillips in a series of cases relating to the 2007 expropriation of three major oil investments in Venezuela under then-President Chávez. The firm is active in cases involving parties from across the region and has an array of native Spanish and Portuguese speakers in the team. ‘Brilliant senior practitioner’ Nigel Blackaby KC (in Washington DC) is co-head of the Latin America group alongside Noiana Marigo, who ‘directs the practice in Lat Am in an exceptional way’. Also in Washington DC, Caroline Richard (‘an outstanding international arbitration expert’) is another notable name in investor-state disputes, as is Lee Rovinescu, who was promoted to the partnership in 2020, and is highlighted for mining, energy and natural resources cases, as well as his expertise in damages. Blackaby and Richard (along with Americas practice head Elliot Friedman) are currently co-leading advice to Glencore in the first ever ICSID case against Colombia; while Marigo is acting for the same client in an UNCITRAL case against the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Counsel Natalia Zibibbo (an ‘excellent professional’); DC-based special legal consultant Maria Julia Milesi (who was promoted to counsel in May 2023); and senior associates Santiago Gatica (‘remarkable intelligence, legal knowledge and great capacity for work’), Hinda Rabkin and Madeline Snider (in Madrid), are also noted and further illustrate the practice group’s strength-in-depth. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise. Former counsel Alex Wilbraham has left the firm to become an independent arbitrator in January 2023.