Sidley Austin LLP > Houston, United States > Firm Profile

Sidley Austin LLP Offices

Sidley Austin LLP
1000 LOUISIANA STREET
SUITE 6000
HOUSTON, TX 77002
TEXAS
United States
Visit website 1 713 495 4500 1 713 495 7799

Sidley Austin LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

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

Sidley Austin LLP has a strong track record and market reputation in shareholder activism, both domestically and internationally, and is ‘full of skilled attorneys‘ who work on high profile activism matters for household name clients such as The New York Times Company. The team includes two specialist activism and takeover defense practitioners in Derek Zaba, who splits his time between Palo Alto and New York, and Kai Liekefett in New York, with the pair referred to as ‘great lawyers who have a very good practice representing public companies defending against activist investors’, and are well supported by Jessica Wood in New York, who has represented a wide range of public companies against shareholder activism.  Leonard Wood in Houston was promoted to partner in January 2023, and is a key team member experienced in takeover defense, with specialist expertise in investor pressure connected to ESG issues.

Practice head(s):

Kai Liekefett; Derek Zaba

Other key lawyers:

Beth Berg; Jessica Wood, Leonard Wood

Testimonials

‘Full of skilled attorneys.’

‘Derek Zaba and Kai Liekefett are great lawyers who have a very good practice representing public companies defending against activist investors.’

‘Deep experience and leadership in area of activism defense. A practice singularly focused in this area and with partners who are respected in the industry.‘

Key clients

The New York Times

Hasbro, Inc.

Box, Inc.

Alkermes, Inc.

Zendesk, Inc.

Momentive Global Inc.

SpartanNash Company

US Foods Holding Corporation

Peloton Interactive

LivePerson, Inc.

TreeHouse Foods, Inc.

Comtech Telecommunications Corp.

CytoDyn, Inc.

Blucora, Inc.

Quotient Technology Inc.

NiSource, Inc.

UBS Puerto Rico Family of Funds

Medallion Financial Corp.

UpHealth, Inc.

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

Work highlights

  • Representing The New York Times in its activism campaign defense against ValueAct Capital Partners.
  • Represented Hasbro in its successful proxy contest against hedge fund Alta Fox.
  • Represented Box in its successful proxy contest defense against Starboard Value, which was Starboard’s first defeat in a proxy contest in nearly a decade.

Environment > Environment: litigation

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

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 2

Insurance > Insurance: non-contentious Tier 2

International Trade > Trade remedies and trade policy Tier 2

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 3

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

Environment > Environment: regulatory Tier 3

Environment > Environment: transactional Tier 3

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products Tier 3

International Trade > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions Tier 3

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

With the May 2022 arrival of David Lashway, John Woods, Jennifer Seale and Jonathan Wilan from Baker McKenzie LLP, Sidley Austin LLP’s Washington DC-centered practice has deepened its expertise in the data privacy and cybersecurity space. The team is called upon to advise leading technology companies and public companies on global and critical malware and ransomware matters that require international regulatory engagement, law enforcement coordination, breach notifications and SEC disclosures. Practice co-heads Alan Charles Raul and Lashway advise clients on global regulatory compliance, data breaches and crisis management with the former focusing on issues concerning national security, constitutional and administrative law. Lashway is also known for his expertise in advising on incident responses to critical infrastructure attacks, national-level misinformation-related issues and data due diligence assistance as part of corporate transactions. Colleen Theresa Brown is the key contact for emerging technology issues, working on the full range of mandates. Clients in the financial sector rely on Woods’ advice concerning global responses to data integrity attacks. Seale brings experience in handling complex cybersecurity investigations. Clayton Northouse departed the firm in April 2022.

Practice head(s):

Alan Charles Raul; David Lashway

Other key lawyers:

John Woods; Jennifer Seale; Jonathan Wilan; Colleen Theresa Brown

Testimonials

‘The team has deep expertise in privacy and cybersecurity and provides great guidance across the board. They have a long history on working with these issues and provide expert guidance on short notice.’

‘Alan Raul has long time deep expertise on cybersecurity and privacy laws stemming from a background in administrative law.

‘Colleen Brown is an excellent privacy attorney working closely with the financial services industry and providing expert advice.’

Key clients

WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.

WW

AT&T

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association

Stonepeak

Clearlake Capital Group L.P.

nCino, Inc

Work highlights

  • Represented a technology company in a highly sensitive cybersecurity matter regarding the Cyclops Blink malware by a Russian threat actor.
  • Advising AT&T on a broad range of privacy and cybersecurity issues, including advising on communications, satellite and cable privacy, location data privacy, and general privacy under the FTC and Telecom Acts, as well as under state (such as CCPA and CPRA) and international laws.
  • Advising SIFMA on financial privacy, cross-border, cybersecurity, and emerging technology issues.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 3

Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 4

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Finance > Project finance Tier 4

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 4

Insurance > Advice to insurers Tier 4

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

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

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

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

Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactions

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional

Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs)

Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

Latin America: International firms > City Focus - Houston Tier 1

Sidley Austin LLP has a history in Latin America’s oil and gas, and offshore sectors. It has a growing presence in renewables, along with additional growth in mining and LNG. It has had a pivotal role in the development of Brazil’s offshore oil and gas sector. Brian Bradshaw is a fluent Spanish and Portuguese speaker and has extensive experience in oil and gas, LNG and power - especially in Brazil. Chile is another key market for the firm. Timothy Chandler is another fluent Portuguese speaker and is noted for oil and gas, power, mining and infrastructure transactions in Brazil.

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy

Sidley Austin LLP’s Houston office is well connected to the Latin America region, particularly in the oil and gas, offshore and renewables segments. It also has strong LNG and renewables expertise in its New York and Washington DC offices. The firm remains especially active in the development of Brazil’s offshore oil and gas sector, along with mining projects in the jurisdiction and solar projects in Chile. A fluent Spanish and Portuguese speaker, Brian Bradshaw is a seasoned practitioner in the oil and gas, LNG and power sectors across the region. Timothy Chandler is a fluent Portuguese speaker and specialises in Brazil-related oil and gas, power, mining and infrastructure transactions.

Practice head(s):

Brian Bradshaw

Key clients

China National Oil and Gas Exploration

Development Company (CNODC)

Denham Capital Management

Barra Energia

Denham Capital Management

Work highlights

  • Advised China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company (CNODC) on its participation ( through its Brazilian subsidiary), in the development and production of the Búzios field in Brazil’s Santos Basin pre-salt, the largest discovered deepwater field in the world.
  • Advised Denham Capital’s portfolio company, Serra Verde, on a $150m investment by Vision Blue Resources and The Energy & Minerals Group.
  • Advised Barra Energia on the development of Brazil’s offshore Atlanta Field.

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Brian Bradshaw photo Brian Bradshaw Partner View Profile
Timothy Chandler photo Timothy Chandler Partner View Profile