Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP > Charlotte, United States > Firm Profile

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products Tier 1

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP advises banks and government-sponsored enterprises alike, with major clients on the buy- and sell-side of the market, and particular expertise in capital relief trades. Its expertise is broad, with lawyers experienced in collateralized fund obligations and emerging market notes as well as currency, commodity and fixed income products. The team can draw on the firm’s other department for support concerning tax, secured transaction and financial restructuring issues whenever such matters arise. Ivan Loncar is a co-chair of the financial services group, advising on funded and unfunded derivative products of all types. Capital markets veteran Lary Stromfeld‘s practice involves advising on financial products, complex market structures and regulatory matters. Brian Foster is noted member of the team, advising financial institutions and investments funds on a broad range of derivatives including OTC trades, structured notes and fund-linked derivatives. Another key lawyer is Jed Miller, who specializes in novel and innovative structured financing, such as capital relief trades and significant risk transfer transactions. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 1

With ‘an extremely deep bench’, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is highly experienced in securitizations transaction, including ABS, CLO, CMBS and RMBS transactions. The firm advises all forms of market participants, from investment banks and issuers to funds and private equity sponsors. From New York, Mike Gambro supports major investment banks and government-sponsored enterprises on complex securitization transactions and is co-lead of the practice. Stuart Goldstein, based in Charlotte and fellow co-lead, shows particularly skill in CRE CLO market. Neil Weidner is a noted member of the practice in New York working on both the buy- and sell-side of securitizations in the insurance and medical real estate spaces. Washington DC-based Sophie Cuthbertson is spearheading the firm’s drive to develop products non-traditional lenders. Adam Risell, also operating out of DC, is noted for his work across a wide range of securitization types, including those backed by pools of middle market loans, syndicated corporate loans, student loans and ABS. In January 2023, Michael Ruder was promoted to partner in DC, while in April 2023, Ryan McNaughton joined the practice in New York from King & Spalding LLP. Michelle Abad left the firm in March 2023 for an in-house position.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m) Tier 1

With a team capable of advising buy- and sell-side corporate clients as well as financial advisors, SPACs, and joint venture acquisition vehicles, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is capable of handling the full range of cross-border M&A as well as related matters spanning from antitrust issues to employee benefits and tax concerns. The firm is particularly well-regarded for its ability to handle impactful transactions in the medical tech, consumer, and renewable energy sectors. New York-based co-heads Richard Brand and William Mills are experts for divestitures, shareholder activism matters, and spin-off transactions. Also in New York, Stephen Fraidin specializes in corporate governance issues, Nick Ramphal is knowledgeable on corporate finance matters and leveraged buyouts, whilst Peter Bariso concentrates on joint ventures. Splitting his time between London and New York, Daniel Raglan  is a key contact in matters relating to the software and analytics sector. Braden McCurrach left the firm in September 2023.

Tax > Financial products Tier 1

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP ‘s ‘extraordinarily technical, detail oriented, and creative‘ tax team routinely handles the structuring, documentation, and execution of complex, tax-advantaged securities transactions and products for domestic and multinational corporations, private equity and investment firms, investment banks, insurance companies and other parties involved in financial transactions. Practice head Linda Swartz advises clients on fund structures, financings and derivative transactions. Washington DC-based Mark Howe‘s practice covers partnerships, financial products, securitization, commodities, and the tax aspects of capital markets. Gary Silverstein advises issuers, underwriters, insurers and other parties on the tax aspects of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, REMICs, CLOs, and other debt issuances. Jon Brose is well-versed in tax issues relating to CLOs and other structured finance and securitization vehicles. Andrew Carlon joined the firm in January 2023 from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. Lawyers are in New York unless otherwise stated.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): municipal Tier 2

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP‘s New York team has been involved in complex restructuring cases involving state and local governments, with the firm having had a major role in the municipal bankruptcies occurring in the US including Jefferson County and Detroit, alongside Puerto Rico. The firm is comprised of specialists in municipal credit and securitization, as well as distressed municipal credit risk. Lary Stromfeld has a reputation in complex transactions and is currently representing the Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rates Committee in navigating the cash markets through LIBOR transition. ‘Best in class‘ Ivan Loncar is focused on derivatives, structured finance and municipal finance, including distressed municipal finance. Ingrid Bagby  represents a range of parties including creditors and debtors in chapter 9 and chapter 11 proceedings, while Casey Servais has worked on a number of municipal bankruptcy cases.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism Tier 2

A host of prolific activist investors look to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP‘s New York-based team for advice on their high-profile campaigns, with recent work including a number of successful campaigns for the replacement of a CEO at a major company. While its strongest and most highly populated offering is in advice to shareholders, the firm is one of very few to also advise on the board side in this area; young partners Daniel Raglan and Kiran Kadekar are the names to note on that front. Department head Richard Brand co-chairs the wider corporate law team with William Mills and is a longstanding advisor to public companies, hedge funds, private equity firms and investment banks on shareholder activism and defense. The team was also bolstered by the hire of Michael Pinnisi from an in-house position in January 2023; he is a veteran of the practice area, having handled proxy contest litigation at Hudson Executive Capital.

Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 2

Advising financial institutions as lenders in commercial real estate transactions, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP frequently represents clients such as JPMorgan and Wells Fargo and other loan contributors in the CMBS market. The team is known for its expertise in CMBS, advising clients on commercial real estate loan originations as well as expanding the practice to include syndicated, acquisition, and construction lending. Practice head Bonnie Neuman is a leading real estate lawyer, representing global investment banks, financial institutions, investors and servicers in major transactions including origination of mortgage and mezzanine loans. Financing commercial properties such as hotels, office buildings, and recreational facilities are also an area of expertise for New York-based Neuman. In Charlotte, as well as real estate finance Holly Chamberlain also handles matters affecting property owners’ ownership, and acquisition and disposition of real estate interests. Assisting Neuman in New York, Nicholas Brandfon has experience handling transactions involving different property types including offices, hotels, condominium, and retail buildings. Christopher Dickson is also located in Charlotte, handling both real estate finance and securitization issues, and is also well-versed in multi-state, multi-property pooled transactions.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: plaintiff Tier 3

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP actively pursues price-fixing, exclusive dealing, and monopoly disputes on behalf of large public and privately owned companies. The team has developed a reputation for opt-out cases and is presently working extensively in the meat industry. Philip Iovieno co-chairs from the New York office and has litigated extensively in federal and state courts, supporting victims of price fixing and other violations. Also in New York is co-chair Nicholas Gravante, an experienced litigator who pursues complex financial antitrust cases and appeals. From Washington DC, Kristen McAhren has a strong record in antitrust disputes, regulatory implications, criminal matters, and arbitration tribunals.  

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 3

The New York office of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is highly focused on securities cases arising from the financial services sector, frequently advising leading corporates and major financial institutions. The firm continues to be involved in significant cases involving the manipulation of industry benchmark Libor rates. Experienced commercial litigator Nicholas Gravante leads the practice together with the chair of the global litigation group Jason Halper, who is a key adviser on litigation risks arising from the transition from Libor to new financial benchmarks. Halper also advises major financial institutions on cases arising from the impact of complex financial instruments. Ellen Holloman‘s broad practice sees her acting for financial institutions and corporations in civil litigation and regulatory enforcement proceedings. She recently assisted Nikola Motors with matters arising from its acquisition in a SPAC transaction. White-collar defense and investigations specialist Kenneth Breen and seasoned trial lawyer Phara Guberman also play key roles in the practice.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 3

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP advises a range of clients, including hedge funds, finance companies, insurance companies commercial and investment banks. On the leveraged finance and private credit side, the team typically handles leveraged finance acquisition financings, first and second lien financings, syndicated credit facilities and debtor-in-possession facilities. The team’s fund finance work features representation of agents, lead arrangers and lenders on a range of fund finance facilities. Jointly leading the team at practice head level is new addition to the team Ronald Lovelace from King & Spalding LLP, who focuses his practice on leveraged finance and other debt financings; New-York based Christopher McDermott who is knowledgeable of innovation and emerging technologies which impact financing transactions, such as blockchain technology; Wesley Misson is a key name for ESG facilities and commercial finance expert Jeffrey Nagle. Along with Lovelace, Joseph Polonsky, Patrick J. Yingling and Jared Zajac joined the team from King & Spalding LLP in February 2023. All lawyers mentioned are based in Charlotte unless otherwise stated.

Finance > Financial services regulation

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP advises a range of banks and other lenders on the gamut of regulatory challenges, advising on Volcker Rule matters, the transition away from LIBOR and issues tied to derivatives transactions, while also assisting auto lenders, mortgage providers, and other lenders on compliance and enforcement actions. The banking arm of the practice is led from New York by James Frazier and Ivan Loncar, both of whom specialize in the structuring of derivatives and other financial products. Peter Malyshev, based in Washington DC, is a key contact for clients offering products regulated by the SEC and CFTC, handling both transactional, compliance, and regulatory issues. Leading the consumer finance team from Washington DC are Mercedes Tunstall, a specialist in payment and deposit regulations in addition to CFPB enforcement actions, and Rachel Rodman, a litigator who represents clients in both government enforcement proceedings and civil litigation.

Tax > International tax Tier 3

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is known for its work on tax-free and tax-efficient M&A structures, which have been utilized by clients in public, domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, inversions, Reverse Morris Trusts, divestitures and joint ventures. The team also has substantial experience designing tax-efficient restructurings and reorganizations involving troubled and insolvent corporations and other entities with a focus on preserving net operating losses and other tax attributes, whether in or outside of bankruptcy. The practice is headed by New York-based Linda Swartz has significant expertise structuring complex global mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, joint ventures, and restructurings, and on foreign tax planning strategies. Swartz also routinely advises clients on fund structures, financings and derivative transactions. Jon Brose represents investment funds, including hedge funds, funds of funds, and private equity funds, and their managers on all aspects of their businesses, including management entity and fund formation, seeding arrangements, mergers and acquisitions, partnership tax issues, international tax issues, compensation arrangements, and ongoing investment activities and transactions. Also in New York, Gary Silverstein represents issuers, underwriters, insurers and other parties in connection with the tax aspects of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, REMICs, CLOs, CRE-CLOs and other debt issuances. Mark Howe, who sits in the New York and Washington DC offices, concentrates his practice on the tax structuring of domestic and offshore investment funds and in the development, structuring, and implementation of a wide variety of financial and derivative products and transactions, such as fixed income, currency, equity, and commodity linked swaps, forwards, notes, options, and similar instruments and transactions, securities and other instruments with embedded derivatives, and hybrid and synthetic products. Andrew Carlon, who joined the New York office in January 2023 from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, advises clients on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions such as private company acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, taxable and tax-free public company transactions, cross-border restructurings, and spin-offs.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 3

The tax team at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, primarily based in New York, advises a client roster that includes multinational corporations, SPACs, private equity firms, and investment banks on a wide range of matters. The group is often involved in major developments in the field, recently advising Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square SPARC Holdings in relation to the registration of its novel investment vehicle. Practice chair Linda Swartz has extensive experience structuring M&A, spin-offs, and joint ventures, as well as advising major clients on restructurings, fund structures, and financing and derivative transactions. Gary Silverstein is a leading figure when it comes to handling the tax aspects of mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, real estate mortgage investment conduits, collateralized loan obligations, and other debt issuances. Mark Howe in Washington DC has notable experience in the tax structuring of domestic and offshore investment funds. Having joined the firm as partner from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in January 2023, Andrew Carlon brings notable experience in cross-border restructurings and spin-offs, including pro rata spin-offs, split-offs, Morris Trust spin-merge transactions, and IPO-spin combinations.

Transport > Shipping: finance Tier 3

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is known for its expertise in distressed shipping-related restructurings. Based in New York, the team is also experienced in advising on finance deals, as well as corporate transactions such as M&A, joint ventures and securities offerings. The group’s representative experience includes acting for Evercore, as financial advisor, in relation to Global Ship Lease’s combination with Poseidon Containers Holdings, which created a containership charter owner that focuses on mid-sized and smaller vessels; and routinely advising Safe Bulkers on a range of governance and transactional issues (including securities exchange listing standards). Co-chair of the firm’s corporate group, Richard Brand, is an adviser to public companies, hedge funds, private equity firms and investment banks. His experience covers M&A, defense-side takeovers, shareholder activism, general corporate advisory issues, and securities offerings.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP houses a highly capable team that represents clients in investigations into money laundering, securities fraud, health care abuse, and cybersecurity. Practicing in Washington DC, Jodi Avergun is recommended for her expertise in anti-money laundering and anti-corruption laws, while Douglas Gansler is a seasoned attorney who has experience handling cases of public corruption. The white-collar and investigations practice has recently been strengthened with several new additions to the team. Martin Weinstein and Jeffrey Clark joined the Washington DC office from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in February 2023. Weinstein has more than three decades of experience advising on large FCPA investigations, while Clark regularly advises on internal corporate investigations. Kenneth Breen and Phara Guberman are key names in New York, both seasoned trial lawyers who are recommended for white-collar criminal defense matters. Also located in the New York office, Gina Castellano joined from the US Attorney’s Office.

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

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP offers advice on a comprehensive array of executive compensation and benefits issues, encompassing change in control, retention agreements, and equity-based compensation programs, as well as retirement plans, ERISA matters, and plan terminations. James Frazier, operating from the New York office, specializes in ERISA fiduciary standards and prohibited transaction provisions, serving notable financial services clients such as Morgan Stanley, Barclays, and Wells Fargo. In Washington DC, Michael Bergmann offers expertise to public and private organizations on executive compensation and employee benefit arrangements related to mergers and acquisitions.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 6

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP handles a range of services within restructuring and bankruptcy, including financing structures, creditor representations and cross-border negotiations both in-court and out-of-court. The firm aids financial institutions on bankruptcy issues related to structured finance products and structuring transactions for bankruptcy risk. Gregory Petrick chair’s the practice and has represented debtors as well as secured lenders and official unsecured creditors’ committees. Ingrid Bagby has represented a range of parties in cross-border restructurings, while Michael Rupe is a key name from the firm. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.