Arnold & Porter > The Legal 500 Rankings

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 1

Arnold & Porter works on merger clearances for high-profile deals in a variety of industries, representing the likes of General Electric and AT&T as specialist antitrust counsel. The firm's regular role as a 'hired gun' advisor on complex merger control-related issues is a reflection of its profile in the market. The merger control group is jointly led by Debbie Feinstein, the firm's global antitrust chair, and US head Jonathan Gleklen, both of whom combine regulatory expertise with strong litigation capabilities, shepherding business-critical transactions through FTC and DOJ oversight. Feinstein represented AbbVie in securing global clearance for its $63bn acquisition of Allergan in a standout mandate from 2020, while Gleklen has a strong record in hi-tech transactions. Also noted is Michael B. Bernstein, a more junior partner with a focus on contented mergers, investigations, and litigation. Senior associate Francesca Pisano is another key team member, regularly handling Hart-Scott-Rodino filings and merger investigations in a variety of industries, including financial services, industrial equipment, and medical devices. All named lawyers are based in Washington DC.

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

Leading product liability firm Arnold & Porter stands out with its strong regulatory practice, drawing especially on its expertise in matters related to the Consumer Product Safety Commission as well as California’s Proposition 65 requirements. The firm frequently serves as national counsel in high stakes litigations across the country, taking on MDLs and nationwide class actions as well as state attorney general actions. Experienced trial and appellate lawyers Anand Agneshwar in New York and Daphne O’Connor in Washington DC co-chair the practice. San Francisco based Trent Norris litigates complex scientific and technical disputes, with a particular emphasis on the unique requirements of California law. Up-and-comer Michelle Gillice in Washington DC, who has over nine years of experience as an attorney at the CPSC, is a name to note in this space.

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

Arnold & Porter  is frequently at the helm in litigation that raises cutting-edge issues, serving as national counsel or lead counsel to defend class actions, mass tort actions, MDLs and state court proceedings. The firm’s skilled team of litigators works closely with its FDA and healthcare regulatory practice. It can draw on decades of experience addressing the major issues companies face in pharmaceutical product liability litigation, including electronic discovery, consumer fraud or federal pre-emption defenses, and innovative settlement strategies. New York-based Anand Agneshwar, who leads the firm’s relationships with major pharmaceutical clients, co-heads the practice together with Daphne O’Connor in Washington DC. Daniel Pariser, also in Washington DC, who has over 20 years of relevant experience, plays a major role in several of the firm's highlight matters. Product liability practitioner Diana Sterk was promoted to partner in January 2021.

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

Arnold & Porter combines environmental regulatory expertise with litigation prowess, drawing on scientific expertise and long-standing relationships with government regulators and the DOJ. This makes it a top choice for industry-leading companies facing large-scale, high-stakes toxic tort litigations across the country. The firm take on a wide range of issues, from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to claims surrounding lead paint exposure or the Roundup product. It also has one of California's largest and most experienced Proposition 65 practices. The firm stands out with its collaboration across practice groups, and its efficient use of legal tech such as the ediscovery service model eData. New York based Anand Agneshwar leads the practice together with Daphne O’Connor in New York and Brian Israel in Washington DC, who focuses broadly on environmental litigation and counseling. Litigator Diana Reiter and Elisabeth Theodore, who has appellate expertise, have both recently been promoted to partner.

Government > Government contracts Tier 1

Arnold & Porter is routinely engaged in high-stakes federal procurement matters, acting for prominent contractors in a variety of industries, including aerospace and defense, IT, healthcare and communications. Indeed, the team handles a full range of government contracting matters, with the practice regularly acting for clients in bid litigation, False Claims Act (FCA) cases, investigations and national security matters. Headed by Craig Holman, the team also provides M&A support to government contractors acquiring and selling businesses. Mark Colley is noted for his experience in substantial bid protests and contract disputes, notably those involving military and civilian agency procurements. Accounting, cost and pricing specialist Paul Pompeo is recommended by clients and peers alike. Other key individuals include Kristen Ittig, who is the key point of contact for life sciences and healthcare clients, and former general counsel for the US Army and US Air Force Charles Blanchard, who specializes in sensitive national security issues, cybersecurity and bid protests. All named practitioners are based in Washington DC.

Industry focus > Environment: litigation Tier 1

Offering nationwide coverage, Arnold & Porter is well positioned to handle high-exposure environmental litigation across the country. The full-service practice group has a deep bench of environmental experts and skilled litigators that have built a reputation for acting for industry-leading clients in the energy, chemicals and technology sectors. The team has an impressive track record in high-stakes litigation involving myriad federal and state environmental law components. The group is especially well known for the defense of class actions, toxic torts, Natural Resource Damages (NRD) liability, as well as novel climate change and public nuisance suits. Brian Israel, who is a preeminent practitioner for NRD claims, oversees the practice from Washington DC, which also houses Michael Daneker, who is routinely retained as primary defense counsel in class actions and toxic tort lawsuits throughout the country. Another name to note in this area is Elissa Preheim in Washington DC. Also of note is the firm's Proposition 65 practice, which has successfully challenged regulations and chemicals listings under the California law. San Francisco-based Trent Norris and Sarah Esmaili are key contacts for this type of work.

Industry focus > Healthcare: life sciences Tier 1

Arnold & Porter's pre-eminent life science department is nationally recognized for its strong bench of corporate attorneys, regulatory experts and patent prosecutors, who act for leading pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Novartis and AstraZeneca. Naturally, the team has recently been very active in assisting clients with the financing, development, authorization and supply of Covid-19 vaccines and therapies. Key names in the sizeable team include Washington DC regulatory experts Daniel Kracov, Allison Shuren, Mahnu Davar, Jeffrey Handwerker, Ariane Horn and new addition, Howard Sklamberg, who joined from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in March 2020. Also recommended in Washington DC are Murad Hussain and Kristin Hicks, who focus on regulatory and administrative issues, and are top counsel for defense against FCA claims. Patent and product liability litigation are also key areas of activity, and contacts in this regard include New York-based attorneys Anand Agneshwar, Daniel DiNapoli, James Herschlein and Daniel Reisner. Vinita Kailasanath and Deborah Fishman are names to note in Silicon Valley.

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

Arnold & Porter has a strong track record in high-stakes and sensitive litigation, and its workflow in this area reflects the firm’s wider expertise in regulatory matters of all kinds, including those affecting the aviation and aerospace industries. The group has an established reputation as a go-to firm for crisis incidents, including recent litigation resulting from the Covid-19 outbreak. The team is co-led by Kenneth Chernof and James Herschlein from the Washington DC office. In Houston, Christopher Odell represents leading aviation companies in high-profile accident litigation and related arbitral proceedings; Odell led the defense of Airbus against over 100 personal injury claims, which related to the March 2015 crash landing of an Air Canada A320 aircraft. Also in Houston, Thad Dameris represents clients in arbitrations (and jury and non-jury trials) involving complex commercial disputes and transnational litigation. David Weiner in Washington DC has significant experience in class actions and mass actions, while Houston-based Amanda Thomson is a standout senior associate in the team.

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

Arnold & Porter counts mid-market M&A as a core pillar of its corporate and finance group, which Kevin Lavin chairs from Washington DC. The DC office has strong offerings in the IT and government contracting sectors, and Matthew Owens brings notable expertise in private equity and consolidation work in the healthcare sector. Attesting to the group's strengths in the medical space, New York-based Derek Stoldt co-heads both the M&A and life sciences departments. Edward Deibert in San Francisco co-heads the M&A practice with him; Deibert has experience in the technology and particularly semiconductor industries, and the San Francisco office as a whole has a strong inbound and outbound China practice. The firm works closely with its regulatory practices, and corporate governance and board-level counselling is a key strength. New York-based Emanuel Cherney, who regularly advises on corporate governance, also represents private equity firms and other buyers and sellers of public and private companies.

Antitrust > Cartel Tier 2

At Arnold & Porter, the antitrust group incorporates defense against government investigations for its diverse client roster into preparation for possible direct and indirect purchaser follow-on litigation. Its expertise encompasses the full spectrum of cartel matters; in the investigations sphere, it is most frequently involved in investigations located in the fuel supply, auto-parts and inductors markets. Stationed in Washington, Debbie Feinstein and Jonathan Gleklen head the overall antitrust group, which includes James L. Cooper, whose follow-on defense practice is augmented by investigation work. In New York, Saul Morgenstern has experience representing clients in a range of domestic and international cartel investigations, while Jennifer Patterson often handles internal investigations concerning potential antitrust violations and advises on compliance programs.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 2

Fielding a deep bench of attorneys with antitrust litigation capabilities, Arnold & Porter is a top performer in individual and class action claims, particularly alleged price-fixing and cartel-related conduct cases. The team is especially prominent in the life sciences sector, though it also has experience across media and entertainment, sports and financial services. Jointly headed from Washington DC by global antitrust lead Debbie Feinstein and US antitrust figurehead Jonathan Gleklen, the department also includes experienced names such as Saul Morgenstern in New York, an antitrust titan whose practice is underscored by multi-jurisdictional civil litigation and class actions. Operating out of the DC office, Laura Shores and James L. Cooper are the names to note. In the firm’s San Francisco hub, Daniel Asimow has a robust antitrust trial practice, acting as lead counsel in several antitrust matters currently pending in the Northern District of California.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Arnold & Porter acts for both individuals and corporates, including leading multinationals, in the life sciences, healthcare, financial services, aerospace, and government sectors, among others. Thanks in part to its expansive global network, the firm is especially well placed to handle international criminal and civil matters and investigations. The team is co-led by Marcus Asner in New York, who has deep expertise in FCPA matters, fraud and civil litigation; and Washington DC’s Amy Jeffress, who is recommended for security and compliance issues. Craig Stewart re-joined the firm from the US Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York in November 2020. In April 2020, Andrew Bauer left for an in-house role at One Zero Capital.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 2

Arnold & Porter provides a full range of arbitration services, but has an unsurpassed strength in representing sovereign states as respondents in investment treaty arbitration proceedings. In a standout highlight from the past year, a team led by Washington DC-based Whitney Debevoise is defending the Republic of Philippines in an arbitration initiated by Shell Philippines Exploration in relation to the largest foreign investment in the country, the Malampaya project. Paolo Di Rosa leads the global arbitration group out of Washington DC; he is also a key contact for arbitration conducted in Spanish language, as is Gaela Gehring Flores. Building upon the team’s wide-ranging language capabilities, multiple team members also have legal qualifications in jurisdictions such as Colombia, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Further, handling disputes in the technology and life sciences sectors is yet another forte for the group; the team in San Francisco stands out in this regard, with Maria Chedid regularly taking the lead on related mandates.

Industry focus > Environment: regulatory Tier 2

Primarily based in Washington DC and drawing on the insights and experience of team members who formerly held senior positions at EPA and the DOJ, Arnold & Porter is adept at resolving some of the most significant environmental enforcement actions in the country. The group is particularly recognized for its deep experience handling regulatory, compliance and enforcement matters across all aspects of the federal Clean Air Act, as well as various state programs, notably California. Brian Israel oversees the team that also offers comprehensive knowledge of climate change issues and chemicals regulations, including California Proposition 65. Jonathan Martel specializes in Clean Air Act regulatory issues, an area where Ethan Shenkman is also recommended. San Francisco-based Sarah Esmaili focuses on matters concerning chemical disclosure requirements.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 2

The team at Arnold & Porter stands out in particular for its experience advising US sports leagues, film studios, and television networks on IP matters related to TV programming and distribution, both digitally and through traditional mediums. It is frequently involved in hotly contended litigation before federal courts and the FCC. Notably, the team recently represented Major League Baseball in connection with efforts to overhaul the US Copyright Act. Matthew Wolf and Jennifer Sklenar jointly lead the practice from Washington DC, while in New York, Dori Ann Hanswirth  is highly regarded for representing movie studios and comic book companies in copyright litigation. Theresa House is also recommended for IP litigation. Contacts on the West Coast include Los Angeles-based Rhonda Trotter, another of the group's respected copyright litigators. Additionally, the Chicago team grew in August 2020 with partners Christopher Renk and Michael Harris, as well as senior counsel Helen Minsker, joining from Banner & Witcoff, Ltd..

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

Arnold & Porter adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to corporate compliance, governance and risk management issues. The practice handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, an ability further enhanced by its cooperation with the firm’s specialist employee benefits and corporate governance litigation teams. It is also adept at providing advice on breaches of fiduciary duties arising out of bankruptcy and restructuring processes; corporate governance practice founder Michael L. Bernstein has extensive experience of acting on the defense side in related proceedings. Bernstein shares leadership of the practice with finance specialist Kevin Lavin, who routinely handles the corporate governance aspects of M&A transactions and public securities offerings. The group is led out of Washington DC, but it also recently expanded its corporate strategy offering in San Francisco with the hire of Benjamin Fackler from Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP in August 2020.

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

Arnold & Porter is a trusted firm for telecoms giant AT&T, which seeks out the team for both transactional advice and FFC regulatory matters. In addition to acting for traditional telecoms companies, the team is also engaged by private equity companies, public broadcasters and more niche companies in e-learning and advertising. Areas of particular strength for the tam include spectrum policy, First Amendment issues, emerging technology and antitrust. Maureen Jeffreys oversees the practice, with expertise in both litigation and regulatory matters, covering the wireline and wireless segments as well as traditional and new media. Peter Schildkraut is very focused on transactions and bankruptcy work, and also advises on spectrum issues and open internet use. Also recommended is Scott Feira, who is an expert in merger reviews, licensing and transfer proceedings.

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

Arnold & Porter is adept at handling complex appeals in the US Supreme Court and state supreme courts, as well as in multiple federal courts of appeal. Department head John Elwood has extensive Supreme Court experience and has presented arguments in nine cases.The group has been on an expansion streak. It bolstered its appellate offering in San Francisco, particularly in terms of constitutional and antitrust law matters, with the hire of senior counsel Kirk Jenkins from Horvitz & Levy LLP in September 2020. A month later in New York, senior counsel Rosalyn Richter joined the firm after having served as Associate Justice in the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court for a decade. Denver-based Reeves Anderson is a key contact for litigation involving sovereign clients.

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation Tier 3

Arnold & Porter is retained by domestic and foreign banks, investment funds, and payment providers to advise on civil litigation and regulatory enforcement matters. The practice brings together partners from the firm's white-collar crime and commercial litigation teams to handle complex investigations as well as follow-on litigation. The practice group is jointly led by David Freeman, James Herschlein and Kenneth Chernof. In 2020, Freeman was highly involved in counseling clients on issues related to the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as well as leading a series of webinars on this subject; Herschlein and Chernof co-chair the firm's wider litigation practice. Veronica Callahan handles securities litigation as well as enforcement work, while Kathleen Reilly advises on investigations by regulators including the SEC, DOJ, and state attorneys general. Craig Stewart rejoined the practice in November 2020, having previously served as Chief Counsel to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Vinny Sama left the team in February 2020, joining Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 3

Arnold & Porter specializes in litigation in the areas of antitrust, financial services, environmental law and life sciences, leveraging its deep bench of regulatory specialists to tackle complex cases. The team also has a strong reputation in mass torts and multi-district litigation. In a recent mandate, Los Angeles-based Rhonda Trotter acted for Planned Parenthood in its high-profile claim against the Center for Medical Progress. Kenneth Chernof in Washington DC is recommended for his work in data breach litigation, and James Herschlein in New York has a diverse trial practice covering product liability, securities and bankruptcy disputes. Craig Stewart, former chief counsel to the US Attorney General, and Jami Mills Vibbert, formerly a partner at Venable LLP, joined the firm in 2020.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 3

Jointly led by Washington DC-based Kenneth Chernof and James Herschlein in New York, Arnold & Porter's complex litigation team is active in several of the firm's core focus areas including regulatory, antitrust, financial services, environmental law and life sciences. With a host of former government prosecutors and regulators among its ranks, the group is a popular choice for international white-collar defense and investigations; Marcus Asner and Amy Jeffress (in New York and Washington DC respectively) are names to note in this area.

Dispute resolution > International trade Tier 3

The lawyers at Arnold & Porter have accrued significant experience in all types of trade remedy proceedings at the WTO level, as well as across the US, China, and Mexico. The team represents exporters and producers in antidumping and countervailing duty investigations across a wide range of trendy industries, such as softwood lumber and steel. The department is also known for its prowess in matters raising national security concerns, including not only CFIUS mandates, but also advice on sanctions administered and enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The team’s recent work for European company Airbus also showcases its ability to handle corruption and bribery claims arising in relation to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). David Park leads the wider international trade practice, while the export control and trade sanctions group is spearheaded by John Barker and John Bellinger III.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 3

Arnold & Porter has a national presence and a diverse caseload, frequently handling claims of market manipulation and insider trading, as well as allegations of accounting improprieties, misrepresentations and omissions in public statements, and breaches of fiduciary duty. The firm works on such matters for an impressive array of public companies, accounting firms, broker-dealers, investment and commercial banks, hedge funds and other financial services entities. Veronica Callahan in New York and Michael Trager in Washington DC are co-chairs of the securities enforcement and litigation practice, which handles high-stakes class actions and derivative actions, as well as SEC, CFTC, DOJ and FINRA investigations. Callahan and and Aaron Miner in New York are currently defending Yelp in a securities class action alleging misrepresentations and omissions relating to retention levels for local advertisers.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 3

Arnold & Porter's structured finance team works closely with lawyers in the firm's London and Frankfurt offices to provide comprehensive advice on a wide variety of securitizations with US and European regulatory components. The group has capabilities in ABS, RMBS, CMBS and CLOs, with an active practice in the areas of aviation finance and covered bonds. Jointly leading the department are New York-based Henry Morriello and Chicago's Daniel Hartnett. Also recommended in New York are Lawton Camp who has a busy client roster of underwriters, originators and issuers, and William Fellerhoff, who acts primarily for financial institutions.

Government > Government relations Tier 3

Arnold & Porter brings together an integrated team of individuals with legislative, regulatory, litigation and business expertise to assist a range of clients with government-facing legal problems. The group has continued a trend of growth, with increased activity particularly for clients in the life sciences and healthcare, technology, financial services and education sectors. Based in Washington DC, the department is particularly skilled in trade policy issues, and is a popular choice for major Korean companies seeking guidance on their US lobbying efforts. Leading the practice is Kevin O’Neill, who helped several lobbying clients develop successful strategies regarding the CARES Act and other federal government actions over the past year. Also recommended are Eugenia Pierson, who heads the healthcare legislative advocacy practice, and Dana Weekes, whose areas of focus include policy matters involving privacy, workforce development, education, trade and tax.

Industry focus > Cannabis Tier 3

Specializing in compliance and regulatory counseling, Arnold & Porter’s Washington DC-based practice combines expertise in IP, tax and trade issues with deep cannabis sector knowledge, in addition to expertise in related areas of phramaceuticals and food. The practice group is active in both transactional matters as well as in litigation, notably consumer class actions. Evelina Norwinski advises manufacturers, distributors and retail clients on federal and state law related to the cannabis industry. Norwinski heads up the team, which was recently strengthened by the arrival of regulatory and compliance expert Howard Sklamberg from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in March 2020.

Industry focus > Energy regulation: conventional power Tier 3

Arnold & Porter represents a range of clients in administrative litigation before FERC, as well as in appeals and other matters before state and federal courts. In particular, the team is recognized for its experience in rate-making and market rule development cases. A key figure in the team is Sandra Rizzo, who advises clients on a variety of regulatory and compliance matters, including enforcement and administrative proceedings before FERC. Andrea Kearney is also recommended for FERC-related work; she has experience acting for power marketers, electric utilities and independent power producers. Brian Israel heads the environmental practice group. Named lawyers are based in Washington DC.

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

Arnold & Porter is best known for its life sciences strength, with a number of recent victories for medical device clients, but has also built a substantial track record in the technology sector, often acting for major international players. The group's complementary expertise in PTAB proceedings and Federal Circuit appeals are other strengths. In August 2020, the practice gained three new team members in Christopher Renk, Michael Harris and senior counsel Helen Mill Minsker, all formerly at Banner & Witcoff, Ltd., their experience in the consumer products sector in particular and additional expertise in soft IP and unfair competition law matters add further strings to the firm's bow. Washington DC duo Matthew Wolf and Jennifer Sklenar direct the practice.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation Tier 3

Arnold & Porter has established a strong reputation for litigating commercial disputes on behalf of trademark rights holders, as well as for representing clients in administrative disputes. The global tea advises smaller start-ups, mid-size pharmaceutical companies, and alcoholic beverages tied to celebrities, and has expertise covering the protection of color marks and trade dress, and other unique marks. Based in Washington DC, IP practice co-chairs Matthew Wolf and Jennifer Sklenar are key contacts in this space, as is Paul Llewellyn in New York, an expert in infringement litigation and working with survey experts in litigation matters. Also recommended are Louis Ederer and Dori Ann Hanswirth, the latter of whom works at the intersection of protected speech, IP, and journalism. In August 2020, the team brought on three new lawyers from Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.: Christopher Renk, Michael Harris, and senior counsel Helen Hill Minsker. John Ulin departed for an in-house role in June 2020.

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

Arnold & Porter is recognized in this space for its presence in the healthcare sector, where it represents a number of large healthcare systems and service providers, and regularly handles class actions pertaining to HIPPA, CCPA and CMIA. The practice group is jointly led by New York-based Jami Mills Vibbert (a recent hire from Venable LLP) and Washington DC partners Ronald Lee, Kenneth Chernof and Nancy Perkins. The practice is also well versed in national security matters.

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

Housed in Washington DC, Arnold & Porter's full-service tax-exempt organizations practice is experienced in advising non-profits and high-net-worth donors on tax issues, structuring grants, and regulatory matters. Overseen by James Joseph who also leads the firm's overall tax group, the team is experienced in acting for charitable organisations and private foundations on lobbying activities and political advocacy work. Counsel Amy Ryan works exclusively with non-profit and philanthropic organisations on high-value transactional mandates. Co-chair Bridget Weiss is noted for handling internal investigations and audits before the Internal Revenue Service for organizations. Cara Koss was elevated to the partnership.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings Tier 4

Arnold & Porter is best known for its expertise in sovereign debt offerings, notably by sovereigns in Latin America, Turkey and elsewhere. The firm also advises a range of domestic and international issuers on major transactions, in the life sciences, healthcare, technology and financial services sectors, among others. Moreover, many of the key team members have extensive SEC and stock market regulatory expertise. Christopher Peterson co-heads the capital markets group from New York, and has an impressive record in representing US and international corporate and sovereign issuers in debt and equity offerings. San Francisco's Teresa Johnson co-heads the team with Peterson, while Washington DC partner Whitney Debevoise has a virtually unrivaled record in representing sovereign and sub-sovereign issuers in Latin America and elsewhere.

Finance > Capital markets: global offerings Tier 4

Arnold & Porter is best known for sovereign finance, particularly bond offerings by Latin American states and the Republic of Turkey. In addition, it has an impressive number of corporate issuer clients in Latin America and other regions. Washington DC-based Whitney Debevoise and Gregory Harrington co-head the sovereign finance practice, both having an extensive history in representing Latin American sovereigns and sub-sovereigns. New York's Christopher Peterson, who has expertise in investment grade, high-yield, sovereign and equity offerings, co-heads the capital markets transactions practice alongside San Francisco-based partner Teresa Johnson.

Finance > Financial services regulation Tier 4

Arnold & Porter stands out for its expertise in bank M&A and compliance issues relating to the Dodd-Frank Act, the Bank Holding Company Act, and FDIC regulations. In addition to handling high-value transactions, such as the all-stock merger of First Citizens Bancshares and CIT Group, the team has been involved in a number of novel transactions. Practice head David Freeman is based in Washington DC and counts broker-dealers, banks, and non-bank financial service providers among his clients, while Robert Azarow leads the financial institutions M&A team from the firm's New York office and is noted for his expertise in banking sector transactions. Charles Bethill and senior counsel Brian McCormally have now retired.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 4

Arnold & Porter's full-service sports practice routinely deals with matters ranging from transactions and contractual negotiations to litigation and ADR. Its client list includes major professional sports leagues, individual teams, arena and stadium operators, and major international sporting events groups. In New York, Scott Lent has extensive experience in antitrust law and, with regard to transactions, manages all aspects of antitrust-related issues in the practice. Co-heading the team with Lent is Dan Cantor, who focuses on IP and currently serves as lead counsel for the Joint Sports Claimants—a consortium comprising major sports leagues and associations—in copyright royalty litigation.

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

Arnold & Porter specializes in the prosecution of life sciences patents and enjoys the trust of many long-term clients, both from the US and international players. With its complementary litigation team, the firm is well equipped to handle post-grant proceedings. Alongside the patent lawyers, the group includes patent agents and technical advisors who contribute their scientific and engineering expertise in areas such as biochemistry and biophysics, applied physics, and biology. The firm has introduced an eDiscovery service aimed at accessing and analyzing data more quickly. Washington DC-based duo Matthew Wolf and Jennifer Sklenar share leadership of the practice. Silicon Valley is the firm's second patent prosecution hub.

Media, technology and telecoms > Fintech Tier 4

Arnold & Porter supports fintech clients across several key areas, offering combined strengths in financial services, corporate finance, IP, data privacy, public policy, and litigation. The firm represents a strong mix of technology providers, investors and banks, and has good expertise structuring and negotiating large-scale and often complex joint ventures. Practice head David Freeman is especially strong on the regulatory front, which was key to the group's workload during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in relation to the rollout of the CARES Act. Other key regulatory partners include Michael Mancusi and Christopher Allen, and New York-based finance specialist Lawton Camp. Named lawyers are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing Tier 4

Arnold & Porter assists both vendors and customers with outsourcing matters, with particular experience in advising on software-as-a-service products related to business processes. The team is jointly led by senior counsel Matthew Maccoby and counsel Ira Moskatel in Los Angeles. Thomas Magnani is also recommended in the San Francisco office. The team is also well placed to advise on nationwide outsourcing deals, acting in conjunction with lawyers from across the firm's US office network.

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

Arnold & Porter has handled the lion’s share of AT&T’s transactions, with practice head Maureen Jeffreys being a go-to adviser for the telecoms giant since 2001. In addition to telecoms operators, the firm also acts for a range of broadcasting and media companies, and financiers. The group has expertise on regulatory issues surrounding spectrum policy, new technology and First Amendment issues. Other notable members of the team include Peter Schildkraut, an expert in M&A and restructuring, and Scott Feira, who focuses on FCC merger reviews.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions

Arnold & Porter handles a range of IP and tech-related work for established companies, as well as multilateral organizations, such as the World Bank, and NGOs. IP licensing, cloud computing, digital content and collaboration agreements feature prominently on firm's the workload. Another strength is the firm's regulatory expertise, offering a strong edge in areas like life sciences. Susan Hendrickson and Thomas Magnani jointly lead the team from Washington DC and San Francisco, respectively. In Silicon Valley, Vinita Kailasanath is recommended for IP commercialization in the tech space, while Washington DC-based Kristen Riemenschneider handles commercialization matters in the life sciences sector.

> Technology transactions Tier 4

Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 4

The real estate finance department at Arnold & Porter caters to a client roster of investment banks, financial institutions, developers and institutional investors, advising on a broad variety of conventional financing, workout, restructuring, bankruptcy and capital market transactions. The group is based in New York, where key contacts include co-chairs Jeffrey Kapner and Steve Gliatta, a lawyer thoroughly experience in mortgage loans, mezzanine financings and preferred equity investments. Another standout name is Louis Hait, who in addition to supporting lenders on inter-creditor and co-lender agreements, frequently acts for hedge and opportunity funds, and pension plans in preferred equity and common equity joint venture agreements.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 5

Arnold & Porter's national practice stands out for its focus on creditors’ rights. The group has fostered longstanding relationships with many global institutional lenders, buy-side investors, asset managers and financial institutions. Chicago-based chair Michael Messersmith has built up a significant reputation advising ad hoc groups of lenders and bondholders in large syndicated loan restructurings, while noted New York-based practitioner Jonathan Levine is known for representing asset managers and private funds in distressed situations. The New York office was further strengthened in September 2020 by the arrival of Maja Zerjal Fink from Proskauer Rose LLP. Prominent bankruptcy lawyer Michael L. Bernstein is a name to note in Washington DC.

Industry focus > Healthcare: service providers Tier 5

The healthcare group at Arnold & Porter handles a full range of antitrust work, white-collar defense, IP matters and product liability defense. Jointly led by Allison Shuren and Daniel Kracov in Washington DC, the team also has expertise in client privacy and security, and HIPAA-related work. Shuren also has additional expertise in opthamology-related matters. Also recommended is Kirk Ogrosky, a name to note for government investigations, qui tam and trial litigation.

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

Arnold & Porter focuses on the middle-market, and is active in a variety of private equity-backed transactions, acting for funds and portfolio companies on buyouts, exits, minority investments, take-privates, distressed acquisitions, and carve-outs. Notable clients for the team include Castle Harlan, DC Capital Partners, and EQT. The firm has a range of sector expertise, and is particularly capable in the healthcare and medical technology industries, handling a range of growth capital and investment transactions in these areas. The team is jointly led by New York's Stephen Koval, who has a broad and varied transactional practice in the retail, consumer goods, and healthcare sectors; and Washington DC-based Andrew Varner, a regular adviser to DC-area investment firms with strong capabilities in European and Japanese cross-border work. Derek Stoldt in New York co-heads the firm's life sciences practice and is a key contributor to the firm's strength in healthcare, pharma, and medtech deals.

Real estate > Real estate Tier 5

The real estate department at Arnold & Porter is co-chaired by Jeffrey Kapner and Steve Gliatta in New York and Amy Rifkind in Washington DC. Its lawyers possess expertise in all property types, including multi-family and mixed-use, though have been particularly active in the hospitality field of late, overseeing the sale and purchase of numerous distressed hotel assets. The team is also extremely knowledgeable of transactions which consist of finance and joint venture elements and is well resourced to support on ground lease negotiations and substantial development projects. The team also has a presence in San Francisco.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 5

Arnold & Porter’s tax team routinely handles M&A, venture capital and private equity fund formations, mezzanine financings and restructurings for a number of leading asset managers, financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and non-profit foundations. The practice is jointly led by Laurie Abramowitz and James Joseph, based in New York and Washington DC, respectively. Abramowitz has broad tax planning expertise in the life sciences and financial services sectors, while Joseph primarily advises tax-exempt organizations on business ventures, structuring and governance matters. Further names to note in DC include Joseph Howe, a REIT specialist, and Bridget Weiss, who advises various not-for-profits on tax, corporate, and regulatory matters.

rankings-lawyer > United States

Banking and finance > Banking and finance Tier 3

Arnold & Porter continues to be recognised for its standing in bank regulatory matters, along with structured finance, securitisation and derivatives. Its connections to prominent members of the banking and finance community, stem in part from its history in sovereign debt restructuring where it has worked with a multitude of ministries of finance and central banks. The firm represents a wide range of Latin American financial institutions along with the Latin American arms of international banks and also advises a large number of sovereign states and state-owned enterprises. It remains closely associated with distressed debt, infrastructure finance and financings led by agency lenders and DFIs; and is also frequently engaged on regulatory matters linked to licensing issues and acquisitions of US-based financial institutions. Whitney Debevoise has a close association with Brazil, including major banks there, along with El Salvador, Panama and Honduras; he has an excellent record in sovereign and corporate debt restructurings, structured finance and derivatives transactions. Gregory Harrington is also recognised for his Brazil experience and has close relationships with Brazilian banks and the Brazilian arms of international banks; in addition, he is noted for SEC reporting matters. Beyond Brazil, he represented Camposol (Peru) in a $200m senior secured term loan facility from Banco Santander and Coöperatieve Rabobank. Senior counsel Neil Goodman has wide ranging experience in Latin America, covering both capital markets and debt financing transactions; he frequently advises a number of sovereign states.