Firm Profile > Baker & Hostetler LLP > Washington DC, United States

Baker & Hostetler LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

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

Baker & Hostetler LLP has a breadth of experience in the privacy, data protection and cybersecurity space, where it is particularly active in advising clients in the retail, hospitality, financial services and technology sectors. The group is well known for handling high-profile incident response work, an area for which New York-based practice head Theodore Kobus III is a key name to note. In one recent highlight, the team acted for Marriott International in relation to a significant breach involving Starwood’s guest reservation database. In addition, the team is also recognized for its regulatory and compliance expertise. Craig Hoffman in Cincinnati is a name to note for privacy compliance, operational, and security matters relating to the use of technology. Melinda McLellan in New York frequently advises on emerging technologies, while Houston-based Lynn Sessions is highlighted for her healthcare sector expertise. Other names to note include Will Daugherty, also in Houston, for incident response work, and recent additions Eulonda Skyles in Washington DC and Daniel Pepper in Philadelphia, who joined from Capital One and Comcast, respectively. Laura Jehl left the Washington DC office for McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

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

Baker & Hostetler LLP is particularly experienced in M&A transactions involving companies in the technology, media and telecoms industries. Acting for private equity sponsors and venture capital investors, C-suites and boards of directors, and domestic and multinational companies, the team provides comprehensive advice on M&A and foreign inbound transactions; an area where it benefits from the availability of firm's tax structuring and CFIUS experts. Steven Goldberg co-leads the national M&A team and chairs the New York business group; he focuses on mid-market M&A, both domestic and cross-border. Counsel Asim Grabowski-Shaikh in New York is also recommended, as is Cleveland-based Ronald Stepanovic, who jointly leads the team alongside Goldberg. Ian Cohen left for an in-house role at Pharmapacks.com.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: transactional and regulatory Tier 2

Baker & Hostetler LLP has continued to cement its position in the advertising space, reporting significant new instructions from clients in the food and beverage, consumer products, sports, and media sectors. The practice is led out of the firm's New York and Washington DC offices, by co-chairs Linda A. Goldstein and Amy Ralph Mudge respectively, both of whom act on a wide range of regulatory and compliance matters. The firm also has a west coast presence in the form of Los Angeles-based Alan Friel. Friel focuses his practice on adtech and related privacy law, particularly the California Consumer Privacy Act. The team often advises on emerging areas of the market, with solid track records in social media advertising, subscription issues, and influencer marketing.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 3

Baker & Hostetler LLP has a track record in cross-border fraud and corruption investigations, as well as in asset tracing and recovery matters. Mark Cymrot leads the department from Washington DC, while Gonzalo Zeballos and Oren Warshavsky are contacts in New York specializing in asset recovery.

Industry focus > Energy litigation: oil and gas Tier 3

Baker & Hostetler LLP's broad geographic focus allows for a notable variety of engagements stemming from all key oil and gas basins in the US, including the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, the Piceance and Denver-Julesburg Basins in Colorado, the Bakken Shale in North Dakota, and the Gulf of Mexico. The team has been active in climate change cases, and recently challenged the implementation of the Clean Power Plan. Contractual disputes and royalty cases are also core to the practice. Poe Leggette is noted for onshore shale cases and issues relating to oil and gas operations on federal or Indian lands. Ray Whitman and Denver-based Mark Barron are also rated. James Nye joined Winston & Strawn LLP. Named individuals are based in Houston unless stated otherwise.

Industry focus > Transport: rail and road - litigation and regulation Tier 3

Baker & Hostetler LLP boats an impressive client base of leading auto manufacturers including Volvo Trucks, Honda, Ford Motor Company and Hyundai, among others. David Jarrett chairs the US-wide distribution and franchise practice in the Houston office. Jarrett advises manufacturers on the management of their retail distribution networks and compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. He also advises commercial motor vehicle carriers on compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act. Billy Donley is a contact on the litigation front; he focuses on franchise litigation involving motor vehicle manufacturers. Also recommended are litigators Keith Russell, and Columbus, Ohio-based Elizabeth McNellie, both of whom are recognized for their expertise in auto franchising and distribution.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 3

Baker & Hostetler LLP has 'offices nationwide and a great international reputation', making them a popular choice for global media and clothing companies on issues such as infringement, licensing, registration and general counseling. New York-based Oren Warshavsky leads the practice and is highly experienced in litigation involving photographs, music and clothing designs. Another name to note is Chad Rutkowski in Philadelphia, who is recognized in particular for his experience of software-related copyright.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing) Tier 3

Baker & Hostetler LLP handles portfolio management, prosecution, clearance and licensing issues for an enviable client roster which includes Apple and Sony. Cleveland-based Deborah Wilcox leads the trademark team and stands out for her work protecting against domain name squatters and black-hat search engine optimizations. Washington DC-based Mark Tidman chairs the firm's IP group and is experienced in clearances, registrations and enforcement issues. New York-based Robert Horowitz is also recommended.

Labor and employment > Labor-management relations Tier 3

Baker & Hostetler LLP has an established traditional labor practice, which is particularly active in union avoidance, collective bargaining, strikes, corporate campaign activities and labor policies. Led by hospitality-industry-specialist Jay Krupin in Washington DC and Orlando-based Patrick Muldowney, the group also regularly assists clients with labor-related disputes. Cleveland's Todd Dawson is well versed in unfair labor practices, while M.J. Asensio in Columbus is experienced in grievance arbitration and labor litigation. Other key practitioners from this office are Joseph Devine, Daniel Guttman, Ronald Linville and Jennifer Edwards. Further names to note include Paul Rosenberg in New York and the Washington DC-based Louis Cannon, David Grant and Peter Fischer.

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

Rated by clients as 'intelligent, knowledgeable, accessible, and responsive', the corporate governance team at Baker & Hostetler LLP advises small and mid-cap companies on governance issues on an ongoing basis and also in the context of corporate transactions. The practice group is headed by Janet Spreen in Cleveland, but draws upon lawyers spread across a number of offices, including Atlanta and Orlando. Another contact in the Cleveland office is Suzanne Hanselman, whom clients have called 'knowledgeable, experienced, practical, and a delight to work with'.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Baker & Hostetler LLP's white-collar, investigations and securities enforcement and litigation team is adept in securities, FCPA, accounting and regulatory defense issues. It has developed a particularly strong practice representing individuals, as well as regularly defending corporations. The group is jointly led from New York by George Stamboulidis and John Carney – both of whom are noted for representing financial institutions – and Steven Dettelbach, who splits his time between Cleveland and Washington DC while specializing in cybersecurity, corruption and FCPA issues. Also in the Cleveland office is Carole Rendon, who has expertise in FCPA and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). In March 2020, the firm established its San Francisco office with the lateral hire of Robb Adkins, who joined the team from Winston & Strawn LLP.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 4

Baker & Hostetler LLP’s lawyers have extensive experience acting for sovereigns, international organizations, and private clients. In addition to its solid track in commercial and investor-state arbitration, the team is also well-equipped to handle issues relating to the enforcement of arbitral awards, both in litigation proceedings and in asset tracing and recovery mandates. Contacts in Washington DC include Kenneth Reisenfeld and practice head Mark Cymrot, who has niche expertise in matters involving the application of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. Indeed, the majority of the group is based in DC office, though the team also has presence in Houston, where Sashe Dimitroff is recommended for his extensive experience in the energy sector.

Dispute resolution > International trade Tier 4

Baker & Hostetler LLP has core strengths in two primary areas of international trade: trade compliance and trade remedy work. As evidenced by the variety of its client roster, the team is adept at acting for established names in the forest products, automotive, and heavy equipment manufacturing sectors, as well as for emerging technology and defense companies. Kerry Scarlott and Barbara Linney lead the department out of Washington DC, and both stand out for their extensive experience dealing with federal agencies. The team also has a strong presence in Houston, where Matthew Caligur and Lana Muranovic are key contacts, and associate Casey Weaver is also based. Washington-based duo Elliot Feldman and counsel Mark Lehnardt have also been recognized by clients.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 4

Baker & Hostetler LLP's nationwide practice of more than 50 attorneys comprises full-time securities litigators, former SEC and DOJ enforcement trial lawyers, and prominent commercial litigators. Representing both small and large public companies, the firm has a good track record of securing motions to dismiss, defeating or limiting class certification, prevailing on summary judgment and taking cases to trial. Head of securities and governance litigation Douglas Greene works in the Seattle and New York offices. He has focused purely on securities and corporate governance litigation for 22 years. John Carney in New York frequently handles regulatory enforcement matters alongside litigation, as does Jonathan Barr  in Washington DC. Shawn Cleveland in Houston, who joined from Winston & Strawn LLP, adds many years of experience in SEC and DOJ investigations, as well as securities and breach of fiduciary duty claims.

Industry focus > Environment: litigation Tier 4

Baker & Hostetler LLP has expertise in litigation involving the Clean Air Act, CERCLA and RCRA issues. Led by Martin Booher in Cleveland, the team also has experience in the defense of citizen suits. Contacts in the DC office include Robert Steinwurtzel and Thomas Hogan, who is regularly involved in mass tort cases concerning exposure to hazardous substances.

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

Baker & Hostetler LLP is primarily active for technology, life sciences and healthcare clients, but also acts for a number of companies from the aerospace, electronics and manufacturing sectors. The group focuses on the prosecution of US patents, with counseling regarding the development of international filing strategies as an additional service, and offers the necessary experience in PTAB proceedings to successfully grow and defend its clients' patent assets. For international work, the team cooperates with a number of foreign firms, including firms form India, France and Japan. The Washington DC-based Mark Tidman is the chair of the IP group. Kenneth Sheehan, also in Washington DC, and Michael Stein in Seattle share the lead of the electrical, mechanical and computer science prosecution group. Phong Nguyen left for an in-house position at State Farm. Other key locations are in Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 4

Headed by Joyce Ackerbaum Cox in Orlando, Baker & Hostetler LLP's restrictive covenants group handles trade secret litigation and noncompetes. Indeed, the team has recently been involved in multiple novel cases in which trade secret litigation is used in place of non-compete agreements, as states increasingly restrict the use of non-competes. The practice group also has an on-the-ground presence in Houston, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and New York.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 4

Baker & Hostetler LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation team has considerable expertise in the field of multiemployer plans, advising on defined benefit withdrawal liabilities and de-risking exercises for clients in the unionized sectors. Tax-exempt employers, including government and church plan sponsors, often approach practice heads Raymond Malone and Georgeann Peters for advice on retirement plan restructuring. Ann Caresani handles the operation of bespoke multiemployer welfare plan arrangements for trustee clients, while Jennifer Mills, another of the team’s health and welfare experts, oversees all matters pertaining to Affordable Care Act HIPAA compliance. The team is based across offices in Cleveland and Columbus.

Labor and employment > Immigration Tier 4

Led from the firm's New York office, Baker & Hostetler LLP's immigration practice assists clients obtain temporary work visas and residence visas, and advises on compliance rules such as the I-9 and E-Verify requirements. Amy Traub leads the team form the New York office, while James Levine heads the Georgia team. Levine has over thirty-five years of experience in immigration law and is recommended for his work for domestic and multinational corporations. In Houston, Matthew Hoyt is the name for O-1 visa matters, and counsel Pamela Nieto handles citizenship related issues. The group also leverages the firm's wider strengths in litigation and employment law to provide clients with comprehensive immigration law service.

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

Baker & Hostetler LLP has considerable experience in defending clients in a variety of discrimination lawsuits. Beyond that, it has a broad practice covering multiparty disputes, class actions, government suits and single-plaintiff before relevant courts as well as dispute prevention. New York-based Amy Traub is the chair of the national labor and employment group, while Dennis Duffy in Houston leads the employment litigation practice, and Cleveland's Gregory Mersol and Margaret Rosenthal in Los Angeles head up the class and collective action team. Names to note are Eric Barnum and Jason D’Cruz in Atlanta, Sabrina Shadi in Los Angeles, the Orlando-based Kevin Shaughnessy and Joel Griswold as well as Cleveland's Gilbert Brosky, Peter Fisher in Washington DC and Scott McIntyre in Cincinnati. While Melissa Siebert joined Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP in February 2019, new arrival Michael Chamberlin reinforced the Los Angeles office in May 2019 coming from Winston & Strawn LLP.

Tax > International tax Tier 4

Baker & Hostetler LLP assists multinational corporations, private equity funds, and high-net-worth clients on issues regarding international tax matters, including structuring inbound and outbound business and real estate investments. It has notably advised with respect to a variety of international joint-venture issues. Jeffrey Paravano chairs the firm-wide tax group, and maintains a varied tax practice covering cross-border planning, REIT and venture capital transactions, and tax litigation. Head of the international tax group Brian Davis joined the firm from PwC in June 2019. John Bates left for a position at Deloitte in July 2019. All named attorneys are located in Washington DC.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 5

Individual and class action cases alleging price-fixing as well as follow-on litigation are the core of Baker & Hostetler LLP. The department is headed by Carl Hittinger, who splits his time between Philadelphia and Washington DC. He fields bet-the-company litigation expertise alongside jury and non-jury trial experience in antitrust and unfair competition matters. In Washington DC, John Fornaciari operates a combined antitrust litigation and white collar defense practice which includes cartel know-how. During the course of 2019, the antitrust welcomed several practitioners: Marc Schildkraut was the first to join the DC office from Cooley LLP in July, Jeffrey Martino changed from his post at the DOJ's New York office in August and September saw the arrival of Michael Holt as Washington DC-based of counsel, previously a GC at Ports American Group.

Industry focus > Healthcare: advice to service providers Tier 5

The healthcare transaction practice at Baker & Hostetler LLP deals with M&A, acquisitions and affiliations, and advises on the ACA. Clients include long-term care providers, non-profit and for-profit hospital organizations, academic medical centers, home health agencies, and ancillary service providers. Key names are Robert Rupp in Columbus and Christopher Swift in Cleveland.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 5

Recent transactions for the employee benefits and executive compensation team at Baker & Hostetler LLP involved disposals of ESOP-owned companies, as well as the representation of senior executives and management teams in the sale of their businesses. The practice is headed up by Cleveland-based Raymond Malone and Columbus-based Georgeann Peters, who also handle de-risking transactions aimed at reducing pension liabilities.

Real estate > Real estate Tier 5

Baker & Hostetler LLP has specialist knowledge of healthcare, energy, student housing, sport and hospitality, and mixed-use real estate projects. The team also has an active housebuilding practice, complemented by niche expertise in new market, historic and low-income housing tax credits. Joint practice heads Robert Gebaide and Amy Kellogg have broad-based expertise in single-asset and portfolio transactions, financing and development, and commercial leasing and management. Of late, the team has been involved in the construction of several major industrial facilities in the Southeastern US. Gebaide and Kellogg are based in Orlando and Cleveland, respectively.

Tax > US taxes: contentious Tier 5

Baker & Hostetler LLP advises clients across a range of tax-related matters, including audits, appeals, mediation, and litigation. The firm-wide tax group is headed by Jeffrey Paravano in Washington DC, who has wide-ranging expertise in tax controversy and litigation, REIT taxation, and cross-border tax planning, among other areas. Also recommended are Paul Schmidt, who was recently appointed firm chairman, and Columbus-based Edward Bernert, who specializes in SALT disputes in Ohio. Brian Davis recently joined the DC office from PwC and now heads the international tax team.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 6

Baker & Hostetler LLP has an experienced, national bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights department in Orlando, Florida. The team represents oil and gas, healthcare, and hospitality companies, advising on reorganizations, Chapter 11 proceedings, and disputes. Chair Elizabeth Green represents debtors, creditors, and fiduciaries in out-of-court workouts, receiverships, and 363 sales. Her team was boosted in January 2019 by the addition of a significant group of attorneys, and further strengthened by Adam Fletcher's promotion to partner.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 6

Baker & Hostetler LLP stands out through its longstanding experience in litigation before the Court of Federal Claims, combining its IP capabilities with its in-depth knowledge of government contract law. The group also impresses in the classic US patent litigation venues, offering experience in district court, PTAB, Federal Circuit and ITC disputes, and covers a wide sector spectrum, ranking from the life sciences and technology sectors to the chemical, telecommunications and electronics sectors. IP practice head Mark Tidman is based in Washington DC. The co-chairs of the patent litigation practice, Kevin Kirsch and Daniel Goettle are based in Cincinnati/Columbus and Philadelphia respectively. Other key offices are in Atlanta, Denver and Chicago. Shawnna Yashar left for an in-house position at MicroStrategy.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 6

Baker & Hostetler LLP advises clients at the federal, state and local level on a range of tax matters including private wealth, employee benefits, and the operation of tax exempt organizations. Jeffrey Paravano chairs the tax group and has particular expertise in partnership and corporate taxation, as well as tax matters relating to REITs, both public and private. Firm chairman Paul Schmidt has experience with tax planning and transactions. Also recommended is John Lehrer, who provides federal income tax advice in relation to domestic M&A, business acquisitions and tax-free organizations. All named attorneys are in Washington DC.