Mr Jonathan Youngwood > Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

With several major financial institutions among its clients, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP boasts a strong financial services practice with a ‘high degree of expertise in securities litigation’. The firm also has experience navigating complex SEC investigations into clients including JPMorgan and Barclays. The practice is led by Jonathan Youngwood and Lynn Neuner in New York- Youngwood is highly regarded for his experience in securities litigation, particularly class actions, SPAC-related litigation and acting for underwriters in litigation arising from IPOs, while Neuner is also recognized as a leading lawyer in the commercial and securities litigation space. Also in New York is Joseph McLaughlin, who specializes in class actions, primarily relating to securities, and shareholder derivative litigation. Similarly, Craig Waldman, who is also based in New York, focuses on securities litigation including class and derivative actions, in addition to his experience in private equity and corporate transaction-related litigation. Senior counsel Simona Strauss, based in Palo Alto, is another key individual for the firm’s securities expertise, while she also concentrates on M&A litigation and regulatory investigations.

At Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, ‘the team has great industry experience, which puts them in a position to provide deep insight into risks and opportunities associated with securities litigation matters’. One client remarks that the lawyers are ‘very thorough and provide timely advice’ and benefit from ‘extensive experience and a sensitivity to clients’ practical needs and goals’. The firm has a stellar roster of clients, among them major corporates such as Alibaba Group and financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley. New York partners Jonathan Youngwood, who is ‘superior in securities litigation’, leads the practice with Lynn Neuner. Youngwood and senior counsel Janet Gochman are representing Twitter in a derivative action alleging breach of fiduciary duty by founder Jack Dorsey. Also in New York, Peter Kazanoff is ‘second to none in his experience, attention to detail and practical guidance’. He is currently handling a complex derivative action for KKR Biomet, which alleges that the company’s board knew it was facing regulatory compliance challenges concerning one of its facilities, but hid those facts from the market. Emerging partner talents Stephen Blake in Palo Alto (‘a very practical lawyer who is able to apply deep experience and substantive knowledge to very difficult problems’) and Craig Waldman in New York play pivotal roles in the practice. Palo Alto-based James Kreissman is now of counsel.

Composed of ‘excellent writers, strategic thinkers and all around advocates’, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP’s appellate group sits within its formidable litigation offering. Closely integrated with its trial practice, the team is routinely involved in complex corporate appeals, with notable expertise in the financial services, insurance, class actions, and consumer products spheres. It additionally handles a significant volume of pro bono cases. In New York, Joseph McLaughlin is frequently involved in proceedings in trial and appellate courts across the country. Jonathan Youngwood and Lynn Neuner co-chair the overarching litigation department from New York.

Jonathan Youngwood – Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Located in New York, Jonathan Youngwood is co-chair of the firm’s litigation department and leads the civil securities litigation practice. He brings over 25 years of experience representing major corporations and directors in high-stakes commercial litigations, arbitrations, investigations and regulatory matters. Youngwood was able to use his considerable experience on behalf of SeaWorld Entertainment in June 2022, successfully resolving a federal securities class action lawsuit ahead of the scheduled trial for September.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is headquartered in New York and is well regarded for handling a wide range of legal disputes including securities, commercial contracts, bankruptcy, and internal probes, advising high value national and international companies, particularly in the tech, pharma and insurance industries, as well as financial institutions. Recent notable work includes representing Twitter in multiple securities class actions and derivative lawsuits, as well as representing Chubb in connection to Boy Scouts of America’s Chapter 11 filing claims of sexual abuse. Jonathan Youngwood is a civil securities expert, while Lynn Neuner specializes in litigation related to securities, mergers, insurance coverage, and false advertising disputes. Bryce Friedman offers a broad range of legal services, including strategic planning, dispute resolution, and employee matters. Another prominent member of the team is Linton Mann III , who focuses on securities, shareholder derivative disputes, class actions, antitrust, and complex commercial conflicts. Michael Garvey is also noted for his leadership of the litigation team.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP ‘has great industry experience, which puts them in a position to provide deep insight into risks and opportunities associated with securities litigation matters‘, and clients remark that the partners are ‘very thorough and provide timely advice‘. The practice is led by Jonathan Youngwood and seasoned trial lawyer Lynn Neuner. Youngwood and Palo Alto-based Stephen Blake are ‘very practical lawyers who are able to apply deep experience and substantive knowledge to very difficult problems and find the best possible outcomes, even when no good options are apparent‘ – they have been active in SPAC cases of late. Peter Kazanoff is ‘second to none in his experience, attention to detail and practical guidance‘, and Craig Waldman also plays a key role in the practice. James Kreissman is now of counsel. All lawyers are in New York unless otherwise stated.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP fields a white-collar team that consists of a number of former SEC officials and federal prosecutors with extensive experience in securities fraud, FCPA and anti-corruption violations, and investment advisor fraud. The practice is also noted for its strengths in criminal bid rigging and price fixing, and counts Fortune 500 companies as well as its executives among its clients. Lynn Neuner is reputed in the market for her vast trial experience, while Jonathan Youngwood is particularly well versed at the intersection of securities and white-collar criminal defense. Matters pertaining to cryptocurrency and other digital assets form part of Marc Berger‘s portfolio. Nicholas Goldin, whose strengths include enforcement matters and internal investigations, and Washington DC-based former head of the DOJ Fraud Section Jeffrey Knox are further names to note. Brooke Cucinella left the firm for an in-house position in July 2022. All named attorneys are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is known for advising and representing both plaintiffs and defendants in antitrust litigation concerning monopolization, price fixing and tying claims across major industries such as chemicals, insurance, pharma, agricultural products, finance, and telecoms. The team is led by antitrust co-chair Sara Razi who has extensive private-sector and government antitrust experience, fellow co-chair John Terzaken, a leading antitrust litigator with a broad antitrust practice including investigations and follow-on litigation and litigation co-chair Jonathan Youngwood in New York, who co-chairs the litigation department. Other heads of team include New York-based antitrust co-chair Peter Guryan and litigation co-chair Lynn Neuner. Abram Ellis is highly regarded in the market and is especially experienced in antitrust litigation involving financial instruments, the healthcare industry and employment matters. All attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise specified.