Firm Profile > Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP > Washington DC, United States
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Offices
2300 N STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON DC 20037-1122
United States
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 1
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP is adept at handling M&A transactions, private equity and venture capital transactions and securities offerings in the technology, energy, financial services, infrastructure, communications and healthcare sectors. The core client base is composed of public and private companies, private equity firms, and investment banks. For public company work in particular, the practice group is also experienced in corporate governance matters, shareholder disputes and internal corporate investigations. New York-based practice co-head Jonathan Russo is noted for his expertise in corporate governance and reporting requirements, and is thus well placed to handle private and public company M&A. Justin Hovey jointly heads the team from the San Francisco office; he specializes in start-up formation, venture capital financings and M&A, and is also knowledgeable of corporate governance in this space. Chris Patay in Los Angeles is also recommended. The team in New York was further bolstered by the arrival of Jon Lyman from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, and Augusto Lima, who joined from an in-house role at Novartis.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘Pillsbury Winthrop attorneys are very highly regarded in Silicon Valley, especially as company-side advocates, although the firm has equally great expertise representing investors, lenders and acquirers’.
‘The firm has very low attrition of its seasoned practitioners, indicative of the firm being a happy healthy work environment with a stable, happy client base’.
‘The biggest strength is that in addition to the great command of the law, these lawyers really have great judgment’.
‘They know how to get deals done, and they know which battles to fight and which to retreat from’.
‘Their advice and guidance is practical and business-focused’.
‘These lawyers really have great judgment, know how to get deals done, and never let ego get in the way’.
‘Pillsbury has specialized staff members in each field, and I felt that they were working as a team with appropriate and efficient sharing’.
‘Extremely experienced and practical deal team’.
‘Exceptional deal advice across the spectrum of skill sets in a timely manner’.
‘Very personable and dedicated individuals that conduct themselves professionally with the utmost integrity’.
Key clients
Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
Foursquare Labs, Inc.
Genomic Health
Hedvig Inc.
Holtec International
JEA
JUUL Labs
NextEra Energy Transmission, LLC
Sinclair Broadcast Group
SYNNEX Corporation
Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing Tier 1
Washington DC-based Aaron Oser heads the practice at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP, which is 'extremely experienced with consumer finance and is very business friendly'. Frequently instructed by clients in the healthcare, IT infrastructure, financial services and insurance sectors, cloud-based outsourcing deals for IT and financial services companies is a key strength. Oser is advising the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on a potential outsourcing involving rail and station operations and maintenance for the authority’s new Silver Line. Based in Washington, James Alberg has considerable experience on deals for clients in the financial services space, and recently made up partner Meighan O’Reardon is a tech expert with a strong track record assisting clients on IT infrastructure agreements. Mario Dottori is highly regarded for his cross-sector expertise while New York-based Vipul Nishawala is noted as is John Barton, an experienced outsourcing attorney who divides his team between Austin and Washington.
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Testimonials
‘Pillsbury has been my go-to firm for complex transactions over 15 years. I’ve worked with a handful of solid transaction attorneys at other firms, but the team at Pillsbury is extremely experienced with consumer finance and is very business friendly.‘
‘John Barton and Jim Alberg are two attorneys that I have worked closely with. Their depth of experience in consumer finance and technology and responsiveness make them stand out.’
Key clients
State Street Corporation
Blue Shield of California
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission; Virginia General Assembly; Commonwealth of Virginia
City of Minneapolis
EmblemHealth Inc.
Morgan Stanley
Xerox Corporation
Conference of State Bank Supervisors
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
NTT DATA
Zions Bancorporation
JP Morgan Chase, N.A.
General Electric Company
The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
Synchrony Financial
Industry focus > Insurance: advice to policyholders Tier 2
The ‘ultra-creative’ team at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is best known for coverage litigation arising out of environmental and energy, product liability, and D&O claims. Peter Gillon, who co-chairs the practice from Washington DC, advised AmTrust in negotiating with three D&O insurance ‘towers’ to resolve coverage claims including securities class actions and merger objection claims. Other key areas of work include disputes related to construction, natural disasters, property damage and business interruption, and cybersecurity. Joseph Jean, who leads the firm’s New York group, represented NYU in its Hurricane Sandy catastrophe claim. Robert Wallan, based in Los Angeles, co-chairs the practice and is experienced in advising companies sued in California for violating wage and hour laws.
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‘Partners here are ultra-creative in their analysis’
Key clients
California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), Wilshire Vermont Housing Partners
JUUL Labs
Banc of California
Smart & Final
AT&T
Fluidmaster
Victaulic
Stanford University and Hospitals
Sony Interactive Entertainment
In-N-Out Burger
Rayonier Applied Materials
Lenny & Larry’s
Engineered Systems Alliance
SFI (Shimmick/FCC/Salini-Impregilo joint venture)
Duke Energy
Rio Tinto Alcan
CITGO Petroleum Corporation
American Electric Power Company
LF Driscoll – a StructureTone company
Solera Holdings
Industry focus > Transport: aviation and air travel - litigation and regulation Tier 2
The aviation, aerospace and transportation and unmanned aircraft systems practice at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is led by Charles Donley, one of the 'most advanced and well-informed advisors about the aviation sector worldwide'. Largely based in Washington DC, the team handles a range of licensing, enforcement and operating matters, aviation transactions and related litigation. Another key figure in the team is Josh Romanow, who advises international airlines from Europe, Asia, Latin America, Middle East on licensing and traffic rights for US operations. Employment partner Thomas Liu in Los Angeles is also recommended.
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Testimonials
‘Giving importance to any single legal issue, no matter how important or not it is, makes reliable the Pillsbury team’
‘Charles Donley- most advanced and well informed about the aviation sector worldwide, on time performance and knowledge of the sector is most valuable.’
Key clients
American Airlines
Xiamen Airlines
Japan Airlines
Vietnam Airlines
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Air France/KLM Royal Dutch Airline
Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP handles a variety of cyber law issues. Based in Washington DC and Los Angeles respectively, The practice group is jointly headed by Washington DC-based Brian Finch, who focuses on assisting clients with regulatory issues, cyberattacks, intelligence policies, and homeland security concerns, and Deborah Thoren-Peden in Los Angeles, who has experience in cyber issues affecting the financial services industry. Mercedes Tunstall joined Loeb & Loeb LLP.
Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 2
With offices in California, Texas, Washington and overseas, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s construction practice has a fully international reach. San Francisco-based Clark Thiel heads a department adept at advising on projects from the planning, design and entitlement phases through to completion and the handover stage, while aiming to resolve any disputes without unnecessary litigation. Thiel specialises in delay or cost overruns, breach of contract and defect claims, having recently defended Clark Construction on issues concerning the $750m Millennium Tower, with support from Washington DC-based team co-head Melissa Lesmes and John Heisse in San Francisco. Heisse also works on major transportation, healthcare and energy matters; his representation of AECOM and EnergySolutions in a $400m dispute over the decommissioning of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in California is a particular matter highlight. The firm also assists clients with the drafting of design, construction and EPC contracts, new infrastructure financing and construction-related accident proceedings.
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Key clients
SFI (Shimmick/FCC/Salini-Impregilo joint venture)
Lane Construction
Harper Construction
Renewable Energy Group, Inc
Amec Foster Wheeler USA Corporation n/k/a Wood plc
AECOM
Clark Construction Group
Metso Minerals Canada
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District
Stanford University and Hospitals
Dispute resolution > International trade Tier 3
Based in Washington DC, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s trade team regularly serves as external counsel to companies seeking assistance with export controls, economic sanctions and customs issues; senior partner Christopher Wall is among the team's standout individuals for these matters. On the trade remedies front, a team led by practice co-head Nancy Fischer has been acting for a large coalition of nuclear utility clients in relation to section 232 investigations into imports of uranium. This matter showcases another of the team's specializations, as it is able to leverage the strength of the firm’s nuclear energy group in trade remedy work in the nuclear sector. Suspensions agreements and section 301 matters are also handled in the trade remedy space, and in this regard the work of department co-head Stephan Becker stands out in particular. US sellers and foreign buyers also turn to senior associate Matthew Rabinowitz for assistance with obtaining CFIUS clearances; Rabinowitz has extensive experience working with Chinese clients.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘A knowledgeable team that collaborates well, leverages its connections, and uses its legal expertise and messaging strength to develop cogent, fact-based campaigns to advocate successfully for its clients.‘
‘The team has extensive direct experience in trade disputes, appearing as counsel before the WTO’s dispute settlement panels and in the WTO Appellate Body. It also has direct experience appearing as counsel in the few disputes that have occurred under regional trade agreements.‘
‘Very strong US export licensing knowledge‘
‘The team is tireless, always available and always up-to-date on your file, which is not only helpful but makes a client feel that their matter is given all due consideration and urgency.‘
‘Nancy Fischer is closely familiar with current trends impacting the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States; she is a go-to source where there are questions about recent transactions, regulatory or legislative developments.‘
‘Steve Becker has accumulated a wealth of front-line knowledge and experience in trade law issues, policies and negotiations at the international and domestic levels. His advice and representation reflect this and make him our top pick for trade counsel for both US and international trade matters. He also makes himself available in any time zone, is a pleasure to work with, and understands the importance of balancing resources allocated to work and budget realities.‘
‘Chris Wall is does a superb job at bringing in the people with the best expertise.‘
Key clients
Airbus Group
Chevron Corporation
Cypress Semiconductor
Rolls-Royce
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Stanley Black & Decker Inc.
Panasonic
Bank of Cyprus
China National Uranium Corporation Ltd.
Beijing Shanhai Capital Management Co., Ltd.
Walden International
OGCI Climate Investments LLP
PremjiInvest
Macquarie
Grammer AG
China International Capital Corporation
Government of Mexico
Government of New Brunswick
GE Hitachi Nuclear / Global Nuclear Fuel – Americas LLC
Valmet Inc. (US)/ Valmet Corporation (Finland)
Facebook, Inc.
Finance > Project finance
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP is a popular choice for advice in the power and renewables sector. Its strong standing in the market is demonstrated by the calibre of its sponsor clients, including major market players such as NextEra Energy and prominent companies such as Tesla. The firm is regularly involved in complex tax equity and debt financings, and has also been involved in several significant restructurings and energy related bankruptcies. The increasingly active team is jointly led by Mona Dajani, who divides her time between New York and London, and Robert James in San Francisco. Thomas Gump, also in San Francisco, is also recommended for his strong track record advising renewables and conventional power clients, while Alicia McKnight has an increasingly prominent presence in the market.
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Key clients
1st Avenue Capital
AECOM Capital
Akkuyu Nükleer
Allianz Global Investors
BNP Paribas
Brookfield Renewable Energy Partner
Chevron
Clark Realty Capital
CMS Enterprises Company
Deutsche Bank
Duke Energy Corporation
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC)
Genentech
Holtec International
Jackson Energy Authority (JEA)
JP Morgan Chase
KDC Solar NF
Marubeni Corporation
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas
MVP Capital
NextEra Energy Resources
Osaka Gas
Recurrent Energy
Sonnen
Tenaska
Government > Government contracts Tier 3
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP's government contracts practice is noted for its 'expertise, focus, and efficiency' in matters including False Claims Act litigation and investigations. A full-service practice group with a strong presence on both coasts, the team is jointly led by Northern Virginia-based John Jensen and Michael Rizzo in Los Angeles. Another contact in LA is Richard Oliver, who has over thirty-five years of government contracting and bid protest experience. Other notable individuals include Alex Tomaszczuk, suspension and debarment expert Todd Canni, and special counsel Julia Judish, who is rated for her employment related advisory work for government contractors. Marques Peterson joined the team from Vedder Price, further strengthening the firm's bid protest capabilities.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘What makes this team unique is their experience. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience that has proven to be invaluable.‘
‘Dick Oliver is outstanding. He is able to reduce complex legal arguments to a form that is mere mortals can understand. He has been a valuable asset to my company.
‘During my 40-year career I have used numerous firms and the team at Pillsbury that included Alex Tomaszczuk and John Jensen are simply the best. Very action oriented and they get results.’
‘John Jensen is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable government contracts attorneys in the nation, and he gives my company personal and focused attention whenever we need it.’
‘Their expertise, their focus on customer issues, their efficiency in solving problems.’
Key clients
General Atomics-Systems Integration
Parsons Government Services
Boston Properties
NTT DATA Services
Veritas Capital
Tatitlek Technologies
Conserve
Safeguard Base Operations
CollabraLink Technologies
Tecolote
3D Systems
Industry focus > Energy: renewable/alternative power Tier 3
Recently strengthened by a number of notable hires, including New York-based Mona Dajani from Baker McKenzie LLP and Los Angeles-based Jorge Medina , who joined from Tesla, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP has strong national M&A and financing coverage across the spectrum of individual transactions and portfolios of renewable projects. Co-headed from New York and San Francisco by Dajana and Robert James, the team handles work for a diverse range of clients, including sponsors, lenders developers and investors. Although the firm has strength on projects throughout the country, it has particular expertise on renewables energy M&A and project financings for electric power generating facilities located in California and Texas, perhaps the two most important states in the country for renewable power generation.
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Key clients
1st Avenue Capital
AECOM Capital
Allianz Global Investors
Brookfield Renewable Energy Partner
Chevron
Clark Realty Capital
CMS Enterprises Company
Deutsche Bank
Duke Energy Corporation
Genentech, Inc
JP Morgan Chase
KDC Solar NF LLC
Marubeni Corporation
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas Inc.
MVP Capital
NextEra Energy Resources Inc
Recurrent Energy, LLC
Sonnen Inc
Tenaska, Inc.
Industry focus > Environment: litigation Tier 3
Combining strong trial capabilities with thorough environmental experience, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP provides legal support to domestic and international clients from a range of sectors, namely chemical manufacturing, mining, energy, public utilities as well as wastewater treatment. The firm fields a strong environmental appeals team, and is proficient in cost recovery actions, air and water pollution control, Superfund and toxic tort litigation, as well as matters involving endangered species and climate change issues. Based in Los Angeles, Mark Elliott chairs the nationwide environmental practice. Elliot's experience covers Proposition 65, CEQA as well as property contamination, toxic torts and the Clean Water Act. Co-head Jeffrey Knight specializes in litigation under the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act; he is based in Washington DC. The practice is also overseen by Margaret Rosegay in San Francisco and Amanda Halter in Houston. Cross-border contamination cases are an area of focus for Austin-based Christopher McNevin; while Matthew Morrison is a name to note in the DC office for enforcement defense. Enforcement actions are also an area of strength for Michael McDonough, who is based in Los Angeles.
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Key clients
TopBuild
Arkema
Chesapeake Energy
DuPont
Waste Management
Chevron Corporation
Valero Energy Corporation
BAE Systems
Teck Metals
Western States Petroleum Association
Industry focus > Environment: regulatory Tier 3
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP's broad service offering encompasses regulatory compliance advisory work, legislative and regulatory monitoring and counselling, as well as site investigation and remediation. The team has significant experience handling issues relating to all federal and state environmental statutes, as well as local ordinances, covering air and water pollution control, solid and hazardous waste, endangered species and climate change. The department is jointly led by Margaret Rosegay (San Francisco), Amanda Halter (Houston), Mark Elliott (Los Angeles) and Jeffrey Knight (Washington DC). Elliot has a particularly strong environmental compliance practice, while Knight has expertise in environmental agency rulings and Clean Air Act regulations. Other contacts in the DC office include Sheila Harvey, who advises on climate change, water and waste disposal regulation, and Matthew Morrison, an expert in civil and criminal EPA enforcement programs. Climate change and air quality enforcement specialist Michael McDonough is also recommended.
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Testimonials
‘As an accomplished attorney with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, Matt Morrison has provided my company with world-class service in every instance. Additionally, Matt is personable and pleasant to work with. One of his chief skills is being able to explain complicated reams of information in a way that non-attorneys and even non-technical (i.e., our business leaders) people can understand it and use the summary as a basis for action.’
Key clients
TopBuild
Arkema
Chesapeake Energy
DuPont
Waste Management
Chevron Corporation
Valero Energy Corporation
BAE Systems
Teck Metals
Western States Petroleum Association
Industry focus > Transport: aviation and air travel - finance Tier 3
The team at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP is headed by Mark Lessard, who handles asset-backed transactions and other aviation deals for a wide variety of clients, including lenders, lessors, investors, operators, underwriters, manufacturers and trustees. Another key figure is Charlotta Otterbeck, who has experience advising airlines on issues such as fleet replacements and IATA programs, and has served as counsel to numerous internationally based airlines in connection to export credit agency-supported financings, and lease transactions. Melissa Jones-Prus is also recommended. All individuals are based in New York.
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Key clients
Mizuho Securities
Citibank
Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment
Ethiopian Airlines
Export Development Canada
Aircastle
Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 3
Premier names in the TMT, insurance and banking sectors retain Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation team to advise on 401(k) administrative and corporate governance issues. The San Francisco-based practice includes Jonathan Ocker, who is noted for his expertise in proxy disclosure guidance, including advising on ‘pay-on-say’ votes for executive remuneration. Christine Richardson often provides advice or training on ERISA fiduciary matters including the implementation of investment management arrangements. Peter Hunt is the key contact in New York and department head Cindy Schlaefer is based in Silicone Valley.
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Testimonials
‘The Pillsbury team is exceptional. They provide superior service, have exceptional expertise, and are trusted advisors to management and the Compensation Committee. Pillsbury sees themselves as partners with management, working together to get the best solutions for the company.‘
‘Jonathan Ocker and Jeremy Erickson’s expertise is exceptional across many disciplines. They effectively help us navigate complex challenges both internally and externally. They are always willing to jump on a call to discuss any topic and help us navigate internal and external politics all while ensuring superior results.‘
‘Jonathan Ocker’s relationship with and ability to influence the Compensation Committee is exceptional and would be very hard to replace. He also has tremendous connections and relationships with other external advisors and is able to bring them into discussions to ensure the highest quality results.‘
Key clients
JUUL
AT&T
BancWest Holding Inc. (subsidiary of BNP Paribas)
Becton Dickinson
BNP Paribas
BNY Mellon Corporation
Chevron Corporation
Cisco Systems
Fujitsu Corporation
Irvine Ranch Water District
KB Home
MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
SYNNEX Corporation
Vector Capital
The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.
Clearwater Paper Corporation
General Reinsurance Corporation
IQVIA, Inc.
Rabbit Hole Spirits, LLC
NTT Data, Inc.
Holtec International
Incyte Corporation
Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 3
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP fields a robust team of West Coast-based employee benefits and executive compensation experts, with practice head Cindy Schlaefer in Silicon Valley, Mark Jones in Los Angeles and Marcus Wu in San Francisco. As such, the team regularly provides transactional support to clients in the technology, medtech, telecoms and renewable energy sectors, with recent highlights involving mid-cap acquisitions, spin-offs and equity investments. In New York, Peter Hunt and Jessica Lutrin provide advice on equity incentive plans and benefit plan integrations to a suite of public and private companies on high-value M&A deals, private equity investment rounds and, notably, a recent acquisition of nuclear power station assets.
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Key clients
JUUL
AT&T
BancWest Holding Inc.
Becton Dickinson
BNP Paribas
BNY Mellon Corporation
Chevron Corporation
Cisco Systems
Fujitsu Corporation
Irvine Ranch Water District
KB Home
MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
SYNNEX Corporation
Vector Capital
The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.
Clearwater Paper Corporation
General Reinsurance Corporation
IQVIA, Inc.
Rabbit Hole Spirits, LLC
NTT Data, Inc.
Holtec International
Incyte Corporation
Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory Tier 3
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP represents a variety of clients that are regulated by the FCC, including radio and television broadcasters, satellite providers, cable television stations, corporations that offer VoIP, and 4G and 5G broadband services. The team is jointly led from the Washington DC office by the vastly experienced Scott Flick and IP expert Glenn Richards and is particularly active advising some of the largest broadcasters and television distributors on the regulatory aspects of signal carriage and program licensing. It also has a track record in assisting investors entering the telecoms sector. Broadcast expert Miles Mason handles both transactional and regulatory matters and Jeffrey Grill provides corporate expertise.
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Key clients
Standard General L.P.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Standard Media LLC
ONE Media, LLC
Grupo Televisa, S.A.B.
University of Missouri
Voice on the Net Coalition
Vaughan Media
NCIC
32 Technologies
Real estate > Land use/zoning Tier 3
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP's land use and zoning practice is an integral part of the firm's wider real estate practice. Chaired by Rachel Horsch, the group handles planning and government approval issues for nearly every type of real estate project, including mixed-use developments, retail and office buildings, industrial facilities, hospitality-related accommodation, as well as residential property and university campuses. Horsch is based in the San Francisco office.
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Key clients
Shorenstein
San Francisco Baseball Association/San Francisco Giants
Spear Street Capital
WeWork
New York University
NYU Langone Health
New York University School of Law Foundation
Klövern
United States Postal Service
Hoffman-Stuever Waterfront (The Wharf District)
Great Eagle Holdings
Antitrust > Cartel Tier 4
Price-fixing investigations as well as follow-on class actions are the core of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP's cartel practice. A specific focus lies on the electric components sector as well as energy and telecom industries. Jacob Sorensen and firmwide leader Roxane Polidora share the department lead, with both team heads stationed in San Francisco. Polidora fields additional knowledge of the retail and hospitality business, and Sorensen has experience with international investigations. In Washington DC, William Sullivan brings his corporate investigations expertise to the antitrust group, in particular with regard to internal investigations.
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Testimonials
‘Pillsbury has a great combination of experienced personnel with value. They properly staff all matters so that the bills are noticeably lower than other top tier firms without sacrificing quality of work. Their reporting is pristine.’
‘They have a combination of talented senior people in combination with eager and talented younger personnel which mix helps to educate the new team as it matures and keeps the cost at a reasonable level.’
‘Fusae Nara has been an invaluable resource bridging the gap between U.S. lawyers and the senior Japanese executives who do not think or act the same as their U.S. counterparts.’
‘Roxane Polidora is one of the finest antitrust lawyers I have ever had the privilege of working with.’
Key clients
KEMET Corporation and KEMET Electronics Corporation
TOKIN Corporation and TOKIN America, Inc.
Mikuni Corporation and Mikuni American Corporation
Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense Tier 4
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP fields a team that is experienced in representing corporates, financial institutions and their executives in a range of government investigations, with a focus on cross-border work. In particular, the group has represented a number of Swiss banks participating in the DOJ Swiss Bank tax program, as well as defending corporates in numerous DOJ investigation into allegations of fraud. The department is co-chaired by New York's Mark Hellerer, who has additional expertise in sanctions matters, and Maria Galeno; and William Sullivan in Washington DC, who is an FCPA expert. 'Outstanding' Anne Lefever in New York is noted for her work concerning OFAC violations.
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Testimonials
‘Reliable advice in cross-border matters.‘
‘Anne Lefever is outstanding.’
‘Excellent client service.‘
Key clients
Victaulic Company
Travel Centers of America
Mark Lambert
Government > Government relations Tier 4
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP's public policy group has experience of local, state, and federal matters, acting for a diverse client base including international investors and sovereign governments. Elizabeth Moeller heads the practice group and is supported by lobbyist Craig Saperstein, who also has experience acting for non-profit clients. The group works in the financial services and energy sectors, and is also strong in global security policy and cybersecurity, where Brian Finch is a key figure. Aaron Hutman specializes in international trade matters, and Matthew Oresman is another name to note. Dividing his time between DC and London, Oresman leads the firms international public policy group and is recommended for cross-border matters in this space.
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Testimonials
‘The team is well networked with the Government assisting tremendously in facilitating the effectiveness and efficiency of delivering the project in place.’
‘Aaron Hutman- the quality of his effective networking at a government level led to very successful results up to now.’
Key clients
Cayman Islands Department of Financial Services and Home Affairs
EDF Renewables
Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project
Blackhawk Network
FireEye
Yoga Alliance
Euronet Worldwide
City of Greensboro, NC
Binder & Binder
Professional Certification Coalition
Intellectual property > Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings) Tier 4
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP acts for domestic and international clients whom it assists with the development and management of their patent portfolios, including its commercial exploitation by way of licensing. The practice shoulders a sectorially varied caseload with the life sciences sector as a clear core area. Other work came from the consumer products, financial services, cybersecurity, electronics and technology sectors, with expertise in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and 5G. Jack Barufka, based in McLean, Virginia, and the Washington DC office directs the practice. Other key offices are in Silicon Valley, San Diego, Austin and New York. The firm recently took on several partners from K&L Gates: Ranjini Acharya, who joined in Silicon Valley, Eric Rusnak in Washington DC, and Michael Zeliger, who divides time between New York and Silicon Valley. McLean's Ngai Zhang and Austin's Brian Nash made partner.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘My experience with the Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP team is that they are exceptional at helping me take a comprehensive and business-focused approach to patent prosecution and maintenance. They have a well-informed, business-savvy team which is very responsive to our needs. They stand out from other firms in their customer-focused service and attention.‘
‘I’ve worked with general business attorneys as well as patent attorneys from other firms. However, I was blown away by the capabilities of the intellectual property team. Not only do they understand the patent process, but they know how to craft a patent strategy. This includes how the initial filing should be presented as well as the long view of how it will evolve. This grants the holder the best prospects for initial grant as well as broader protection in the long term.‘
‘Drew Schulte has the skills, is always willing to learn new tech, and has excellent judgement when it comes to strategy decisions.‘
‘I was blown away by the expertise of Josh Tucker. Not only does he really understand the patent process, patent strategy, and law, but he has DEEP technical expertise. This was tremendously valuable as he was able to immediately understand what and how we were approaching the problem. He was able to provide advice and counsel on how our product should evolve to further claim territory in the patent valley we had found.‘
‘John Wetherell stands out as a true business partner, counseling not only on the technical merits of a patent, but also considering the utility and business value of the same.‘
Key clients
UBS AG
Philips Healthcare
Facebook Technologies f/k/a Oculus VR
Bass Pro Shops, a subsidiary of Cabela’s
ALTR Solutions, Inc.
CA, Inc.
The Lundquist Institute
USC Stevens Center for Innovation
M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies Tier 4
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP's emerging growth and venture capital team is well established on the West Coast, with attorneys operating from the Silicon Valley, San Diego and San Francisco Bay Area offices. Key areas of instruction for the team include e-commerce, fintech, AI and healthcare matters. In Silicon Valley, Jorge del Calvo led the advice to global online learning platform Coursera on its $103m Series E financing, which established the client's unicorn status. Other key partners are Allison Leopold Tilley, who is also based in the Silicon Valley office, and Christian Salaman in San Diego.
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Key clients
JUUL Labs
Coursera
eSUB Construction Software
Shield AI
SambaNova Systems
Vector Launch Corporation
Robin Systems
MycoTechnology
Manticore Games
Real estate > Real estate Tier 4
Noted for its 'timely professional advice' and 'business sense', Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP provides its clients with comprehensive real estate advice, from development, environmental diligence, and leasing, to portfolio and asset transactions and litigation. San Francisco-based Rachel Horsch chairs the department, which is distinguished by its impressively broad sector expertise. In addition to core real estate sectors such as hospitality, industrial, retail, resorts and leisure, the team also has experience in transactions involving healthcare facilities, affordable and military housing, senior living and education. The team is also active in real estate finance, where it handles loan modifications and restructuring, as well as transactions involving distressed real estate assets and loans.
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Testimonials
‘The team has always been able to provide us with timely professional advice and assistance pertinent to the circumstances. In addition, their advices have not only taken into account of technical aspect, but also with business sense.’
‘Mr Andy Weiner who has been helping our group for years, is not only good at legal aspect, but have give us sensible solutions taking into consideration business sense. He is efficient and has always been able to give us quick response whenever we need his help. In addition, he is proactive in keeping us abreast of relevant legal updates applicable to our businesses. His colleagues are also helpful and professional.’
Key clients
Shorenstein
San Francisco Baseball Association/San Francisco Giants
Spear Street Capital
WeWork
New York University
NYU Langone Health
New York University School of Law Foundation
Klövern
United States Postal Service
Hoffman-Stuever Waterfront (The Wharf District)
Great Eagle Holdings
Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 5
The core of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP's antitrust practice consists of follow-on class actions and direction action litigation, particularly in the electric components industry. Other sectors covered on a regular basis include energy and telecoms. Team heads Roxane Polidora and Jacob Sorensen both work out of San Francisco. 'Pre-eminent litigator' Polidora displays additional retail and hospitality expertise and Sorensen is particularly adept at defending clients in price-fixing cases. Adding to the bench strength in San Francisco, counsel Laura Hurtado is active for technology clients and senior associate Lee Brand undertakes representation in consumer class actions.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Roxane Polidora is a pre-eminent litigator who demonstrates concern for her client’s case. She demonstrates a higher level of emotional intelligence than most other attorneys.’
‘Strategic at every turn.’
‘Bold about pursuing defenses or theories separate from a joint defense group think approach, which has resulted in numerous successes.’
‘Roxane Polidora has a high profile in the antitrust bar and is well respected by both the plaintiffs’ and defense bar, as well. She also has a stellar reputation with the Courts, particularly with judges in the Northern District of California, where so many of the antitrust cartel cases and follow on civil litigation are filed.’
Key clients
Safeway, Inc.
KEMET Corporation and KEMET Electronics Corporation
TOKIN Corporation and TOKIN America, Inc.
Ralphs Grocery Store
The Home Depot
Norwegian Air
Air New Zealand
Bass Pro Shops
24 Hour Fitness
Hotel Tonight
CRST International, Inc. and CRST Expedited, Inc.
Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 5
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP enters the ranking following a strong year of commercial litigation. Alongside general capabilities in commercial disputes, the firm is known for its insurance recovery practice, especially in the area in which construction infrastructure and insurance overlap. In a recent success, Miami-based Jennifer Altman secured a $370m judgment for Laserscopic Spinal Centers of America in a long-running dispute arising from the misappropriation of the client's business. Elsewhere, David Keyko and Eric Fishman wrapped up a decade-long antitrust case, securing a dismissal from the Second Circuit of a $1.4bn claim against clients American Media and Distribution Services. Key among the firm's trial lawyers is head of the litigation department Deborah Baum in Washington DC, who recently defended UIP in two actions, one in the Delaware Chancery Court, and a breach of fiduciary duty and civil conspiracy case in DC federal court. Important new arrivals include Ari Berman, a securities specialist, from Vinson & Elkins LLP to the New York office in February 2019, and Richard Giller, an insurance recovery expert, from Reed Smith LLP to the LA office in October 2019.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Joe Samuel Bailey and Laserscopic Spinal Centers of America
American Media and Distribution Services
Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund and ERP Compliant Fuels
Western States Petroleum Association
IQVIA RDS
Black and Veatch
Zhongzhi Enterprise Group (ZEG)
Lyft/Bay Area Motivate
UIP Companies
Zero-Gravity Holdings (successor to Space Adventures)
Industry focus > Energy transactions: conventional power Tier 5
Although it has less of a pure conventional power focus than many of the firms in the rankings, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP has successfully carved out a niche for itself acting as designated underwriters' counsel for energy companies on their capital markets activity. Spearheaded by New York-based partners Jeffrey Delaney and David Baxter, the scope of the firm's energy-related capital markets activity is broad and includes securing a variety of commoditized and highly structured debt financing on behalf of many utility companies.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Ameren Services Company / Union Electric Company (underwriters)
Arizona Public Service Company / Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (underwriters)
Avista Corporation
Barclays Capital
BNP Paribas
BNY Mellon Capital Markets
BofA Merrill Lynch
Citigroup Capital Markets
Chevron Corporation
Consumers Energy Company / CMS Energy Corporation (underwriters)
Deutsche Bank Securities
DTE Energy Company / DTE Electric Company (underwriters)
Entergy (Arkansas, Gulf States, Louisiana, New Orleans, Mississippi, Texas) / Entergy Corp. (underwriters)
Goldman, Sachs & Co
Great Plains Energy Incorporated / Kansas City Power & Light Company / Westar Energy, Inc. / Kansas Gas and Electric Company (underwriters)
JP Morgan
Kentucky Utilities Company / PPL Corporation
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.
Louisville Gas & Electric Company / PPL Corporation
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities
Mizuho Securities
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
PPL Corporation / PPL Electric Utilities Corporation
Portland General Electric Company
Raymond James
RBC Capital Markets
Scotiabank
Sierra Pacific Power Company / NV Energy (underwriters)
SMBC Nikko
Southern California Edison Company / Edison International (underwriters)
Spire Inc. (formerly The Laclede Group Inc.) (underwriters)
Stephens Inc.
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey
TD Securities
UBS Investment Bank
US Bancorp
Wells Fargo Securities
Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 6
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP's tax team advises on a wide range of corporate transactions, restructurings and private investment fund transactions. The firm also stands out for its tax-advantaged investment and housing finance practice. James Chudy has particular expertise in the federal income tax aspects of bankruptcies, corporate reorganizations and debt restructurings. San Francisco-based practitioner Julie Divola specialises in the tax elements of partnership and corporate transactions.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
8minutenergy
Renewables
Ron Howard
Amazon.com
Branford Castle Partners
Casino and Hotel owner
Stephen A. Wynn
City National Bank of
Florida
Element Electronics
GenCanna Global USA
Genomic Health
HC2 Holdings
JUUL Labs
Livionex
NextEra Transmission
NTT Data
Octo Consulting Group
Server Farm Realty
Tesla
The Potamkin Group
Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP > Firm Profile
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an international law firm with a particular focus on the technology & media, energy, financial services, and real estate & construction sectors. Recognized as one of the most innovative law firms by Financial Times and one of the top firms for client service by BTI Consulting, Pillsbury and its lawyers are highly regarded for their forward-thinking approach, their enthusiasm for collaborating across disciplines and their authoritative commercial awareness.
Main areas of practice
Energy and natural resources: Pillsbury has advised on precedent-setting energy industry deals and projects in 75 countries worldwide, offering clients a combination of geographic reach, legal and regulatory depth, and energy sector-specific experience that is unmatched among the world’s leading law firms. A leading practice in nuclear law, oil and gas, and renewable and alternative energy, Pillsbury has received more than a dozen Deal of the Year awards from leading publications for projects in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. In the field of natural resources and the environment, Pillsbury was named the Environmental Law Firm of the year in 2014 by U.S. News and Best Lawyers. With a team of 40 lawyers working full-time on environmental matters, Pillsbury is home to one of the largest dedicated environmental practices in the United States.
Real estate and construction: Pillsbury has a unique history of deal-making throughout the United States, with leading real estate practices for more than 50 years on the east and west coasts. Because of its size and geographic reach, its real estate practice group is one of the few national practices capable of handling the full range of assignments, from multi-jurisdictional portfolio transactions to single-asset deals in local markets. Lawyers on its construction counseling and dispute resolution team have been hailed by Chambers as part of the ‘preeminent practice of its kind in the United States’. They’ve earned this distinction by working on some of the world’s most complex construction projects: the Panama Canal extension, major infrastructure cases around the globe and two of the largest hospital disputes in history, as well as commercial, industrial and residential projects worldwide.
Technology: Pillsbury established its technology industry legal practice in 1968, when it incorporated Intel. Today, its technology industry practice is one of the world’s largest, comprising more than 250 lawyers based in the United States, Europe and Asia. From incubator to IPO, from M&A to international expansion, Pillsbury lawyers guide technology companies of all sizes and at all stages of development. In the last 30 years, they have filed more than 52,000 patents and over 19,000 trademarks, including foreign marks in around 145 different countries. Pillsbury protects the intellectual property of its clients through the efforts of its high-stakes IP litigation practice, which ranks among the top ten in the nation in patent, trademark and copyright litigation. Technology clients also benefit from its top-ranked global sourcing practice. Among the most experienced advisory teams in the word, its global sourcing lawyers have led more than 750 transactions worth more than half a trillion dollars in contract value, and represented 30% of the Fortune 100.
Financial services: Pillsbury’s finance lawyers advise more than 200 banking and investment institutions, including some of the world’s largest. Its domestic and international clients rely on the firm for regulatory advice and guidance on a wide range of financial transactions, including commercial lending, derivatives, equipment finance, leveraged finance, project finance, trade finance, structured finance, debt restructuring, tax-exempt financing, and distressed investing and debt trading. Pillsbury also offers a broad spectrum of corporate trust and agency services, from initial issuance to defaulted obligations. Its clients are typically foreign and domestic banks, insurance companies, funds and other financial institutions. It also serves the company side of financial transactions for the firm’s corporate clients.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Energy & Natural Resources | Sheila Harvey | sheila.harvey@pillsburylaw.com | |
Real Estate & Construction | Jim Rishwain | jrishwain@pillsburylaw.com | |
Technology | Justin Hovey | justin.hovey@pillsburylaw.com | |
Financial Services | David Baxter | david.baxter@pillsburylaw.com |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Deborah Baum | View Profile | |
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Stephan Becker | View Profile | |
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Mario Dottori | View Profile | |
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Brian Finch | View Profile | |
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Nancy Fischer | Nancy Fischer leads the law firm’s Public Practices and Public Policy teams and… | View Profile |
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Jeffrey Gans | View Profile | |
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Thomas Hill | View Profile | |
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Jeffrey Hutchings | View Profile | |
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Michael Jaffe | View Profile | |
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Melissa Lesmes | View Profile | |
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Matthew MacLean | View Profile | |
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Sheila McCafferty Harvey | View Profile | |
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Matthew Morrison | View Profile | |
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Eileen J. O’Connor | View Profile | |
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Glenn Richards | View Profile | |
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Robert Robbins | View Profile | |
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Michael Sibarium | View Profile | |
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William Sullivan | View Profile | |
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Christopher Wall | View Profile | |
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Richard Zaragoza | View Profile |
Other
Firm Chair : David T. Dekker Firm Managing Partner : Edward A. PerronComparative Guides
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Hong Kong: Restructuring & Insolvency
Published: June 2020
Authors: Paul Jebely Eugene Yeung Luca Denora
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Restructuring & Insolvency laws and regulations that may occur in Hong Kong.
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United States: Intellectual Property
Published: June 2020
Authors: Christopher Kao Michael S. Horikawa Henry Fildes
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to Intellectual Property laws and regulations that may occur in United States.
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Insurance: advice to policyholders
- Transport: aviation and air travel - litigation and regulation
- Data Privacy and Data Protection
- Construction (including construction litigation)
- International trade
- Advice to Sponsors
- Government contracts
- Energy: renewable/alternative power
- Environment: litigation
- Environment: regulatory
- Transport: aviation and air travel - finance
- Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design
- Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional
- Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
- Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory
- Land use/zoning
- Cartel
- Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to corporates
- Advice to Lenders
- Government relations
- Patents: prosecution (including re-examination and post-grant proceedings)
- Venture capital and emerging companies
- Real estate
- Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- General commercial disputes
- Energy transactions: conventional power
- US taxes: non-contentious