Sidley Austin LLP > Washington DC, United States > Firm Profile

Sidley Austin LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Insurance > Insurance: non-contentious Tier 1

Sidley Austin LLP is well-established in the insurance and reinsurance game and trusted by insurers, reinsurers, PE firms, and other interested parties to lead them through various complex and emerging transactional and regulatory matters pertinent in the space. Routinely advising on high-value deals at the top end of the market, the team specializes in alternative forms of insurance such as mutuals, lead-on conversions, asset-intensive insurance matters, and reciprocal transactions, enjoying a global reach and working in dialogue particularly with the firm’s London outpost to handle matters involving Japanese life insurers, Bermuda-based entities, and various other international players. The group is led by a team of four, including veteran Chicago-based practitioner Perry Shwachman, New York-based Jonathan Kelly, who handles regulatory, capital markets, and fundraising-related work, Chicago-based Amanda Todd, who specializes in life insurance acquisitions and reinsurance transactions, and transactional, governance, and regulatory-focused Sean Carney, who also sits in the Chicago office.

Investment fund formation and management > Alternative/hedge funds Tier 1

The team at Sidley Austin LLP regularly advises both start-up managers and large institutional advisers on all aspects of structuring and other formation issues. Boston based practice head Elizabeth Shea Fries advises a diverse range of clients including, investment managers, broker-dealers, and insurance companies on a broad range of transactions concerning business and investment structures, as well as the regulatory aspects of such transactions. Daniel Spies is based out of New York and advises both start-up level and institutional-level asset management firms on the formation and operation of hedge funds, digital assets funds, private equity funds; as well as hybrid funds. Based out of Chicago, Janelle Ibeling handles a range of alternative investment products, including domestic and offshore hedge funds, funds of funds and ‘access funds’.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism Tier 1

Sidley Austin LLP‘s shareholder activism team is widely renowned as a market-leader. Central to some of the legal world’s largest and most prominent conflicts, the team boasts a record of success spanning takeover attempts, proxy fights and litigation across a huge range of industries. Boasting a top-level dedicated shareholder activism practice and the skills of deep M&A team, the department is led by New York’s Kai Liekefett, recognized widely for his breadth of expertise and for the quantity of top-level, high-profile clients he has served especially in late-stage proxy fights. He is joined from Palo Alto by co-leader Derek Zaba, who excels in the role of outside counsel to assist and provide outside counsel to firms who are already represented, and from Chicago by the highly experienced Beth Berg, whose expertise covers acquisitions, spinoffs, corporate governance, SEC disclosure matters and unsolicited tender offers/takeover defense. Other prominent partners include Boston’s Leonard Wood, an expert in deal with investor pressure regarding ESG issues, and New York’s Jessica Wood and Reuben Zaramian.

Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs) Tier 1

Sidley Austin LLP houses a deep bench of specialists in the REITs practice, providing a comprehensive offering that spans capital markets, SEC, tax, securitization, structured finance, and M&A. A recent standout matter for the team was being engaged as company counsel on American Healthcare REIT’s IPO. The team serves a stellar roster of clients, acting as both issuers and underwriters counsel on major transactions in all asset sectors. The practice is steered by seven seasoned practitioners. In New York, Jerry Cummins, Edward Petrosky, Bart Sheehan, Jason Friedhoff and Christian Brause take the lead. Cummins is active on the full range of securities offerings while Petrosky focuses on IPOs, and is designated underwriter’s counsel for a plethora of leading companies. Co-leader of the firm’s non-traded REIT practice, Friedhoff specializes in IPOs and is well-versed in matters involving equity and mortgage REITs. Debt and equity securities form the cornerstone of Sheehan’s practice, who is also the co-head of the wider capital markets practice at the firm. On the tax front, team lead Brause has a strong track record advising on all tax aspects encountered by equity and mortgage REITs, and is routinely the lead tax attorney on the firm’s most substantial REIT transactions. From the Washington DC office, co-lead Sonia Gupta Barros dominates in the areas of SEC disclosures and compliance and corporate governance. The seventh co-head, Ivy Jones, is a pre-eminent member of the tax team based in Los Angeles and is a go-to for the tax structuring of complex transactions involving publicly traded REITs. In New York, Adam Gross is singled out for his experience in public offerings.  

Tax > Financial products Tier 1

Sidley Austin LLP’s offering consists of a vast array of innovative financial products, such as CLOs, securitized offerings, linked notes, and other structured products assisting a diverse range of clients including investment banks, corporates, and asset managers. The tax team works in tandem with the capital markets practice also providing advice across debt, equity and equity-linked capital markets products. The team is jointly led by Palo Alto based Rachel Kleinberg, New York based Robert Kreitman and Chicago based Bridget O’Neill. Kreitman’s key areas of expertise include residential and commercial mortgage-backed securitization, as well as asset-backed securitization, structured finance and a wide range of capital markets transactions while Kleinberg handles matters concerning federal tax aspects of transactional matters such as M&A, joint ventures, spinoffs and reorganizations. Richard Silverman who sits in the Chicago office, has considerable knowledge of both federal and state tax matters and assists clients with structured finance and securitization transactions, as well as bankruptcy and restructuring matters.

Tax > International tax Tier 1

Sidley Austin LLP’s international tax practice advises a diverse range of clients on the tax aspects of complex, cross-border corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, spin-offs, restructurings, and capital market offerings. The firm is supported through its two European offices, adding to the team’s experience in dealing with the tax authorities of various jurisdictions. The team is jointly led by Palo Alto-based Rachel Kleinberg, New York based Robert Kreitman and Chicago based Bridget O’Neill. Kleinberg’s practice covers the federal tax aspects of transactional matters, such as domestic and cross-border M&A and private equity transactions, spinoffs and reorganizations, as well as credit facilities. Christian Brause sits in the New York office and handles the tax aspects of M&A, REITs, private equity, and fund formation. Chicago’s Suresh Advani focuses his practice focuses on federal income tax matters, representing domestic and foreign corporations involved in mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and securities offerings. Based in Pal Alto Idan Netser handles international corporate and partnership taxation issues, including cross border international investments, transfer pricing, foreign tax credits, and tax controversy.

Environment > Environment: litigation Tier 2

Sidley Austin LLP is a premier choice for clients seeking top-tier environmental legal services across litigation, regulatory, and transactional matters. Known for its strength in environmental enforcement and compliance, the firm handles complex cases and advises on critical issues like ESG, PFAS, and climate change. Recent successes include guiding Cummins Inc. to a $1.67bn Clean Air Act settlement, the largest civil penalty in its history. The firm also represents Vineyard Wind 1 in ongoing litigation. Global co-leader of the practice Justin Savage is recognized for his litigation and trial prowess. Byron Taylor is noted for leadership in environmental law and diversity, while Heather Palmer co-leads the firm's ESG and climate change practices, advising on environmental aspects in M&A, corporate securities, and global finance matters.

Insurance > Advice to insurers Tier 2

With particular expertise in life insurance class actions, the team at Sidley Austin LLP works with a range of carrier-side stakeholders to handle class action litigation, regulatory and white-collar investigations, reinsurance disputes, and appellate work. Hailing from the Chicago office, practice co-head Eric Mattson is noted for his defense of life insurance class actions. New York-based Ellen Dunn is a go-to for contentious regulatory matters and insurance insolvency proceedings, routinely representing life insurers before regulatory bodies, and back in Chicago, Thomas Cunningham is a key contact for insurance and reinsurance litigation, arbitration, and regulatory investigations. Based between Chicago and Dallas, Brian Kavanaugh specializes in acting for health insurers, and Chicago-based Christopher Assise’s practice includes reinsurance litigation and class actions against P&C insurers.

Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

Sidley Austin LLP's practice group has recently secured victories at the Supreme Court and federal courts of appeal alike, including a notable case handled on behalf of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, resulting in the Supreme Court blocking the latest rule by the Environmental Protection Agency implementing the Good Neighbor Provision of the Clean Air Act. Leadership is shared between Chicago-based Robert Hochman and Washington, D.C.-based Kwaku Akowuah. The practice is also home to seasoned appellate litigator Carter Phillips, who recently secured a Supreme Court victory on behalf of the San Carlos Apache Tribe when the court held that the federal government has not been properly funding Native American Tribes that administer their own healthcare programs and must pay Tribes for administrative costs. Peter Keisler left the firm.

Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 3

Sidley Austin LLP has a proficient bench of experts to support clients in highly regulated sectors in tackling e-discovery issues that arise during complex litigation. Colleen Kenney heads the group from Chicago, dedicating her practice to representing clients in complex litigation ranging from mass tort and product liability to securities and antitrust lawsuits. Matt Jackson advises clients on the use of developing technology in the discovery space alongside matters of record retention, data dispositions and data privacy regulations. Tom Paskowitz focuses his practice in New York on commercial litigation, particularly in the areas of securities and antitrust.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 3

With a wide range of litigation and arbitration experience, the team at Sidley Austin LLP supports a range of clients with complex business problems. Its expertise spans class actions, business torts, M&A litigation, securities and shareholder cases, and whistleblower actions. Bruce Braun, in Chicago, co-heads the team with Dallas-based Angela Zambrano. Braun’s practice includes antitrust, internal investigations, software litigation, and consumer fraud matters. Zambrano is noted for her arbitration work, and has particular experience in energy litigation and board of directors-level internal investigations. Yvette Ostolaza, also in Dallas, is recommended in complex, multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 3

Sidley Austin LLP boasts a ‘multidisciplinary team that focuses on solving clients needs’, handling a number of high-profile, complex disputes, that include numerous jurisdictions. Members of the team work for leading US and foreign corporations, appearing in federal and state courts in the US. Based in Washington, Mark Guerrera and Gregory Williams lead the team. Guerrera has extensive experience representing financial institutions in high-value litigations, often concerning novel points of law, and is adept at handling matters including leading private equity funds. Williams similarly has knowledge of intricate litigation, acting frequently on litigations with parallel proceedings and concerning international public policy. Yvette Ostolaza in Dallas and Carter Phillips are key to the practice. The team continues to grow, with the arrivals of Gregory Williams and Aryeh Lev Kaplan from McDermott Will & Emery LLP in July 2024.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 3

Sidley Austin LLP’s product liability and mass torts group provides comprehensive legal representation for high-stakes product liability matters. The team is well-versed in managing national mass tort litigation, multidistrict litigation strategies, and conducting trials in challenging jurisdictions. In addition to its litigation capabilities, the group focuses on pre-litigation counseling and crisis management to address public and reputational challenges arising from lawsuits or recalls. Recent successes for the firm include three trial wins for Bayer/Monsanto and ongoing representation of Johnson & Johnson in talc litigation. Heidi Levine, based in New York, serves as a global co-leader of the practice and leads multijurisdictional strategies in mass tort actions. She has served as lead national counsel in four major mass tort actions and played a strategic role in prominent MDLs involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and toxic torts. Jennifer Saulino, a Washington DC-based trial lawyer, has extensive experience in federal and state courts across the country, recently securing multiple trial victories for Bayer/Monsanto in Roundup and PCB litigation. LA based Amy P. Lally, also global co-leader, focuses on class actions, false advertising claims, contract disputes, and real estate litigation.

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

Boasting a team of litigators with ‘deep industry expertise’, Sidley Austin LLP is active in national mass tort litigation, strategic planning and handling of MDLs, and success in high-stakes trials withing the most challenging jurisdictions. Its ‘skilled and knowledgeable’ partners also offer pre-litigation counseling and conduct risk assessments during product development, proactively addressing potential challenges before they escalate into litigation. The practice is led by New York’s Heidi Levine, ‘an experienced lead lawyer’, and ‘talented and tenacious’ Jennifer Saulino, based in Washington DC. Chicago’s Michelle Ramirez is a trial lawyer and litigation strategist ‘with extensive subject matter expertise’.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 3

Drawing upon a deep bench of seasoned trial lawyers and ex-SEC lawyers throughout the firm’s nationwide patchwork of offices, Sidley Austin LLP is well-positioned to represent an issuer-focused client base in securities class actions and regulatory investigations/enforcements in state and federal courts throughout the country. The firm’s expertise also extends to M&A disputes and corporate governance matters litigated in the Delaware Court of Chancery, work which also includes a considerable amount of shareholder activism matters. New York-based partner Alex Kaplan is as comfortable handling complex securities disputes for broker-dealers and funds as for public companies in 10b-5 securities fraud and corporate governance shareholder derivative disputes. The team is active for clients across a range of industry sectors, and has particular strength in the life sciences space. The ‘very talented’ Chicago-based partners Jim Ducayet and Hille Sheppard are noted for their expertise at handling both securities-related private litigation and regulatory investigations (as well as derivative shareholder matters, including Sheppard’s particular skill in relation to dealing with special committee investigations). They both co-head the national team alongside Yolanda Garcia in Dallas, Sara Brody from San Francisco, and Andrew Stern from New York.

Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 3

Advising upstream, midstream and oilfield services companies, Sidley Austin LLP’s multidisciplinary team provides regulatory and transactional counsel across M&A project finance, joint ventures, capital markets, and corporate restructuring. Outside of traditional oil and gas work, the firm is active in energy transition initiatives, particularly in carbon capture and sequestration. Kenneth Irvin helms the energy practice from Washington DC. Co-head Cliff Vrielink serves as a key contact for the firm’s leading private equity, infrastructure fund, and oil and gas company clients, advising on investments and acquisitions. Timothy Chandler maintains a broad energy M&A practice spanning multiple jurisdictions, while Stephen Boone, who joined from Akin in May 2024, brings extensive experience in upstream and midstream transactions. Co-managing partner of the Sidley’s Houston office, George Vlahakos also has a strong focus on the oil and gas sector, helping clients with M&A, capital raises and partnership structures. Trent Bridges left the practice in May 2024.

Environment > Environment: regulatory Tier 3

Sidley Austin LLP advises energy clients spanning from oil and gas to offshore on regulatory matters, with a recent matter highlight advising Dow Chemical on waterbody Superfund matters of the Berry’s Creek Study Area. The practice is jointly led by Timothy Webster and Justin Savage in Washington DC, and Byron Taylor in Chicago, with Webster specialising in Clean Air and Water Act matters, Savage advising on risks linked to emerging contaminants, and Taylor focusing on high-stakes environmental incidents. Houston’s Heather Palmer co-leads the ESG and climate change sub-group, while Maureen Gorsen aids clients on hazardous waste, emission controls, and air quality from Century City. Other notable practitioners are Andrew Stewart, who aids with permitting requirements and environmental obligations, and Peter Whitfield, whose practice particularly focuses on conventional and renewable fuels regulation. Both are based in the DC office.

Environment > Environment: transactional Tier 3

Sidley Austin LLP houses a skilled environmental transactional team that works closely with the firm’s M&A team and fields a broad range of experience that includes mergers, acquisitions, capital markets, corporate securities, and global finance. Heading the environmental team from Washington DC are Timothy Webster and Justin Savage, while Byron Taylor leads from the Chicago office. Houston lawyer Heather Palmer utilizes her notable knowledge of regulations and ESG to engage on mandates pertaining to mergers and acquisitions within the oil and gas, refining, chemical, and power sectors. Maureen Crough, of the New York office, offers a broad practice and is positioned to advise domestic and non-domestic purchasers, sellers, and lenders, amongst others, in environmental aspects across an array of transactions.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 3

A key port of call for sponsors, borrowers, and public companies, Sidley Austin LLP is particularly well-regarded in the automotive, financial services, and healthcare sectors. The firm is also noted for its expertise in the financing aspects of acquisitions and dividend recapitalization transactions, leveraged financing, and liability management transactions. The practice is jointly overseen by Dallas-based Angela Fontana who is well-versed in debt restructuring and investment-grade lending, and New York-based Leslie Plaskon. Also operating out of New York, Nicholas Schwartz counts corporate and private equity borrowers on his client roster, and Dallas-based Kelly Dybala is highlighted for her capabilities in mezzanine financing work.

Finance > Financial services regulation Tier 3

Sidley Austin LLP‘s provides comprehensive regulatory, transactional, enforcement, and litigation services to financial institutions across the sector. The team advises on complex regulatory frameworks, compliance matters, acquisitions, and product development, drawing on extensive cross-border experience. The firm is also at the forefront of financial technology developments, assisting clients with issues related to virtual currency, blockchain, marketplace lending, and mobile payments. The practice has a strong focus on financial institution M&A, private equity investments, and joint ventures, handling transactions that require deep regulatory knowledge and multi-jurisdictional expertise. It also advises on capital markets matters, large securities offerings, and complex financings. Additionally, the team frequently counsels non-U.S. banks on governance, risk management, and US regulatory requirements, including licensing and compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and other banking laws. The practice is led by David Teitelbaum and Joel Feinberg in Washington DC.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 3

Sidley Austin LLP‘s global finance department has a strong track record in a spectrum of securitization products, including conventional asset-backed and mortgage-backed securitizations, along with collateralized loans, conduit transactions and synthetic securitizations, and other products. The team names Barclays, Goldman Sachs & Co, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo Bank among its portfolio of clients, and is a frequent operator in overseeing the securitization of primes and subprimes, partnerships of funds, and other transactions, often representing underwriters. The team is headed by its senior partners, including New York-based Jonathan A. Nunes, who is sought after by clients for his experience in representing, issuers, underwriters, investors and loan sellers. In addition, Leslie Plaskon is a key actor in mandates involving cross-border components, and is also based out of New York, while Angela Fontana  co-leads the global finance offering out of Dallas.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 3

Sidley Austin LLP has a broad spectrum of expertise, advising on internal investigations, data breach litigation and generative AI initiatives. The firm’s clients cover a wide range of sectors, including technology, life sciences, defense and finance. David Lashway, an advisor on crisis management and investigations, and Alan Charles Raul, who advises tech, telecom and software clients, oversee the practice. Colleen Theresa Brown provides litigation and regulatory defense as well as support in internal investigations. Jennifer Seale is expert in regulatory compliance and data breach response. Jonathan Wilan specialises in compliance technology implementation. All mentioned lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance Tier 3

Sidley Austin LLP is praised by clients for its work on aircraft leasing, acquisition, and portfolio management, spearheaded by Bart Biggers in Dallas and Houston’s Kevin Lewis. The team represents major domestic carriers such as United, West Jet, and Hawaiian Airlines, assisting with aircraft and equipment leasing, m&a deals, and joint ventures in multiple jurisdictions. Biggers is an experienced figure in this sector, having represented American Airlines for over 2 decades with the full gamut of aviation finance matters. Lewis is praised for his financing work but is also reputed for his work in emerging technologies and sustainable travel. Atman Shukla has domestic and international aviation expertise, adding further strength to the practice out of the firm’s Houston office.

Transport > Rail and road: litigation and regulation Tier 3

Sidley Austin LLP‘s transportation department has a well-established presence in the rail industry, offering expertise in regulatory and disputes at the appellate level, along with capabilities in the automotive sector, naming Ford, Tesla, Volkswagen among its portfolio of clients. The team has a strong track record in high-stakes rail disputes, including before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court at both the state and federal level. The team is also experienced in a variety of rail transaction mandates, and is a port of call for companies requiring regulatory approval or representation before regulatory bodies in various transactional disputes. Washington DC-based Raymond Atkins co-heads the team with Justin Savage, and are both highly sought after for their experience in regulatory litigations, environmental law, and enforcement cases.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 4

Sidley Austin LLP‘s international arbitration practice is noted for being the ‘best in the business’, with a focus on multi-jurisdictional bet-the-company arbitrations. The team is particularly skilled at handling investor-state arbitrations and boasts an impressive client list, including the likes of Lone Star US Acquisitions, InfraRed Capital Partners, and TC Energy Corporation. In Washington DC, Gregory Williams leads the team, acting on novel claims across the energy, defense, government contracts, and infrastructure sectors. In New York Simon Navarro focuses on cross-border disputes, particularly those with a Latin American or European nexus, while Martin Jackson specializes in disputes involving international financial transactions and insurance. In San Francisco, Scott Nonaka has knowledge of disputes with an Asian component, particularly in the tech, energy, and construction sectors.

Energy > Energy regulation: electric power Tier 4

Sidley Austin LLP offers a well-rounded energy practice, advising on both transactional and regulatory matters while delivering commercially actionable guidance on critical industry issues. The firm counsels power market participants on emerging trends, including energy market design, FERC’s energy storage rule, vehicle-to-grid integration, and behind-the-meter generation solutions. It represents clients across generation, transmission, distribution, and electricity trading. The practice is co-led by Washington DC-based Kenneth Irvin, who has nearly three decades of experience in regulatory, enforcement, and compliance matters, along with Cliff Vrielink in Houston and Tara Higgins in New York. In Boston, Terence Healey brings additional expertise in regulatory and enforcement proceedings, representing a broad range of electricity market participants before FERC and state agencies.

Energy > Energy transactions: electric power Tier 4

Noted for its ‘specialized and trustworthy energy expertise,’ Sidley Austin LLP‘s energy, transportation, and infrastructure department is capable of advising on a wide array of energy transactions such as M&A, project financing and development, and joint ventures, as well as restructuring, private equity, and capital markets transactions. With a broad offering and cross-border capabilities, the team has amassed a strong client roster comprised of businesses from the financial services, energy, and utilities industry sectors. In Houston, Cliff Vrielink heads up the practice while Tara Higgins and Kenneth Irvin co-lead the team in New York and Washington, DC respectively. Higgins stands out for her aptitude advising lenders, developers, and private equity investors on project financing, tax transfer transactions, and restructurings relating to both conventional and alternative energy projects.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Sidley Austin LLP’s debt capital markets team in New York handles issuer and underwriter engagements on a regular basis. Practice head Samir Gandhi has considerable experience advising sponsors, issuers, and underwriters and is active in a broad range of sectors, including financial services, insurance, industrials, REITs, life sciences, retail, and entertainment. Edward Petrosky’s varied practice covers convertible and exchangeable securities offerings as well as senior and subordinated debt issuances. Johnny Skumpija is tapped into the auto, consumer, energy, transport, tech, and telecoms spaces, among others. Robert Ryan is also a key contact in the group.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings Tier 4

With global chair Samir Gandhi leading the team, Sidley Austin LLP has extensive experience of overseeing secondary public offerings and complex IPOs, predominantly on behalf of domestic and international underwriters. The practice is well versed in at-the-market equity programs and refinancings, with Ghandi being an expert in private placements and corporate governance matters. With the whole team based in New York, Edward Petrosky focuses on follow-on common stock offerings, Johnny Skumpija stands out for his knowledge in liability management transactions, while Robert Ryan is also highlighted as a key contact.

Finance > Project finance Tier 4

Leveraging its leading tax equity and corporate practices, Sidley Austin LLP is proficient in leading all aspects of renewable energy projects. In particular, the team demonstrates significant experience in establishing legal structures to protect the assets and liabilities of banks, investors and sponsors. New York’s Tara Higgins leverages over thirty years of experience in high-value project financing, with her caseload spanning high-yield and bond financings and senior secured lending transactions. Higgins co-leads the department with Houston-based Cliff Vrielink and Kenneth Irvin, who practices in Washington DC. Other key practitioners based in Washington DC include Christopher Hutchison, who focuses on development financing, equity investment and joint ventures in the energy sector, and Noreen Phelan, a key contact for complex tax equity and debt financings. Gregory Lavigne, in New York, focuses on sustainability projects and has advised on various investments related to solar, wind, green hydrogen and battery and storage projects.

Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products Tier 4

Sidley Austin LLP‘s derivatives and structure products practice is noted as ‘exceptionally experienced in the interplay between capital markets and equity derivatives’, and leverages broad expertise in advising on buy and sell-side derivatives transactions, alongside diverse asset class mandates, including esoteric assets. New York-based William Massey is highly experienced in structured product offering involving equities, currencies, commodities, and hedge funds, and co-heads the team with Ellen Pesch and Elizabeth Schubert, based in Boston and Chicago respectively. Pesh is highly experienced in derivatives regulatory queries, including cross-border compliance matters, while Schubert is turned to by clients for her experience in buy-side derivative transactions. Michael T. Kohler and William Mahouski are also key members of the team.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 4

Sidley Austin LLP‘s team is distinguished for its ‘good coverage of patent litigation in key courts’. With work spanning the life sciences and technology sectors, the team handles competitor patent and trade secret disputes and excels in upholding its wins during appellate proceedings. Five seasoned IP litigators co-chair the department. In Dallas, Aimee Fagan is sought after by clients in the energy, technology and medical industries, among others. Ching-Lee Fukuda, located in New York, has a strong track record in jury and bench trials, and on appeal. In Chicago, Stephanie Koh’s broad expertise spans a variety of technology and pharmaceuticals. Jeffrey Kushan is a key practitioner for PTAB proceedings and is based in Washington DC. Meanwhile, Irene Yang in San Francisco offers expertise in telecommunications, semiconductors, medical devices and consumer devices.

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

Noted y clients for its ‘solid experience in the courtroom’, Sidley Austin LLP represents a wide-ranging roster of clients—spanning professional services, life sciences, and medical devices—in IP litigation, including in complex trade secret matters. The team is headed up by several experienced litigators: Dallas-based ‘seasoned courtroom lawyer’ Aimee Fagan; New York-based Ching-Lee Fukuda ; Chicago-based Stephanie Koh; Jeffrey Kushan, who works from Washington DC, and San Francisco-based Irene Yang.

Labor and employment > ERISA litigation Tier 4

With ‘deep knowledge and expertise’ in ERISA class actions, the Chicago-based team at Sidley Austin LLP is experienced in matters both at trial and appeal, with clients including US public and private companies from a broad range of industries having sought out the firm for its full coverage of ERISA issues including 401(k) and 403(b) plan fee litigation, company stock litigation and health and welfare litigation. In Chicago, Eric Mattson serves as lead counsel for major healthcare and pharmaceutical companies in 401(k) stock drop cases and 401(k) plan fees and expenses, while Mattson is experienced in claims alleging violations of ERISA’s fiduciary standards, as well as challenges to retirement plan structures. Brian Kavanaugh and Liz Austin are key names.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 4

Sidley Austin LLP is ‘very well versed in current best practice and developing trends in the Board Governance arena’, assisting market-leading technology, telecommunications, and financial corporations, helping the client satisfy their fiduciary duties as well as ensuring that they remain Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank Compliant. The practice is jointly led by Holly Gregory in New York, who excels at dealing with problems raised by activist investors, proxy contests, and CEO transitions, alongside Chicago’s John Kelsh , a public company specialist who focuses on ensuring that clients abide by the relevant securities law and regulation, implementing best practices for the boards to follow.

Real estate Tier 4

Sidley Austin LLP‘s real estate team represents a range of clients, from global financial institutions and property owners to equity investors, on multifaceted and sophisticated real estate transactions. The group has a wide breadth of knowledge, advising on deals concerning a variety of asset classes including retail properties, multi-family residential projects, office buildings, and stadium developments. In Miami, the head of the real estate global practice group Michael Gordon maintains a practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, working on domestic and global transactions for a variety of clients. Also in Miami, Beatriz Azcuy is the global co-leader of the real estate group, with experience representing financial institutions. Aviva Yakren is based in New York and has varied experience throughout the real estate finance market. Bonnie Neuman joined the team in April 2025 from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, and now co-heads the team from New York.

Tax > US taxes: contentious Tier 4

Sidley Austin LLP is a go-to adviser for contentious matters concerning research credits, for example, and also handles transfer pricing issues, litigation, administrative appeals before the IRS, and a range of federal, state and local tax matters for a select group of blue-chip clients. In Washington DC, tax controversy practice head Matthew Lerner and key partner Nathan Clukey are the main contacts. Richard Leavy is the key partner in New York  handles all aspects of state and local taxation, with a notable emphasis on tax controversies. Lerner recently assisted a major US rail company on complex matters concerning its entitlement to interest netting.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 5

Sidley Austin LLP frequently assists domestic and multinational corporations, trade associations, government entities, and individuals across the full spectrum of civil and criminal antitrust matters. The team operates under the leadership of Benjamin Nagin in New York, whose workload includes high-profile disputes and investigations related to payment systems, AI, and labor agreements. In Washington DC, Carie Mahan serves as an antitrust litigator, counselor, and risk advisor to her diverse client base. The team continues to expand, with Corey Roush joining from Akin in June 2024.

Finance > Commercial lending > Advice to direct lenders/private credit Tier 5

The multidisciplinary practice at Sidley Austin LLP is frequently engaged in both junior and senior credit transactions, debt financing, and private equity fund investments. The firm is also a key port of call for private credit lenders on distressed M&A deals, debt-to-equity exchanges, and restructuring agreements. Dallas-based Angela Fontana acts as the global co-head of the practice, alongside New York-based Leslie Plaskon. James Snyder co-leads the firm’s Chicago office with Satyr, and Snyder is highly proficient in debt investments, leveraged acquisitions, and speciality financing. He is also notably experienced in advising an array of lenders in asset-based transactions, unsecured credit facilities, and unitranche facilities.  In Los Angeles, Peter Burke is skilled at inter-creditor agreements, exit financings, and insolvency proceedings.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 5

Sidley Austin LLP consistently lands major engagements from debtors, creditors and investors, though has made its biggest impression on the company side. It has a significant presence in out-of-court restructurings and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. The firm is also rated for its cross-border expertise, including Chapter 15 filings. Stephen Hessler leads the global practice, has immense experience in domestic and cross-border matters, including successfully targeting the distressed Chinese real estate market; the team recently represented Sunac China Holdings in the restructuring of its $10.2bn offshore debt. Anthony Grossi and Thomas Califano are also notable partners, along with Duston McFaul in Houston. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 5

Sidley Austin LLP advises biotech, biopharma, medical devices, and healthcare companies across the product lifecycle, with remarkable strength in regulatory and transactional matters. Its regulatory practice ensures client compliance across the marketing authorization, manufacturing, supply chain, distribution, and market access phases. On the transactional side, it handles high-value M&A and IPOs, as well as licensing agreements. The practice is led by San Francisco-based Sharon Flanagan, vastly experienced in corporate and capital markets transactions and governance matters. Washington DC’s Torrey Cope is another key member in the practice, specializing in FDA regulatory issues. Transactional lawyer Jon Olsen joined the San Diego team from Goodwin.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 5

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+) Tier 5

Sidley Austin LLP combines transactional expertise with regulatory strength to advise a growing roster of major sponsors and portfolio companies on acquisitions, investments, financings and exits across a variety of different industries. Dan Clivner and Mehdi Khodadad lead the team from Century City, providing a wealth of experience in leveraged buyouts and cross-border deals. Scott Parel, Dallas, and Brien Wassner, New York, sit as co-heads of the global team, and provide further expertise in sponsor-side M&A, with the former particularly recognised for his skill in distressed investments. The firm expanded its private equity team in 2024 through the hire of Jon Olsen from Goodwin and David D’Urso and Elazar Guttman from Akin.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies Tier 5

Counting hundreds of US and foreign start-ups among its clients, Sidley Austin LLP’s recent company-side work spans early- and late-stage investments, venture financings, and M&A transactions, while it also assists with IP and day-to-day matters. The group additionally houses a robust investor-side offering, which was reinforced in June 2024 by the arrival of new venture funds head Shane Goudey, who joined in Palo Alto from Cooley LLP. The national practice is driven out of Palo Alto by department co-chairs Idan Netser, who helped start-up and venture capital clients to raise and invest more than $2.8bn during 2024, and Martin Wellington, who has been particularly active on behalf of tech companies of late.

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

Equipped to handle both the transactional and regulatory elements of M&A, Sidley Austin LLP’s scope of work extends to corporate financing, shareholder activism, proxy fights, and hostile takeovers, primarily within the life sciences and insurance industries. In Chicago, Brian Fahrney and Paul Choi are proficient in drawing up innovative M&A deal structures and handling cross-border public and private M&A, respectively. Los Angeles-based Dan Clivner covers private equity deals in the media and entertainment sector, Houston-based Mark Metts focuses on acquisitions for private equity clients and corporate reorganizations, and Sharon Flanagan oversees cybersecurity M&A from the team’s San Francisco office. All named individuals collectively lead the firm’s practice.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 7

Sidley Austin LLP‘s tax practice is jointly led by Rachel Kleinberg in Palo Alto, Robert Kreitman in New York, and Chicago’s Rachel O’Neill, which frequently handles billion-dollar and middle-market transactions for clients in a number of sectors. Peter Edgerton splits his focus between insurance and financial services matters, assisting with M&A deals as well as joint ventures. O’Neill excels at REIT work whilst Chicago’s Scott Pollock is praised for his knowledge of state and federal tax credits.

Antitrust > Merger control

Industry focus > Sport

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

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration Tier 4

Sidley Austin LLP has maintained its solid presence in the market. It has a good mix of investor-state and commercial arbitration engagements, with the emphasis now on representing investors and private businesses, as opposed to states. The practice is noted for energy sector cases, including in Mexico and Peru, and increasingly represents investment funds in contentious Latin America matters. The team has a number of Spanish speakers including native Spanish speaker Simon Navarro; and Martin Jackson, a commercial litigator by background who has developed into an important figure in the international arbitration practice. Splitting his time between New York and Singapore, Tai-Heng Cheng is co-head of the international arbitration group and provides further senior firepower in Latin America cases. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise. Jennifer Haworth McCandless and former managing associate María Carolina Durán have left the firm.