Mr William Gussman > Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP Offices
919 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10022
NEW YORK
United States
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Mr William Gussman
Work Department
Litigation, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Litigation, Complex Commercial Litigation, Insurance, Real Estate Litigation, Securities Litigation, Litigation Finance
Position
William H. Gussman, Jr. focuses on complex commercial litigation, including securities fraud actions, fraudulent transfer actions, M&A litigation and partnership disputes. Bill’s clients have included domestic and foreign hedge funds, private equity firms, major corporations, investment banks, prime brokers, lenders and individuals. Bill has substantial trial experience, having tried cases in federal and state courts throughout the United States and in a variety of alternative dispute resolution venues, including AAA, FINRA and JAMS arbitrations. Bill frequently litigates in bankruptcy court, often representing creditors in disputed matters in the plan confirmation process. He also has particular expertise in litigating issues concerning the Section 546(e) safe harbor in fraudulent transfer actions. He has extensive experience representing both buyers and sellers in deal-related disputes concerning a broad range of industries, including the telecommunications, energy, retail and automotive industries. Bill also has expertise in matters relating to litigation finance and regularly advises clients with respect to champerty risk and the risk/reward profile of litigation-related assets.
Bill’s jury trial experience includes the successful defense of a leading prime broker in a $141.4-million fraudulent transfer action brought by the trustee of a defunct hedge fund. In that two-week federal trial, he helped to secure a unanimous verdict in favor of the prime broker. Bill successfully defended a former officer and director of Merck & Co. in a high-profile securities class action and related cases concerning the painkiller Vioxx. That high-profile matter included the defense of federal and state securities law claims, breach of duty claims, product liability claims and other matters.
Education
Harvard Law School, JD; Dartmouth College, BA, summa cum laude (Phi Beta Kappa).
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP‘s New York office has a compact practice with a solid track record in M&A and securities litigation, notably in matters concerning shareholder activism, proxy contests and corporate control on behalf of prominent businesses, banks, funds, investors and directors. Practice head Michael Swartz, who successfully represented Politan Capital Management in a shareholder activism dispute with Masimo Corporation, and William Gassman, who frequently advises foreign hedge funds, private equity firms, major corporations, investment banks, are the key partners. Partner Julie Beskin joined from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP in 2023, bringing extensive experience M&A, corporate governance and shareholder disputes, including matters in the Delaware Court of Chancery. Gayle Klein moved to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.
United States > Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP‘s experience in the courtroom is at the heart of its offering in securities and M&A-related cases. For instance, lead partner Michael Swartz secured a major victory for Politan Capital Management LP in a case that could have effectively eliminated shareholder activism as an asset class. The firm is well-regarded for its work in large securities class actions, related derivative litigations and ERISA actions, and has notable expertise in niches such as investment funds litigation, short-swing cases, structured products and SPAC-related matters. William Gussman, who frequently acts for hedge funds, private equity firms, corporations, investment banks, prime brokers, and lenders, and Julia Beskin, who joined from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, are also key members of the securities litigation group.
Lawyer Rankings
- M&A litigation: defense United States > Dispute resolution
- Securities litigation: defense United States > Dispute resolution
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m)
- Finance > Structured finance: securitization
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: middle-market (Up to $500m)
- Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital)
- Tax > US taxes: non-contentious
- Labor and employment > ERISA litigation
- Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation
- Finance > Financial services regulation
- Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
- Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
- Real estate > Real estate
- Real estate > Real estate finance
- Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate
- Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
- Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage)
- Finance > Fintech
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism