Akin > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Akin > The Legal 500 Rankings

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 1

The team at Akin brings high-level expertise to complex bankruptcy matters, especially in the New York market, with a client base encompassing ad-hoc groups, companies and debtors to creditor committees, and large investors involved in multi-billion dollar restructurings. The US-based restructuring team benefits from the firm’s strong cross-border links with teams in Asia and Europe which assist in large and complex deals for large multinational companies, including on a recent matter in which Philip Dublin acted as special counsel for an ad-hoc group of Cineworld’s secured lenders to advise on negotiations with Cineworld on a restructuring plan and support with its Chapter 11 filing. Heading the global practice is Ira Dizengoff, who is regarded as a preeminent figure in the restructuring space for his involvement in high profile distressed and bankruptcy-related matters, alongside specialties in corporate restructurings, creditors’ committees and bondholder committee cases. Abid Qureshi is noted for his key focus on bankruptcy litigation. Washington DC-based Scott Alberino represents a wide range of groups in distressed transactions including creditor committees and equity holders, and Sara Brauner and Naomi Moss are also highly recommended. Unless otherwise stated, all mentioned lawyers are based in New York.

Government > Government relations

Akin‘s exceptionally deep bench is comprised of both lawyers and nonlawyer advisors with extensive experience in the political sphere. Availing themselves of a long reach across congressional committees, the executive branch, and federal agencies, the team is recognized for its tax, trade, healthcare, energy, financial services, and environment expertise. The firm’s distinct congressional investigations arm is also renowned for being a major player in the most sensitive and high-profile proceedings. Tax, health, transportation, tech and financial services specialist Hunter Bates jointly chairs the public law and policy group with premier international trade lobbyist Brian Pomper. Raphael Prober and Karen Christian bring federal executive and congressional experience to their leadership of the congressional investigations team. Arshi Siddiqui draws on policy and political knowhow from her tenure as senior policy advisor to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ed Pagano has served in the Obama administration as Senate Liaison and Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, and Clete Willems has been a lead negotiator with China during the Trump administration. Tom Moyer advises financial services, education, and defense sector clients in government investigations. Christopher Treanor, who is well-versed in Inflation Reduction Act and natural gas matters, was promoted to partner in January 2024. Reggie Babin, who served as chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and is highly sought after as an AI lobbyist, joined the firm as senior counsel in January 2023.

International trade > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions Tier 1

An international trade powerhouse, Akin provides standalone expertise in all core trade areas, including dominant offerings in both customs and import controls, and export controls and economic sanctions. Fielding one of the largest trade departments in the market, the already-sizeable group was additionally boosted in July 2023 with the hire of a team from Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, which included Ryan Fayhee, Roy Liu and Tyler Grove—all of whom have significant export controls and economic sanctions expertise. Other key names for export controls and economic sanctions include Kevin Wolf, a veteran in the national security field; regulatory practice leader Thomas J McCarthy, whose experience cuts across export controls, sanctions and customs laws; former federal prosecutor Jonathan Poling, who specializes in regulatory and enforcement actions before the the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) among others; and technology specialist Shiva Aminian, who splits her time between Los Angeles and San Francisco and leads the international trade practice on the West Coast. The customs department is co-led by Lars-Erik Hjelm and Suzanne Kane, who together contribute extensive experience in representing corporations on import and export regulations, including in investigations and enforcement matters administered by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

International trade > Trade remedies and trade policy Tier 1

‘Uniquely deep on trade, investment, and national security issues’,  Akin houses a full-service international trade practice that is routinely involved in high-stakes trade remedy litigation and trade policy matters. The Washington DC-based group acts for domestic industries, as well as foreign producers and exporters, in many of the most closely watched cases to come to market. In a highlight example, Matthew Nicely is representing HMTX, and over 100 additional plaintiffs, in the marquee challenge to the US government’s Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods. In another high-profile case, Bernd Janzen is acting alongside next-generation partner Yujin Kim McNamara to represent the Government of British Columbia in a long-running series of countervailing duty proceedings and managed trade agreements involving US imports of softwood lumber from Canada. Other go-to trade litigators include Stephen Kho, who is a former acting chief counsel on China enforcement at the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR); and Hal Shapiro, who has had several government-side roles, including a stint as Senior Advisor for International Economic Policy at the National Economic Council. At junior level, ‘strong counsel’ Sarah Kirwin is a key name.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

In addition to handling complex cross-border investigations, Akin regularly advises on public corruption, anti-money laundering, and market manipulation, among other matters. Based in New York, Michael Asaro and James Benjamin are recommended for clients needing assistance with white-collar defense cases. Parvin Moyne and Anne Evans are also located in New York. Moyne routinely advises boards of directors and senior executives on allegations of corruption, while Evans handles fraud cases as well as FCPA violations. Practicing in Washington DC, Charles Connolly has an in-depth understanding of financial fraud cases. Other notable individuals include Peter Altman for his strong capabilities at advising on securities enforcement as well as Katherine Goldstein for her knowledge of insider trading and market manipulation. Altman is based in Los Angeles while Goldstein practices in New York. Estela Diaz and Ian McGinley left the New York office in May 2023 and February 2023 respectively.

Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 2

Regularly advising on the sale and purchase of assets, company acquisitions, stock mergers, and public offerings, Akin is a popular choice for industry players, sponsors and investors engaging with oil & gas, petrochemicals and LNG. The team is frequently called upon by premium clients such as Tug Hill Inc. and DiamondBack energy as they expand their portfolios, and the group has been largely active on upstream and midstream M&A, often handling multi-billion-dollar deals. Co-head of the corporate practice, New York’s Zachary N. Wittenberg possesses a multifarious offering, working with public and private companies across a range of instructions. Sitting alongside Wittenberg at the head of the team and operating out of Dallas, Wesley Williams is an M&A specialist with a notable focus on upstream and midstream transactions. The Houston-based John Goodgame is often positioned as a financial advisor to clients, guiding them through capital raises, while Stephen Boone, also based in Houston, has overseen the acquisition of interests in both the Permian and Texas Delaware Basin, as well as actively engaged with a number of different pipelines, over the past twelve months. Cole Bredthauer operates out of Fort Worth and is a regular advisor to FireBird Energy II LCC alongside other exploration and production companies. Washington DC’s Emily Mallen adds further midstream knowledge and understanding to the team. David Patrick Elder departed the firm in February 2024.

Industry focus > Education Tier 2

Akin‘s education practice is well-placed to advise clients on a range of education matters, among them policy issues, internal investigations, Title IX obligations, data privacy, and litigation. Washington DC-based Michael Vernick steers the practice and has recently focused on matters such as foreign influence over U.S. government funded research, scientific misconduct investigations, and conflict of interest issues, in addition to advising on the financial and administrative management of grants. Additional key contacts in Washington DC include Marta Thompson, who represents clients involved in government audits, and allegations of misconduct and fraud, and Anthony Pierce, who litigates education disputes and defends clients from class actions.

Industry focus > Native American law Tier 2

The Washington DC-based Native American law practice at Akin represents tribal governments and their economic enterprises on matters involving tribal political empowerment, sovereignty and economic development. The group is regularly involved in the negotiation of settlements regarding land and water rights, and additionally advises tribes on a range of non-contentious mandates such as non-gaming business opportunities, governmental contracting, renewable energy projects, and telecommunications. Practice head Donald R Pongrace specializes in complex private and government-to-government negotiations, regularly appearing before federal, state and tribal courts. Additional key figures include Jason Hauter, who previously acted as in-house counsel for the Gila River Indian Community and has focused his practice on the implementation of Indian water rights settlements and water resource management. Katie Brossy specializes in advocating before federal agencies on water, land, gaming and education matters. Allison Binney left the firm in March 2023.

Investment fund formation and management > Alternative/hedge funds Tier 2

New York’s Barbara Niederkofler leads the alternative hedge funds team at Akin, regularly advising major start-up and well-established hedge funds, particularly in regards to complex compliance matters with extensive regulatory demands. Representing both domestic and offshore hedge fund managers, JP Bruynes advises on the full range of related matters. The team's expertise includes formation and structuring of investor funds, advising venture capital managers, and handling structured risk for a wide range of clients, including Blackstone Alternative Asset Management. Ann E. Tadajweski and Jonathan A. Ross are lead contacts on a $73 billion alternative investment firm focusing on asset-based specialty private credit investments, advising on fund structuring. Max Karpel joined the investment management group in August 2023. All lawyers are based in New York.  

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m) Tier 2

Operating out of New York, the Akin practice offers its roster of domestic and multinational corporate clients comprehensive advice in cross-border M&A and has a particular penchant for handling distressed transactions. In addition to its core expertise in corporate transactions, the team is capable of drawing on integrated firmwide knowledge of debt finance, capital markets, and executive compensation matters to handle the financial and employment aspects of acquisitions. Zachary Wittenberg leads the department and regularly handles M&A and restructuring matters in addition to advising on corporate governance. Sergio Urias focuses on leveraged buyouts, while Amy Wollensack assists with recapitalizations and divestitures.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 2

The cybersecurity, privacy and data protection team at Akin stands out for its experience of emerging state privacy statutes, with notable expertise regarding the California Consumer Privacy Act and California Privacy Rights Act. Its workload includes with counseling clients on compliance with these regulations, and supporting them through any litigation or investigations in the practice area. San Francisco-based Natasha Kohne co-leads the practice, assisting clients in the development of privacy and security programs to both mitigate risk and respond to cybersecurity events. In Dallas, co-head Michelle Reed is recommended for her ability to work across business units, supporting clients in sectors including retail, healthcare, energy, aerospace and private equity. Jo-Ellyn Sakowitz Klein is the key name in Washington DC, a go-to for health information privacy matters involving HIPAA and HITECH compliance. In Irvine, Hyongsoon Kim handles consumer and data privacy class action defense, including those involving unfair business practices and false advertising laws.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional Tier 2

Renowned as a go-to advisor for a diverse array of clients, including technology companies, motion picture studios, independent filmmakers, and financial institutions, Akin‘s Los Angeles-based media and entertainment team offers vast experience navigating complex financing arrangements within the industry. Christopher Spicer leads the practice and is well-known for his ability to facilitate high-visibility deals and credit facilities between movie production companies and financial institutions. Marissa Román Griffith specializes in negotiating high-value international financing arrangements for borrowers, financiers, and distributors in the film, television, and digital content spaces.. Alissa Miller and Vanessa Roman also contribute significantly to the team’s strength and depth, with Miller adept at handling deals between independent movie production companies and financial institutions, and Roman focusing on entertainment financings and single project loans. Lauren Epstein is a further name to note and handles private equity-backed and strategic M&A in connection with film and television projects.

Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

Akin houses a thriving national appellate practice, which is primarily recognized for its record in IP, American Indian law, financial restructuring and labor law cases. Additionally, the wider firm’s formidable regulatory offering marks it as a key player in administrative law and Administrative Procedure Act litigation, as recently evidenced by its wor on behalf of four importers challenging the Trump Administration’s trade war with China, which represents one of the largest cases in the Court of International Trade’s history. Spearheading the group is Washington DC-based Pratik Shah, who has argued seventeen cases before the US Supreme Court and sixty cases in other appellate courts across the country. Shah teamed up with fellow DC-based appellate specialists James E. Tysse and Julius Chen to lead the importer challenge appeal before the Federal Circuit. In San Francisco, Aileen McGrath is noted for her focus on federal and state appellate courts in California.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 3

Akin frequently acts for private investment funds, broker dealers, and public accounting firms in private litigation under federal securities and commodities laws. It is well versed in both securities litigation and regulatory enforcement actions, often handling both in parallel for the same client. Stephen M. Baldini and Douglas Rappaport lead the practice from New York. Baldini and key partner Neal Marder in Los Angeles both played important roles in the defense of Eastman Kodak Company in multiple derivative and securities class actions. Scott Barnard, who recently handled a high-stakes matter for AB Energy Opportunity Fund, and Michelle Reed are the key partners in Dallas. New York-based Uri Itkin is a seasoned trial lawyer with substantial experience in cases involving structured finance and investment funds.

Energy > Renewable/alternative power Tier 3

The projects and energy transition group at Akin handles a range of work in the renewables area, its recent slate including project development, financing, and joint ventures. Pre-NTP funding structures for renewable energy projects and tax credit transferability advice were also areas of recent focus for the department which is co-led by Matt Kapinos inHouston and Ike Emehelu in New York. Washington DC-based Shariff Barakat acts for clients across acquisition, development, and financing of power generation and infrastructure projects, focusing particularly on tax equity financing. Alongside him in Washington DC, Sam Guthrie is also a key partner, while Hayden Harms in Houston is an up-and-coming figure in the market who made partner in January 2024.

Government > Government contracts Tier 3

Small and large contractors in tech, aerospace and defense routinely seek the services of Akin in support of FCA matters, government investigations, bid protests, and APA litigation across state, federal, and international levels. With Washington DC as its home base, the team is led by Michael Vernick, a giant in the education space, assisting high-profile universities and institutions with grants, FCA investigations, CMMC queries, and foreign influence and research misconduct allegations. Susan Lent is a key contact for DOT contractors, with specialist knowledge of infrastructure and Buy American funding, highlighted by her work on behalf of Brightline Holdings. Scott Heimberg assists large venture capital and private equity funds with national security contracts and M&A. Angela Styles is known for her work on CHIPS, grants, and the Buy American Act. At the counsel level, Elise Farrell advises on M&A, due diligence, internal investigations, and subpoena responses, while Marta Thompson is integral in education sector compliance and regulatory work.  Maureen McDonald left the firm in March 2023.

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 3

Prominent asset management firms, institutional investors and private fund managers across real estate, venture capital, energy and credit turn to Akin for their expertise on diverse private fund types. The team is regarded for being ‘knowledgeable about the market’, with a standout feature being their expertise on emerging market funds. Barbara Niederkofler leads the team out of New York and is supported in the team by credit funds expert Blayne Grady in Washington DC, and Dennis Pereira in New York, who clients recommend ‘without hesitation’. Notable team developments in 2023 include the partner promotions of Jason Glennon in Dallas and Amanda Butler-Jones in Washington DC.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 3

The ‘top notch’ team at Akin is regularly engaged by public and private companies on a host of corporate governance matters spanning ESG programs, shareholder activism and board evaluations. The cross-departmental team often works alongside the firm’s corporate, litigation and cybersecurity practices, augmenting its client work with the production of articles and newsletters. ‘Terrific’ co-chair Kerry E Berchem, based in New York, has a strong track record working with boards and C-suites on a broad range of matters, ranging from the establishment and compliance with corporate governance policies to fiduciary duty obligation. A mix of public and private companies and private equity funds turn to Houston-based co-head John Goodgame for his expertise in the MLP industry.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: middle-market (Up to $500m) Tier 3

Akin combines integrated regulatory, financial, and transactional expertise to offer clients comprehensive advice in connection with buyouts, growth investments, and strategic partnerships in regulated sectors such as energy, tech, and industrials. In addition to working with established middle-market funds and investment managers, the team regularly represents portfolio and target companies in their sales to major private equity sponsors such as Apollo and EQT. Bespoke platform deals in emerging spaces of the market represent a key specialism of the team, which has advised on the buy- and sell-side of fund mergers, IP transactions, and sports team buyouts. Sergio Urias is a key contact for these bespoke transactions and practices from the New York office, which is also home to leveraged buyout and take-private expert Amy Wollensack and practice head Zachary Wittenberg, who specialises in corporate transactions. Also in New York, Elazar Guttman and David D’Urso are key contacts for growth investments, while Dallas-based Thomas Yang handles energy M&A, among other matters.

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

Akin‘s offering in shareholder activism stands out for its breadth of expertise, being valued by clients for regulatory advice on activist campaigns, as well as the tax and corporate law aspects of matters. Clients include prominent domestic investors and the team’s recent workload has covered unseating recalcitrant directors and removing entrenched management, among other intricacies. Litigator Douglas Rappaport leads the department and draws on his regulatory and compliance expertise in assisting investment fund clients. Jason Koenig is the other key contact to note, a corporate partner who covers private equity transactions, M&A and shareholder activism. Both named lawyers are based in New York.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 4

The ‘exceptionally experienced’ team at Akin, lauded for its ‘breadth of knowledge’, has a successful track record in high-value, strategic merger clearances, focusing on market-defining transactions for a range of clients facing regulatory scrutiny by US and international agencies. The practice is well-placed to secure multi-jurisdictional clearance for transactions in concert with foreign counsel and the firm’s global offices, particularly London. Practice head Corey Roush regularly represents clients before the FTC, DOJ and state attorneys general on contentious merger-related investigations and litigation. Gorav Jindal is a vastly skilled figure, overseeing all phases of merger investigations conducted by the DOJ and FTC, while Brian Rafkin advises clients spanning the healthcare, chemicals, tech and semiconductors sectors. Attorneys are based in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 4

Akin is well-known in the market for its industry-specific expertise in disputes related to investment funds, hedge funds, and financial restructuring matters. The group’s recent caseload includes securities litigation, stockholder class actions, breach of contract claims, and APA litigation. New York’s Joseph Sorkin heads up the practice group and chiefly handles restructuring and bankruptcy litigation. In New York, Stephen Baldini is a key contact for private equity and hedge fund matters, as well as bankruptcy litigation and partnership/investor disputes. From the Dallas office, Scott Barnard‘s practice emphasizes business torts, fraud actions, commercial contract disputes, and real estate litigation.

Energy > Energy transactions: electric power Tier 4

Akin not only leads on high-end debt and equity financings for a range of energy projects, but also possesses a strong bench of advisors who competently handle the specialist regulatory, tax and development aspects of these substantial builds. In addition, the firm also oversees M&A, joint ventures, and power purchase agreements. Matthew Kapinos heads the team from Houston and covers the full range of energy transactions, financings and asset types, with particular engagement with battery storage over the past twelve months. Project finance duo Ikenna Emehelu and Daniel Lynch operate out of New York and Los Angeles respectively, largely focusing on renewables and energy transition matters. Washington DC’s Shariff Barakat advises sponsors, tax-equity investors and lenders across the acquisition, development and financing piece. New York-based counsel Brad Warner has been a strong supporting presence on a range of renewable matters, while recent arrival Sam Guthrie, who joined from Allen & Overy LLP in July 2023, brings further tax equity acumen, advising from Washington DC.

Environment > Environment: transactional Tier 4

Akin‘s environment and natural resources team counsels clients on the full spectrum of environmental matters, encompassing the evaluation of risks tied to environmental requirements and negotiating related terms. The firm is also actively engaged in mergers, divestments, and financial restructuring endeavors. Known for routinely assisting lenders, sellers and buyers on the full gamut of environmental liabilities in transactions, Washington DC-based David Quigley heads the team, which includes ESG expert Stacey Mitchell and environmental law, climate change and sustainability expert Kenneth Markowitz.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings Tier 4

Akin remains best known for debt capital markets issuances by energy and infrastructure businesses, and it is increasingly active in financial services and asset management. The firm is also noted for liability management, distressed transactions and debt restructuring matters that employ capital markets components. Jesse Brush in New York and Houston partner Christopher Centrich are amongst the firm’s most active capital markets specialists, along with Dallas’s Garrett DeVries and Rosa Testani in New York.

Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings Tier 4

Akin‘s capital markets team has a high degree of focus on high-yield debt, especially for energy and infrastructure sector clients. Financial sponsors and entertainment industry businesses also form part of its client base. Having an issuer-side emphasis, it has continued to advise on a solid pipeline of deals, thanks to the efforts of partners in Houston, Dallas and New York. Garrett DeVries is a recognised high-yield debt expert in Dallas, as is Christopher Centrich in Houston and Rosa Testani in New York.

Finance > Project finance Tier 4

Frequently sought out for its expertise in debt and equity energy project financing, Akin operates as lenders counsel to commercial banks, investment banks, and private equity outfits and borrower and corporate counsel to global energy producers and developers. Despite deep roots to the traditional power sector, the group is increasingly engaged with a strong body of work in the energy transition space, advising on solar, wind, battery storage and capture capture ventures along with the associated tax credit issues. Helming the practice from Houston, Matt Kapinos is able to cover the entire lifecycle of a project, overseeing the acquisition, financing, development and refinancing piece. Follow co-lead Ike Emehelu is based in New York and is chiefly recognised as a key advisor to lenders and investors engaging with renewable projects, whereas final team lead Zachary Wittenberg focuses on energy-related corporate matters from New York. Washington DC’s Shariff Barakat and Sam Guthrie are highlighted for their tax equity financing know-how, whereas Hayden Harms focuses on commercial contract negotiations and agreements from Houston. Battery storage finances have increasingly become a core part of LA attorney Dan Lynch‘s broad practice. New York’s Brad Warner represents sponsors and investors.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission) Tier 4

Akin fields a robust group that routinely deals with Section 337 investigations at the International Trade Commission as part of parallel litigation in other venues and represents clients in both the tech and life sciences sectors in patent disputes. Cono Carrano leads the Washington DC practice group and is a seasoned trial and patent attorney who focuses on complex patent litigation. Also in based in DC, David Vondle specialises in tech-related ITC disputes, Brock Wilson focuses on IP disputes and license negotiations, and Ryan Stronczer has experience litigating at all levels of the US court system. In the firm's Irvine office, Paul D. Tripodi II is an IP litigation specialist whose practice includes patents proceedings before the ITC, and Clark Gordon focuses on patent litigation related to software and medical technologies.

International trade > CFIUS Tier 4

Akin houses an active CFIUS practice, which is underpinned by the wider firm’s strengths in the government relations, energy, defense and infrastructure areas. The Washington-DC based group is led by Christian Davis, whose broad international trade focus spans CFIUS, customs laws, and export controls and economic sanctions. Sources also highlight senior counsel Laura Black for her background at the USDT, where she served as Director of Policy and International Relations for CFIUS. Counsel Katherine Padgett also brings to bear significant government-side experience gained during a former stint as an attorney for CFIUS at the State Department.

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) Tier 4

Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling Tier 4

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory Tier 4

With an experienced bench of former FCC officials and experts with experience at wireless, broadband and satellite companies, the team at Akin is well-placed to advise on federal and state agency regulations and legislative bodies within the sector. Practice head Jennifer Richter provides regulatory and policy advice, as well as advising technology and communications companies and investors on the full range of agreements, including spectrum acquisitions and leases. Douglas Brandon represents technology companies before the FCC, the Department of Justice and Congress. In addition to a diverse roster of TMT companies, Steve Rowings advises private equity and hedge fund investors in the sector. The team continues to bolster its offering in the space sector, with the addition of Michael Mineiro, who brings expert knowledge of outer space and satellite matters. Joseph Calascione brings FCC experience to the team, and Virginia Hiner and Nicole McFarland are other names to note. All attorneys mentioned are based in Washington DC.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 4

Akin’s transactional tax practice has a strong reputation for its financial products and fund formation expertise, particularly in the private equity and hedge fund spaces. The team also regularly handles high-value M&A, restructurings, and financings, among other matters, recently advising major players in several key sectors, such as OpenAI, Apollo Global Management, and an ownership consortium. Patrick Fenn, focusing on the tax aspects of alternative investment vehicles, M&A, and financial restructurings, leads the group alongside investment funds specialist Stuart Leblang. Joshua Williams also focuses on the private investment funds sector, while Olivier De Moor regularly represents investment funds and their investors in connection with federal tax and tax treaty aspects of cross-border transactions. Alexander Specht concentrates on the federal tax issues arising in domestic and cross-border financial transactions, M&A deals, joint ventures, and partnerships. The tax team in Texas plays a key role in the firm’s energy offering, with Alison Chen in Houston advising major clients, including MLPs, operating in that sector. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 5

The global debt finance team at Akin regularly assists private equity investment funds as well as corporate borrowers with financing arrangements and cross-border debt restructurings. The team can be seen handling large-cap and middle-market acquisition financings and also regularly advises on asset-based facilities as well as bridge financings. The New York based practice is led by Jaisohn In, whose expertise primarily lies in special situation financings and private credit transactions. Scott Welkis and Chad Nichols left the firm in February and March 2023, respectively, while leveraged lending and distressed financing expert Catherine Goodall joined the team from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in February 2023 and fund financing specialist Corinne Musa arrived from Cooley LLP in May 2023.

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 5

Akin brings an in-depth understanding of FDA regulatory regimes to bear for clients in the pharmaceutical sector, with particular expertise in rules governing the burgeoning area of digital health, where the practice assists with the integration of AI into diagnostics and treatment planning systems. Practice head Nathan Brown brings ‘an impressive understanding of historical and current FDA enforcement and oversight approaches’ to the table, representing drug, medical devices and diagnostics developers seeking FDA clearance for new products and advising on FDA-compliant marketing strategies; he is based in Washington DC. In New York, Craig Bleifer handles issues ranging from clinical trials to product labelling, with further expertise on the FCA.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 5

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 5

Led by life sciences expert Steven Maslowski in Philadelphia, the intellectual property group at Akin is experienced in all US patent litigation forums and represents clients in a broad range of technical fields. Also in Philadelphia, Matthew Pearson is a patent attorney specializing in the life sciences sector, and Ruben Muñoz litigates IP disputes for a wide range of tech companies. The group in Washington DC includes seasoned patent litigators Cono Carrano and Brandon Rash, Z.W. Julius Chen, who represents clients in all stages of appellate litigation, and Rachel Elsby, who focuses on patent litigation and appeals to the Federal Circuit. Other key practitioners include patent infringement disputes specialist Michael Kahn in New York and Daniel Moffett in San Antonio, who represents clients in all aspects of IP procurement and protection.

Real estate Tier 5

Akin’s real estate department handles development, acquisitions, sales, and financings, and leasing for a range of properties. Data center development, from designs through to construction, also represent a core area of expertise, with other areas of experience extending to areas such as hospitality and distribution. John Bain co-leads the team from Dallas, bringing expertise in transactions and restructuring especially in hotels, resorts, and leisure asset classes. Fellow co-head Marc Epstein is known for his experience on real estate transactions, deal structuring, and negotiations, as well as his data center expertise. Together, they advise a number of REITs, private equity groups, and investment funds, in addition to family offices, developers, and operators.

Latin America: International firms > Capital markets Tier 4

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A Tier 5

Akin has significantly bolstered its Latin America M&A practice with the June-2022 hire of New York partner Sergio Urias from Covington & Burling LLP. Urias brings an extensive background in Latin America private equity and M&A. The wider team is drawn from the firm's Houston and Los Angeles offices, and has a particularly strong track record in Mexico, along with experience in other key markets such as Colombia, Chile and Brazil. It is particularly known for energy transactions, including oil and gas, and renewables. Houston counsel Eduardo Canales  is another key figure. Former partner David Sweeney left the firm in June 2023.