Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 2

Lauded for its ‘deep legal, regulatory, and scientific knowledge’, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP provides ‘unparalleled client service’ to clients, often working collaboratively with other counsel in a “virtual law firm” setting to defend pharma and medical device companies against high-profile mass tort claims. The firm has also gained a market-leading reputation for its ability to effectively co-ordinate cross-border litigation, providing ‘very efficient, smooth and productive communication and work’, as a result of its ‘close familiarity with multinationals’ culture and requirements as well as with foreign law firms’. James C. Fitzpatrick  and Charles W. Cohen  have been key to this success and have both developed ‘vast international experience in different jurisdictions’ over the years. They both also ‘have exceptional skills to present creative and strong arguments’, with Fitzpatrick, in particular, noted for his ‘cutting-edge abilities on the scientific aspects’, and ability to effectively develop strong arguments working with medical and science experts. Robb Patryk  co-heads the team with Fitzpatrick and as part of his broad product liability practice regularly handles pharma-related disputes.    

Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance Tier 2

Acting for several leading airlines, aircraft leasing companies, financial institutions and other aviation industry participants, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP‘s aviation finance practice is regularly involved in both asset-backed security and enhanced equipment trust certificate deals. The practice covers all aspects of the aviation business, including large financings, securities offerings, M&A, inter-airline matters, litigation, and workouts and bankruptcies. In Washington DC, aviation finance group chair Steven Chung has extensive experience in a range of aircraft and other structured equipment financings; and Thomas Healey has a strong market reputation for his representation of significant aviation clients. Other notable aviation practitioners are Miami-based international lending and finance transactions specialist Mark Denham, as well as aviation finance practitioners Andrew Fowler and Terry Sanders. The group additionally features experienced senior associate Sean Murphy and Washington DC’s recently-elevated counsel Cynthia Liu. All listed advisers are based in the firm’s New York office, unless otherwise mentioned.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 3

With extensive experience across the full range of international arbitration cases, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP is arguably best known for its expertise in the investment treaty space, particularly cases under ICSID, UNCITRAL and PCA rules. Primarily active on behalf of investors, the team also acts for sovereign states. The group additionally fields a thriving commercial arbitration practice, which represents corporate and state-owned companies, with a focus on the pharmaceutical, energy, infrastructure, and M&A spheres. In New York, Hagit Muriel Elul brings niche expertise in representing Asia-based companies. Elul paired up with Washington DC-based arbitration expert John Townsend to advise Beijing-headquartered BeiGene—acting as co-counsel alongside Goodwin—in a $1.2bn breach-of-contract claim against Bristol-Myers Squibb. Washington DC-based James H. Boykin co-heads the arbitration practice alongside Elul and also fronts the investment treaty arbitration group; his practice has an emphasis on state-to-state and investor-state cases. Other key names include New York's Daniel Weiner, who specializes in arbitration and IP disputes, while Diego Durán de la Vega, who co-chairs the Latin America practice, and Rémy Gerbay are noted in Washington DC.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 4

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP handles a large number of DOJ and FTC clearance processes for deals in a wide range of industries, representing major clients in telecoms, private equity, and pharma, among others. The Washington DC-based team, led by former Deputy Assistant Attorney General William J. Kolasky , is also able to handle contentious regulatory investigations and enforcement actions relating to mergers, as well as approvals by merger authorities in global jurisdictions. Robert B. Bell  is highly experienced in merger clearances, and also offers deep knowledge of vertical distribution arrangements relating to transactions, while Philip Giordano is a former DOJ antitrust enforcer and focuses on the financial services sector. Associate Kristin Millay has a strong record in HSR pre-merger notifications and DOJ merger investigations.

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

Accounting fraud, insider trading, and antitrust violations are among the key areas of focus for Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. Under the leadership of New York-based Marc Weinstein, the firm is reputed for representing clients stemming from the financial services industry, for whom it conducts internal investigations and acts in grand jury proceedings and criminal trials. Washington DC-based Kevin Carroll regularly advises businesses and individuals in matters relating to FCPA, OFAC compliance, and cyber security.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 4

Leveraging expertise throughout the country, including a particularly compelling East Coast and Midwest offering, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP is ‘very well-prepared to answer all kind of questions related to product liability matters’, irrespective of geographical location. The team is best-known for its  work in federally-regulated industries, and as well as its ‘stellar pharmaceuticals offering’, is also accomplished at handling matters relating to alleged damage caused by tobacco and speciality chemicals. Drawing upon trial and appellate litigation prowess, Kansas City-based partner James Berger  is adept at handling all aspects of complex litigation in multiple state and federal courts throughout the country; he continues to spearhead the firm’s efforts on behalf of tobacco company R.J.Reynolds in the Kent filter litigation. Best-known for their life sciences and medical devices expertise, New York-based practitioners Robb Patryk  and James C. Fitzpatrick co-head the overarching products liability and toxic tort offering.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 4

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP ‘has excellent legal skills and deep knowledge in multi-jurisdictional matters, combining a direct approach in communication with both the court, counterparties and the client with the ability to come up with solutions to complex problems that do not increase the level of conflict’. Kevin Abikoff in Washington DC and, in New York, Shahzeb Lari and Marc Weinstein lead the 18-partner securities litigation group. Weinstein and New York-based Daniel Weiner are defending Stuart Fraser, Vice Chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald, in aiding-and-abetting liability claims as part of a securities fraud class action civil suit accusing two cryptocurrency mining companies. Weinstein and key partner William Maguire, who is acting for Deloitte and Touche LLP in a class action alleging it fraudulently misstated its financial statements, are ‘experienced litigators who are able to come up with alternatives on strategy and negotiations’.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 4

Led by Kathryn Coleman and Christopher Kiplok in New York, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP  specializes in advising in relation to insolvencies in the financial services sector but also represents clients from the aviation, commodities, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and tech sectors, among others, on a wide range of restructuring-related matters. Coleman has considerable experience representing debtors, DIP lenders, equity sponsors, unsecured creditors, and strategic buyers in relation to both in- and out-of-court restructurings. Kiplok has been active in the mass torts space and has an excellent reputation for his financial litigation expertise. A multidisciplinary team, led by Coleman, has recently advised Delta Air Lines in its capacity as strategic partner and equity investor in the Chapter 11 restructuring of Grupo Aeroméxico, while Kiplock has led the practice’s representation of multibillion dollar French mining company Imerys S.A., in connection with the Chapter 11 filings of its three indirect subsidiaries concerning their talc-related liabilities in the US.

Tax > International tax Tier 4

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP provides transactional expertise in several areas of law including international mergers and acquisitions, spinoffs, joint ventures, bankruptcies, reorganizations, equipment and aviation finance. Andrew Braiterman leads the team and represents clients on international tax planning and issues relating to debt restructuring. Spencer Harrison counsels on disputes with federal and state taxing authorities in addition to tax planning projects. Lawyers mentioned are in New York.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 5

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP‘s New York-based tax group continues to handle a significant volume of transactions in the area of equipment and aviation finance, where Alan Kravitz has deep experience advising various underwriters, issuers and lenders. Practice head Andrew Braiterman focuses on domestic and international M&A, equipment leasing, financial products, and hedge and private equity funds. Spencer Harrison is the main point of contact for the firm’s not-for-profit clientele, while Charles Wachsstock handles tax issues arising from employment and separation agreements, as well as compensation programs – where counsel Erin DeCecchis further excels.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 6

Based in New York, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP consistently advises on high-value transactions for a broad sweep of institutional clients from the worlds of media, financial services, entertainment, consumer products and technology. The latter is a core area of strength for the group, which also stands out for its impressive track record in de-SPAC transactions. Seasoned in the full spectrum of M&A matters, the team has been particularly active in complex business combinations, unit sales and going private deals. Chair Charles Samuelson specializes in public and private M&A, including proxy contests and joint ventures. Deputy chair Kenneth Lefkowitz and Michael Traube are other names to note for negotiated and contested deals, as well as de-SPAC transactions and private equity investments.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration Tier 5

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP has an established background in investor-state disputes under ICSID, UNCITRAL and Permanent Court of Arbitration rules, and demonstrates solid experience acting for and against states in cases brought under bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and other frameworks such as the Energy Charter Treaty. The Latin America-focused team also has a strong presence in commercial arbitration. Diego Durán De La Vega chairs the Latin America disputes practice and James Boykin is chair of the investment treaty arbitration group; as these positions would suggest, both are deeply experienced practitioners. Rémy Gerbay, who became head of the firm's Investor-State arbitration practice in March 2023, is another key figure for contentious matters in Latin America; former co-chair of the Latin America disputes team Luis O’Naghten joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP the same month. Since publication, and in a significant coup for the practice, the firm hired Gaela Gehring Flores -formerly of Allen & Overy LLP- as global co-head of its international arbitration practice

Brazil > Compliance

Praised for its ‘unique knowledge of international compliance legislation‘, boutique firm Saud Advogados demonstrates notable strength in cross-border anti-corruption and compliance matters, benefitting from its cooperation with Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP. Practitioners are adept at assisting companies throughout all phases of the design and implementation of their compliance programmes, and also possess solid credentials in internal investigations and enforcement proceedings before governmental authorities. Salim Jorge Saud Neto, dual qualified in both Brazil and New York, has expert knowledge of FCPA-related matters, anti-corruption compliance and enforcement. With extensive in-house experience in the public and private sectors, Patricia Zebulum is especially active in the energy, mining and oil and gas segments, the latter of which is a sector focus for Ana Carolina Chaves and Antonio Pimentel. Caroline Rosa is proficient in leniency agreements, administrative proceedings and general compliance issues under the Brazilian Clean Companies Act, while Luis Gustavo Vagos shines in due diligence, internal investigations and compliance training.