Firm Profile > Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP > Houston, United States
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Offices
700 LOUISIANA, SUITE 1600
HOUSTON, TX 77002
United States
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Antitrust > Merger control Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP stands out as an antitrust destination practice for mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures with a strong bench thanks to extensive agency experience. Areas of focus include, but are not limited to, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, retail, healthcare, technology, chemicals and energy. The department is headed out of Washington DC by Steven Newborn, who is retained particularly to advise on especially large transactions and life-and-death mergers. Also in the capital, Jeffrey Perry brings wide-ranging regulatory expertise to the table. Brianne Kucerik operates out of the same office, playing pivotal roles in multijurisdictional mergers. In addition to his antitrust litigation practice, the Washington DC-based Jeff White is actively involved in advice on M&A transactions.
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Testimonials
‘The individuals in this group will work to make your life easier while protecting your company and getting to the right result.’
‘I had an especially positive experience working with Jeff White and Jonathan Cheng. They are approachable, friendly, and terrific lawyers.’
Key clients
Allergan
BASF
Blackstone
Brookfield
Canon
CoStar
Eaton
Hilton Worldwide
Kinder Morgan
Sanofi
Sherwin Williams
Walgreens Boot Alliance
Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 1
Often at the heart of some of the most complex and challenging litigation for an impressive roster of clients, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is adept at all aspects of commercial disputes and is notable for its deep and experienced bench of trial lawyers. Renowned generalist and co-chair of the global litigation department, David Lender, is representing Nuance in the Southern District of New York in a breach of licence agreement lawsuit against IBM. Elsewhere, notable trial lawyer Diane Sullivan won three consecutive unanimous jury defense verdicts for Johnson & Johnson in its talc mass tort litigation, while in California David Yohai and David Singh secured the dismissal of a product liability class action against client Panasonic. The firm was also instrumental in the resolution of the Sears bankruptcy. Other key lawyers are litigation group co-chairs Gregory Silbert in New York and Edward Soto in Miami. Notably, trial-experienced Susan Shin arrived in June 2019 from Arnold & Porter, and Jessica Falk was promoted to partner.
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Testimonials
‘Weil has a very deep bench. Top to bottom, their lawyers are smart, talented, responsive, hardworking, and reliable. Top firm! Weil is a top in class firm that works seamlessly across its network to provide premier legal services. They compare favorably with the other top tier firms in the Bay Area.‘
‘David Singh is smart, practical, client-focused, has excellent judgment, and has become a trusted advisor. He knows class action litigation cold, and is a thought leader in that area. We feel very confident having him at the helm for us during this litigation.‘
Key clients
ExxonMobil
Sears Holdings
Johnson & Johnson
Farmers Insurance
CBS
Panasonic
A&E Television
AIG
Starbucks
Nuance Communications
Procter & Gamble
H&R Block
StubHub
Sanofi
PG&E
Dometic Corporation
C&S Wholesale Grocers
Rent the Runway
Repsol
MedImpact
Sheridan Healthcorp
Westinghouse
Core-Mark
AdColony
Alaska Airlines
Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 1
'They are among the best of the best', says a client of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in New York, which has a strong bench and a broad palette of work. It has a team of 70 lawyers dedicated to securities and M&A litigation and the practice benefits from the firm's strong transactional M&A team, with which litigators work closely during the negotiation of deals to prepare for and minimise the risk of litigation. Active in the Delaware courts, where one client notes the partners are 'at the top of their game', they are also successful in matters in other jurisdictions, including a recent multibillion-dollar breach of fiduciary duty dispute in New York federal court. Joseph Allerhand and John Neuwirth are co-heads of the securities litigation practice, under the remit of which M&A-related cases fall. Outstanding practitioners in their own right, they can also call on the talents of 'superstar' Joshua Amsel, veterans Jonathan Polkes and Greg Danilow, and 'awesome' up-and-coming partner Evert Christensen.
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Testimonials
‘This is one of the few firms outside Delaware that are repeat players in that market because they are at the top of their game. The firm has fantastic litigators who are respected by the courts. They are among the best of the best.‘
‘We see them in a lot of on-going matters right now and they are highly knowledgeable substantively. Josh Amsel is a superstar.’
Key clients
Sanofi Proprietary
Campbell Soup Proprietary
Willis Towers Watson Proprietary
Morgan Stanley Proprietary
Walgreens Boots Alliance Proprietary
Kinder Morgan Proprietary
Archstone Smith Proprietary
Brookfield Asset Management Proprietary
BTG Pactual Proprietary
American Securities Proprietary
Jefferies Financial Group Proprietary Yes
J.C. Flowers Proprietary
Fidelity National Financial
Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 1
'It is the best for complex, critical matters, with deep experience and a sizeable team', says a client of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Another notes that the firm is 'creative and focused on outcomes that make sense and can be achieved'. The practice handles the full range of matters from investigations and enforcement actions through to litigation and corporate governance matters for financial institutions, large corporates and private equity firms. The firm is called upon to handle securities fraud class actions in federal courts around the country, including cases for Sanofi, Campbell Soup Company and Signet Jewelers. It is also one of the few firms to have taken a securities fraud class action to trial through to a jury verdict. Joseph Allerhand, who 'has a wealth of experience and he is a seasoned litigator' and John Neuwirth in New York co-lead the 12-partner securities litigation practice. ‘Extremely smart and talented’ partner Caroline Zalka has emerged as a key player in prominent cases, including high-value 10b5 class actions. Also pivotal to the practice are partners Stacy Nettleton, Joshua Amsel and Evert Christensen.
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Testimonials
‘The firm has deep experience and a sizeable team that allows staffing at appropriate levels – newer associates, senior associates, junior partners and senior partners – for the work at hand. It has excellent familiarity with the judges in the district as well as the plaintiffs’ bar, and the ability to reach across practice areas as needed to obtain expertise that’s relevant to the issue. It is the best for complex, critical matters.‘
‘Joseph Allerhand has a wealth of experience and he is a seasoned litigator who builds great camaraderie within the team. Stacy Nettleton is experienced, efficient, extremely strategic and tough. Both are extremely responsive and collaborative and they are always results-oriented and pragmatic.‘
‘My Weil team is creative and focused on outcomes that make sense and can be achieved. I have found them to be more cognisant of the need for and the ways to settle than others.‘
Jonathan Polkes understands how to handle a mediation and how to structure and reach a settlement. I would say the same for Caroline Zalka
Key clients
Sanofi
Campbell Soup Company
Morgan Stanley
Brookfield Asset Management
Willis Towers Watson
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Signet Jewelers
BTG Pactual
AMC Entertainment
J.C. Flowers
Archstone Smith
Kinder Morgan
VEREIT
Ascena Retail
Ollies Bargain Outlet Holdings
Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP enjoys a very strong reputation in restructuring and bankruptcy, both nationally and internationally. Specialized in cross-jurisdiction matters, the team often acts for multinational companies with global operations and multicurrency debt. The practice is traditionally known for being debtor-focussed, despite it playing a pivotal role on the creditors' side too (representing agents, lenders, secured, and unsecured parties.) Established and leading attorneys based in New York include co-chairs Gary Holtzer, Ray Schrock, and Matt Barr, plus Marcia Goldstein who has been with the firm for more than 40 years, along with the talented Garrett Fail.
The restructuring practice at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP distinguishes itself from the competition through its focus on multi-disciplinarity and ongoing concern reorganizations. James Bromley and Andrew Dietderich are contacts in the New York team.
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Testimonials
‘Creative thinking, a pragmatic mindset, excellent technical knowledge and experience. This combination makes for excellent advice as well as excellent advisors. They conduct themselves in a “team approach” mentality, which means they feel very much “with you” rather than a distant influence’
‘Gary Holtzer has extensive experience and a creative, problem-solving approach to matters, which makes for a value-added advisor, particularly in complex matters. Miranda Schiller is a thoughtful and technically excellent litigator who brings a wealth of contentious experience and a highly pragmatic approach to complex problems. Associate Debora Hoehne is technically excellent, again very pragmatic and problem-solving in nature. Extremely friendly and builds client confidence quickly’
Key clients
EP Energy
syncreon Group Holdings
Insys Therapeutics
PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Fusion Connect
The NORDAM Group
Sears Holdings Corporation
Gavilan Resources
Brookfield Principal Credit
HPS Investment Partners
CTI Foods Holding Co
Talen Montana
General Electric Company/WMC Mortgage
Waypoint Holdings
Southeastern Grocers
Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP handles a huge range of work involving the securitization of consumer loans, but also has experience with more esoteric assets such as vehicle fleets and insurance revenues. The US structured finance practice is headed by Frank Nocco, who also co-chairs the firm's global practice group. Other names to note include Jason Smith and Robert Chiperfield, both of whom have experience in a wide variety of ABS and CLO transactions. Also recommended is Shawn Kodes, who was promoted to partner in 2019.
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Testimonials
‘A solid team with deep expertise and strong background in a broad range of asset classes.’
‘An exceptional well of knowledge of the industry and precedents going back to the creation of the market they are able to draw on and provide unique insights and guidance. I consider the Weil team to be more of a partner than a law firm.’
‘Frank Nocco is arguably the most knowledgeable structured finance partner in the business. Exceptional and laser-focused on results.’
‘Shawn Kodes is a true protege of Frank – extremely hard working, very smart, usually has the right answer off the top of his head and when he doesn’t, is able to quickly come back with it and go above and beyond in doing so. If you didn’t know, you’d think he’s been a partner for years. A terrific addition to their partnership.’
‘Associate Matt Nemeth is a real rising star at the firm. He combines smarts with an incredible work ethic and is the rare associate who has a deft touch when it comes to client relationship management.’
Key clients
American International Group (AIG)
Brookfield Asset Management
Caribbean Financial Group
The Carlyle Group
Guggenheim Securities
Credit Suisse
MC Credit Partners
OnDeck
The Hertz Corporation
Apollo Global Management
SCF Realty Capital
Lendmark Financial Services
Redding Ridge Asset Management
GreensLedge Capital Markets
Omega Advisors
GSO/Blackstone
Industry focus > Environment: transactional Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a strong reputation for advising on environmental issues arising from corporate and financing transactions in highly-regulated industry sectors, such as hazardous waste management, manufacturing, chemicals, natural resources, energy and real estate. In addition to core strengths in M&A, financing transactions, corporate restructuring and infrastructure development, the team is also rated for its work at the intersection of environmental and bankruptcy law. The practice is headed by environmental liability risks expert Annemargaret Connolly, who leads many of the most environmentally sensitive matters handled by the firm. Connolly recently acted for PC&G in what has been called the market's first bankruptcy to be caused by climate change liabilities. Matthew Morton is another contact for bankruptcy-related matters and other restructuring projects. Also recommended are Thomas Goslin, who specializes in matters in the energy sector, and John O’Loughlin, who has wide-ranging experience of environmental and other health and safety issues arising from corporate transactions. The DC-based team is also sought out for assistance with environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) reviews.
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Key clients
Advent International
American Securities
Belmond
Berkshire Partners
Brookfield Asset Management and Brookfield Property Partners
Campbell Soup Company
Cornell Capital
Crow Holdings
Eli Lilly and Company / Elanco
General Electric
Genstar Capital
Giant Eagle
GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Goldman Sachs
The Kroger Company
Nexeo Solutions
PG&E
Sanofi
Sears Holdings
Tidewater
TPG
Westinghouse Electric Company
Willis Towers Watson
Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's copyright team has strengths in a wide range of copyright disputes such as music licensing, safe harbor issues, and photography-related disputes, acting for a highly diverse set of clients including Pandora, Alibaba and Oxford University Press. Practice head Benjamin Marks in New York recently advised Getty Images on a landmark $3bn dispute against Zuma Press wherein Zuma alleged that the client had infringed upon the copyright of 47,000 photographs. Marks also acted for Pandora Media in an appeal before the DC Circuit, which challenged the Copyright Royalty Board’s royalty rate increase for the on-demand streaming of musical works. Bruce Rich has retired.
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Key clients
Sirius XM Radio and its Pandora Media subsidiary
Alibaba Group
Getty Images
Association of American Publishers
eBay
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co.
Spotify
North American Concert Promoters Association
Oxford University Press
Cambridge University Press
Copyright Clearance Center
Television Music License Committee
Intellectual property > Patents: licensing Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's dedicated technology and IP transactions team fields a busy caseload composed of stand-alone licensing work and matters involving the patent aspects of M&A, private equity, financing and restructuring transactions. Mainly known for its track record in high-stakes strategic transactions, the group is also very well versed in assisting with research and development collaborations, licensing agreements, co-marketing arrangements, outsourcing transactions, professional services agreements and e-commerce agreements. With practice head Michael Epstein in New York and a strong Silicon Valley office, the group is present on both coasts and assists an impressive list of clients located in either area, including technology, life sciences, electronics and software companies.
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Key clients
Alibaba Group
athenahealth, Inc.
Atos S.E.
Brookfield Asset Management
The Campbell Soup Company
Carlin America, Inc.
Discovery, Inc.
Eli Lilly / Elanco Animal Health Incorporated
First Data Corporation
General Electric Company
Getty Images, Inc.
Illumina
Intel Corporation
Intermedix Corporation
The Kroger Company
L’Oreal USA
Nexeo Solutions, Inc.
Oneida Indian Nation
Quest Diagnostics
Sanofi S.A.
Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc.
Sears
ServiceNow, Inc.
SGS SA
Signet Jewelers Limited
SoftBank Group/SoftBank Vision Fund
Special Committee of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (d/b/a WWE)
Total S.A.
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC
Wyndham Destinations
Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 1
Led by Paul Wessel, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s employee benefits and executive compensation team is a market-leader for handling big-ticket bankruptcies and restructurings, with recent mandates covering the energy, retail, electronics and automotive sectors. Wessel and Amy Rubin also enjoy a steady stream of M&A transactions for public companies, while Michael Nissan assists an impressive array of private equity funds and their portfolio clients with management compensation arrangements. Of particular note on the client list is Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, one of North America’s largest institutional pension plan investors, with a focus in the fields of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medtech, life sciences and energy. Issues pertaining to ERISA fiduciary compliance are handled by Sarah Downie. The practice is based in New York.
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Key clients
Advent International
American Securities
Atos, S.E.
Berkshire Partners
Brookfield Asset Management Inc.
Discovery Communications Inc.
Dow Inc.
Fidelity National Financial
Genstar Capital
Irving Place Capital
The Kroger Company
MGM Resorts International
OMERS Private Equity
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
PG&E Corporation
Providence Equity Partners / Providence Strategic Growth Partners
Quest Diagnostics, Inc.
Sanofi
Sears Holdings Corporation
Snow Phipps Group
Westinghouse Electric Co.
Wyndham Destinations
The Blackstone Group
The Campbell Soup Company
TPG
M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advises major corporates and New York-based non-profits on ongoing governance matters, and issues arising from crisis events. The team regularly acts alongside the firm's corporate and restructuring teams, and is particularly strong in bankruptcy-related governance work. The public company advisory group is jointly led by Ellen Odoner and Howard Dicker in New York. Contacts in the DC office include Adé Heyliger and P.J. Himelfarb, both of whom have unique experience of SEC compliance and securities regulation, having formerly held legal positions in the SEC's Division of Corporate Finance. Lyuba Goltser is another name to note in New York; she handles governance issues in connection to corporate and securities transactions.
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Testimonials
‘Extensive expertise and a group with enough heft to manage large, complex matters on tight timelines. Unselfish approach to tapping into the firm’s resources to get the right answer.’
‘Michael Aiello has broad corporate experience and is consistently helpful in managing large and sensitive matters and effective in communicating with executives and board members. PJ Himelfarb has deep SEC and governance experience and her willingness to collaborate with management to work through issues is outstanding. She is also willing to stand her ground when needed. Her responsiveness is unparalleled and she is a pleasure to work with.’
Key clients
Brookfield Asset Management
Campbell Soup Company
Eli Lilly Company / Elanco
J. Crew
PG&E Corporation
Sanofi
Sears Holdings Corp.
SGS
TE Connectivity
Westinghouse Electric
Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advises media, financial services, food and beverages, biopharmaceutical and prominent technology companies on licensing and development agreements, outsourcing deals and intellectual property aspects of transactions. Recent highlights include Jeffrey Osterman advising Sanofi on the technology and IP aspects of its amended and restructured Immuno-oncology Discovery and Development agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, while practice head Michael Epstein assisted athenahealth, a provider of network-enabled services for medical groups and health services, on the technology and IP aspects of its $5.7bn acquisition by private equity firm Veritas Capital and investment firm Evergreen Capital. Charan Sandhu has expertise in advising on the technology aspects of private equity and M&A transactions. All named attorneys are based in New York.
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Key clients
Alibaba Group
athenahealth
Brookfield Asset Management
The Campbell Soup Company
Discovery
Eli Lilly and Company
Getty Images
L’Oreal USA
Nexeo Solutions
Oneida Indian Nation
Quest Diagnostics
Sanofi
SoftBank Vision Fund
Wyndham Destinations
Tax > International tax Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's tax group is routinely involved in some of the market's most significant international M&A, debt restructurings and bankruptcies. The team also plays a key role in the firm's highly regarded private funds practice, advising on fund formation and initial structuring, as well as on investment transactions and fundraisings worldwide. The practice group has also been involved in some complex financings over the past year, an example of which is SoftBank's debt and equity financing negotiations with WeWork, a deal in which Devon Bodoh is acting for the lender. Other key figures in the team include practice co-chair Joseph Pari; Mark Schwed, who led tax advice on several high-value transactions for Canada Pension Plan Investment Board; and Kimberly Blanchard, a 'brilliant' and 'consistently reliable' international tax expert. Named lawyers are based in New York except for Bodoh in the DC office.
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Testimonials
‘I’ve been working with attorneys at Weil during the last 22 years. They’ve helped me in some relevant M&A and financing transactions as well as litigation. They’re reliable, outstanding, and business oriented.’
‘Kim Blanchard is brilliant and consistently provides quite reliable and outstanding advice.’
Key clients
Advent International
American Securities
athenahealth
Atos
Belmond
Berkshire Partners
The Blackstone Group
Brookfield Asset Management
The Campbell Soup Company
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Dow
Eli Lilly and Company
Engility Holdings
Fidelity National Financial
General Electric Company
Getty Images
GLOBALFOUNDRIES
The Gores Group
The Kroger Company
Leucadia National Corporation
MGM Resorts
Nexeo Solutions
OMERS Private Equity
Public Sector Pension Investment Board
Quest Diagnostics
Restaurant Brands
Sanofi
Scripps Networks Interactive
SoftBank Vision Fund
Synchrony Financial
Takata Corporation
Tidewater
Total
Westinghouse Electric Company
Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 1
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's tax practice has extensive experience in corporate tax matters in line with the firm's wider strengths in M&A, restructurings and recapitalizations, REIT investments and private equity matters. The team is led by Joseph Pari, who joined the firm in December 2018 from KPMG and divides his time between the firm's Washington DC and New York offices. Pari advises his clients on federal income tax related to domestic and cross-border M&A and spin-offs. Stuart Goldring is another key figure; he has expertise in transactions and tax counseling for distressed companies. Other key figures include Mark Schwed, who acts for public companies and private equity sponsors in relation to domestic and international M&A; Chayim Neubort, a name to note for tax issues arising from the restructuring of distressed companies; and Noah Beck, who advises on the tax aspects of corporate transactions and fund formation. Kenneth Heitner left the firm for Deloitte in 2019.
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Key clients
Advent International
American Securities
athenahealth
Atos
Belmond
Berkshire Partners
The Blackstone Group
Brookfield Asset Management
The Campbell Soup Company
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Dow
Eli Lilly and Company
Engility Holdings
Fidelity National Financial
General Electric Company
Getty Images
GLOBALFOUNDRIES
The Gores Group
The Kroger Company
Leucadia National Corporation
MGM Resorts
Nexeo Solutions
OMERS Private Equity
Public Sector Pension Investment Board
Quest Diagnostics
Restaurant Brands
Sanofi
Scripps Networks Interactive
SoftBank Vision Fund
Synchrony Financial
Takata Corporation
Tidewater
Total
Westinghouse Electric Company
Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 2
Diane Sullivan - Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Over the course of more than three decades as a trial lawyer, Diane Sullivan has represented numerous large corporates in product liability, mass tort, antitrust, patent and environmental disputes. Her track record of representing large pharmaceutical companies in bet-the-company disputes is particularly impressive. Currently she acting for Johnson & Johnson in a series of nationwide class actions alleging that the company's talcum powder is responsible for causing certain types of cancer; at the time of writing she has secured three consecutive, unanimous jury verdicts. Sullivan acts for companies in large-scale environmental tort cases, a recent example of which saw her acting as lead defense counsel to ExonnMobil in state and federal court cases arising from water contamination allegedly caused by the company's use of MTBE as an additive to gasoline. Sullivan also has a strong reputation in commercial arbitration proceedings.
David Lender - Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP In over twenty five years of experience as a trial lawyer, David Lender has represented large corporates in a range of disputes, including fraud, antitrust and IP claims, among other areas. In a recent win, Lender acted for Sears Holdings in a bench trial in New York bankruptcy court, resulting in a $52.bn sale order, ensuring the company avoided liquidation. Lender also continues to represent ExonnMobil in several cases relating to its use of MTBE as an additive to gasoline, and in one recent dispute in Vermont state court, he significantly reduced Exonn's potential damages through a settlement agreement.
Key clients
Johnson & Johnson
ExonnMobil
Repsol
Sanofi
Procter & Gamble
Key clients
Sears Holdings Corporation
Nuance Communications
C&S Wholesale Grocers
ExonnMobil
Procter & Gamble
MedImpact Healthcare Systems
H&R Block
Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 2
The ‘very efficient and experienced’ team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is active across a full range of product-related disputes, including crisis response, consumer fraud class actions, environmental tort claims and personal injury litigation. The firm also has experience in government investigations and litigation arising out of alleged misconduct abroad; namely claims related to the False Claims Act or the Alien Tort Statute. New York-based Arvin Maskin leads the practice and is known for a ‘unique ability to see litigation clearly and to convey the unvarnished truth’. Notable in his team are Diane Sullivan in New Jersey, who is an acclaimed trial attorney with expertise representing companies facing high-profile product liability and mass tort claims; and David Singh in California, who focuses on complex litigation, with an emphasis on consumer class actions, product liability cases, breach of contract, fraud and trade secret misappropriation.
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‘The team works well together in litigation or settlement mode’
‘The team has extraordinary depth of experience and strategic judgment’
‘Invaluable in assessing risk and managing complex and difficult matters’
Key clients
Johnson & Johnson
Procter & Gamble
ExxonMobil
Repsol, S.A.
Tarkett Sports
Panasonic
Starbucks
PG&E Corporation
Dometic Corporation
Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a strong reputation in class action litigation and appeals. The firm combines trial expertise with regulatory knowledge, in matters including consumer fraud class actions, environmental tort claims, mass tort, and personal injury litigation. New York-based Arvin Maskin leads the practice and specializes in acting as counsel in large mass tort and product liability litigation. Also recommended is Diane Sullivan in New Jersey, who is leading mass tort litigation for a varied roster of household name clients, such as Johnson & Johnson, Repsol, and Procter & Gamble, among others. Allison Brown left the firm for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in 2019.
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Johnson & Johnson
Procter & Gamble
ExxonMobil
Repsol
Tarkett Sports
Panasonic
Starbucks
PG&E Corporation
Dometic Corporation
Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s private equity practice combines with its stellar corporate client base to position it as a strong performer in issuer-side offerings, particularly cross-border and M&A-related deals. The team also continues to raise its profile on the underwriter side, with recent mandates for a string of major investment banks, including JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. Additionally, the group benefits from its ability to link up with the firm’s premier bankruptcy and restructuring practice to advise on debt issuances connected to complex restructurings. Alexander Lynch heads the capital markets practice and focuses on representing companies, particularly private equity-backed portfolio companies, in equity and debt offerings. Corey Chivers is widely acknowledged as a leader in debt matters and advises corporations, investment banks, national governments and multinational financial institutions on public and private offerings. Faiza Rahman is an impressive up-and-coming partner and frequently advises all stakeholders on securities offerings, exchange offers and regulatory matters. Other key contacts include Heather Emmel and Michael Hickey. All named partners are based in New York.
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Key clients
Advent International
AMC Entertainment
Avolon Holdings Limited
Brookfield Asset Management
Citigroup
Deutsche Bank
Eli Lilly and Company
Fidelity National Financial
Getty Images
Highbridge Capital Management
Morgan Stanley
Sears
Signet Jewelers Limited
TE Connectivity
Tops Markets
Willis Towers Watson
Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s prominent private equity practice positions it as a popular choice to advise portfolio companies on their IPOs and follow-on offerings, with its recent experience covering issuers backed by Advent International and Thomas H. Lee Partners, among others. The group also routinely acts for corporate issuers and, less frequently, underwriters, including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. The firm’s generous international network further ensures it is a key contender for cross-border transactions, particularly involving Europe and Asia. Alexander Lynch heads the New York-based team and advises both issuers and underwriters on equity offerings, with an emphasis on private equity-backed companies. Faiza Rahman also has a significant private equity component to her practice, and Corey Chivers has an impressive track record in IPOs.
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Key clients
Advent International
AMC Entertainment
AK Steel
Black Knight, Inc.
Ceridian Corporation
Citi
Ditech Holding Corporation (f/k/a Walter Investment Management Corp.)
Eli Lilly and Company/ Elanco Animal Health
Goldman Sachs
Johnson & Johnson
Thomas H. Lee Partners
Finance > Commercial lending
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a truly multi-faceted finance team, with strong expertise across a range of areas. This includes advice to private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers, as well as major banks and direct lenders, ranging from Citi through to Antares. The New York-based team forms a core part of the firm's broader global network, and lawyers work closely with colleagues in key centers in London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Hong Kong. The cross-border nature of the work, particularly on complex and often distressed refinancings and restructurings, is an area of real strength. Practice heads Douglas Urquhart and Daniel Dokos regularly advise both borrowers and lenders. They are supported by a strong team including, on the borrower side, Andrew Colao, who leads the firm's private equity finance practice, and Brenton Lewis. For lender-led advice, Morgan Bale, Heather Viets and Justin Lee have all established very strong reputations.
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Key clients
Advent Corporation
American Securities
Antares Capital
Avolon Holdings Limited (Avolon)
Berkshire Partners
Brookfield Asset Management
Centerbridge Partners
Citi
Claire’s Stores
Cornell Capital
Dex Media
Ditech Holding Corporation
Goldman Sachs
JP Morgan
Lindsay Goldberg
Morgan Stanley
OMERS Private Equity
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Providence Equity Partners / Providence Strategic Growth
PSP Investments
Sears Holdings Corporation
syncreon Group Holdings B.V.
Thomas H. Lee Partners
Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP combines wide-ranging technology expertise, spanning semiconductors, software, electronics and telecommunications among others, with longstanding experience in life sciences and pharmaceutical litigation, ranging from oncology, DNA sequencing and biotech matters to chemicals, medical devices and diagnostics. Thanks to its national office network in the US, with key offices in Silicon Valley, Texas, New York and Washington DC, and its proven PTAB and Federal Circuit strength, the practice is well suited for complex multi-venue litigation. At the PTAB, the group performs especially well in inter partes reviews and covered business method reviews, and frequently handles district court litigation and the parallel-running corresponding post-grant proceedings. The heads of the practice are Brian Ferguson in Washington DC, Edward Reines in Silicon Valley and Elizabeth Weiswasser in New York. Derek Walter, also based in the Silicon Valley office, made partner in 2019.Practice head(s):
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Key clients
General Electric
Sanofi
Johnson & Johnson
Hewlett-Packard, Inc.
Bio-Rad Laboratories
Illumina
Nuance Communications
LiquidPower Specialty Products, Inc.
T-Mobile
Guardant Health
Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's trade secrets practice is active across a number of core industry sectors and provides its clients with coast-to-coast coverage, fielding trade secrets lawyers in Boston, Houston, Washington DC, Silicon Valley and New York. The team has strengths both in litigation and in standalone advisory matters, and also handles the trade secrets aspects of transactions. The practice is jointly headed by Jeffrey Klein and Gary Friedman in New York, and Paul Genender in Texas.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Marsh & McLennan Companies and subsidiary Guy Carpenter
AlixPartners
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
MSD Capital
JTM Foods
Advent International
Ministry Brands
Creative Artists Agency
Investment funds > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP represents a range of private equity sponsors and asset managers in the establishment and fundraising of mega-funds and middle-market funds. These include major private equity funds for the likes of Apollo, Brookfield, and Berkshire Partners, alongside targeted industry funds in areas including healthcare and infrastructure, and venture capital projects. In particular, the team specializes in complex alternative investment work, regularly advising on structuring and strategy issues. It also works with asset managers on structured secondary sales of interests in funds, fund restructurings, majority acquisitions, and governance matters. Practice head Jonathon Soler advises high-profile sponsors on organizational and operational issues relating to their funds and firms. Andrew Chizzik has extensive experience in fund strategy issues, including investment management, employment, and economic sharing considerations. Both lawyers mentioned are in New York.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
22C Capital
Altas Partners
American Securities / Ascribe Capital
Apollo
Backcast Partners
Berkshire Partners
Brookfield Asset Management
The Carlyle Group
Centre Partners
Crow Holdings Capital Partners
Genstar Capital
JLL Partners
Lee Equity Partners
Lindsay Goldberg
Perella Weinberg Partners
Snow Phipps Group
Strattam Capital
TPG
Quad Partners
WindRose Health Investors
Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's New York-based team has a strong track record in various kinds of employment disputes with focus areas in wage-and-hour claims in connection with the classification of employees, different related acts and time taking; various discrimination claims based on race, age or sex, among others; and restrictive covenants and trade secrets litigation cases. Practice head Gary Friedman is particularly well versed in class actions in the aforementioned areas. Another key figure in the team is Jeffrey Klein, a dedicated practitioner with experience in litigation, investigations and the sports sector. Nicholas Pappas as well as counsels Ami Zweig and Celine Chan are also noted for their broad practices.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Smart, careful lawyers who are completely prepared with strategically-sound litigation moves.’
‘Weil does an outstanding job of working across practice groups to obtain the necessary expertise to holistically advise on complex matters. Its employment practice is very strong and particularly valuable for large, complex and high-stakes matters in public companies.’
‘Jeffrey Klein has deep experience in complex labor and employment matters along with an understanding of the need to effectively manage information-sharing with and decision-making by corporate executives and boards. He involves other partners and associates in an unselfish, effective and efficient manner.‘
‘Nicholas Pappas has the knowledge of the law, command of legal strategy and a wealth of experience.’
Key clients
Sterling Jewelers
Marsh & McLennan Companies
Guy Carpenter
Goldman Sachs
Apple Inc.
L3 Technologies (n/k/a L3Harris Technologies)
Euronext
AlixPartners
Country Fresh
NBA Pro Basketball Player Zion Williamson
Air Methods
Claire’s Boutiques
Vonage
Creative Artists Agency
Mastercard
Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling Tier 2
Managements from companies and financial institutions regularly seek Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's team for advice on the full gamut of employment-related matters. Areas of special expertise include internal investigations, executive terminations as well as whistleblower claims and complaints regarding discrimination and harassment. The New York-based group is led by Gary Friedman, who is experienced in discrimination matters and advice on organizational changes. Another key figure is Jeffrey Klein, who is frequently approached in connection with sensitive internal investigations. Counsel Ami Zweig is particularly active for financial service companies, non-profit organizations and funds.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team stands out with thoughtful consideration of case by case circumstances as well as its ability to boil down complex situations to salient details for client.’
‘Jeffrey Klein is smart, attentive, personable and calm. He is the perfect teammate for in-house counsel with an understanding of business in addition to the legal ramifications of issues.’
Key clients
Euronext
L3 Technologies (n/k/a L3Harris Technologies)
Mastercard Inc.
Country Fresh Carolinas
NBA Pro Basketball Player Zion Williamson
Signet Jewelers
Creative Artists Agency
M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a 'high-performing' and geographically diverse team active in a range of industries, including utilities, chemicals, life sciences, technology, entertainment, and financial services. The versatility of the practice is owed to its established offices in New York, Silicon Valley, and Texas, which work closely together, as well as with the firm's activist defense, technology, and financing practices, handling all aspects of major transactions. Key clients include household names such as General Electric, Dow, and the MLB Players Association. Michael Aiello and Michael Lubowitz jointly lead the practice, and Jackie Cohen has been involved in crucial transactions for clients such as Total and the Campbell Soup Company. All partners mentioned are in the New York office.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Weil M&A team is a high performing, focused and dedicated team. Key strengths include the structure they utilize which includes team members at all levels who regularly work together and know each other very well. They are able to move quickly and seamlessly.‘
‘Michael Aiello – simply put – one of the best outside counsel I have ever watched present and interact with boards of directors. He uses plain English and distils complex considerations into straightforward explanations. Sachen Kohli- extremely good technical skills and very calm, collected, and effective demeanor.‘
Key clients
athenahealth
Belmond
Campbell Soup Company
Cardtronics
Dow
Eli Lilly and Company
General Electric Company
GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Iron Mountain
Major League Baseball Players Association
MGM Resorts International
Mubadala Investment Company
Nexeo Solutions
SoftBank Corp
The Kroger Company
Quest Diagnostics
Sanofi
Tidewater
Total
TPG / TPG Pace Holdings
RealPage
Management of U.S. Renal Care
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Westinghouse Electric Company
Whirlpool Corporation
Willis Towers Watson
Wyndham Destinations
M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has notable capabilities in growth equity and SPAC-related work, working closely with the firm's capital markets and restructuring practices to provide a joined-up service to clients. The practice has a broad list of major clients, working with the likes of Blackstone, TPG, and CPPIB on a regular basis. Another notable client is Softbank's Vision Fund, which the team recently advised on the recapitalization of WeWork. The practice group is jointly led by Doug Warner in New York and Kevin Sullivan in Boston, with other key offices in Silicon Valley and worldwide, allowing the firm to act on major cross-border transactions. Also recommended are New York-based Christopher Machera, who works closely with Blackstone, and Ramona Nee in Boston, who is a key relationship contact for several of the firm's clients, including Providence, OMERS, and Advent.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Advent International
American Securities
AMP Capital
Antin Infrastructure Partners
Aterian Investment Partners
Berkshire Partners
Blackstone
Centerbridge Partners
Cornell Capital
CPPIB
CVC Capital Partners
Genstar Capital
Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division
The Gores Group
Irving Place Capital
Kainos Capital
Lindsay Goldberg
OMERS Private Equity
Providence Equity Partners/Providence Strategic Growth Partners
PSP Investments
Softbank Group/Softbank Vision Fund
TCV
TPG and TPG Growth
Trive Capital
Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: litigation Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's cross-practice advertising litigation team includes members with a strong background in intellectual property, class action defense, and antitrust law, giving it solid coverage across the spectrum of advertising disputes. Recent key sectors for the team have included pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, where the team has been primarily acting on competitor versus competitor litigation with a focus on proving or disproving technical claims, and on retail, where the firm has dealt with consumer class actions in multiple jurisdictions. The group is chaired by IP and Lanham Act specialist Randi Singer and the more consumer protection-focused Carrie Mahan, who sit in New York and Washington DC respectively. On the west coast, the firm houses a notable figure in its class action team: the Silicon Valley-based David Singh, who adds a level of tech-sector experience.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Johnson & Johnson
Hilton Domestic Operating Company, Inc.
CareDx
Celsee
Sanofi
Starbucks
AdColony
Core-Mark
eBay
Panasonic
Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP' media and entertainment team operates primarily out of its New York Office, and has a strong following in the music sector, primarily acting for trade associations, large broadcast clients, and Live events promoters in relation to their licensing of intellectual property for broadcast or use in programming. A notable recent mandate, led by IP litigator and practice co-head Benjamin Marks, was the representation of the North American Concert Promoters Association in a dispute with performing rights organization Broadcast Music Inc.. Marks and fellow co-head Bruce Rich are both highly recommended for copyright work and both have strong track records in the entertainment sector for copyright infringement work. Yehudah Buchweitz is another notable name within the practice and acts on several cases for key client CBS, dealing with issues ranging from antitrust to insolvency. In early 2019, Jessica Falk was promoted to the partnership.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Getty Images
Sirius XM Radio and its Pandora Media subsidiary
CBS Corp.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Facebook (including subsidiaries Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus)
A&E Television
Association of American Publishers
Spotify
North American Concert Promoters
Discovery Communications
LBI Media
Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press
Television Music License Committee
Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactional Tier 2
Part of the firm’s corporate practice, the New-York team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a track record acting for domestic and international telecoms and broadcast companies and industry investors. The firm handles mergers and acquisitions, financings, IPOs, intellectual property licensing, debt and equity offerings, and restructuring matters. Works for private equity clients is a crucial element of the team’s workload. Transactional specialist Howard Chatzinoff leads the group alongside Michael Lubowitz, both of whom have enviable track records on telecoms deals across the wireline, wireless and broadcast spaces. Michael Aiello is active on transactions with large financial advisers and asset managers, and Shayla Harlev and Brian Gingold, based in Boston and New York respectively, regularly advise private equity firms. Frederick Green, a co-head of the firm’s transactions practice, provides expertise in the corporate and securities aspects of transactions.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Advent International
Antin Infrastructure
Berkshire Partners
Discovery Inc.
Fiera Infrastructure
FirstLight Fiber
GS Infrastructure Partners
Guggenheim Securities
LBI Media
Mubadala Investment Company
ORIX Capital Partners
Panasonic Avionics Corporation
Providence Equity Partners
Softbank Group
Tower Three Partners
Trive Capital
Univision Communications
Vonage
Real estate > Real estate Tier 2
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's real estate practice is particularly well-regarded for its real estate funds and joint venture expertise and is experienced across a range of asset classes, namely mixed-use, student housing, retail, co-working platforms, residential, hotels and logistics. New York-based duo Michael Bond and Philip Rosen jointly head the department, which was recently strengthened by the hire of Evan Levy from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Levy adds to the practice’s already extensive expertise in real estate finance financings, workouts, restructurings and development projects with further specialist knowledge for the group spanning acquisitions and divestments, leasing matters and debt offerings. A recent standout highlight saw the group acting for MGM Resorts International in its $4.25bn sale of the Bellagio hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Amherst Holdings
The Baupost Group
Belmond
Brookfield Asset Management
C-III Asset Management
Colony Capital
CWCapital
Dwight Capital
Fortress Investment Group
HEI Hotels & Resorts
LendLease Group
Macquarie
MGM Resorts International
Monday Properties
PropCap Advisors
Sears Holdings
Tishman Speyer
TPG
Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 3
The antitrust litigation defense group at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP emphasizes early positioning of cases for possible trials as well as pre-trial resolutions. Other areas of expertise include the application of antitrust laws to music licensing, patent and other intellectual property disputes, as well as sports leagues. The Washington DC-based Steven Newborn is in charge of the overall antitrust department, whereas Carrie Mahan, Adam Hemlock and Eric Hochstadt commonly take the lead on antitrust defense. Mahan is located in Washington DC, where her practice includes hospitality and food industry clients. Hemlock and Hochstadt in New York advise corporations from a diverse range of industry sectors.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Key ability to manage large cases efficiently and effectively.’
‘Carrie Mahan is a terrific civil litigator who is highly experienced in antitrust class actions. She serves as liaison counsel for one of the largest matters in the country involving over 100 plaintiffs and 20 defendants and manages the group seamlessly. She is practical, articulate, and fights tirelessly for her client.’
‘Carrie Mahan is one of the best attorneys to work with. She is extremely intelligent, thorough, efficient with her time and efforts, is sensitive to billing and is a complete pleasure to work with.’
‘Carrie Mahan and her team are one of the most responsive teams around. Not only does Carrie bring valuable legal prowess and discipline to every endeavor, but her insight regarding regulators, adversaries and pending situations is often a pivotal factor in success. She is always available and dives deep into the given case and players. She commands respect of the entire industry and is forthright with her advice and counsel. She is often ten steps ahead of her opponents and is great at orchestrating equitable solutions.’
‘They are extremely knowledgeable, strategic and have a deep bench of antitrust talent. They manage large groups of defendants very effectively.’
‘Carrie Mahan is a tremendously smart, practical lead attorney.’
Key clients
Bridgestone Corporation
Calsonic Kansei
CBS Corporation
Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund
C&S Wholesale Grocers
Farmers Insurance
H&R Block
Hilton Worldwide
Guardant Health
Panasonic
Pilgrim’s Pride
Rent the Runway
Sanofi
Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's team represents multinationals, financial institutions, partnerships, and senior executives in criminal and regulatory matters, including internal investigations and related litigation. The group is regularly instructed in fraud-related cases, as well as matters arising from environmental criminal conduct, economic sanctions, the FCA and FCPA. Steven Tyrrell co-leads the group from Washington DC, where he focuses on investigations relating to healthcare fraud, anti-corruption and environmental issues; while Tyrell's co-head in New York, Christopher Garcia, is regularly engaged in fraud cases before the DOJ and SEC. Also in New York, Sarah Coyne has experience in major anti-corruption matters, as well as expertise in criminal antitrust. In June 2019, the New York office was joined by Susan Shin, who arrived from Arnold & Porter and brought with her significant expertise representing corporates in government and internal investigations.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Communication! This team always responds, listens and provides amazing proactive advice.‘
‘Very knowledgeable, extremely responsive.‘
Key clients
Sanofi
Vantage Drilling
SourceAmerica
Morgan Stanley
Abraaj Investment Management Ltd.
First Data Corporation
Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association
VEREIT
Senior executives at SeaWorld Entertainment
Former CFO of Hertz
Head of Trade Commodity and Finance for Societe Generale
Former Head of Trading for RBS
Finance > Capital markets: high-yield Tier 3
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s high-yield debt offering draws on the firm’s leveraged finance, capital markets and private equity practices to provide comprehensive support on high-yield finance matters. The New York-based group advises both issuers and underwriters on private and public offerings but is particularly active on behalf of corporate issuers in this space. Its broad international network also ensures the firm is a regular fixture on cross-border transactions, particularly involving Europe, Asia and Latin America. Corey Chivers is a key contact for high-yield debt offerings and counts corporations, investment banks and multinational financial institutions among his clients. Alexander Lynch is noted for his focus on representing private equity-backed portfolio companies in capital markets transactions.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Advent International
AMC Entertainment
Avolon Holdings Limited
Brookfield Asset Management
Citigroup
Deutsche Bank
Eli Lilly and Company
Fidelity National Financial
Getty Images
Highbridge Capital Management
Morgan Stanley
Sears
Signet Jewelers Limited
TE Connectivity
Tops Markets
Willis Towers Watson
Industry focus > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 3
Drawing upon the expertise of corporate, finance and restructuring lawyers based throughout the firm's nationwide network of offices, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has the ability to resource big-ticket and often complex oil and gas mandates throughout the value chain. Spearheaded from Dallas by Rodney Moore , the team is perhaps best-known for its private equity-related M&A prowess in the sector, both in the context of new money and distressed scenarios. Moore is particularly active in the upstream and midstream spaces and is a key member of the team that was recently enhanced out of Houston by the arrival in September 2019 of Jeffrey Malonson from King & Spalding LLP, and the return of senior associate Samuel Peca from Kirkland & Ellis LLP in May 2019.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Aethon Energy Management
Approach Resources
Breitburn Energy Partners
Cresta Energy
Discovery Midstream Partners LLC
Fieldwood Energy LLC
Kinder Morgan
Laredo Energy
WPX Energy
Industry focus > Healthcare: life sciences Tier 3
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP provides comprehensive legal advice to major clients such as Allergan, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and Pacific Biosciences. The team has been especially active in high-profile patent litigation in 2019, having represented Johnson & Johnson's medical division, Ethicon, in patent infringement litigation before the ITC, as well as in two competitor cases and IPR proceedings against Intuitive Surgical protecting Ethicon’s key patents directed to its surgical stapling technology. Additionally, the team acted for Pacific Biosciences in patent infringement litigation relating to methods of sequencing DNA and RNA molecules using small protein holes against Oxford Nanopore Technologies. The practice group also advises multinational pharmaceutical companies on M&A, licensing and collaboration transactions, and antitrust litigation. The team is jointly led by litigators Elizabeth Weiswasser and Edward Reines, and transactional practitioner Michael Epstein. Also recommended are Jeffrey Osterman and recently promoted IP partner Derek Walter. The individuals mentioned above are spread across the firm's Silicon Valley and New York offices.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Sanofi
Johnson & Johnson
Allergan
Eli Lilly
Guardant Health
Illumina
Bio-Rad Laboratories
Pacific Biosciences
Plexxikon
Quest Diagnostics
Industry focus > Sport Tier 3
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is particularly prominent within the sports world for its litigation work and handles a wide range of disputes on behalf of networks and other media properties, coaching and management staff, and individual athletes. Additionally, the firm is highly experienced in a range of labor and employment matters, both contentious and advisory, with litigator Jeffrey Klein generally taking the lead in such cases. Recent work has included high profile disputes surrounding contracts signed by athletes prior to turning professional, the legality of amateurism in college sports, and dismissals of coaching staff following serious allegations. Klein jointly leads the group along with Yehudah Buchweitz, who primarily represents the firm's media clients in their disputes with sporting companies and individuals, and Eric Hochstadt, who mainly focuses on antitrust work and class actions. All lawyers mentioned practice from the firm's New York office.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team we’ve worked with at Weil has always impressed me with their promptness, and their willingness to tackle issues with an immediacy, going so far as to do detailed work for us on holidays and weekends. I also know that when they make a call or reach out on our behalf the recipient of the communication will instantly take the matter seriously, and that’s important to us because of the nature of our work.‘
‘The individuals we’ve worked with at Weil, including Jeff Klein and Gary Friedman, have absolute standouts in the matters they’ve assisted us with. Beyond their outstanding credentials, they both have extremely long reach in the legal marketplace, meaning when we’ve needed expertise in ancillary matters, they’ve been able to connect us with exactly the type firm or individual to meet our needs. They are both on our “first call” list for outside legal assistance.‘
Key clients
Zion Williamson
Creative Artists Agency
Former University of Maryland head football coach DJ Durkin
Former MLB All-Star Barry Bonds
CBS Corporation
Providence Equity Partners
Under Armour
Showtime Networks
Learfield Sports
Getty Images
Entercom (f/k/a CBS Radio)
Major League Baseball Players Association
Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation Tier 3
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's trademark team commands a strong presence in the technology, consumer products, pharmaceuticals and publishing industries, with an enviable client roster including Facebook, Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson. Practice head Randi Singer is based in New York, but regularly acts before courts in Texas, Delaware and California. Of late, Singer has been especially active defending e-commerce companies against issues of secondary liability arising from products sold to their platforms. Bruce Rich retired.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Alibaba Group
Samsung Electronics
Sanofi Proprietary
eBay
Johnson & Johnson
Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt Publishing Co.
CareDX
Celsee Proprietary
AIG
Labor and employment > ERISA litigation Tier 3
Representative matters for Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s ERISA litigation practice involve defending plan sponsors in challenges to the administration of health benefits plans, 401(k) fiduciary breach allegations and enforcement actions by the DOL. Employment litigation practice head Jeffrey Klein and Nicholas Pappas, both based in New York, are key contacts.
M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism Tier 3
At Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, shareholder activism defense is handled by Adé Heyliger in Washington DC, who has acted for high-profile companies involved in activism campaigns.
Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional Tier 3
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP focuses on high-value corporate finance and M&A mandates for clients in the media space, with a particular focus on clients who own or operate television networks, as well as a range of financial institutions and funds with involvement in the media space. The practice is headed by Howard Chatzinoff and Michael Lubowitz, both of whom operate out of the New York office. Chatzinoff has a particularly strong track record in the sector, while Lubowitz leads the firm's broader M&A practice. Another key figure within the practice is Jackie Cohen, who recently advised Discovery Communications on its joint venture with Magnolia, the home and lifestyle brand owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines, which will create a multiplatform media company including a traditional television network and an over-the-top distribution service.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Weil are a strong team, practical and smart, collaborative, with strong negotiation skills.‘
Key clients
AMC Entertainment Inc.
Catalina Marketing
CBS Corporation
Dex Media, Inc.
Discovery Inc.
Getty Images Inc.
Guggenheim Securities
LBI Media Inc.
Major League Baseball Players Association
Mubadala Investment Company
Providence Equity Partners /Providence Strategic Growth
Scripps Networks Interactive
Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Starz, Inc.
Topgolf International, Inc.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs) Tier 3
‘Highly experience in a broad array of transactions’, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is a reputed name for IPOs, follow-on offerings, private placements and public issuance of debt, acting both for issuers and underwriters. Michael Bond and Philip Rosen jointly head the department, which is also highly regarded for M&A, joint ventures and innovative approaches to raising equity and debt funds. Evan Levy recently joined the practice from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; he brings to the team extensive experience of financing and securities offerings, as well as workouts and restructurings. Another key name is David Herman , hailed by clients as 'fantastic'. All named partners are based in New York.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Highly experienced and well versed in a broad array of transactions. Able to assist the client and financial advisor proactively think through tax or other structural issues. Have complete confidence in their abilities having worked with the team on several large deals.’
‘Mike Bond and David Herman are both fantastic. Able to quickly and thoughtfully advise on any number of scenarios. High confidence in their business ethics. I would work with Mike on every deal if I could.’
Key clients
AIG
Amherst Holdings
Blackstone
Brookfield Asset Management
Colony Capital
Dwight Capital
HEI Hotels & Resorts
Herald Square Properties
Iron Mountain
LendLease Group
MGM Resorts International
Sears Holdings
Silverpeak Real Estate Partners
Antitrust > Cartel Tier 4
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP represents clients from numerous industry sectors in DOJ and State Attorney General investigations. Adam Hemlock in New York and the Washington DC-based Steven Newborn head the department with a special focus on assisting Japanese clients with antitrust investigations in the US. Hemlock takes the lead on most cartel cases and was particularly active for auto parts manufacturers in recent times. Senior associate Lara Trager and associate Kayleigh Golish, both in New York, provide key support to the firm's cartel practice. In 2019, Steven Reiss retired from the practice.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Bridgestone
Calsonic Kansei
Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund
Panasonic
Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal) Tier 4
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's appellate group is adept at representing clients before all federal circuit courts of appeals. It is also noted for handling appeals with significant foreign policy implications. Of particular note, department co-head Gregory Silbert (New York) led the appellate effort for the Republic of Hungary and Magyar Államvasutak Zrt. before the Seventh and the DC Circuits; this was followed by a petition to the US Supreme Court to resolve a circuit split relating to the interpretation of the treaty exception contained in the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act and the exercise of US jurisdiction. The practice group also has a presence in Silicon Valley, focusing on IP appeals at the Federal Circuit. Patent litigator Edward Reines is the key contact in this space. Joint practice head Zachary Tripp joined the DC office fro the Office of the Solicitor General at the DOJ in December 2019.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
C&S Wholesale Grocers
Farmers Insurance
AIG
Pandora Media
Getty Images
Willis Towers Watson
Archstone Smith
General Electric
Westinghouse
Sterling Jewelers
Signet Jewelers
Air Methods Corporation
Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 4
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is well-positioned to advise on a vairety of issues arising in the context of investment treaty arbitration, an area in which it benefits from team members’ past experience in treaty negotiations. In particular, New York-based department head Ted Posner formerly held a position in the Office of the United States Trade Representative; he now utilizes these skills in acting for sovereigns and investors. The team also prides itself on its successful track record in arbitration-related hearings, where it acts in conjunction with the firm's litigation group.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The firm is top-notch, very experienced, and pays a lot of attention to detail. The team members are hands-on and very thorough in their analysis on how to approach matters.‘
Key clients
MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Company
BTG Pactual
Jinpeng Group
Dispute resolution > International trade Tier 4
Led by Washington DC-based Theodore Posner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s trade group is noted for its ability to handle international trade matters, as well as international arbitration. On the contentious side, the team advises on disputes handled in accordance with dispute settlement mechanisms set out in various international agreements, including the World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Understanding, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and other free trade agreements. Multiple highlights this year have also shown the team acting alongside the firm’s private equity and M&A departments in New York and London, particularly for the purpose of counseling global public and private corporate clients on matters falling under the remit of CFIUS.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Chevron Corporation
CPP Investment Board
MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Company
The Williams Companies
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board
Brookfield Asset Management
Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and Inclusion
A commitment to diversity and inclusion has been at the core of our firm since Frank Weil, Sylvan Gotshal, and Horace Manges found many doors closed to them because of their religious beliefs. They founded Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP to open those doors. For over 30 years, Weil has been a leader in investing in formal initiatives to cultivate an inclusive culture where all feel comfortable and encouraged to excel.
We believe the results of our inclusion efforts tell a remarkable story. Today, 16 Firm leaders are LGBT+, people of color, or women serving as heads of practice groups, Firmwide committee chairs, or Management Committee members. The General Counsel and three Management Committee members (19 percent) are women. Three of the Firms practice group leaders and two office heads are attorneys of color.
Weil has consistently been at the forefront of law firm diversity training programs for over two decades, and regularly introduces new programs and initiatives to further bolster our efforts in this area. For example, in 2011, Weil implemented an annual 2-hour diversity education requirement for all US attorneys and staff. Each year, a new program is developed and customized specifically for Weil to provide concrete skills for achieving inclusion. Program topics have included unconscious bias, mentoring and delivering feedback across difference, working with difference generations, religious diversity, and managing cross-cultural relationships. In 2015, Weil launched an innovative new initiative called Upstander@Weil to inspire all attorneys and staff to stand up for inclusion in the workplace, community and at home. This campaign expands the powerful ally concept within the LGBT+ community to a broader spectrum of groups, including people of color, women, veterans, etc.
For more information on Diversity & Inclusion at Weil, click here.
Q&A with Diversity Leadership
Business Finance & Restructuring Partner Jacqueline Marcus discusses her role as Diversity Committee Co-Chair, TOWER Co-Chair, and one of the Firms first flex-time partners.
Q: How did you get involved in Diversity and Inclusion efforts at Weil?
Ive been involved with the Firms Diversity Committee for more than 20 years. I first started as the counsel representative when now retired partner Andrea Bernstein was heading up the Committee. Andrea was a true pioneer in this area so Ive had some big shoes to fill. I took over from Andrea as Chair in 2015. As of this year, Chris Garcia became Co-Chair of the committee. With respect to gender diversity, I became Co-Chair of TOWER, the Taskforce of Womens Engagement and Retention, in 2014. I currently co-lead this effort with Britta Grauke in Frankfurt and Paul Genender in Dallas.
Q: Tell me about the Committees and what your roles entail.
The Diversity Committee consists of partners, counsel and senior staff in Weils offices around the world, and we work closely with our very talented Global Diversity team, led by Weils Global Diversity & Social Responsibility Director Meredith Moore. Because we currently have TOWER dedicated to gender diversity, the Diversity Committee is focused on race, sexual orientation, gender identity, veterans, disability, and other forms of diversity. Its really a collaborative effort to leverage off of everyones ideas. In each of these committees, we are focused on recruitment, retention, development, and advancement. We discuss metrics, feedback from recent programs and initiatives, and ideas for new efforts. In addition, I often work with other groups like Business Development and Legal Recruiting, for example, because issues of Diversity and Inclusion are relevant and important in every area of our Firm. I try to go to recruiting events as often as I can to show support and importance for diversity to new recruits. I also try to attend a number of affinity group meetings and events so that I can learn, first hand, what is important and impactful for our diverse associates.
Q: Do you receive feedback on programs and initiatives from lawyers and staff who arent involved specifically with the Diversity Committee?
Yes, were always looking for feedback. While we love the positive feedback, negative feedback can be helpful too. Its wonderful that Weil has been doing diversity programming and events for so long. There is a risk, however, that people can get diversity fatigue, so its a challenge to keep things interesting and current. Many of the programs we embark on are based on or inspired by feedback. Our Upstander initiative, for example, was developed in part because we heard from many of our people that they wanted to do more for inclusion but didnt know how. Mentoring circles developed because of feedback from female associates that some wanted more access to female partners, some to male partners, and others to female senior associates. The program incorporated elements of all three (one female and one male partner and 5-6 female associates across levels). As time went on, some female associates wanted male associates to participate, so now more than half of the circles include equal numbers of men and women.
Q: Whats an example of a recent program or initiative that you feel was particularly successful?
As a result of recent and ongoing events, we as a Firm wanted to be more forthright about addressing racial issues, so we devoted our 2017 annual diversity training to Talking Boldly About Race: Being an Upstander in a Time of Cultural Unrest. Because the sessions were so interactive, there were differences in the subjects that were raised and the individual experiences that were shared. We followed up with a session open to all where the facilitator, Verna Myers, shared her insights from the 30 sessions we held at the Firm. A lot of people attended and participated in discussing what they had learned during the diversity training and in the months since. This is also a great example of our efforts to keep our ideas for programming fresh and to maintain the momentum over time. Diversity also isnt just about race, ethnicity or gender, but its also ways of thinking about things perspectives and perceptions, so our 2017 diversity month theme was Diversity of Thought. I think we can sometimes forget that not everyone has the same opinions as we do or thinks the same way that we do.
Q: Why do you think diversity and inclusion are so important at Weil?
It truly is ingrained in firm culture the Firm was founded by three gentlemen who couldnt find work because of their religion, so I think its particularly incumbent upon us to pay it forward. It may not be the case these days that people cant find work because they are Jewish, but whatever the defining characteristic may be, I feel that its incumbent upon us to make sure that those kinds of barriers to advancement dont exist for other people now or in the future. And the Firm and its clients reap the benefit of our diversity efforts research reflects diverse work groups produce better work product.
Q: How important do you think diversity is to clients?
Law firms have been completing diversity surveys for years, and I think sometimes in the past, clients inquiries regarding the diversity of their law firms was simply about checking a box. Whats changed in the past several years is that companies are actually withholding work if your survey results arent adequate. The other thing thats changed is that clients and potential clients are not only asking for diversity statistics firmwide, but what they really want is diverse teams working on their matters. We believe that diverse teams bring a greater array of skillsets, experiences, and creativity, and allow more voices to be heard in terms of approach, which ultimately generates a better work product. In addition, many of our clients are international and global, so its important to have teams that can be sensitive to issues all over the world.
Q: In addition to being involved in Weils Diversity efforts, you were also one of the Firms first flex-time partners. Can you explain what the flex-time program is?
You could say that career path diversity is another way we strive to be inclusive at the Firm. Weil created the role of Flex-Time Partner in 2007, which is available for both women and men who have made a long-term career choice to work on a flexible schedule. I was among the first in that class, which also happens to be the first time that women comprised more than one-half of the new partner class at the Firm. Now Im currently one of four Flex-Time Partners at the Firm. Additionally, the firm has a long-standing Flex-Time Program for associates to adopt a reduced work schedule while continuing their commitment to practicing law.
Q: Why did you choose to work as a Flextime partner and how has it worked out for you?
What prompted me to be flex-time was my personal upbringing. I was brought up in a Sephardic Jewish family with strong pride in the traditions of our culture. It was highly unusual for a woman to get an education or have a job. While my parents were very supportive an encouraging, at the same time, these cultural traditions were ingrained in me. When I had my first child, I didnt feel comfortable working full time, so thats when I started flex-time. I was an associate at that time and after several years I did become counsel and eventually partner. Im eternally grateful to the firm for making that flex-time option available for me. Whats interesting and different these days is theres much more focus on work life balance, and much more effort by the firms to make working easier for men and women with families. Maybe this will mean that less people will opt for the flex-time arrangement, and instead utilize these other programs and be able to juggle the demands of work and family better more easily.
Q: Whats next for Diversity & Inclusion at Weil?
From a diversity and gender point of view, I think were generally doing a pretty good job of bringing people into the firm, although we need to maintain a focus on this area. Where we are redoubling our efforts is making sure that everyone has the tools and the opportunities to thrive at the firm, so that youll see the percentages of female, people of color, and LGBT+ partners accelerate over time. Our work is far from over, but were up for the challenge!
Awards and Accolades
Below are a few of the awards Weil has received honoring our commitment to diversity and inclusion:
- ‘Best International Firm for Diversity‘ – Euromoney Legal Media Groups Americas Women in Business Law Awards 2017
- ‘Top 10 for Diversity‘ – Chambers Associate 2017
- ‘Top Law Firm for Equality: 100% Rating in the Corporate Equality Index‘ – Human Rights Campaign Foundation 2018
- ‘Leadership and Excellence in Inclusion and Diversity Award‘ – Morgan Stanley Legal Compliance and Division 2016
Diversity Stats
Firm has a written diversity strategy that has been communicated to all Firm attorneys. | Firm gives billable credit for work that is directly related to diversity efforts (but is not pro bono work). | Firm ties a component of partner compensation to diversity efforts. | Firm has a diversity committee that includes senior partners and that reports to the Firm’s highest governing body. | Firm has a full or part-time diversity professional who performs diversity-related tasks. | Firm has affinity or employee resource groups for its women and diverse attorneys, which meet at least quarterly. | Firm has a succession plan that specifically emphasizes greater inclusion of women and diverse lawyers. | Firm mandates and monitors that minority and women attorneys have equal access to clients, quality work assignments, committee appointments, marketing efforts and Firm events. | Firm requires inclusion of at least one diverse candidate in all hiring decisions. | Firm policy specifically prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. | Firm provides opportunity for attorneys to voluntarily disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression through Firm data collection procedures. | Firm policy specifically provides for paid maternity leave. | Firm policy specifically provides for paid paternity leave. | Firm has a formal, written part-time policy that permits partners to be part-time. | Firm has a flex-time policy. | Firm provides for or mandates diversity training for all lawyers and staff. | Firm has a supplier diversity program. |
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