Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Finance > High yield Tier 2

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has a high yield practice that exhibits 'very strong knowledge of the market and excellent availability, and is very diligent'. The practice advises both issuers and underwriters, but is particularly strong in bank-side work on complex, cross-border high yield bonds issued in multiple currencies. EMEA capital markets heads Philip Boeckman and George Stephanakis, who is 'a trusted adviser who provides excellent service, and sound advice and guidance', oversee the practice, in which the 'knowledgeable, available and good to deal with' Alyssa Caples and European counsel Margaret Rallings play crucial roles. The team recently covered financings involving Euro- and dollar-denominated notes for initial purchaser clients in the retail and business-to-business information services sectors.

Finance > Acquisition finance Tier 3

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has hit the ground running since the establishment of its London-based UK law loans team in March 2023 which effectively complements a pre-existing New York law high yield team. Focusing squarely on creditor-side mandates, chiefly for large investment banks but also for some credit funds, the ‘outstanding’ team has a strong profile for large-cap deals and has in a relatively quiet market handled some high-value sponsor-backed matters. Team head Korey Fevzi has a ‘deep understanding of the market’ and is a key member of the team, alongside Philip Stopford, who has a ‘sensible approach to transactions’, and Chantelle Dovey, who provides support in cross-border financings involving the European market.

Finance > Debt capital markets Tier 3

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is best known for its high yield bond practice, but its work for corporate issuers, investment banks and financial sponsors encompasses investment grade and sovereign debt. Philip Boeckman and George Stephanakis co-lead the capital markets group for EMEA, which comprises 'a high-quality team from the partner all the way down to the most junior associate'. Alyssa Caples 'has tremendous experience and delivers measured and commercial advice'. She recently acted for a major tobacco company in a $5bn notes offering. European counsel Lawrence Verhelst is another key member of the team.

Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets: mid-large cap Tier 4

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP fields a team of ‘meticulous, rigorous and exceptionally hard-working' London-based lawyers who specialise in handling transatlantic equity transactions, including public and private issuances as well as de-SPAC transactions, for blue-chip corporate clients and investment banks. In addition to working with US issuers and underwriters, the team is capable of guiding domestic clients through their equity offerings and also provides advice on SEC-registered transactions for clients across EMEA. Philip Boeckman handles US and European IPOs and secondary listings for a wide range of corporate and banking clients and is also noted for his commercial lending expertise. Boeckman co-heads the team with George Stephanakis, who is a key contact for high-yield financings and hybrid transactions.

Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans Tier 5

Although it has gained most market recognition for its leveraged finance offering, the new UK-law loans team at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, which was founded in March 2023, also handles some broader syndicated lending/global loans work for a lender-focused client base. Here, the team, which is led by the 'highly technical and commercial' Korey Fevzi, is able to draw from the same deep knowledge of US and UK law governed debt products to provide 'tailor-made advice' on both new money and refinancing transactions. Philip Stopford is also recommended and is noted for his 'very thoughtful and professional' advice.

Worldwide > M&A Tier 1

United States > Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage)

United States > Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes

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

United States > Finance > Financial services regulation

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.

United States > 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.