Nixon Peabody LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Nixon Peabody LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

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

The ‘thoughtful and commercial’ team at Nixon Peabody LLP has an established practice that frequently works with clients from the manufacturing, energy and consumer products sectors. The team is well positioned to handle both strategic M&A and work for private equity clients. Practice chair Todd Tidgewell specializes in private equity buyouts and is based in the firm’s Albany office. In New York, Richard Langan is frequently tasked with leading multijurisdictional deals, such as the sale of AMP Capital’s global infrastructure equity management platform. Boston lawyer David Martland routinely handles transactional matters for healthcare non-profits, while Chicago-based Brian Krob regularly assists clients with complexly structured deals, such as leveraged buyouts and reverse triangle mergers. In Rochester, Lori Green has a notable focus on the cannabis, healthcare and energy sectors. The ‘outstanding’ Christopher Keefe in Boston is a further name to note.

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

Nixon Peabody LLP has longstanding experience in representing airplane and helicopter manufacturers, aircraft component manufacturers, and aircraft and equipment sales, leasing, and financing companies. The client list also comprises domestic and international airlines, including cargo airlines and freight forwarders, airports, fixed base operators, parachuting and balloon operators, and aviation maintenance and repair facilities. The team is consistently sought out to act in National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and foreign accident investigations. It also assists with regulatory matters and the establishment of risk-management procedures that avoid litigation. From the firm’s New York and Long Island offices, Joseph Ortego routinely handles aviation industry-related litigation, regulatory and compliance issues, while in San Francisco, Brian Dalrymple represents corporations, airlines, type certificate holders, drone manufacturers, and airports in defense-side class actions. The practice additionally includes Rochester-based Tracey Scarpello, who assists with aviation-related business disputes; Erik Goergen, an expert in commercial litigation involving aviation and product liability issues, and Santo Borruso in Long Island, who is experienced in defending aviation industry-related product liability cases that allege defects in manufacturing, design and failure to warn.

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

With a deep bench of litigators on both East and West coasts, Nixon Peabody LLP often acts as regional, national, and trial counsel in class action/MDL toxic tort cases in federal and state courts throughout the country. As well as achieving success at trial, the team also regularly prevails at the motions stage, including defeating class certification relating to personal injury, and narrowing the claims to property damage only, on behalf of a national laboratory in a chemical contamination class action. Asbestos-related disputes are also a particular strength, an area in which San Francisco-based litigator Jennifer Kuenster is particularly adept, regularly helping clients to manage their exposure to large dockets of claims. Also based in San Francisco, Lauren Michals provides ‘strong and useable advice’ for clients across a range of toxic exposure cases, as well as in the context of compliance with and litigation relating to Proposition 65.  As part of his eclectic trial practice, Joseph Ortego regularly handles toxic tort matters, including those relating to pesticide and asbestos exposure. 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 indicated.  

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 3

The predominantly New York-based practice at Nixon Peabody LLP handles a broad range of issues for its varied client list, including corporate governance and HIPAA compliance work. Practice head Lindsay Maleson routinely advises medical schools and teaching hospitals on peer review and physician disciplinary matters, while Peter Armstrong Egan has deep knowledge of fraud and abuse issues and healthcare transaction structures. Los Angeles-based Jill Gordon has ample expertise in joint ventures and managed care agreements, and Harsh Parikh is known for assisting healthcare companies and hospital systems with HIPAA data breaches. Rebecca Simone is particularly experienced in assisting healthcare companies and investors with M&A. Promoted to partner in early 2024, Alexandra Busto regularly advises academic medical centers and long-term care facilities. Patrick Callaghan joined the Los Angeles office from Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in January 2024, contributing his experience in assisting dental and veterinary clients.

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

Nixon Peabody LLP regularly conducts internal investigations, advises on crisis management, and represents witnesses in investigations. Robert Fisher and Hannah Bornstein are located in Boston. In addition to being well versed at handling fraud cases, Fisher advises on a breadth of white-collar matters such as embezzlement, money laundering, and extorsion. Bornstein frequently assists companies with regulatory and compliance matters across a range of industries. Also practicing in Boston, Adam Tarosky and Brian Kelly have a wealth of experience with FCA allegations. Based in New York and described as ‘an incredible attorney who is able to handle extremely complex matters with ease’, Tina Sciocchetti is especially skilled at handling sensitive investigations within the education sector.

Finance > Project finance Tier 4

Nixon Peabody LLP‘s team of public finance lawyers possess ‘relative expertise in subsets of the infrastructure field’, resulting in a ‘skilled and well-balanced process’ during the wide breadth of PPPs they routinely engage in. A comprehensive sector focus across infrastructure results in the group acting for public and private sector clients for the procurement, financing and development piece, and also possess the ability to handle tax-related issues. The group is headed up by Virginia Wong who is particularly well-regarded for her bond counsel and has multi-billion dollar debt restructurings and tax-exempt and taxable municipal financings as part of a wide body of work. Dan Deaton predominantly acts as bond, disclosure and underwriter’s counsel on transportation matters, while Roderick Devlin offers significant experience advising the lenders to shortlisted bidders for substantial infrastructure builds. John Hutchinson is routinely sought out as lead tax counsel on P3 ventures and has been active on port developments. Chris Reitzel is another key public and project finance lawyer, commonly positioned in complex, multi-faceted projects as underwriter or bond counsel. Rudy Salo is also recommended. Deaton and Salo operate out of Los Angeles, whereas the rest of team operate from New York.  

Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 4

Nixon Peabody LLP‘s trade secrets collective is headed up by Boston and New York-based attorney Matthew McLaughlin who is experienced assisting clients with matters of alleged misappropriation and those regarding breaches of restrictive covenants. The team is experienced representing companies in allegations made by former employees at both state Superior and Federal court level. Former co-lead of the practice Laura Bacon departed the team to an in-house role and Richard Tilghman left to Vedder Price in May and September 2023 respectively; both were previously based at the firm’s Chicago office.

Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 5

Noted for its capabilities in construction and real estate litigation, Nixon Peabody LLP handles all aspects of real estate development and construction, including public bidding, project planning, contract negotiations and drafting, as well as land use and zoning. Leading the practice, San Francisco’s Anthony Barron represents clients in contract negotiations, project counseling and dispute resolution, and trial lawyer Jeffrey Brenner shares his time between Providence and Boston. Washington’s Vernon Johnson is an experienced trial and litigation attorney, and Armando Batastini handles commercial and real estate litigation in Providence. In June 2023, the team’s strength was bolstered with the arrival of the real estate litigation team from Kaufman Dolowich, Ashley E. Klein, A. Jeanne Grove and Jaimie Bombard amongst others.

Real estate > Land use/zoning

Intellectual property > Copyright