Nixon Peabody LLP > Chicago, United States > Firm Profile

Nixon Peabody LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 2

Noted for its cross-office collaboration, Nixon Peabody LLP ‘provides comprehensive support in cross-border M&A transactions‘, private equity investments, joint ventures and other corporate transactions in the middle-market space. Clients operate in a diversity of sectors, but the ‘top quality‘ team has been particularly active in the consumer goods, technology and life sciences segments. Todd Tidgewell in Albany oversees the corporate group, and also plays a prominent role representing private equity funds and their portfolio companies. Richard Langan, who is based in New York, ‘is a standout M&A practitioner‘ with substantial experience in domestic and multijurisdictional deals, including public and privately negotiated acquisitions, mergers and strategic alliances. Lior Zorea, a seasoned M&A practitioner in San Francisco, who works with clients from the technology and digital media sectors, is routinely engaged by emerging growth companies and venture capital funds in relation to their transactional and corporate needs.

Transport > Aviation and air travel: litigation and regulation Tier 2

Consistently acting as national litigation counsel for aviation manufacturers, companies, consortiums and individuals, Nixon Peabody LLP fields experts in National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and foreign accident investigations. The team also assists manufacturing and aviation clients with regulatory issues, along with the establishment of risk-management and product integrity procedures designed to avoid litigation. Clients additionally benefit from the practice’s retired military and airline pilots, FAA-licensed flight instructors, attorneys with strong engineering and mechanical backgrounds, and experienced trial lawyers. New York and Long Island-based Joseph Ortego acts in aviation-related litigation, as well as regulatory and compliance matters. Over in San Francisco, Brian Dalrymple‘s track record includes defending corporations, airlines, type certificate holders, parts manufacturer approval holders, drone manufacturers and airports against multi-district and class action litigation. At counsel level in Rochester, commercial and complex business disputes specialist Tracey Scarpello acts in defense-side aviation litigation, while Erik Goergen assists with commercial disputes and product liability matters at trial and appellate levels, and Long Island-based Santo Borruso regularly defends clients in aviation industry-related product liability litigation.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort Tier 3

Nixon Peabody LLP is well-equipped to represent consumer goods manufacturers, chemicals and pharmaceutical clients across a range of toxic tort and environmental litigation. Able to draw upon the expertise of litigators on both coasts as well as the Midwest of the country, the firm is adept at handling large-scale MDLs and class actions and benefits from strong trial credentials, as well as high levels of success in the early resolution of cases through the formulation of compelling dispositive motions. As well as handling private litigation, San Francisco-based counsel Lauren Michals is well-versed in Proposition 65 matters, both from a risk management, as well as enforcement perspective.  ‘Very professional and efficient’ counsel Kevin Saunders is adept at handling all phases of litigation and regularly handles toxic tort exposure cases alleging negligence, product and design defects and failure to warn, including as it relates to asbestos. As part of his broad trial practice, Joseph Ortego regularly handles toxic tort matters, including those relating to pesticide and asbestos exposure, as well as AFFF contamination. Ortego co-heads the team alongside Vivian Quinn, who takes on regional and national cases. All named practitioners are based in New York unless otherwise noted.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 3

The ‘very competent‘ team at Nixon Peabody LLP, predominantly based in Los Angeles, dispenses advice on a range of issues, including telemedicine, medical staff controversy, and behavioral health. Peter Armstrong Egan heads the practice in New York, advising providers on compliance with federal and state-level fraud and abuse rules during transactions. Jill Gordon often advises long-term care facilities and surgery centers, in addition to telehealth companies, on alignment strategies and the formation of joint ventures. Thomas Fahey and associate Alexandra Busto assist providers with financing transactions and strategic matters. Harsh Parikh was promoted to partner in early 2022, and continues to represent managed care organizations and hospitals in reimbursement matters, and FCA investigations.

Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 3

The practice at Nixon Peabody LLP is noted for its ability to represent its clients as they ‘navigate uncharted waters’, with Boston and New York-based trade secret and restrictive covenant expert Matthew McLaughlin co-leading the team with the Chicago-based Laura Bacon, who specializes in labor, employment and litigation in particular. It has strong capabilities assisting clients from start-ups to nationally recognized companies, in safeguarding against trade secrets as well as litigious matters of this nature. Chicago-based partner Richard Tilghman, who ’embodies the true partner approach’, is a key name to note, while specialist labor and employment litigation partners Richard Frey and David Prager both joined the Los Angeles office from Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. in March 2022.

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

Offering deep federal and state-level prosecution and defense expertise, the team at Nixon Peabody LLP represents individuals and classes of individuals facing significant civil and criminal investigations and grand jury proceedings, internal investigations, and acting as witnesses in criminal cases, including sensitive matters relating to espionage, regulatory issues, and high-profile harassment and sexual abuse. The team acts against the DOJ, FTC, state attorneys general, and other regulatory authorities, and is able to represent clients in a broad range of industries, including life sciences, higher education, and financial services. Robert Fisher co-leads the Boston-based team, handling high-stakes investigations and litigations at the federal and state level, alongside co-head Hannah Bornstein, a specialist in life sciences and healthcare issues with notable capabilities in FDA and False Claims Act cases. David Vicinanzo is noted for his work on behalf of victims of childhood sexual abuse, while Brian Kelly is representing multiple defendants in a month-long federal trial arising from the Varsity Blues investigation.

Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 5

Nixon Peabody LLP is well-versed on the full spectrum of construction law matters including contracts, insurance and surety bonds as well as mediation, arbitration, and litigation, and development-related issues such as  commercial leasing and disputes, property damage claims and zoning and land use permitting matters. San Francisco’s Tony Barron represents owners and contractors in project counselling; he leads the firm’s litigation practice and jointly spearheads the construction team with Jeffrey Brenner, who works from Boston, while Vernon Johnson is located in Washington DC and is a trial and litigation specialist who is active in commercial civil litigation.

Intellectual property > Copyright