BakerHostetler > New York, United States > Firm Profile

BakerHostetler > The Legal 500 Rankings

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: transactional and regulatory Tier 1

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

BakerHostetler’s middle-market M&A expertise extends to various sectors, such as TMT, automotive, and e-commerce. With growing activity in cross-border deals, the group is adept at representing private equity firms and corporations in joint ventures, de-SPAC transactions, and foreign inbound transactions into the US. The practice is jointly led by New York-based Steven Goldberg, who is proficient in strategic investments and transactional and securities matters, and Los Angeles lawyer Will Chuchawat, who handles venture capital and private equity funds. In Cleveland, John Allotta’s scope of work covers commercial financing transactions and advising private equity clients on major portfolio acquisitions in the aerospace and healthcare industries. Also in New York is Matthew Gases, who is well-versed in advising international corporations on high-value acquisitions.

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

BakerHostetler's team is highly knowledgeable in incident response and attorney general investigations, supporting companies in the healthcare, financial services, tech and education sectors. The firm is particularly experienced in data breach-related matters, including ransomware attacks. It also advises companies on AI and blockchain issues. Theodore Kobus III, who is well-versed in class action defense and regulatory suits, leads the team from New York. Cincinnati-based Craig Hoffman is an expert on payment card security incidents. In the Houston office, Lynn Sessions is adept at handling cybersecurity incident response and regulatory investigations, particularly within the healthcare sector. Denver lawyer Casie Collignon is an expert litigator in privacy class action defense. Jennifer Mitchell is based in Los Angeles and advises on compliance matters concerning GDPR, HIPAA and CCPA. In November 2024, Raymond Aghaian joined the team.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

BakerHostetler is a leading choice for corporate clients and individuals seeking expert advice in white-collar criminal defense and corporate investigations. With a global cross-border practice, the firm handles complex matters such as securities fraud, insider trading, FCPA issues and financial fraud. From New York, John J. Carney co-leads the white-collar department, representing corporations and financial institutions in enforcement investigations. Carole S. Rendon from Cleveland specializes in criminal defence and internal investigations for both individuals and corporate clients. George Stamboulidis also New York based offers extensive expertise in federal investigations and FCPA issues. Robb Adkins in San Francisco focuses on crisis response, regulatory defense , and white-collar litigation.  New York lawyer Lauren J. Resnick leads the compliance team, advising client on fraud, AML, and regulatory matters.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 3

Energy > Energy litigation: oil and gas Tier 3

BakerHostetler is recognized for its strong capabilities in complex oil and gas litigation, frequently representing refinery clients and major energy companies in high-stakes disputes. The firm’s oil and gas litigation team offers deep expertise across a wide range of issues, including contract disputes involving leases, licensing agreements, exploration and development contracts, drilling agreements, and offshore environmental compliance, including oil spill matters. The team’s geographic reach enables it to defend clients at the state, federal, and international levels. The practice is co-led by Houston-based-Poe Leggette, known for representing oil and gas producers, particularly on federal and private mineral royalties and operations on federal and Indian lands. Denver-based- Alexander K. Obrecht focuses on royalty, midstream, and federal land development disputes, while Denver-based- Mark Barron guides major producers through high-profile cases. Cleveland-based- David Proaño and Houston-based-W. Ray Whitman, chair of the national litigation group, rounds out the leadership team, handling complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Intellectual property > Patents: licensing Tier 3

BakerHostetler fields a team that is well vested in a breadth of IP issues, from traditional licenses for clients in the entertainment industry to the licensing of data assets for AI and software clients. The department is particularly well regarded for its ‘out-licensing’ deals for nonmanufacturing patent holders, such as universities. The firm is jointly headed by Cleveland’s Monica Verma, who leverages her experience in tech transactions and Philadelphia-based Chad Rutkowski, a specialist in IP issues involving the intersection of IP and technology. In Atlanta Christopher M. Arena boasts expertise in transactional issues and the strategic management of IP assets. Lisa Collins has noted strength in a wide range of transactional IP issues including licensing. Theresa Weisenberger advises on transactional matters for clients within the electrical engineering and computer science fields. Unless otherwise stated, all lawyers are based in Atlanta.

Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 3

Experienced in high-value disputes before various courts, the group at BakerHostetler regularly assists clients operating across a range of sectors in matters concerning trade secret misappropriation and high-profile breaches of employment contracts relating to non-compete restrictions. Amy Traub, who has noteworthy expertise in labor and employment, co-leads the team from New York alongside John Siegal, and Joyce Ackerbaum Cox, who is based in Orlando. The New York team was bolstered in January 2024 by the arrival of Daryl Leon.

International trade and national security > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions Tier 3

BakerHostetler‘s International Trade group, stationed in Washington DC, has notable expertise in assisting clients in the manufacturing, medical device, forest products, and chemicals industries. In the customs space, the team is capable of providing compliance counsel, structuring supply changes, addressing country-of-origin questions, and litigating on behalf of their clients. Michael S. Snarr represents a variety of U.S.-based importers in a challenge to the imposition of 301 duties on imports from China. The firm’s export controls branch handles compliance assessments, international investigations, and due diligence with Melissa Mannino a well-regarded lawyer in this market. Barbara Linney and Lana Muranovic, who is based in Houston, are important team members.

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) Tier 3

BakerHostetler‘s class, collective and representative action expertise spans wage and hour violations, unlawful discrimination and employee privacy violations. In charge of the practice is Amy Traub, who is based in the New York office and boasts an extensive breadth of expertise, along with knowledge of the healthcare, retail and hospitality industries. In Cleveland, Gregory Mersol has significant experience representing employers in class action litigation, benefit plan disputes and wage and hour litigation. Mark Temple splits his time between the Houston and Dallas offices and leads on wage and hour class actions work. Matthew Kane sits in the Los Angeles office and excels in wage and hour matters, restrictive covenant and PAGA claims. In Cincinnati, Scott McIntyre defends clients in whistleblower claims, trade secret litigation and privacy-related litigation.

Labor and employment > Labor-management relations Tier 3

The BakerHostetler team is experienced at navigating labor relations for international clients doing business in the US and acting as the labor relations representatives in purchase and sale agreements and hotel management agreement contexts. The practice is jointly led by New York-based Amy Traub, who is a trusted advisor to and litigator for several significant health institutions on the Eastern Seaboard; Jay Krupin, who has considerable experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements in the Washington D.C office and Todd Dawson who sits in the Cleveland office. Paul Rosenberg is an active member of the New York office and is regularly involved in large-scale collective bargaining negotiations and unfair labor practice issues.

Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling Tier 3

BakerHostetler counsels a diverse range of employers on the full spectrum of workplace issues. Amy Traub heads the practice and is based in New York. Traub acts as a counselor and litigator for a variety of global clients across industries such as healthcare and hospitality. In Orlando, Joyce Ackerbaum Cox works with companies on disputes and wage hour claims, discrimination and retaliation claims, and in high-profile internal investigations. Jason D’Cruz has particular expertise in counseling C-suite employees, corporations, boards, management teams and owners and is located in Atlanta. Fanny Ferdman in New York assists clients in identifying employment risks. Ferdman and Atlanta-based Ashley Guffey whose specialisms include executive compensation and restrictive covenants, are key members of the team.

Tax > International tax Tier 3

Primarily operating from Washington DC, BakerHostetler‘s team employs a multidisciplinary approach to its international tax practice, collaborating on matters concerning practice areas such as intellectual property, corporate law, and international trade. The firm’s offering provides a broad range of coverage including cross-border mergers, spin-offs, and international joint ventures; as well as foreign tax credits, profit repatriations, and entity classification. The team is also well-versed in devising and implementing specialized planning involving transfer pricing such as supply-chain relocations and nearshoring transactions. Practice head Brian Davis concentrates his practice on cross-border M&A, restructuring, and financing transactions, and he is well-versed in issues pertaining to transfer pricing, permanent establishments, and investment treaties. Paul Schmidt focuses on technical elements of international taxation, advising on technical and policy issues in relation to transfer pricing, treaties, permanent establishments, foreign tax credits, and inversions while Jeffrey Paravano advises on the tax aspects of structuring of acquisitions, as well as tax planning, as well as handling tax controversies, investigations, and litigation.  

Tax > Not-for-profit (Fortune 1000 private foundations, national trade associations, and charities) Tier 3

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 4

BakerHostetler is frequently retained to handle complex antitrust disputes, including expansive multidistrict litigation (MDLs) and putative class actions. Recently, the firm has led matters for multinational and regional businesses in the cross-border shipping, internet, and technology sectors. Carl Hittinger heads the team from Philadelphia, where he has built a strong reputation in competitor-versus-competitor antitrust litigation. In Los Angeles, Bridget McCabe has demonstrated her ability to lead large teams in antitrust class actions in federal courts across the US. Philadelphia-based Jeffry Duffy is a highly regarded litigator and negotiator in antitrust matters. John Fornaciari, based in Washington DC, has great experience in international cartel investigations and class action defenses.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 4

BakerHostetler boasts one of the 'premier international arbitration practices in the world in both investor-state and commercial arbitration', with an impressive bench of leading arbitrators. The team recently successfully represented True Blue Development Limited in a $50 million ICSID dispute against Grenada, displaying the international prowess of the practice. Sashe Dimitroff acts as the global leader of international arbitration and litigation, operating out of Houston. Dimitroff has a focus on commercial matters linked to energy disputes, as well as fraud and internal investigations. In Orange County, Marco Molina heads the international arbitration practice, acting on leading matters spanning the energy, construction, entertainment, and shipping sectors. Washington DC-based Analía González and Kenneth Reisenfeld lead the Latin America arbitration and investor-state arbitration teams respectively, while in New York, Gonzalo Zeballos is an expert in complex cross-jurisdictional arbitrations. Also key to the practice are Carlos Ramos-Mrosovsky in New York, frequently representing sovereign governments in treaty arbitrations, and Paul Levine in Washington DC, regularly handling major treaty and investment issues.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 4

With a core group of New York-based securities litigators as well as being able to draw upon the expertise of practitioners with broader commercial litigation and government enforcement experience, BakerHostetler has the resources and skill to robustly defend public companies, and their directors and officers, across a wide range of class action fraud cases, M&A disputes and breach of fiduciary matters. Under the guidance of the very experienced Douglas Greene, the team, which also has deep relationships with D&O insurance providers, has developed a strong reputation for working up cases, providing judges with the full context of, for example, the alleged mis-statement made by a public company in its offering documents. Greene is one of a number at the firm with skill at handling cases in state and federal courts throughout the country, as is Genevieve York-Erwin, who is particularly adept at representing clinical-stage biotech companies in securities matters. Recently promoted partner Zach Taylor and Cleveland-based Douglas Shively are also key members of the team, particularly in the context of derivative shareholder and corporate governance-related litigation. All named practitioners are based in New York, unless otherwise indicated.

Government > Government contracts Tier 4

The bicoastal government contracts practice at BakerHostetler is adept in a whole host of contentious and non-contentious government contracting matters. This includes representation in bid protests, suspension and debarment proceedings, enforcement matters and claims litigation, as well as ongoing counselling, including on small business and export controls compliance. Los Angeles based Todd Canni makes up half of the leadership of the practice, and is well versed in crisis situations, such as bet the company litigation, suspension and debarment proceedings. Stephen Ruscus in Washington DC co-leads alongside Canni, and advises contractors across the defense, technology, life sciences, healthcare and manufacturing industries on compliance issues and in bid protests. Further key names in Washington DC are bid protests expert Kevin Barnett and experienced public policy and government contracts litigators Kevin Dorn and Kaitlyn Toth.

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

Headed up from Washington DC by Mark Tidman, the group at BakerHostetler has well-established capabilities advising on life sciences and advanced materials patent matters, as well as broader experience in tech sector-related work. The group’s client list features renowned names including Meta and Amazon. In Philadelphia, Joseph Lucci is a key attorney with expertise across patent prosecution and litigation, portfolio management and due diligence; Steven Samuels has experience in procurement, licensing and litigation; while Stephanie Lodise assists clients in the building of patent portfolios. Felicity Groth acts for domestic and international clients. On the West Coast, Mark Itri is a noteworthy attorney.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation Tier 4

Praised for its ‘focus on client relationships’, BakerHostetler frequently handles matters pertaining to trademark registration and protection, anti-counterfeiting programs and enforcement work before an array of courts. Mark Tidman chairs the firm’s offering from Washington DC with his extensive experience in trademark clearance, enforcement and right of publicity litigation mandates, among others. Other names to note in the practice include Christina Moser, who is based in the firm’s Cleveland and Los Angeles and contributes her considerable expertise across the retail, software and fintech sectors, and ‘extremely knowledgeable’ New York-based Robert Horowitz, who maintains a broad practice that spans trademark, copyright and trade secret issues. Cincinnati’s David A. Mancino is also recommended.

International trade and national security > Trade remedies and trade policy Tier 4

BakerHostetler‘s International Trade practice is recognized for handling complex trade disputes in the market, representing major domestic, foreign, and international companies, business associations, and government clients in high-stakes matters. The practice offers comprehensive expertise in trade compliance, advising clients on strategic trade structuring, tariff preferences, and duty savings. Elliot J. Feldman leads the team alongside Michael S. Snarr . Feldman has been active in advising the softwood lumber industry associations in the US-Canada trade dispute. Ronald Baumgarten and Tung Nguyen are also recommended lawyers.

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

BakerHostetler‘s full-service EBEC practice boasts a deep bench of experts. The team is led by Susan N. Lubow from Columbus, who specializes in both complex benefit plan structuring work and ERISA compliance and disputes, and Jennifer Mills from Cleveland, an expert in health and welfare plan design and implementation. The Columbus tax office is well-represented by Seth Hanft, who excels in reducing operating costs relating to benefit and compensation plans, and Stacy Wilhite leads in EBEC matters associated with M&As and divestitures. From the Dallas office, Stefan Smith serves as outside benefits counsel to clients across a range of industries, especially regarding reviews and redesigns of plan and compensation structures as well as tax compliance.

Labor and employment > Immigration Tier 4

BakerHostetler’s practice regularly handles a broad array of business and employment immigration issues, with expertise in temporary work visas, relocation strategies and intra-company transfers. The team is also skilled at attaining green cards and TN visas, particularly for professionals from Canada and Mexico. David Serwer leads the firm’s immigration team in Chicago and is highly sought after by diverse companies for all aspects of employment-based immigration law. Serwer is supported by the firm’s national labor and employment group chair Amy Traub, who is based in New York. In Houston, Pamela Nieto is a key advisor on employment immigration issues for new ventures in the US, including compliance related to the hiring of foreign nationals and obtaining of work visas.

Real estate Tier 4

BakerHostetler‘s real estate practice is focused on the development and end-user aspects of the real estate industry. The team evidences decades of experience in the acquisition, disposition, financing, leasing, and development of all property types, and is particularly noted for its strength in the hospitality, healthcare, and national homebuilding sectors. Wendy Markham leads the real estate team, based in Atlanta, and is recognized for her wealth of experience advising on issues including sophisticated and substantial real estate-related acquisitions, leasing issues, and developments. In Cleveland, Amy Kellogg maintains a leading roster of clients in the retail, manufacturing, and entertainment sectors, and in Orlando, Gregory Lee handles issues across the spectrum of real estate work, with a particular depth of expertise in the sports and entertainment industries.

Tax > US taxes: contentious Tier 4

The tax controversy practice at BakerHostetler has substantial capacity and experience, which leads it to be involved in some groundbreaking matters. A prime example is its work in Moore v. United States, which challenges the Mandatory Repatriation Tax imposed by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Tax group chair Jeffrey Paravano in Washington DC led that matter. He co-leads the tax controversy and litigation group with Michelle Hervey in Cleveland, and Elizabeth Smith in New York, who has notable experience in the hedge fund industry and in New York state residency and domicile audits and cases. Other key names include DC-based veteran tax expert Paul Schmidt, and Nicholas Mowbray, who handles matters involving international tax, and the taxation of financial products. Tax litigator David Ebersole in Columbus is an emerging talent.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 5

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

Under Mark Tidman‘s leadership in Washington DC, BakerHostetler’s team handles all stages of patent litigation for clients ranging from individual inventors to large tech companies. Kevin Kirsch is a key contact in Columbus for high-stakes healthcare, energy and tech patent cases. Key practitioners in Atlanta include Christopher M. Arena, a seasoned patent litigator focused on the telecoms sector, and Lisa Collins, who combines deep litigation experience with a background in patent indemnity matters. Daniel Goettle, who splits his time between Philadelphia and Wilmington, represents patent owners and petitions in federal courts and before the ITC. Meanwhile, Leif Sigmond, who divides his time between Chicago and New York, brings extensive experience in high-stakes patent litigation related to the electrical, mechanical and software fields.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 6

BakerHostetler assists several foundations and not-for-profit organizations with their tax work yet still retains the expertise to advise investment funds with cross-border transaction structuring, tax credits, and aquisitional matters. The practice, led by Jeffery Parvano in Washington DC, offers a wealth of federal experience on its bench as evidenced by Parvano’s tenure in the tax policy department in the US Treasury. . Matthew Wochok joined the firm from Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP  in April 2024.  

Healthcare > Life sciences

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

BakerHostetler has an active Latin America international arbitration practice covering both investor-state and commercial disputes; it is noted for representing states and state-controlled entities, as well as multinationals and international investors. It has represented the Republic of Nicaragua in a series of investment and commercial arbitrations, although it also acts for private investors in claims against Latin American states such as Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela. Along with commercial and financial disputes, the team has particular experience in oil and gas, renewable energy and construction cases. Uruguayan native Analía González heads the Latin America arbitration and litigation team from Washington DC, and has a long track record in defending Latin American states. Costa Mesa partner Marco Molina leads the international commercial arbitration team and has a major focus on Latin America. New York’s Gonzalo Zeballos and Carlos Ramos-Mrosovsky are also senior members of the team.