Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 1

The antitrust team at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP routinely acts for leading names in the tech, media, and life sciences sectors and has extensive experience handling precedent-setting, business-critical litigation cases spanning the full range of antitrust issues, including monopolization allegations, price-fixing, and consumer class actions. Former assistant attorney general for antitrust Christine Varney and former FTC Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips  in Washington DC, jointly head the team, leveraging their agency experience to advise clients in bet-the-company litigations and class actions. Seasoned litigator David Marriott takes point on both vertical and horizontal merger challenges and has an impressive track record in this area. Described by clients as ‘one of the best,’ Kevin Orsini, who co-heads the firm’s litigation department alongside experienced antitrust litigator Gary Bornstein, is another key member of the team who routinely takes point on large and complex antitrust litigations and class action cases in the digital advertising and finance sectors. Lauren Roberta Kennedy is a key name for multidistrict litigations in the healthcare sector. Unless otherwise stated, all mentioned lawyers are based in New York.

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation Tier 1

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP’s financial services litigation practice represents impressive clients across a range of sectors including consumer finance, investment banking and brokerage, and diversified banks in claims and disputes pertaining to antitrust and class actions. The team is regularly involved in complex, high-profile, and high-stakes matters, notably representing Robinhood in numerous class actions after its decision to temporarily place limits on trading certain securities. Daniel Slifkin is an extremely active member of the group and represents financial institutions in matters such as antitrust claims, securities claims, and general contract disputes. Class actions are Slifkin’s specialty and he holds extensive trial experience. Another key member of the practice is Lauren Moskowitz, who is recognized for her regulatory, investigative, and securities work. Michael Paskin has expertise across the board, representing clients in matters ranging from financial products, class actions, and fraud actions. Antony Ryan is well-versed in the intricacies of investigations and enforcement actions, representing clients before the SEC and DOJ. Focusing on securities, general commercial, and antitrust matters is Lauren Rosenberg. All attorneys mentioned are based in New York.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 1

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP fields an ‘excellent, dedicated and highly professional team’ of seasoned trial lawyers who are adept across the full range of high-profile, business-critical litigation, including disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, employee ‘raiding’, and unfair competition claims, among many others. New York-based attorneys Gary Bornstein and Kevin Orsini, who is praised by clients as the ‘best in the business’, jointly head the litigation department. Bornstein predominantly focuses on antitrust, M&A and securities litigation, while Orsini remains a key name for complex litigation relating to mass torts and post-M&A disputes, among others. Pre-eminent trial lawyer David Marriott‘s practice emphasises litigation and arbitration in the areas of antitrust, intellectual property, employment and securities, while Lauren Moskowitz represents some of the firm’s biggest clients in crucial restructuring andIP litigation mandates, including appearing before the Supreme Court. Former firm chairman Evan Chesler retired from the litigation department in December 2023. All named contacts are based in New York

Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 1

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York ‘pursues cases relentlessly‘, frequently represents companies, boards of directors and special committees in individual, class and derivative actions arising from contemplated or hostile transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and other business deals. Gary Bornstein and Kevin Orsini are among the standout partners, along with veteran litigator Robert Baron. Key partners Justin Clarke and Antony Ryan are also highly regarded by peers. They are working with Bornstein on behalf of Deutsche Telekom, the controlling stockholder of T-Mobile, in class action and derivative litigation alleging that defendants breached their fiduciary duties in connection with T‑Mobile’s $26bn merger with Sprint by not arguing for more favourable terms. Up-and-coming partner Rory Leraris also plays a vital role in the practice. With Orsini, he won a summary judgment for Blackstone as the pre-IPO private equity sponsor and a principal stockholder of online dating application Bumble concerning its dual-class voting structure.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 1

New York-based Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is led by co-head of the litigation department Kevin Orsini, whose track record of involvement in market-leading cases continues. He won a complete summary judgment victory for generic drug manufacturer Viatris Inc. concerning the marketing, pricing and classification of EpiPen, as well as alleged conduct concerning generic drug price fixing and market allocation. He is also working with well-regarded securities litigators Daniel Slifkin and Antony Ryan to defend Robinhood Markets, Inc. in the sprawling ‘meme stock’ litigation, which concerns the company’s decision to temporarily place limits on trading in GameStop and other securities in the face of unprecedented market volatility in 2021. They have, so far, secured the dismissal of two of the three tranches of litigation against the company. Karin DeMasi worked closely with emerging partner talent Lauren Rosenberg to secure back-to-back dismissals of class actions against First Solar, Inc. Among the firm’s other up-and-coming partners are Wes Earnhardt, who is involved in a notable matter concerning the Disney+ streaming service, and Lauren Moskowitz, who is widely recognised as a tenacious litigator.

Environment > Environment: transactional Tier 1

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s New York-based environmental practice is home to a team of experienced professionals who continue to advise a broad range of corporate clients, including Brookfield Renewables and RWE, on the full spectrum of environmental and sustainability-related transactions. These range from mergers and acquisitions to divestments, green bond financing, and ESG regulatory issues. Matthew Morreale heads the firm’s environmental team, and is noted for his deep expertise in handling environmental proceedings and investigations, as well as regularly advising on ESG-related issues such as sustainability reporting, acquisition and investment due diligence. Another key contact is ‘first-class’ Annmarie Terraciano, whose broad practice spans mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions and environmental litigation, most notably in the heavy manufacturing, chemical and mining sectors.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has a reputation for advising on landmark and highly-complex debt offerings, including those linked to acquisitions and spin-off transactions. The wide-ranging practice covers  investment grade, high-yield, convertible and exchangeable debt deals, with the team acting for issuers and underwriters. Ryan Patrone and Kelly Smercina were recently elected to the partnership, expanding the capital markets team’s senior ranks. It frequently advised blue-chip issuers along with the most active underwriters and initial purchasers in big-ticket offerings. Craig Arcella, Andrew Pitts and Nicholas Dorsey are top members of the team, with Michael Mariani making a further impression in investment grade debt offerings. William Fogg and Stephen Burns are also senior members of the practice. Named individuals are all based in New York.    

Finance > Capital markets: global offerings

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s international reputation sees it act for a large number of foreign issuers, including those from Canada, Europe and Latin America. It represented AerCap Holdings in three equity offerings and two debt offerings in 2023 with a total value of $8.81bn. It also advised Nestlé Holdings on two 144A/Reg S notes offerings, worth $4.5bn. Craig Arcella has a strong reputation for global deals, as do Andrew Pitts and Nicholas Dorsey . Kelly Smercina and Ryan Patrone were promoted to the partnership in January 2023. All are based in New York.

Finance > Commercial lending

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s banking and credit practice is experienced at handling a range of lending transactions. The New York-based team is jointly led by George Zobitz  whose practice encompasses syndicated loans, direct lending transactions and securities; Tatiana Lapushchik  who is a key name for leveraged and investment grade bank financings in the industrial, consumer, technology, media and oil and gas sectors; and Stephen Kessing who is well versed at representing borrowers across a range of industries and large financial institutions in a range of lending transactions. Matthew Kelly is also a valued member of the team with experience representing clients on both the lender and borrower side of financing. March 2023 saw the arrival of Korey Fevzi and Philip Stopford from Shearman & Sterling LLP.    

Finance > Fintech

A strong choice for broker-dealers, banks, startups, as well as public companies, the New York-based practice at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is knowledgeable of digital payments, protocol design, and Web3 intellectual property mandates. Other areas of expertise for the practice include regulatory cryptocurrency matters, decentralized finance, and DAOs. David Kappos oversees the team and is proficient in the intellectual property aspects of blockchain and cryptocurrency matters. A partner in the firm’s corporate department, Scott Bennett advises issuers and investment banking firms on public and private offerings of securities. Sasha Rosenthal-Larrea often handles the technology, intellectual property, data privacy, and data security aspects of major corporate transactions, while Daniel Barabander is particularly well-versed in compliance and securities matters. Other key team members include co-lead of the firm’s litigation practice Kevin Orsini.  

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 1

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP offers expert assistance in navigating the executive compensation and benefits implications of complex corporate transactions, including issues related to succession, disclosure, ERISA, and governance. Eric Hilfers, leading the team in New York, is renowned for his expertise in executive hiring and his significant role in the M&A sector, notably in Newcrest’s A$28.8 billion acquisition of Newmont Corporation, forming the largest gold mining entity globally. Jonathan Katz delivers advice on employee agreements and incentive programs, keeping pace with regulatory changes such as clawback provisions. Amanda Hines Gold specializes in the creation and negotiation of severance packages, SEC filings disclosures, and the management of equity incentive schemes. Meanwhile, Matthew Bobby’s area of focus includes guiding clients through spin-offs, IPOs, and mergers, with particular attention to separation and executive employment contracts, and the intricacies of SEC disclosures.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 1

Cementing its status as a market-leading outfit for high-value M&A, the team at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP demonstrates extensive expertise in handling cross-border joint ventures, divestitures, and strategic investments. Drawing upon a deep bench of seasoned corporate lawyers, the department regularly advises global companies in the pharmaceutical, finance, and digital sectors on a wide range of transactional matters. With the outfit operating entirely out of New York, presiding partner Faiza Saeed is highly regarded for her corporate governance and crisis management work, while co-head Mark Greene focuses primarily on complex restructuring matters and private equity deals. Co-head Robert Townsend is an expert in international M&A and activist defense proceedings, and George Schoen routinely counsels corporations and their directors on fiduciary duty issues. Co-head Richard Hall is a specialist in managing strategic partnerships in the renewable energy field, Ting Chen is knowledgeable on corporate activism matters, and Aaron Gruber oversees general corporate affairs. Keith Hallam left the team in March 2024.

Tax > International tax Tier 1

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP’s New York-based tax team designs tax-efficient structures for a broad range of US and cross-border transactions, including mergers, spin-offs, joint ventures, private equity fund formations, and internal restructurings. Practice head Lauren Angelilli focuses on advising clients on the tax and structuring aspects of M&A, joint ventures, and spin-offs. Alongside advising on the tax aspects of M&A, Ronald Creamer advises clients on the IRS review and execution of tax-efficient financing techniques. Christopher Fargo advises on transactions across a wide range of industries, such as media and entertainment, consumer products, retail, and energy. Leonard Teti has extensive expertise advising companies on the tax issues arising out of complex, cross-border M&A and spin-off transactions as well as advising clients during audits by the IRS and other tax authorities. Andrew Davis has a special focus on the tax aspects of M&A, including SPAC, spin-offs, and private equity transactions. As well as advising on M&A, Arvind Ravichandran also advises clients on strategic alliances, restructuring transactions and related financing, and private equity investments across multiple asset classes.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 1

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP’s premier transactional tax practice in New York advises on a wide range of matters, including mergers, spin-offs, joint ventures, fund formations, and restructurings. The team’s client base includes leading names such as Johnson & Johnson and The Walt Disney Company, with the team recently advising Johnson & Johnson in connection with the separation of major pure-play consumer health company Kenvue, Inc., a historic split-off transaction. Lauren Angelilli, focusing on the tax aspects of domestic and cross-border M&A spin-offs, restructurings, and joint ventures, leads the department. Ronald Creamer offers notable expertise in cross-border acquisitions and dispositions as well as in relation to the IRS review of tax-efficient financing techniques and capital markets transactions. Christopher Fargo advises on mergers, reorganizations, securities offerings, and joint ventures in a wide range of industries, including media, retail, telecoms, energy, healthcare and fintech. Leonard Teti assists clients in spin-offs and private equity transactions as well as during IRS audits. Andrew Davis‘s diverse practice covers SPAC, spin-off, and private equity transactions as well as securities offerings, while Arvind Ravichandran represents major clients in the mining, tech, and healthcare sectors, among others.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 2

Praised for its ‘unique pragmatism and client-centric understanding’, the antitrust team at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP focuses on high-stakes, complex, and precedent-setting matters, advising major corporates and financial institutions in the US and internationally across a myriad of sectors and industries. The team is regularly sought after for its expertise on litigation and investigations work brought by the DOJ, FTC, and state attorneys general, as well as international antitrust enforcers. Antitrust chair Christine Varney, a former FTC Commissioner, is a key name for navigating clients through the regulatory clearance process for high-stakes mergers, evidenced by her representation of Illumina on the FTC investigation into its acquisition of GRAIL. Washington DC-based co-chair Noah Joshua Phillips continues to act on major deal clearances, notably representing WestRock Company on its pending $20 billion combination with Smurfit Kappa Group. Maggie Segall focuses on transactional matters and merger-related litigation. Lawyers are based in New York unless otherwise stated. Daniel Zach left the firm in January 2024.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s large capital markets team and its experienced bench of partners brings it a steady stream of big-ticket engagements, both for issuers and underwriters. Along with its outstanding record in high-yield and investment grade debt transactions, its domestic and global reputation consistently puts it in the frame for the most sought after equity offerings. Despite dampened deal activity in 2o23, it advised on Kenvue’s $4.37bn IPO as part of its $41bn spin-off from Johnson & Johnson. Michael Mariani has carved out a burgeoning reputation. Daniel Haaren is another emerging name, along with Nicholas Dorsey . William Fogg, Andrew Pitts and Scott Bennett are the senior names in the team. All are based in New York.

Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is consistently active in high-yield debt offerings, both for issuer and underwriter engagements. The firm has continued to be engaged in headline and challenging deals, including those linked to acquisitions and spin-offs. Joseph Zavaglia has made a further impression in major transactions, along with longstanding leader Craig Arcella. Andrew Pitts, William Fogg and Scott Bennett  are also prominent. Douglas Dolan is an up and coming name, having led a number of significant deals. The team has also looked to expand its partner ranks with the recent promotion of Ryan Patrone and Kelly Smercina to the partnership. All are based in New York.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation Tier 2

Based in New York, the team at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is well versed in the intricacies of high-profile contentious matters. The firm regularly leads litigation on behalf of major media and entertainment clients, including precedent-setting copyright claims. The practice’s expertise particularly lends itself to the corporate aspects of media litigation, such as antitrust, securities, and contractual disputes. The team saw a notable victory in December 2023, winning on all counts in an antitrust dispute that determined Google had acted anticompetitively in its distribution of apps and payments, while similar litigation against Apple remains ongoing. Gary Bornstein and Kevin Orsini are experienced partners who both regularly demonstrate their court room capabilities in high-stakes commercial media disputes. Wes Earnhardt is a further key contact in the team and  represents the likes of the Walt Disney Company and Epic Games in impactful antitrust, copyright infringement, and breach of contract matters. David Korn is rising at the firm and continues to demonstrate his ability to manage putative class actions, as well as securities and commercial litigation.    

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

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s corporate team works closely with a growing list of clients in the telecoms and broadcast sector. The practice advises on a full range of corporate transactions, from M&A to financings, as well as tax, strategic IP and ESG matters. It is active in sector-significant transactions, representing Echostar’s board of directors in the corporation’s merger with DISH Network. Based in New York, Robert Townsend III is co-head of the firm’s global M&A team and, beyond his focus on M&A, handles corporate governance matters and is recognized for his activism defense work in the telecoms and broadcast space.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense Tier 3

The investigations and regulatory enforcement team at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is led by John Buretta, who practices from the firm’s New York office. Buretta has comprehensive experience handling a range of matters such as securities fraud, tax compliance, and antitrust laws. Also based in New York, Benjamin Gruenstein is another integral part of the team who regularly advises companies and senior executives on investigations into insider trading, accounting fraud, and money laundering. Located in Washington DC, Jennifer Leete is recommended for her skill at navigating investigations into financial crimes. The team in Washington DC is strengthened with the addition of Jeffrey A. Rosen, who joined from the DOJ in July 2023. David Stuart retired from the New York office in December 2023.

Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 3

David Marriott, who operates out of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s New York office, has acted in precedent-setting trials in recent years, including the first vertical merger challenge to go to the FTC in 40 years. In 2023, Mariott was lead counsel in a case for Amgen Inc, one of the biggest biopharmaceutical companies in the world in relation to its $27.8 billion acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics. Marriott is an experienced trial lawyer with many successes, and has a strong record in areas such as antitrust, employment, and IP.Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s Daniel Slifkin in New York, who has a strong track record in complex litigation and securities law, counts Tesla as a key client because of his continuing involvement in cases involving Tesla, including a multi-billion dollar trial. Notably, Slifkin is one of the few lawyers to take a securities fraud class action litigation through to jury verdict, and is adept in trials for large corporations such as Morgan Stanley, often working on matters in the banking sector.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism Tier 3

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is an experienced name for advising boards of directors and executive management under threat from shareholder activism. The group is adept at giving preventative advice to protect against activist attacks, and when campaigns take place the team has strength both in settlements and proxy fights. The practice has historically acted for some of the largest global corporations in a spread of sectors, including recently acting for Disney in a proxy contest. Robert Townsend is the leading figure in the New York-based practice and focuses on activist defense as well as M&A and general corporate governance. He is supported by more junior partner Daniel Cerqueira, whose practice has a similar breadth of expertise across corporate and M&A. Other notable contacts are presiding partner Faiza Saeed; corporate head Mark Greene; George Schoen, who co-leads the global M&A practice with Townsend; and EMEA M&A practice head Richard Hall.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional Tier 3

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has amassed considerable experience in handling transformative transactions, including as acquisitions, divestitures and financings, for a raft of blue-chip media and entertainment clients. In New York, practice head and firmwide presiding partner Faiza Saeed is sought out by public companies, boards of directors and special committees for assistance with M&A, corporate governance, takeover defense, and crisis management work. Her transactional prowess was notably demonstrated in her recent assistance to Hasbro in connection with the $500m sale of its Entertainment One film and TV business to Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 3

In the technology transactions arena, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP represents an extensive roster of clients, ranging from startups to global blue-chip companies. The firm stands out for its expertise in tech sector M&A and is also well-equipped to handle IP matters, tech licensing, and the strategic management of tech assets. David Kappos is reputed for his skill in issues at the intersection of tech and IP and also handles deals relating to life sciences, data security, and fintech. George Schoen, co-heads the global M&A practice and handles acquisitions, sales, and joint ventures for corporate tech clients. Sasha Rosenthal-Larrea assists clients with various tech and IP issues, including data privacy matters and commercial arrangements. All individuals named are stationed in New York. Keith Hallam  left the firm in March 2024.

Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal) Tier 4

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP’s appellate practice is closely aligned with its trial practice and the team frequently—though not exclusively—handles appeals for litigation led by the firm at trial level. From its New York base, the group is active in appellate courts across the country, including recent appearances before the Federal, Fifth and Ninth Circuits, as well as in the California, Delaware, and US Supreme Court. Gary Bornstein and Kevin Orsini co-lead an overarching litigation department that also includes Antony Ryan.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 4

With expertise in a broad range of technologies and industries, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP represents clients in intellectual property disputes and commercial transactions. The group’s breadth of technical knowledge allows it to act for clients in sectors such as consumer products, telecoms and media and entertainment, and it has specialist capabilities litigating patent disputes in the pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biotech fields. Operating out of New York, the IP practice is co-chaired by Keith Hummel, a patent attorney whose patent litigation practice spans a variety of industries, and David Kappos. Another key practitioner is Sharonmoyee Goswami, who focuses on intellectual property, antitrust and litigation relating to science and tech and is experienced acting for clients in multiple patent litigation venues, including the International Trade Commission and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Finance > Financial services regulation Tier 5

In addition to advising banks and fintechs on federal and state banking regulations and requirements under Dodd-Frank and Basel III and the regulatory requirements of transactions and bank alliances, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s Washington DC-based financial regulatory team also supports clients with their crypto-asset dealings. Under the leadership of Jelena McWilliams, who took up the role following David Portilla‘s departure in April 2023, the team is frequently called upon to handle disputes arising out of regulatory issues. The arrival of Jeffrey Dinwoodie, also in April, from JPMorgan Chase’s team, saw the firm augment its finance and crypto-asset regulatory practices, and he is also noted for his experience in supporting industry bodies in relation to policy initiatives.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+) Tier 5

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP expanded its New York-based private equity practice in February 2023 with the arrival of leveraged buyout and take-private expert Peter Feist from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, allowing the firm to add funds such as OMERS Private Equity to its growing roster of clients. Feist co-leads the team with David Perkins, whose diverse caseload encompasses M&A and joint ventures as well as structured investments and restructurings. The team, which handles high-value buyouts in sectors such as life sciences, insurance, and infrastructure for the likes of Brookfield and Owl Rock, also benefits from the firm’s broad strengths in corporate and public M&A matters, allowing it to handle a wide range of add-on transactions as well as fund and portfolio company mergers. Further key contacts include cross-border M&A expert Richard Hall and corporate expert Matthew Ploszek.