Firm Profile > Arnold & Porter > New York, United States

Arnold & Porter > The Legal 500 Rankings

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 1

Arnold & Porter has outstanding depth of experience in guiding household name clients through merger clearances across the globe. Debbie Feinstein and Jonathan Gleklen co-chair the department from Washington DC, where all following team member sit unless stated otherwise. Feinstein focuses her practice on merger and acquisition reviews by enforcement agencies in the US and beyond, advising stellar clients from a broad array of industries. Obtaining antitrust clearance for mergers, acquisitions and other business combinations is also the pivotal point of Michael B. Bernstein's personal workload. The New York-based Scott Lent combines his sports law practice with advising on antitrust-related issues in connection with obtaining regulatory transaction approval. Key support comes from counsel Justin Hedge, who is particularly active for clients from retail, technology, as well as food and drink industries.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 1

Arnold & Porter has an experienced Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) practice, as well as a strong California Proposition 65 practice. The team is noted for its expertise in class actions, multi-district litigation and individual cases involving personal injury claims and property damage. Another particular strength is representing pharmaceutical and medical device companies in mass tort litigations. Names to note in this space include California law expert Trent Norris; Washington DC-based Eric Rubel, who focuses on product safety matters; and counsel Sarah Esmaili in San Fransisco, who focuses on litigation, defending clients in California Prop65, consumer protection and class action cases. New York-based Anand Agneshwar jointly leads the team alongside Daphne O’Connor in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 1

Arnold & Porter has a range of experience in the life sciences sector, handling major product liability litigation, as well as advising on the development and marketing of new products. New York-based Anand Agneshwar represents pharmaceutical and consumer product companies as national, strategic, trial and appellate counsel. He co-leads the team with Daphne O’Connor, who works from the firm’s DC office and is known for defending pharma and tobacco companies. In a recent highlight, the practice is acting as lead counsel for Endo Pharmaceuticals in the opioid litigation, coordinating national defense in the high-profile set of actions. The team is also handling standout cases for Bayer, Sanofi, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, and Pfizer, among others.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort Tier 1

Arnold & Porter acts in a range of environmental and toxic cases, benefiting from its long-standing relationships with government regulators and the DOJ. The firm represents businesses with operations or legacy liabilities involving diverse chemicals and contaminating materials, including chromium, arsenic, lead, mercury, and selenium. The practice is also experienced in matters related to uranium, radium, gamma radiation, NORM and x-rays, as well as hazardous air pollutants. Key figure sin the team include New York-based Anand Agneshwar, who represents pharmaceutical and consumer product companies; Daphne O’Connor in Washington DC, who has experience managing product liability cases in-house, in addition to her private practice work; and environmental specialist Brian Israel, who is also base din the DC office Also notable is Philip Curtis in New York, who represents plaintiffs in class actions and complex aggregate liability matters. In a recent highlight, the group secured a jury verdict of no liability for Atlantic Richfield, in a trial against former producers of lead pigments.

Government > Government contracts Tier 1

A 'model of aggressive advocacy' in bid protests and white-collar litigation, Williams & Connolly LLP's government contracts practice is jointly led by Washington DC based duo Kevin Hodges and Edward Reddington. In addition to bid protest and white-collar work, the team also handles FCA and qui tam litigation, and securities disputes. Enu Mainigi is noted for her expertise in complex criminal and civil disputes. Also recommended are senior counsel Terrence O’Donnell and Greg Bowman, who have experience in a wide range of matters, including national security and international dispute resolution. The team was also strengthened by a number of recent additions: Lisa Blatt, who leads the firm's Supreme Court practice, re-joined the firm from Arnold & Porter in 2019, and FCA specialist Sarah Harris joined from the US Department of Justice.

Industry focus > Environment: litigation Tier 1

Fielding teams of litigators in Washington DC, New York, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles, Arnold & Porter is routinely involved in high-profile litigation, including toxic torts, and novel cases involving public nuisance issues and climate change. The practice group is made up of seasoned environmental litigators, with strong track records across every area of federal and state environmental law, including permitting issues, Superfund liability, contaminated property, air and water-related issues, and enforcement. Class action defense is an area of strength for the department, as is NRD investigations and litigation, where it has acted for household names including Honeywell International, Dow Chemical and Bayer. Contacts in the DC office include Brian Israel, a go-to lawyer for NRD claims, and Michael Daneker, who is rated for his wide-ranging experience in citizen action suits, CERCLA litigation, Clean Water Act issues and enforcement actions. On the West Coast, San Francisco-based Trent Norris specializes in matters at the intersection of consumer product regulation and environmental law, and Sarah Esmaili is a name to note for litigation relating to California Proposition 65.

Industry focus > Healthcare: life sciences Tier 1

Arnold & Porter has one of the strongest global life sciences practices, covering a broad range of product areas, including regulatory, antitrust, white collar, IP, product liability and transactional capabilities. Recent mandates include advising AbbVie on its $63bn acquisition of Allergan; advising AstraZeneca in the negotiation of an exclusive research collaboration and licensing agreement to co-develop five engineered oncolytic vaccinia virus candidates with Transgene; and successfully defending Boston Scientific against seven patent infringement claims brought by Nevro in the spinal cord stimulation space. The team is jointly led by FDA specialists Daniel Kracov and Allison Shuren, and includes Jeffrey Handwerker who is recommended for pharmaceutical pricing and investigations, commercial litigation involving the pharmaceutical, medical products and biotechnology industries; New York-based Arthur Brown who is particularly experienced in product liability, mass tort and commercial litigation cases; IP litigator Deborah Fishman who has a particular emphasis on biopharmaceutical and medical device patent litigation; and Lowell Dashefsky who handles a broad range of big-ticket transactional mandates. Kristin Hicks, Murad Hussain, Mahnu Davar, recently promoted partner Vinita Kailasanath, and counsels Bryan Godfrey and Abeba Habtemariam are also highly recommended. All individuals mentioned above are based in New York and Washington DC.

Industry focus > Transport: aviation and air travel - litigation and regulation Tier 1

Arnold & Porter has an established reputation as the go-to firm for complex and highly publicized air crash investigations and accidents, a recent example of which was the team's representation of long-time client Airbus in litigation in the US, France and Brazil resulting from the crash of TAM Linhas Aereas Flight 3054. This kind of high-profile and international work is illustrative of the team's core strengths in headline mass torts and commercial disputes, as well as in international arbitration. Kenneth Chernof and James Herschlein co-chair the department from the Washington DC office, alongside 'world-class litigators' Thad Dameris and Christopher Odell in the Houston office. David Weiner in Washington DC is another key litigator. Amanda Thomson is a rising star in the practice group, regularly working alongside Dameris and Odell in sensitive aviation litigation.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 1

Arnold & Porter's corporate and finance practice has M&A as its core focus. Chaired by Washington DC-based Kevin Lavin, the team advises strategic and financial buyers and sellers on stock, asset, and whole-business acquisitions, LBOs, and other corporate control transactions. The team also has the necessary skill sets to handle the financing for these transactions, and with a number of partners experienced in corporate governance, it is also well placed to handle the strategic management of public company clients. Moreover, the group is adept at handling transactions in regulated industries such as life sciences, financial services, government services, national security and cybersecurity. The M&A practice group is jointly led by San Francisco-based Edward Deibert and Derek Stoldt in New York. Another contact in the DC office is Matthew Owens, an experienced M&A practitioner who is rated for his work in the areas of healthcare and government contracting.

Antitrust > Cartel Tier 2

When it comes to cartel issues, Arnold & Porter puts a strong focus on integrating the defense against government investigations into preparation for possible direct and indirect purchaser follow-on litigation. Pharmaceuticals, financial services and chemicals are among the portfolio of frequently covered industry sectors. The overall antitrust practice is lead collaboratively by Debbie Feinstein and Jonathan Gleklen, both with desks in Washington DC. Saul Morgenstern is in charge of the New York Antitrust practice and often represents clients in US government, state and foreign cartel investigations and advises on antitrust aspects of trade association activities, distribution and pricing programs. Jennifer Patterson, who operates out of the same branch, handles cartel investigations as well as internal investigations concerning potential antitrust violations and advises on compliance programs. Situated in Washington DC, James Cooper enhances his antitrust litigation practice with investigation work and follow-on defense. Bill Baer retired from his DC-based antitrust practice in January 2020.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 2

Arnold & Porter applies a trial-focused approach to the representation of defending parties in individual and class actions related to a wide range of allegations such as unlawful distribution arrangements, group boycotts and intellectual property licensing practices. Thanks to a large antitrust litigation team spread out over offices in California, Denver, New York and Washington DC, the department is well equipped to assist clients from all industries. Areas of focus include life sciences, media and entertainment, sports and financial services. Global antitrust head Debbie Feinstein and US chair Jonathan Gleklen are in joint charge of the antitrust litigation group, operating out of the firm's hub in Washington DC. New York-based Saul Morgenstern has significant experience leading and co-leading joint defense groups in multi-jurisdictional litigation. Defense of life sciences corporations against government proceedings and private class actions is the strong suit of Laura Shores' Washington DC practice.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 2

Chaired by Paolo Di Rosa in Washington DC, Arnold & Porter's arbitration group has a notable presence on the East Coast, where it is noted for its extensive experience in mandates relating to Latin America; both Di Rosa and Gaela Gehring Flores are bilingual and able to act in arbitration proceedings conducted in Spanish. For a decade now, the practice has remained strong on the West Coast as well. A contact in San Francisco is Maria Chedid, who serves as a US representative appointed to the Paris-based ICC Court of Arbitration. Taken across the board, the US team is known for its record of success in acting for sovereign clients in investment treaty arbitrations, though it also represents corporate clients and is regularly engaged to handle international commercial arbitrations. For cross-border matters, the team benefits from the expertise of its counterparts based in London, Shanghai, and the firm’s newly opened office in Seoul. Team members also routinely act in the capacity of arbitrators appointed to arbitral panels in proceedings conducted under the auspices of the ICSID.

Dispute resolution > International trade Tier 2

The team at Arnold & Porter is well positioned to handle CFIUS matters – an area where John Bellinger and John Barker leverage their prior government experience in advising clients across a variety of sectors including aerospace, energy, maritime, and defense. Bellinger and Barker head the export control and trade sanctions group, which also includes Charles Blanchard and Nancy Perkins, who are noted for their expertise in CFIUS matters. David Park and Michael Shor serve as co-heads of the international trade department, which routinely finds itself at the forefront of trade remedy proceedings and trade investigations.

Industry focus > Environment: regulatory Tier 2

Arnold & Porter provides comprehensive environmental compliance advice to its corporate client base, but is perhaps best known for its involvement in enforcement proceedings across the spectrum of US environmental statutes. Offering coverage from coast to coast, the group is experienced in issues involving the Clean Air Act, CERCLA, RCRA, and the Oil Pollution Act, as well as Proposition 65 and climate change. The practice group is led by Washington DC-based Brian Israel, whose experience covers both regulatory counseling and environmental litigation, namely Natural Resource Damages (NRD) claims. Also in DC, Jonathan Martel stands out for his expertise in Clean Air Act regulatory matters, and Lawrence Culleen is noted for assisting with EPA regulatory programs pertaining to chemicals, pesticides and antimicrobials. Ethan Shenkman is another contact in Washington DC. In the New York office, Ed McTiernan focuses on state and federal regulatory matters involving site remediation and natural resource damages, while, on the West coast, Zachary Fayne in San Francisco has expertise in issues relating to the Clean Air Act. Peggy Otum left the firm for WilmerHale.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 2

Arnold & Porter fields a strong litigation team in New York, acting for various titans of the entertainment industry such as Major League Baseball, Fox News and Disney. Dori Ann Hanswirth is a key figure in the team; she has expertise both in copyright counseling and litigation, with a strong emphasis on the media and entertainment sector. Another name to note is Theresa House, who recently defended Disney, Marvel and Paramount, collectively, against copyright infringement allegations brought by Horizons Comics regarding the suit worn by Iron Man in the Iron Man and Avengers movie series. The firm also has a strong presence on the West Coast, where Los Angeles-based Rhonda Trotter recently represented Experian in an appeal involving the copyrightability of marketing databases. Matthew Wolf and Jennifer Sklenar  lead the wider IP group from the firm's Washington DC office. Robert Garrett has retired.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 2

Arnold & Porter advises a litany of public companies on corporate governance issues, and is a key component of the firm's broader corporate service offering. The team is also active in the non-profit space, where it acts for clients such as the Sheryl Sandberg & Dave Goldberg Family Foundation. The practice is jointly headed from the DC office by restructuring specialist Michael L. Bernstein and Kevin Lavin, who has experience in the IT, telecoms and government contracting industries. Other key contacts are James Joseph, also in Washington, Jonathan Green in New York, and Ronald Levine in Denver, who handles standalone advisory matters in addition to activist defense work.

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

The privacy and data security team at Arnold & Porter has particular experience advising clients on data security breaches and defending against consumer class action litigation. Ronald Lee has expertise in national security-related matters, which he combines with experience in a range of traditional cybersecurity and privacy work; Lee jointly leads the team alongside commercial litigator Kenneth Chernof and New York-based white-collar crime partner Marcus Asner. Counsel Nancy Perkins is a name to note for regulatory compliance advice, including on issues relating to medical, financial and children's privacy. All attorneys referenced are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory Tier 2

Arnold & Porter has experience steering transactions through the regulatory approval process at the federal, state, local, and international level. The firm most notably represented AT&T in its merger with Time Warner, winning an appeal in 2019 against the Justice Department. Led by Maureen Jeffreys, the team advises clients in the telecommunications, consumer products, pharmaceutical, education, and other industries on a range of federal regulatory issues. Key strengths include novel spectrum policy issues, counselling clients on regulatory implications of new products and technologies, advising media clients on First Amendment and related issues, and representing cable television operators in franchise disputes with municipalities. Jeffreys has nearly two decades of regulatory, transactional, and litigation experience providing strategic counselling on federal policy developments, including cutting edge developments in spectrum policy. A key practitioner in this space is Scott Feria, who has experience in FFC merger reviews and license transfer proceedings, consumer protection rules, and equity financing transactions. Peter Schildkraut, another key name, focuses on spectrum issues, open internet and compliance.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Arnold & Porter is most notable for its representation of corporates and individuals in the healthcare and life sciences sector. The group has particular expertise defending qui tam whistleblower, FCA and anti-kickback cases, and has also been instructed in a number of matters arising from the Trump administration's focus on the opioid industry. Financial services are another key focus, and the group has substantial depth of experience in securities investigations and FCPA matters. The group is jointly-led by Amy Jeffress in Washington DC, who has strengths in national and international security issues, including investigations, extradition requests and mutual legal assistance; and Marcus Asner, an experienced trial lawyer in the firm's New York office. In November 2019, Suneeta Hazra joined the Denver office after serving as chief of the criminal division for the US Attorney's Office in Colorado, to further bolster the firm's capabilities for opioid-related cases. Also recommended are Washington DC's John Nassikas, noted for his corporate representations, and New York's Michael Rogoff, who is a veteran trial lawyer.

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation Tier 3

Arnold & Porter brings together financial services specialists in Washington and New York to handle litigation relating to consumer lending, mortgage securitizations, antitrust and the False Claims Act. The firm is also particularly active in securities matters, including SEC investigations, enforcement actions and class actions concerning alleged securities fraud. Financial services practice head David Freeman has notable expertise advising domestic and foreign banks, broker-dealers and investment firms on compliance with securities law, federal commodities laws and SRO rules. James Herschlein and Kenneth Chernof co-chair the firm's litigation practice, and specialize in securities enforcement and antitrust litigation, respectively. Veronica Callahan has experience representing private equity funds, public issuers and underwriters in SEC and PCAOB enforcement actions. Another name to note in the securities space is Gilbert Serota, who has defended bank clients in a huge variety of criminal and commercial matters. David Bergman handles complex commercial disputes in federal and state courts, and domestic and international arbitration. Associate Kathleen Reilly is an active up-and-comer in the practice group.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 3

With a reputation for high-stakes complex commercial disputes, Arnold & Porter is highly adept at defending class action and mass tort lawsuits in trial. The litigation department's product liability defense capabilities are particularly renowned. From the New York office, James Herschlein and Angela Vicari serve as national counsel to Boston Scientific in litigation related to its Greenfield™ Inferior Vena Cava Filters. Another key client is Samsung; Kenneth Chernof and Paul Fishman are defending the company against allegations that its LED televisions have a defect that cause them to overheat and fail to work properly. The DC office is strong at securities and white-collar, while the Texas team has expertise in the energy, transport and healthcare sectors. The firm has also established a reputation as a go-to address for major crisis incidents; a recent case involved Michael Schissel and David Weiner representing GE in litigation arising from the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown. While trial lawyer Susan Shin left for Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in May 2019, commercial litigator John Hagan joined the Chicago office from Reed Smith LLP in February 2019.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 3

Arnold & Porter is noted for its defense work for national and international companies in high-profile criminal investigations, though its client roster also includes individuals and sovereign states. The team’s workload illustrates its strength in cross-practice cooperation, with multiple highlights involving IP, financial services, torts and competition aspects. Among its sector strengths, the team is especially active in the areas of energy, technology, healthcare and aviation. Kenneth Chernoff heads the department in Washington DC, though key matters are also led by litigators in Houston, New York, Denver, and Los Angeles. The group is also well placed to handle transnational work, with offices in London, Brussels and Shanghai. 

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 3

Arnold & Porter, where the practice was founded by a co-author of the seminal SEC antifraud rule known as Rule 10b5, carries on its tradition of handling high-profile securities enforcement and litigation matters. The firm frequently defends high-stakes investigations conducted by the SEC, DOJ, CFTC, Congress, state Attorneys General, FINRA, PCAOB, and other federal, state, and industry regulators, as well as federal and state securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Its work covers the full spectrum of securities issues, including allegations of fraud, improper financial reporting, misrepresentations and omissions, accounting improprieties and inadequate internal controls. Veronica Callahan in New York and Michael Michael Trager in Washington DC are the lead partners. Adam Reinhart in DC is a key partner working on the regulatory enforcement side. Prominent partner Vincent Sama moved to Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 3

Henry Morriello is a key figure in Arnold & Porter's structured finance practice. Morriello has experience of securitizations across a range of asset classes, but has been especially active in trade receivables deals and aircraft securitizations, transportation finance being another area of emphasis. Daniel Hartnett is a contact in the Chicago office; he is active in RMBS/CMBS work and CLO work, both for issuers, and financial institutions and managers. Howard Goldwasser and Skanthan Vivekananda joined Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in February 2019.

Government > Government relations Tier 3

Arnold & Porter's highly regarded public policy practice comprises legislative professionals, policy experts and regulatory lawyers, who are skilled across a range of major policy areas including international trade, life sciences and healthcare, technology, energy, financial services and education. The team is led by Kevin O’Neill in Washington DC, but has a deep bench of specialists on both coasts, with policy advisory expert Anthony Samson being the name to note in California. Other key figures include senior health policy advisor Eugenia Pierson and strategist Dana Weekes, who is experienced in the education sector and in government contracting work. The group has been bolstered by the arrival of former Croatian Ambassador to the US Miomir Žužul, who has decades of international policy experience, having previously practiced at Squire Patton Boggs. The team also hired former General Counsel of the FDIC Charles Yi, an addition that significantly strengthens the team's bench for financial services policy work.

Industry focus > Energy regulation: conventional power Tier 3

Arnold & Porter has a notable reputation in the regulatory field, which is particularly prominent in the conventional power sector; it also has an extensive track record in proceedings before FERC. Sandra Rizzo is an experienced figure in regulatory and compliance engagements, and frequently represents clients in enforcement and administrative proceedings before FERC and the courts. Brian Israel, who leads the environmental practice group, also contributes to the team. Both are based in Washington DC.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 3

Arnold & Porter secured several major trial wins for medical device clients in 2019, further cementing the group's reputation as a go-to patent litigation address. With in-depth expertise of the technology, pharmaceutical, life sciences and consumer products sectors, proven experience in Hatch-Waxman litigation for major international clients, and a successful practice in the district courts, before the Federal Circuit and the PTAB, the group is able to take on major disputes, including multi-venue cases, not the least because of its presence on the East and West coast of the US as well as in Texas. The main offices are in Washington DC, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Denver and Chicago. Washington DC duo Matthew Wolf and Jennifer Sklenar direct the practice. James Blank left for Baker McKenzie LLP in January 2019 and counsel Soumitra Deka left for DLA Piper LLP (US) in November 2019. Lisa Blatt joined Williams & Connolly LLP. The arrival of Beatriz San Martin, who specialises in the life sciences and emerging and disruptive technologies, in the firm's London office, improved the firm's ability to seamlessly assist with transatlantic patent disputes.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation Tier 3

Arnold & Porter's trademark litigation team is particularly active in the areas of technology, luxury goods and pharmaceuticals. Paul Llewellyn is a key figure and has recently acted for Hershey's in disputes against competitors including Mondelez, Unilever and Mars. Louis Ederer is another important name; he is known for his work on international trademark protection, particularly in anti-counterfeiting. Dori Hanswirth and Theresa House regularly work for Google, having recently advised on oppositions to the registrations of marks Cardroid and Camdroid, which purportedly infringe upon Google's Android mark. Matthew Salzmann is a name to note on the younger end of the partnership. Matthew Wolf and Jennifer Sklenar jointly lead the wider IP group from the DC office. Named lawyers are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

Tax > Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) Tier 3

The Washington DC-based tax-exempt organizations practice at Arnold & Porter advises not-for-profit clients on a range of tax, governance, and operational issues, and assists corporate entities with nonprofit related organizations and charitable programs. The group has been particularly active in advising clients in the medical research space, but has also been engaged by a variety of other high-profile organizations, including Times Up. Jointly led by James Joseph and Bridget Weiss, the team is also able to leverage the wider-firm's full service capabilities to provide comprehensive support in areas such as intellectual property and employment. Another name to note is Kevin O’Neill, who specializes in legislative and public policy matters.

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

Arnold & Porter’s appellate team has undergone a notable change of leadership. Following the departure of former practice leader Lisa Blatt, June 2019 marked the arrival of John Elwood from Vinson & Elkins LLP to take over the role as practice head. Elwood has significant experience at the US Supreme Court, focusing on issues relating to the False Claims Act and environmental law; most recently, he acted for the State of Georgia in the case of Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org Inc. concerning copyright law issues. Stanton Jones and recently promoted partner Elisabeth Theodore are also key figures in the Washington DC-based team; the duo successfully acted alongside the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union in Department of Commerce v New York before the US Supreme Court. The firm has a significant appellate presence in Colorado as well, where Denver-based Reeves Anderson is noted in particular for his brief preparation practice.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings Tier 4

Arnold & Porter’s issuer-focused practice has an emphasis on sovereign bond deals and it routinely represents governments in Latin America and Europe on major debt issuances. The group also handles offerings on behalf of corporate issuers, particularly in the financial services and energy areas. In New York, group co-head Christopher Peterson has a focus on sovereign debt and cross-border offerings. In Washington DC, international finance specialist Whitney Debevoise is also noted for his work on behalf of sovereign issuers. San Francisco-based Teresa Johnson and New York-based Robert Azarow co-lead the department alongside Peterson.

Finance > Capital markets: global offerings Tier 4

Arnold & Porter is distinguished by its specialist expertise in representing sovereign governments on US capital markets transactions, with a strong emphasis on the Latin American region and debt offerings. The largely issuer-focused group also acts for corporate issuers in cross-border transactions, particularly Canada and Latin America-based companies. Additionally, the team benefits from its ability to bring the wider firm’s signature regulatory weight to bear for securities-related corporate governance and compliance issues. New York-based Christopher Peterson co-heads the capital markets practice and has a focus on sovereign debt and cross-border issuances. Washington DC-based Whitney Debevoise is widely recognized as a leader in international finance transactions and has an enviable record in sovereign finance, including his recent work for Panama and El Salvador in their bond offerings. New York-based Robert Azarow and San Francisco’s Teresa Johnson also co-lead the national practice alongside Peterson.

Finance > Financial services regulation Tier 4

Based in Washington DC, Arnold & Porter is particularly well-known for its expertise in M&A in the financial services industry, which is complemented by the firm's wider regulatory counseling practice. Practice head David Freeman advises investment managers, broker-dealers and financial institutions on M&A, banking and securities regulatory issues, private investment funds and much more. Robert Azarow is also active in bank M&A, and has further expertise in restructuring and refinancing mandates involving financial institutions and capital markets transactions. In a standout matter, Azarow advised Piermont Bank and its sponsor entity on the formation and initial capitalization of Piermont Bank as a New York State-chartered, FDIC-insured, commercial bank. Brian McCormally utilizes his wealth of experience at the OCC and the OTS to provide well-rounded regulatory advice to financial institutions.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 4

Arnold & Porter is involved in a wide range of both advisory and contentious work within the sports sector, acting primarily for high-profile leagues and teams, and is particularly active in baseball, football, and basketball. Following the retirement of former practice co-head Robert Garrett in 2019, litigators Dan Cantor and Daniel Asimow, the latter of whom specialises in antitrust work, joined New York-based Scott Lent in chairing the sports group, operating from the Washington DC and San Francisco offices respectively. Intellectual property matters are another key component of the firm's work in this sector, with a strong track record in broadcast copyright matters, in addition to trademark prosecution and litigation, and licensing. San Francisco-based David Reis focuses on employment litigation and represents sports clients in both individual disputes and class actions.

Industry focus > Transport: aviation and air travel - finance Tier 4

Arnold & Porter fields a team of 'well-respected' attorneys, who have experience representing major financial institutions and investment banks, aircraft operating lessors, manufacturers, private investment funds, and airlines in a wide variety of aircraft transactions. A recent highlight included acting for Starwood Capital in its $4bn bid to purchase PK AirFinance. Contacts in the team include Henry Morriello in New York, who heads the structured finance and derivatives group; Chicago-based Daniel Hartnett, who acts for private investment fund sin this space; and Bill Fellerhoff (also in Chicago), a contact for securitizations and other structured transactions.

Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings) Tier 4

Arnold & Porter impresses with longstanding experience in domestic and international patent prosecution, successfully acting as a long-term adviser to its high-profile clients. Thanks to the firms strength in litigation and prosecution work, the group performs very well at the PTAB, both in independent proceedings or in proceedings that run parallel to district court litigation. The life sciences sector is the firm's mainstay, with expertise ranging from chemistry and biochemistry to biophysics, biologics, applied physics and engineering. Washington DC duo Matthew Wolf and Jennifer Sklenar are the heads of the practice. The other key office is in Silicon Valley.

Media, technology and telecoms > Fintech Tier 4

Arnold & Porter's cross-departmental team handles a range of corporate and commercial transactions in the fintech space. The service group is headed by David Freeman, and is made up of partners with expertise in financial services regulation, corporate transactions, intellectual property, privacy, public policy, and litigation. Christopher Allen and Michael Mancusi (who also has expertise in enforcement) are names to note for financial regulatory advice, and Lawton Camp in New York is a contact for blockchain projects and matters relating to alternative financing platforms. Also of note, the team was recently strengthened by the recent arrival of Charles Yi from FDIC. All named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing Tier 4

The team at Arnold & Porter advises both suppliers and purchasers on a range of outsourcing services. Clients include corporations in the information technology, infrastructure, software development, and banking sectors. Los Angeles-based senior counsel Matthew Maccoby and counsel Ira Moskatel jointly head the practice, which has considerable experience on IT procurement and software license agreements. San Francisco-based technology and IP specialist Thomas Magnani, a co-chair of the group, is another name to note.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 4

Washington DC-based Susan Hendrickson and San Francisco-based Thomas Magnani jointly head the team at Arnold & Porter, which advises on licensing deals, outsourcing agreements, cloud computing matters, and intellectual property issues for clients from the fintech, media, IT, telecoms and automotive sectors. Magnani leads the advice to the Saul Zaentz Company on licensing deals with a number of video game developers concerning the use of the merchandising rights for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Senior associate David Hung is a name to note in the San Francisco office.

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

Best known for its close transactional relationship with AT&T, the team at Arnold & Porter has guided telecoms companies through some of the largest mergers in the market. Headed by regulatory expert Maureen Jeffreys, its clients also include companies in the consumer products, pharmaceutical, and education sectors. As well as assisting on large M&A deals, the department advises on novel spectrum policy issues, the regulatory implications of new products and technologies, First Amendment issues, and represents cable television operators in franchise disputes with municipalities. Scott Feria, a key transactional lawyer, also has experience in debt and equity financing transactions. Peter Schildkraut is another name to note.

Industry focus > Healthcare: advice to service providers Tier 5

The Washington DC-based team at Arnold & Porter handles regulatory counseling, transactional work, compliance issues, antitrust, and litigation under the False Claims Act. Other areas of expertise include HIPAA-related matters, and privacy and data security. Allison Shuren, who advises on compliance issues involving product pricing, joint ventures, and telehealth, jointly heads the practice with Daniel Kracov, who has extensive experience with FDA regulation.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts Tier 5

Arnold & Porter focuses primarily on middle-market transactions, representing clients both on the buy and sell-side. The practice works on a variety of transaction types, including public and private buyouts, asset acquisitions, go-privates, exits, and early-stage venture capital investments. More complex work includes distressed acquisitions and continuity advice to newly-public portfolio companies. The practice is jointly headed by New York-based partner Stephen Koval, alongside Andrew Varner and Kevin Lavin in the Washington DC office. The team's wider capabilities support the private equity practice, with partners able to provide regulatory and tax-related advice on transactions, as well as act in difficult cross-border deals thanks to the geographic spread of the practice.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 5

Arnold & Porter has core strengths in tax issues around the formation of public and private REITs, compensation and benefits and the tax treatment of non-profit organizations. Practice co-head Laurie Abramowitz in New York handles transactional tax work in the life sciences and financial services sectors, while joint practice head James Joseph specializes in advising tax-exempt organizations, including public charities and private foundations. Also recommended are Joseph Howe, an expert in REIT taxation, and San Francisco-based Ben Berk, who has broad expertise in corporate and partnership taxation. All named lawyers are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 6

Arnold & Porter's restructuring practice in Chicago is led by Michael Messersmith. Focusing on ad hoc groups of lenders and bondholders, his team is especially respected for the representation of buy-side lenders in syndicated loan restructurings. Other key attorneys work out of the Washington DC and New York offices. Jonathan Levine joined in February 2019 from Morrison & Foerster LLP and brings his expertise in complex Chapter 11 reorganizations and out-of-court restructurings. A chief highlight of 2019 was the victory for an ad hoc group of lenders in the restructuring of iHeartMedia.

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Arnold & Porter handles the full range of government contracts work, from initial negotiation to high-stakes litigation in the aerospace and defense, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and communications industries. Of particular note, the team has a thriving false claims acts and bid protest practice, where key contacts include Mark Colley and Kara Daniels. The group is also singled out for its high national security clearance, allowing it to handle classified matters for clients across the various government agencies. The name to note in this space John Bellinger III, who acts for sovereign states such as the State of Israel. In addition, the team in involved in an increasing number of cyber security and data protection matters, areas in which senior associate Sonia Tabriz stands out on the more junior end of the practice. Craig Holman heads the wider government contracts and national security practice. Experienced transactional lawyer Michael McGill joined the team from Hogan Lovells US LLP in 2019.

Arnold & Porter > Firm Profile

Arnold & Porter is a nearly 1,000 lawyer firm with renowned regulatory expertise, sophisticated litigation and transactional practitioners, and leading multidisciplinary practices in the life sciences and financial services industries. Client-driven and industry-focused, the firm’s lawyers practice across more than 40 distinct practice areas to help clients with complex needs stay ahead of the global market, anticipate opportunities and address issues that impact the very value of their businesses. The firm offers clients practical forward-looking, results-oriented solutions to handle their US, international and cross-border legal needs.

Main areas of practice

• Antitrust/competition and consumer protection
• Appellate and supreme court
• Attorney liability
• Bankruptcy
• Corporate and securities
• Employment
• Environmental
• FDA and healthcare
• Financial services
• Government contracts
• Intellectual property
• International arbitration
• International trade
• Legislative/public policy
• Life sciences/biotech
• Litigation
• National security law and policy
• Private client services
• Product liability
• Real estate
• Regulatory
• Tax
• Telecommunications
• White-collar criminal defense

Arnold & Porter > Firm Profile

 

Arnold & Porter is a firm of nearly 1,000 lawyers with renowned regulatory expertise, sophisticated litigation and transactional practitioners, and leading multidisciplinary practices in the life sciences and financial services industries. Client-driven and industry-focused, the firm’s lawyers practice across more than 30 critical areas to help clients with complex needs stay ahead of the global market, anticipate opportunities and address issues that impact the very value of their businesses. The firm offers clients practical forward-looking, results-oriented solutions to handle their US, international and cross-border legal needs.

International arbitration

Arnold & Porter has been involved in a wide range of international arbitration and litigation matters relating to Latin America for US and international clients, in addition to sovereign governments/entities in Latin America. The firm regularly serves as counsel, advisers, advocates and arbitrators in proceedings before different arbitral bodies. The firm handles disputes between sovereign governments and private investors. Notably, the firm has represented a larger number of Latin American states in investor-state arbitrations than any other law firm.

Sovereign finance

Arnold & Porter has acted as legal counsel in numerous international financial transactions on behalf of sovereigns and public sector entities. The firm has served as international counsel to many governments in Latin America and it regularly advises sovereigns and sovereign entities on private and public debt securities offerings; liability management transactions; debt restructuring; syndicated loans; export credit agency financings; co-financings with multilateral financial institutions; privatization transactions; and asset management operations for central banks.

Financing transactions

Arnold & Porter represents clients in a range of financing transactions, including capital markets, lending, project finance and derivatives. The firm has represented clients as issuers and borrowers in industries such as banking, consumer products, real estate, computer, communications, construction, consumer goods, resorts, airline, agribusiness, energy, mining, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, printing, and publishing. The firm’s experience includes work on behalf of both foreign investors and Latin American entities.

International trade

Arnold & Porter handles the full range of international and national legal issues arising from the increasing global trade in goods and services. The practice encompasses international trade regulation and disputes, from advising governments and private parties in free-trade negotiations, to litigating disputes before the World Trade Organization (WTO), to handling import dispute cases worldwide. The firm also counsels companies in all areas of US international trade compliance, with regard to both exports and imports.

 

Comparative Guides

• United States - Environment

  Published: January 2020

  Authors: Brian Israel Michael Gerrard Jonathan Martel Ethan Shenkman

  This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to laws and regulations that may occur in United States - Environment.