Mr James Kreissman > Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP > Palo Alto, United States > Lawyer Profile

At Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, the practice is ‘adept at litigating, mediating and trying cases’, specializing in industry-challenging high-stakes securities matters, in both the regulatory enforcement arena and in securities litigation. Among high-profile examples in 2021 is the firm’s work for Twitter, which the firm represented in obtaining the dismissal of a Securities Act claim in the California Superior Court, and favorably settled another securities fraud class action. Jonathan Youngwood, who is ‘superior in securities litigation‘, leads the practice with Lynn Neuner, who took over the reins following the retirement of Paul Curnin. They are based in New York, where up-and-coming partner Craig Waldman is a also key member of the practice. Waldman was part of a team that defended Bausch Health Companies in a securities class action, numerous individual actions and a related RICO class action. In Palo Alto, James Kreissman, who led the Twitter case with Youngwood, and emerging talent Stephen Blake are the standout practitioners.

At Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, the financial service team is noted for its expertise in securities and derivatives litigation, where the practice represents prominent clients in a varied range of disputes. In 2021, the practice was highly active in defending banks in litigation related to their roles as underwriters of initial public offerings. The team has also recently handled a number of cases involving special purpose acquisition companies; a particular specialism of Jonathan Youngwood, who is regularly involved in cases relating to the Investment Company Act. Youngwood co-heads the practice and the firm’s global litigation department alongside Lynn Neuner. Elsewhere, the practice continues to represent prominent banks in antitrust cases, with a particular focus on rate and market manipulation claims, and the team’s work in enforcement and prosecutions includes representing clients facing investigations from the SEC and CFTC. Youngwood and Neuner are both based in New York, where Joseph McLaughlin and Craig Waldman are also names to note in securities litigation. The firm also boasts a strong presence on the West Coast, with James Kreissman a key figure in the Palo Alto office. The team brought on Marc Berger and Martin Bell in New York in June and July 2021, respectively; both partners have substantial governmental experience, with Berger joining from the SEC and Bell from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of NY.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York has long been a market leader in M&A litigation and continues to be involved in cutting-edge matters, with a prime example is its work for technology company MultiPlan Corporation in the most prominent SPAC-related case in the market. The matter, in which MultiPlan was dismissed from the case, concerns allegations of breach of fiduciary duty in the merger with special purpose acquisition company Churchill III and claims that the merger was inherently conflicted. The case, led by practice co-head Jonathan Youngwood and up-and-coming partner Stephen Blake, is a milestone in reshaping the law to accommodate the unique qualities of SPACs. Paul Curnin retired in 2021, with seasoned trial lawyer Lynn Neuner taking up his role has global co-chair of litigation, alongside Youngwood. The firm has a deep bench of talented litigators, among them Peter Kazanoff, who is acting for Envision Healthcare Corporation in shareholder litigations concerning its $9.9bn sale to KKR; Palo Alto-based James Kreissman, who frequently acts for global technology companies; and Craig Waldman, who is also heavily involved in the Envision case.