Ms Sara Razi > Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is prolific in merger clearance work, handling a large pipeline of DOJ and FTC filings for corporate and private equity clients, with regular work on behalf of the likes of Blackstone, KKR, and Refinitiv, for whom the firm closed its sale to LSE Group for an estimated $27bn. Alongside its volume of work, the practice is also noted for its involvement in complex merger challenges and investigations, including multijurisdictional approvals processes, with a successful record in clearing Second Requests and other government investigations, as well as representing clients in merger litigation. The team is co-led from Washington DC by Sara Razi, a former senior FTC official with extensive knowledge of agency strategy, who advises on complex merger clearances and investigations in heavily scrutinised industries such as telecoms, media, and healthcare. New York’s Peter Guryan also heads up the team, and is noted for his work on challenging international merger clearances, recently representing TCF Bank in its $22bn merger with Huntington Bank, as well as leading on the Refinitiv deal. DC-based merger review specialist Preston Miller was promoted to partner in 2021, and offers extensive experience obtaining regulatory clearances from domestic and international competition authorities.

With ‘a good mix of highly skilled partners, mid-level partners and associates’, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP sports an antitrust practice that defends clients across every major industry with a deep understanding of both the DOJ and FTC. Having opened an office in Brussels in summer 2021, the firm has strengthened its international reach through close collaboration of the Brussels team with the US offices. Sara Razi and John Terzaken in Washington DC, as well as New York-based Peter Guryan head the antitrust and trade regulation practice. Also in New York, Lynn Neuner was recently appointed global co-chair of the firm’s litigation department alongside Jonathan Youngwood, whose expertise spans securities litigation and corporate control in addition to antitrust. DC-based Abram Ellis excels at antitrust matters related to financial instruments, employment issues, and the healthcare industry.