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

The ‘first-class’ team at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP acts for buy-side and sell-side clients across the full spectrum of asset classes, and is well-placed to leverage the expertise of the firm’s regulatory, tax and financial restructuring groups to advise on transactional mandates. The practice’s workload includes currency-, commodity-, fixed income- and fund-linked products, in addition to credit-linked notes, repackagings and workouts of distressed assets. Based in New York, Ivan Loncar, who acts for dealers, banks and other financial institutions on matters concerning unfunded derivatives, counter-party types and funded derivatives products, jointly leads the team alongside James Frazier. Also in the firm’s New York office, Lary Stromfeld has demonstrable experience advising on innovative market structures, financial products, litigation and regulatory issues, while Brian Foster maintains a broad transactional and regulatory practice. New York’s senior counsel Richard Schetman remains a key contact in the group. Following the departures of Steven Lofchie and Ray Shirazi in February 2022, Peter Malyshev joined from Reed Smith LLP and Mercedes Tunstall arrived from Loeb & Loeb LLP in April 2022, both of whom operate from the firm’s Washington DC office.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 1

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP houses a team of ‘top-notch advisors’ and represents investment banks, issuers, funds and private equity sponsors in structuring and executing transactions across a broad range of asset classes, including CMBS and CLOs. The practice, which sits within the firm’s robust capital markets group, is jointly led by New York-based Mike Gambro and Stuart Goldstein, who operates from the firm’s Charlotte office. Gambro is noted for his expertise in mortgage-backed securities, in addition to regulatory issues, while Goldstein is a standout figure in the commercial real estate and CRE CLO arenas. Based in Washington DC, Gregg Jubin focuses on asset-based finance transactions. In the firm’s New York office, other key contacts in the team include Neil Weidner, who has experience in the securitization of traditional and non-traditional credit assets, and associate Michelle Abad, who focuses on residential and other asset-backed structure finance transactions. Esoteric ABS expert Ryan McNaughton joined the New York team from King & Spalding LLP in April 2023.

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

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP has played a critical role in the development of the US SPAC market, and continues to act for an impressive roster of public companies in strategic M&A. Showcasing a strong track record in the financial services space, the team is also well versed in hostile transactions, shareholder activism – where it assists both activists and boards – and corporate governance matters. Richard Brand co-leads the team, and his key strengths, besides complex M&A, lie in takeover preparation and defense. Fellow co-head William Mills advises public companies on transactions as well as disclosure and fiduciary duty mandates. Stephen Fraidin’s practice features activity in hostile M&A and private equity, while Braden McCurrach advises clients on transactional, commercial, and securities matters. All mentioned individuals are located in New York. Joshua Apfelroth is no longer at the firm.

Tax > Financial products Tier 1

The tax practice at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP has a broad-ranging clients roster that includes domestic and multinational corporations, special purpose acquisition companies, private equity and investment firms, and investment banks. The firm regularly collaborates with its international team, particularly in the UK, advising  clients on the structuring of securitisation vehicles, as well as mortgage-backed and asset-backed products, including CLOs, CMBS, and ABS; New York-based Gary Silverstein is particularly strong in this area. Also located in New York, Linda Swartz sits at the helm of the practice. In team news, Jon Brose joined the firm from Seward & Kissel LLP in July 2022.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): municipal Tier 2

Ivan Loncar and Casey Servais head Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP’s distressed municipal finance practice, which has a strong reputation for its involvement in major Chapter 9 bankruptcies as well as for its expertise in distressed municipal credit risk and credit default swaps Loncar has considerable experience advising creditors in relation to tax-exempt and taxable financings by US state and local governments and not-for-profit corporations, while Servais focuses on bankruptcy litigation, distressed municipal finance, and financial restructurings generally, and has been heavily involved in the Puerto Rico restructuring. The team, including Lary Stromfeld, has recently led the practice in its representation of the bond insurers Assured Guaranty Corp. and Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. in connection with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s restructuring of approximately $73bn of bond debt. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

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

While the firm represents both shareholders and boards, the shareholder-side offering at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in New York is particularly active, working with financial services companies and REITs most commonly. Shareholder activism expert William Mills and Richard Brand lead the team. Brand along with Stephen Fraidin is described as ‘very experienced and offers unique insights’ and is co-chair of the firm’s corporate and M&A group and is a prominent team member with regards to complex, market-shaping activism matters and corporate transactions. Fraidin works with a diverse client base, from investment funds to major corporations and special committees, with standout recent work involved advising Mantle Ridge in its agreement to add seven new directors to the board of Dollar Tree, Inc.

Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 2

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP has a strong lender-side advisory practice, focusing on mortgage and mezzanine loans, syndicated, construction, convertible loans, and loans backed by credit and those secured by ground leases. The firm also has a historic record in the CMBS space. Leading the group from New York, Bonnie Neuman is a leading counsel for global investment banks, national and international financial institutions, investors and servicers in domestic and cross-border transaction, notably representing lenders in a $1.04bn mortgage loan secured by a portfolio of 109 select-service hotel properties. In the same office, Nicholas Brandfon is experienced in loan restructuring and bankruptcy-related matters, particularly those involving office, hotel, condominium and retail properties. In Charlotte, Holly Chamberlain’s practice is concentrated on lender representation across the full range of financing of office, retail, hotel, multi-family, industrial and skilled nursing facilities through to single asset as well as multi-state and multi-property transactions.      

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: plaintiff Tier 3

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP  is known to clients as the ‘highest quality commercial litigation boutique’. The team offers experience in a broad range of antitrust litigation and government investigation matters pertaining to claims of exclusive dealing, tying, monopolization and price-fixing. The practice also stands out for representing Fortune 500 companies as plaintiffs in opt-out litigation. The ‘powerful litigator’ Philip Iovieno in New York, co-chairs the group, and offers significant experience in federal and state courts, recovering damages for corporate victims of antitrust violations including price-fixing cartels. Also co-chairing the practice is Brian Wallach  in Washington DC. Another key attorney is New York based Nicholas Gravante who heads the commercial litigation practice, focusing on securities and antitrust litigation.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 3

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in New York is a go-to firm for financial services disputes and transactions. It frequently acts for commercial and investment banks, private equity firms and hedge funds in securities litigation. The practice is led by chair of the global litigation group Jason Halper, who has a strong focus on financial services, securities law and corporate governance, and prominent commercial and antitrust litigator Nicholas Gravante. Halper is the firm’s standout securities litigator and he is currently handling complex matters arising from the implosion of Archegos Capital Management, a private investment firm that borrowed extensively from major financial institutions – including Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley – in transactions involving total return swaps. Ellen Holloman frequently acts for financial institutions, corporations and individuals in civil litigation and at trial, and she maintains a very active securities litigation practice. Holloman is currently involved in SPAC-related litigation for electric vehicle company Nikola Motors that alleges federal securities law violations and breaches of fiduciary duties by the company’s directors following investigations by the SEC, DOJ and other regulators. Kenneth Breen and Phara Guberman, who both joined from Paul Hastings LLP, bring valuable experience in white-collar matters and civil litigation.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 3

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is proactive in its advice to lenders, acting on leveraged financings, energy financings, second lien financings, asset-based lending transactions and letter of credit transactions. Led by Christopher McDermott and Jeffrey Nagle, the firm showcases further emphasis on cross-border commodities borrowing, including high-profile acquisition financings in the space. Special counsel Michael Lynch focuses on leveraged finance and bank loan transactions. The firm’s growth continues to be consolidated by the addition of new talent, with the arrival of  Angela Batterson to the firm's New York office from Jones Day in June 2022. Lawyers mentioned are in Charlotte unless otherwise stated.

Finance > Financial services regulation

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP considers banks, foreign banking organizations, fintech companies, mortgage lenders and auto lenders as key clients, advising these in a variety of banking and consumer finance regulatory work, including in relation to the Volcker Rule, capital adequacy, derivatives and initial margin requirements. New York-based James Frazier and Ivan Loncar share leadership of the banking-focused offering, acting as main points of contact for the likes of Bank of America, Citigroup and Credit Suisse, while Rachel Rodman and Mercedes Turnstall, the latter of whom joined in April 2022 from Loeb & Loeb LLP, spearhead financial regulation matters from a consumer perspective, playing an active role in investigations, enforcement and litigation in the space.  In April 2022, Peter Malyshev joined from Reed Smith LLP, with senior counsel Scott Cammarn having retired the same month. Daniel Meade left the firm in January 2024.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 3

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is well regarded for its tax-efficient M&A structuring capabilities, which have been used across a range of complex, high-value domestic and international transactions. Other significant drivers of work include restructuring and reorganization mandates involving troubled and insolvent corporations, as well as asset-backed securitizations – an area in which Gary Silverstein is an essential contact. Practice head Linda Swartz has a notable reputation in M&A, spin-offs, and joint ventures, in addition to foreign tax planning, fund formations, financings, and derivative transactions. Mark Howe – who splits his time between New York and Washington DC – is also recommended for his expertise in domestic and offshore investment funds. Recent team developments include Jon Brose‘s arrival from Seward & Kissel LLP in July 2022. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Transport > Shipping: finance Tier 3

In addition to its track record in successfully representing creditors and bondholders in distressed shipping restructurings, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP‘s New York-based maritime law and shipping industry practice advises on major corporate transactions, including M&A, joint ventures and securities offerings. The team has recently been particularly active in shipping industry deals involving restructurings, financing and M&A matters. Consistently mandated by public companies, hedge funds, private equity houses and investment banks, co-chair of the firm’s corporate practice Richard Brand maintains an active shipping transactions practice, and complex business reorganization specialist Gregory Petrick, who works across the London and New York offices, is the firm’s financial restructuring group chair. In July 2022, Joshua Apfelroth exited the firm for Proskauer Rose LLP.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense Tier 4

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP routinely assist numerous banks and multi-national businesses in internal investigations and compliance. The practice also represents clients on investigations and enforcement matters pertaining to FCPA and the UKBA, and advises clients with asset forfeiture, cybersecurity and data privacy, health care fraud and abuse, and money laundering mandates. Jodi Avergun  in Washington DC represents both corporations and individuals in criminal and regulatory matters including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, health care, and securities enforcement. As a former Assistant US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Todd Blanche in New York is thoroughly proficient in the full array of white-collar crime. Philip Khinda in DC advises clients with corporate crises, government and internal investigations and shareholder and derivative litigation. New York's Kenneth Breen represents corporations and executives in issues including anti-corruption, consumer protection issues, money laundering. Phara Guberman in New York is also a name to note.

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

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP advises major corporations, private equity sponsors and compensation on a full range of issues affecting executive compensation and benefits decisions. The team’s is highly experienced in handling M&A, divestitures, spin-offs and private equity investments for domestic and international players, including Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley. Practice head James Frazier has vast expertise in assisting clients with the structuring of investment vehicles and products offered in employee benefit plans, while Michael Bergmann focuses on executive compensation and employee benefit arrangements arising from corporate transactions. The former is based in New York, and the latter operates out of the Washington DC office.

Tax > International tax Tier 4

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP‘s expertise encompasses bankruptcy tax matters, ERISA and REMICA issues, restructuring of foreign debt and new money investments by foreign entities. The firm’s clients include multinational corporations, special purpose acquisition companies and investment firms. Linda Swartz heads the New York-based practice and advises clients on fund structures, financings and derivative transactions in addition to foreign tax planning strategies.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 6

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP’s financial restructuring group has a strong reputation for its work in the insurance and financial services sectors. Dividing his time between New York and London, Gregory Petrick, who has experience representing debtors, official unsecured creditors’ committees, secured lenders, state regulators, and trustees in relation to complex business reorganizations, heads the practice and has recently led a team advising MBIA, Inc. and a joint venture acquisition vehicle owned by MBIA and Bardin Hill Investment Partners, in connection with the acquisition of MD Helicopters. Having joined from King & Spalding LLP in September 2022, New York-based Michael Rupe heads the special situations and reorganizations practice and brings ad hoc lender group expertise.