Debevoise & Plimpton LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is as a go-to practice for large corporations and their C-suite executives in white-collar investigation and enforcement matters, where the firm handles topics ranging from corruption and embezzlement to cybersecurity and commodities. Offices in major hubs such as Hong Kong and London further strengthen the practice’s ability to handle multijurisdictional and parallel investigations for multinational clients. In New York, practice head Bruce Yannett is a key contact alongside litigation specialist Lisa Zornberg and Mary Jo White, whose expertise extends to crisis management and internal investigations. Andrew Ceresney, also in New York, is rated for his in-depth experience in assisting corporations and individuals in federal and state government investigations and contested litigation. In March 2022, the practice strengthened its bench with the arrival of San Francisco-based Kristin Snyder, a former Deputy Director of the Division of Examinations at the SEC.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 1

In the ultimate accolade, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP's international arbitration team is commended as having ‘no weak link’. As one of the largest dedicated groups in the market, the New York-based practice fields an impressive combination of senior specialists together with next-generation partners; all of whom bring to bear experience in representing the full scope of clients, including multinational corporations and sovereign states, in cross-border arbitral proceedings. A regular fixture on commercial, investment treaty and public international law-related matters, the group is a destination practice for complex cases under all major institutional rules. Co-chairing both the international dispute resolution and public international law departments, Catherine Amirfar enjoys a prominent global reputation for her record in landmark disputes. Amirfar recently paired up with Ina Popova to represent the Republic of Iraq in an ICSID case brought by Orange Telecom under the France-Iraq bilateral investment treaty (BIT), among other proceedings. Mark W. Friedman, who splits his time between New York and London, is sought after for his expertise in complex mining and natural resources cases; he teamed up with Latin America practice co-chair Dietmar Prager and Caribbean practice co-chair Natalie Reid to successful represent Tethyan Copper Company in its $6bn arbitration win against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan–the second-largest ICSID award ever rendered. Seasoned litigator David W. Rivkin is also widely recognized as a leading light, while newly promoted partner Laura Sinisterra and counsel Floriane Lavaud are highly regarded up-and-coming names.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 1

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP offers expertise across white collar and regulatory defense, commercial litigation, international arbitration and intellectual property, leveraging its presence across strategic jurisdictions including Hong Kong, New York, London and Washington DC. The practice is led by Andrew Ceresney, who focuses on financial services litigation, and Mary Beth Hogan, who concentrates her practice on investigations, particularly for educational institutions and corporations relating to sexual harassment, as well as regulatory investigations and enforcements involving the DOJ and CFPB. Co-chair of the firm’s international dispute resolution group is Catherine Amirfar, who is recognized for her experience in public international law, bolstered by her time as Counselor on international law to the US State Department. Ina Popova also focuses on public international law and international litigation across several sectors including mining, energy and TMT. Finally, Andrew Levine, David O’Neil, based in Washington DC, and Bruce Yannett are key figures within the firm’s white collar and regulatory defense team, representing companies, financial institutions and executives on a range of securities fraud, foreign bribery, anti-corruption and investigation matters. Donald Donovan recently retired from the firm. Unless specified otherwise, all lawyers are based in New York.

Insurance > Insurance: non-contentious Tier 1

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP excels in supporting transactions in the insurance market, representing insurers, reinsurers and private equity funds involved in high value M&A and financing deals, while also offering assistance with complex pension risk transfers and cross-border deals. Regulatory issues, including insurance regulator and attorneys general investigations, are also among the practice’s areas of focus. Marilyn Lion and Nicholas F. Potter lead the practice, with both being noted for their expertise in advising on insurance industry transactions, including M&A and financing transactions. Alexander Cochran handles M&A, financing and pension risk transfer deals, while David Grosgold is valued by clients for his expertise in overseeing international M&A, joint venture, reinsurance and bancassurance transactions between the USA, Latin America and Asia. John M. Vasily retired in 2022. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation Tier 1

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP remains a leader in the IP space, harnessing the bench strength of its worldwide network to act in high-profile litigation on behalf of major multinationals such as Prada, Fox Sports, and WeWork, across sectors ranging from fashion, financial services, and tech to professional services, e-commerce, aerospace, and hospitality. The team is led by market-leading IP authority David Bernstein, who works out of the New York and San Francisco offices, and represents global household brands in high-stakes infringement suits. In New York, Megan Bannigan, an expert in false advertising and fashion law, brings extensive trial expertise and experience testifying as an expert before the United States Senate Judiciary Intellectual Property Subcommittee on the issue of fraudulent trademarks. Jyotin Hamid, also in New York, secures temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions on behalf of brand owners, where counsel Jared Kagan also applies experience to matters before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and in court, at the state and federal levels. Counsel Christopher Ford in San Francisco specializes in cybersecurity incident preparation and response.

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 1

The ‘sophisticated offering‘ in private equity funds at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is ‘particularly well-placed to provide expert support to clients across geographies and practice areas‘ and features a well-established fund formation team, as well as an investor-side practice that acts for institutional investors in private funds. Based in New York, Rebecca Silberstein and Lorna Bowen oversee the firm’s asset management practice globally and domestically, respectively, and head of the investor-side practice Jane Engelhardt focuses on representing clients in primary investments and secondary transactions. Jonathan Adler and Jason Auerbach are both recommended as ‘standout partners‘, and Justin Storms is another key name in New York, acting for several leading asset managers. The department also has representation at its Washington DC office, where Marc Ponchione heads the firm’s US investment management regulatory practice; and in San Francisco, where counsel Joe Binder and Andrew Ahern spearhead the offering to West Coast clients.

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

The ’brilliant’ team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is highly regarded in the space, working closely with lawyers from the M&A, leveraged finance, capital markets and tax departments to provide a comprehensive service to clients. The group specializes heavily in handling the executive compensation side of complex multijurisdictional M&A and private equity deals, with practice head Jonathan Lewis regularly representing domestic and international companies on all elements of the deployment of human capital and investment in funds by ERISA pension plans. Lawrence Cagney has vast experience of advising financial services clients and investment funds in major M&As, as showcased by his leading role in Carlyle’s $2bn acquisition of the life sciences investment firm Abingworth. Meir Katz focuses on executive compensation and employee benefits matters across a range of corporate transactions, while Franklin Mitchell routinely assists insurance companies, banks, and asset managers with ERISA fiduciary issues. Michael Snypes advises boards of directors and compensation committees on corporate governance affairs relating to executive compensation, and Washington DC-based Simone Hicks addresses compensation-related securities law concerns. All named attorneys are based in New York, unless otherwise stated.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: litigation Tier 1

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has a pre-eminent advertising litigation offering that handles matters across the full spectrum of advertising campaigns, with notable expertise in defending ads before regulators, and litigating false advertising disputes before the FTC, FDA, and NAD. It also demonstrates strong capabilities in both prosecuting and defending against requests for preliminary injunctions. It is active across a wide array of sectors, including automotive, consumer products, cosmetics, financial services, luxury goods, pharmaceuticals, publishing and media, and sports. The team is headed by David Bernstein, who is based between New York and San Francisco, and has particular expertise handling intellectual property litigations. In New York, Megan Bannigan and counsel Jared Kagan are noted for their experience in trademark, false advertising, and copyright-related disputes. Washington DC-based Paul Rubin focuses on FTC and FDA law, and has particular expertise in the life sciences, technology, and consumer products sectors.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 1

The New York-based tax group at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is noted for its capabilities in domestic and cross-border transactions, working with a diverse range of clients operating in the technology, healthcare, financial services, and real estate sectors, among others. The team’s work encompasses M&A, spin-offs, joint ventures, private equity and hedge fund formations, restructurings, and financings (including equipment leasing and project finance). Recent high-profile highlights include billion-dollar acquisitions for Spirit Airlines, Covéa Mutual Insurance Group, and Verizon Communications. Practice head Peter Schuur focuses on corporate transactions in the insurance sector alongside Daniel Priest, while presiding partner Peter Furci is a specialist in private investment funds – where Rafael Kariyev is also recommended. Gary Friedman is praised for his cross-border M&A and financing work, whereas Michael Bolotin handles REIT formations, real estate joint ventures, and equipment finance matters. Investment management expert Erin Cleary further handles US and international private equity fund formations.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 2

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has a proven history of providing legal services to asset managers, financial institutions, media companies, and entities within the healthcare and life sciences industries. The firm’s New York-based team handles a wide range of national and cross-border cases, with a focus on M&A and PE-related matters, securities litigation, product liability claims, and mass torts. Mark Goodman, a co-head of the practice, is highly regarded for his expertise in complex civil litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and internal investigations. Maura Monaghan has a strong background in the life sciences sector, representing a diverse range of clients, including associations, insurers, non-profits, and pharmaceutical companies. Susan Reagan Gittes is a sought-after legal advisor for insurance companies and corporations, as well as their directors and officers, in federal securities class actions. Shannon Rose Selden specializes in asset management cases, while Elliot Greenfield focuses on securities and shareholder disputes.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 2

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is ‘very knowledgeable in securities litigation matters, as well as collaborative, and creative in advocating’.  The firm has a strong track record of success in representing corporations and their officers and directors in challenging, high-stakes securities litigation in federal and state courts around the country, including those involving simultaneous stock drop class actions, derivative actions alleging breaches of fiduciary duty, and related regulatory investigations by federal and state authorities. Maeve O’Connor in New York (who is ‘excellent in this field’) and Jonathan Tuttle in Washington DC jointly lead the practice. O’Connor and up-and-coming New York partner Susan Reagan Gittes acted for a special litigation committee of FirstEnergy Corp. in derivative actions arising from a bribery scheme in which former senior executives of FirstEnergy allegedly bribed elected officials in Ohio. O’Connor and emerging partner talent Elliot Greenfield in New York are key advisors to insurance company MetLife in a class action alleging that the company had inadequate internal controls over financial reporting. Tuttle focuses predominantly on regulatory enforcement matters involving the SEC, DOJ, FINRA and others.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 2

Active on the borrower side, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP excels in a range of leveraged finance mandates, characterized by high-end advice on syndicated bank loans, high-yield debt offerings, second lien financings and mezzanine capital investments. Jeffrey Ross stands at the forefront of these New York-based efforts with extensive complex acquisition and leveraged financing expertise, which recently manifested into the team’s advice to Warner Bros. Discovery on the acquisition of WarnerMedia and the restructuring of a receivables purchase agreement. Other standout members include Ryan Rafferty and Scott Selinger, key names to note for private equity and corporate clients, and Ramya Tiller, who acts as co-head of the firm’s fund finance practice; their client portfolio includes Clayton, Dubilier & Rice as well as Carlyle Group.

Finance > Financial services regulation Tier 2

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP offers a highly specialized team dedicated to a full gamut of regulatory, litigation and transactional factors affecting banking institutions, foreign banks, and affiliated broker-dealers. Apart from its traditional clientele, the firm is also retained by non-bank institutions looking to enter the space or offer banking products, which includes insurers and private equity firms. Led by Satish Kini in Washington DC, a name to note for leading industry trade associations facing regulatory reform issues and Gregory Lyons in New York, with experience representing private equity firms in their investments, the team is capable with regard to Volcker Rule matters, US bank formation as well as foreign bank and M&A-related regulation. Corporate expert Jeffrey Robins is another standout in New York, acting for broker-dealers, swap dealers and securities exchanges in a range of matters, accompanied by recently promoted Caroline Swett, a key contact for domestic and foreign banks seeking regulatory, enforcement and transactional advice.

Environment > Environment: transactional Tier 2

Sitting in the wider corporate group, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s environmental practice is particularly strong in high-profile and high-value M&A deals, and acts for businesses, private equity funds and investment funds. It handles environmental issues relating to domestic and international transactions, securities offerings and financings. Stuart Hammer heads the team with over 25 years’ experience in advising clients on the environmental risks and liabilities associated with their transactions; he also provides ancillary advice in ESG matters and is active in the defense, chemicals, consumer product, pharmaceutical and packaging sectors. Harry Zirlin handles M&A, financings and real estate transactions and is experienced in environmental-related bankruptcy issues and comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act (CERCLA) matters. Ulysses Smith joined as senior adviser for ESG from Telos Governance Advisers in November 2022. All attorneys named are based in New York.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 2

The ‘smart‘ and ‘commercial‘ M&A team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP offers representation to a mix of top-notch private equity firms, corporate clients and financial institutions in some of their largest, and most significant deals in the US market. With the ability to guide clients in complex transactions, and effectively handle associated governance issues, activist challenges and related litigation, the practice – which formerly sat in the New York office – has expanded on the West Coast and continues to act for a growing Bay Area client base. Global co-chair and co-managing partner of the San Francisco office, Michael Diz has recently advised on several high-value transactions in the TMT, industrials, and consumer goods sectors. Fellow co-chair Kevin Rinker is a key contact for private equity and healthcare clients in New York. Other individuals to note in the same office include Sue Meng, who assists public companies, boards of directors, special committees and private equity clients on business transactions; Jeffrey Rosen, who heads up the corporate department; and public M&A and corporate governance specialist William Regner.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts Tier 2

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP clients have ‘immense trust’ in the private equity group’s capacity to handle the most diverse range of complex transactions, spanning public and private buyouts, PIPEs, multi-asset acquisitions, continuation funds, and other bespoke investments. In addition to a broad scope of expertise, the firm is able to offer clients a wealth of industry-specific experience to navigate convoluted regulatory landscapes, including such areas as healthcare, insurance, technology, and renewables. The highly respected Kevin Schmidt leads the team, who is adept at handling high-value M&A and fosters strong working relationships with market giants such as Blackstone, Brookfield and Carlyle. Healthcare and life sciences specialist Kevin Rinker , as well as Uri Herzberg who is vastly experienced across the gamut of transactional matters, led with Schmidt in CD&R’s $3.7bn acquisition of a majority stake in Roper Technologies. Paul Bird has a particularly diverse practice, renowned for his cross-border capabilities and significant corporate matters such as leveraged buyouts, spin-offs and takeover defense. Jennifer Chu continues to establish her reputation in the market for advising PE firms on M&A and joint ventures, while Christopher Anthony practice focuses on acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. All lawyers are based in New York.

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

With the addition of Erez Liebermann in New York at partner level from Linklaters LLP in June 2022, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has furthered the depth of its cyber incident response advisory team. Luke Dembosky and Avi Gesser, respectively based in Washington DC and New York, co-chair the global data strategy and security practice. High profile companies, including Meta Platforms, call on Gesser’s advice for global AI regulatory readiness strategies, while Dembosky is the go-to for cyber-related investigations. New York-stationed litigator Jim Pastore responds to and investigates data breaches, while white collar defense specialist Lisa Zornberg, who also works from the New York office, takes on cyber investigations for corporate and financial institutions. Counsels Johanna Skrzypczyk and Christopher Ford, based in New York and San Francisco respectively, as well as New York-based associate Anna Gressel are key members of the team.

Tax > International tax Tier 2

The team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP works closely with clients from a range of industries including media, healthcare, insurance, investment management and real estate, as well as investment banks, on complex mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, international transactions, private equity and hedge fund formations. The practice is headed by Peter Schuur who advises clients on US and cross-border mergers and acquisitions transactions with a focus on corporate deals in the insurance industry. Peter Furci practices extensively in the area of private investment funds including emerging markets while Michael Bolotin focuses on private equity fund formation. Gary Friedman is well-versed in acquisitions and financings. All lawyers are based in New York.

Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance Tier 2

Housing attorneys who ‘remain at the forefront of legal developments in aviation finance‘, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP‘s New York-based team advises on the gamut of of aviation deals. Its expertise ranges from aircraft and non-aircraft finance work, to capital markets transactions, fleet purchases, M&A, restructurings, and airport infrastructure developments and financings. The group is jointly led by ‘consummate problem solvers‘ Paul Brusiloff and Brian Liu. Well known for his lengthy representation of American Airlines, Brusiloff focuses on the representation of airlines and other borrowers in complex debt and equity financings and refinancings, as well as recapitalization and restructuring deals; and Liu is an expert in advising airlines, financial institutions and leasing companies on all aspects of aviation and equipment finance work. Singled out as ‘a technically excellent lawyer and strong client advocate‘, experienced associate Iryna Nikolaieva is a key member of the firm’s aviation practice group, who regularly advises on complex corporate and aircraft financings.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 3

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP advises clients on HSR filings alongside DOJ and FTC reviews of mergers and joint ventures, as well as offering strong capabilities in high-stakes merger litigation and accompanying antitrust investigations, and being able to secure multi-jurisdictional clearance for transactions in concert with foreign counsel and the firm’s global offices. Sector strengths for the firm include financial services, consumer good, pharma, and telecoms, with a large portfolio of high-profile clients featuring major names such as Albertsons, American Express, and Verizon. The practice is overseen by New York-based Michael Schaper , who has a successful record in private equity, Washington DC-based litigator Ted Hassi, and New York’s Erica Weisgerber, a specialist in financial services antitrust issues. Senior associate Leah Martin in DC has played a key role in merger clearances for top clients including Albertsons and CD&R.

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation Tier 3

With deep regulatory experience, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP frequently advises on enforcements and investigations by bodies including the CFPB, NYDFS, DOJ, OFAC and the SEC. The firm takes a multidisciplinary approach, combining this expertise with that of corporate and other litigation practitioners to handle a range of matters including corruption, parallel civil and criminal proceedings and multiple inquiries by regulatory bodies, often relating to jurisdictions including the UK, France and Hong Kong. The practice is co-led by New York’s Mary Beth Hogan and Andrew Ceresney. Hogan focuses on investigations, particularly for educational institutions and corporations with an emphasis on sexual harassment and MeToo matters. Meanwhile, Ceresney specializes in investigations and white-collar defense along with Bruce Yannett. Maeve O’Connor co-chairs the firm’s securities litigation group and is recognized for her experience this area. All named lawyers are based in New York.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is widely rated for its record in headline and complex transactions. Notably, it advised Discovery on the $30bn offering of senior unsecured notes by Magallanes, the wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T; the transaction related to Discovery’s acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T. The firm also remains active in issuances by financial services and insurance businesses, and transactions connected to its plentiful private equity client base. Matthew Kaplan is a prominent figure in the market, along with fellow co-head of the capital markets group Steven Slutzky and key partners Eric Juergens, Paul Rodel and Peter Loughran.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP remains noted for its expertise in financial services, healthcare, media and entertainment. It advised Corebridge Financial and American International Group on Corebridge’s $1.7bn IPO. It has also maintained a steady flow of deals thanks to its connections to top private equity houses and has achieved further recognition for its work in SPAC and PIPE deals. Paul Rodel and Steven Slutzky lead the team, which includes senior names Matthew Kaplan, Eric Juergens, Morgan Hayes and Peter Loughran.

Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings Tier 3

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is active in high-yield debt thanks to acquisition-related debt offerings for its private equity clients, such as Clayton Dubilier & Rice. Financial services and insurance are also core sectors for the firm, which operates across a number of industries. Owing to its private equity relationships, the firm is better known for issuer-side engagements, though it does frequently advise underwriters as well. Steven Slutzky  and Matthew Kaplan are the standout partners in high-yield debt matters, along with Eric Juergens, Peter Loughran and Nicholas Pellicani.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 3

Led by Natasha Labovitz and Sidney Levinson, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s restructuring practice represents a wide range of clients, including debtors, bondholders, secured lenders, and private equity sponsors, in relation to restructurings both in and out of court. Labovitz specializes in advising private equity firms, fund investors, and portfolio companies on domestic and cross-border bankruptcy and insolvency matters, while Levinson has represented major clients such as The Blackstone Group and Oaktree Capital Management. Notably, a cross-practice team, led by Jasmine Ball, has recently represented certain former directors and shareholders of Purdue Pharma, Inc., in connection with its high-profile Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Scott Selinger and Erica Weisgerber also stand out for their contributions, especially in relation to distressed acquisitions and investment, and bankruptcy litigation, respectively. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactions Tier 3

Operating from New York, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP combines a longstanding presence in the telecoms and broadcast space with the cross-departmental capabilities of the wider firm; able to leverage the firm’s offerings in M&A, intellectual property, finance, and tax in conjunction with industry expertise, the practice is well-equipped to service clients in the telecoms sector on their complex corporate transactions, both in the US and internationally. Jonathan Levitsky heads the practice, focusing primarily on public and private M&A and joint ventures in the telecoms and media space, working for a wide range of clients such as private equity, healthcare, and market-leading telecoms and broadcast operators. Michael Gillespie is noted for his strong corporate practice, acting for a range of companies and investors globally in telecoms M&A and other strategic transactions. Michael Diz, working from San Francisco, brings a broad-based transactional practice, advising major telecoms and broadcast clients as well as private equity investing in the space in respect of the structuring and negotiation of complex M&A and other corporate matters.

Real estate Tier 3

Housing an ‘incredibly strong team of very talented attorneys and advisors‘ Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is highly recommended for corporate M&A involving real estate-related companies and assets, joint ventures, borrower and lender-side financings, loan restructurings and workouts. The practice reports increased activity representing clients in life science-focused real estate transactions, industrial and logistics centres and residential property. Peter Irwin chairs the New York-based group, which also includes Nicole Levin Mesard and Edward Rishty , who stands out for experience in capital market transactions involving real estate.  

Finance > Capital markets: global offerings

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP remains closely associated with global offerings by financial services and insurance companies. It is also noted for offerings by SPACs, including PIPE financings, and issuances by private equity portfolio companies. Notable recent engagements for the team include its advice to Jackson Financial on its $2.5bn separation from Prudential through a demerger. Paul Rodel and Steven Slutzky, who lead the capital markets group, have established records in global offerings. Matthew Kaplan is also highly rated.

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 4

The chiefly New York-based team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP assist clients with the full spectrum of corporate healthcare and life sciences matters, including regulatory compliance on transactions and divestitures, and cases involving fraud and unjust enrichment claims. Mark Goodman handles commercial disputes and government investigations alongside Maura Monaghan. Kevin Rinker handles a number of life sciences M&A deals and private equity buyouts, while Andrew Bab focuses on corporate and private equity related matters, bolstered by Jennifer Chu. Washington DC’s Paul Rubin, who heads the FDA regulatory side of the practice, often advises private equity funds on transactions involving life sciences entities.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 4

The 'outstanding' New York-based team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP showcases diverse expertise as it acts for pharmaceutical companies, investment funds, and hospitals. The team regularly dispenses advice on multi-plaintiff class actions and mass torts, FDA regulatory issues, and antitrust litigation. Andrew Bab co-heads the practice alongside the ‘very smart, extremely articulate and super dedicated' Mark Goodman and Maura Monaghan, who are both adept at commercial litigation. Practice co-heads Kevin Rinker and Paul Rubin have extensive experience in healthcare-related corporate, M&A, and PE buyouts, with Rubin being based in Washington DC.

Insurance > Advice to insurers Tier 4

Under the leadership of New York-based securities litigation specialist Maeve O’Connor, the practice at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP represents insurance industry clients in the life and annuities, property and casualty and financial guaranty sectors in disputes including government investigations, securities litigation, policyholder class actions, coverage disputes, ERISA litigation and reinsurance arbitrations. The firm is also known for its defense of insurance companies in class actions brought by both policy- and shareholders. Susan Reagan Gittes, also in New York, is a regulatory specialist who represents insurance companies, their directors and officers before state and federal courts, handling both inquiries and class action suits.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional Tier 4

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP stands out for having the bandwidth to handle large industry-shaping deals such as the firm’s representation of Discovery in its $130bn takeover of TimeWarner; a deal that required a complex Reverse Morris Trust transaction. The team is led by Jonathan Levitsky from the firm’s New York offices, he is an M&A specialist and led on the Discovery takeover. San Francisco-based Michael Diz  is another M&A expert at the firm; he is currently advising the Dolan Family on the creation of a spin-off company that would combine Madison Square’s live entertainment business with MSG Networks.  

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 5

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP works across several jurisdictions and industries on a wide range of antitrust matters, including notable recent involvements in cases where plaintiffs allege bid rigging and price-fixing conspiracies. The team is co-chaired by a quartet of attorneys including: Ted Hassi in Washington DC who focuses on antitrust litigation and obtaining merger clearances; intellectual property law expert Michael Schaper  in New York who also offers antitrust litigation and counseling; and litigation partner Erica Weisgerber, also in New York and a member of the special solutions team, who focuses on bankruptcy litigation and antitrust matters.

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

Latin America: International firms > Compliance and investigations Tier 1

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a global leader in investigations, representing both corporates and individuals. A healthy portion of this practice centres on Latin America, where the firm has built an impressive body of work in internal investigations and those brought by Latin American and US authorities, regulators and prosecutors. It has an impressive range of anti-corruption and compliance engagements in multiple Latin American jurisdictions. The Latin America-focused team represents a range of Latin American corporates, multinationals, financial sponsors, and executives and individuals. Andrew Levine is a leading figure in white-collar and regulatory defence and internal investigations throughout the region. Washington DC partners Kara Brockmeyer and David O’Neil are noted for FCPA investigations; and Bruce Yannett, chair of the white-collar and regulatory defence group, brings further senior-level gravitas to the team. Rising star associate Daniel Aun  moved in house at Alphabet but otherwise the firm has been recruiting strongly, adding five counsel over the last 18 months (from the SEC’s Enforcement division, the Consumer Finance Bureau and the Treasury’s  Terrorism and Finance Intelligence Unit, among other bodies), along with March-2022 partner-hire from the SEC’s Examinations division, Kristin Snyder. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration Tier 1

The ‘hard-working, high-quality attorneys’ in Debevoise & Plimpton LLP‘s international dispute resolution practice handle all major sets of arbitration rules, providing multinational corporations, sovereigns, international organisations and individuals with support in international commercial arbitration and investment treaty arbitration matters. The practice has a strong presence in Latin America, securing significant awards for clients across a broad range of industries, including energy and natural resources, mining, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications. The Latin American practice is led by the New York-based trio of Dietmar Prager , who displays ‘exceptional intelligence’; Mark W. Friedman  has some 20 years’ experience and is a former Vice President of the ICC Court of Arbitration; and Catherine Amirfar. In addition, the group has recourse to the extensive experience of veteran arbitration practitioner David W. Rivkin  , who divides his time between New York and London. Furthermore, the deep bench also houses an array of younger talent, including energy, mining and telecommunications expert Ina Popova  and London-based energy specialist Samantha Rowe. In addition Laura Sinisterra, who clients note is ‘very good at dealing with experts and witnesses’, was raised to the partnership in 2022; and young triple-qualified (Brazil, New York, England & Wales) associate Guilherme Recena Costa is undoubtedly an up-and-comer of note. Donald Francis Donovan retired from his of counsel position in August 2022 after over 35 years at the firm, subsequently taking up a role as an independent arbitrator at Arbitration Chambers.

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP ‘s prominence in insurance, infrastructure and private equity is evident in its Latin America M&A practice, along with energy, telecoms and mining. The team is also noted for transactions involving anti-corruption due diligence. It continues to represent a range of private equity houses and financial sponsors such as HIG Capital, CPPIB and Carlyle in Latin America deals, along with a number of international insurance companies. Maurizio Levi-Minzi co-heads the Latin America group and is a prolific adviser on M&A and private equity deals in the region. David Grosgold is highlighted for insurance and financial services deals in the region. At associate level, up-and-comer Sergio Torres is also noted, particularly for Brazil-related deals. Since publication -and in what can be seen as further underlining the firm's commitment to the Brazilian market- Torres has been promoted to counsel (effective as of July 2023).