Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP > Houston, United States > Firm Profile

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 1

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP offers a destination merger and antitrust practice, working with top clients including Microsoft, Walgreens, and Johnson & Johnson on high-value strategic mergers, often bet-the-company deals with significant multijurisdictional elements and facing significant regulatory scrutiny. The team offers a deep and focused bench with significant in-house agency expertise, with practice head Steven Newborn a former head of the FTC Mergers I Division with a strong reputation in complex merger proceedings, while Jeffrey Perry , Steven Bernstein , and Michael Moiseyev also held senior FTC positions. The firm has capabilities in key industry sectors including energy, technology, and pharma, and also regularly works with many of the wider firm’s private equity clients on strategic buyouts. Brianne Kucerik continues to establish herself as a top-level practitioner, handling a number of major deals facing DOJ and FTC oversight, and notably cleared MGM’s purchase of The Cosmopolitan casino for $1.6bn, while John Scribner has a strong record in the pharma and tech sectors, regularly advising Sanofi on transactions. Jeff White has seen a prolific 2021, particularly on behalf of major private equity funds and portfolio companies in various industries, while Vadim Brusser  was promoted to partner in January 2021 and heads up the firm’s HSR and merger regulatory practice, handling all aspects of global pre-merger issues. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 1

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a well-established commercial disputes practice which regularly takes on class actions before the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (MDL) and under various state multi-district litigation statutes, as well as class and collective actions in state and federal courts around the United States. High-stakes cases involving consumer fraud, unfair competition, alter ego liability, insurance, intellectual property and trade secrets litigation. Other areas of strength are bankruptcy litigation and cases involving alleged violations of the federal RICO or antitrust laws and state unfair practices laws. Clients include financial institutions, consumer and retail, media and entertainment, chemical, energy, and industrial companies as well as insurance, pharmaceutical and consumer goods companies and private equity funds. The New York-based David Lender co-chairs the global litigation department, while the US complex commercial litigation group is being led by Edward Soto  in Miami, Gregory Silbert in New York, and new arrival Drew Tulumello who joined the Washington DC office in June 2021 together with Chantale Fiebig, both formerly at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Diane Sullivan  in New Jersey is a specialist in commercial, mass tort and class action cases in the life sciences, healthcare, pharmaceutical, and consumer product sectors.

Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 1

Diane Sullivan – Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Diane Sullivan in New York concentrates on high-value disputes and bet-the-company trials. Among her many successes is a highly favorable settlement for Giant Eagle in the first-ever federal jury trial against pharmacies in the opioid MDL which highlights her cross-practice expertise and high-profile work. Mass torts are another specialism in her varied practice. As first-chair lawyer in a mass tort trial, Diane secured the first defense verdict for Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey state court.David Lender – Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Working from the firm’s New-York office, David Lender has over 25 years of experience in areas such as antitrust litigation and complex class actions. Of note is his representation of General Electric in multiple high-value IP disputes. Lender’s appearances in a variety of courts also include representing ExxonMobil in federal and state courts in connection with the use of the chemical MTBE in gasoline.

Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 1

‘The firm is at this top in this practice area‘, says a client of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, noting that it has ‘an experienced team that gets great results‘. The firm has a strong bench of M&A litigators and is not only a leading player in the Delaware Court of Chancery, but also in other fora across the US. The team is involved in emerging areas of the market, notably SPAC-related litigation, largely due the heavy involvement of its transactional lawyers in SPAC and de-SPAC transactions. It recently advised Churchill Capital Corp. III in stockholder litigation in Delaware following its $11bn merger with healthcare data analytics firm MultiPlan. John Neuwirth, who led the defense of Churchill, Joseph Allerhand and Caroline Zalka are co-heads of the ‘super-sophisticated and experienced‘ securities litigation practice, in which veteran litigator Jonathan Polkes and emerging talents Joshua Amsel and Evert Christensen are play key roles. Christensen worked alongside Neuwirth to defend Brookfield Asset Management in a precedent-setting matter that struck down a key point of law in Gentile v. Rossette concerning a “dual-natured” claims precedent that allowed certain claims to be both direct and derivative. All mentioned lawyers are based in New York.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 1

At Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in New York, the ‘talented, strategic' team handles both securities litigation, corporate governance and regulatory enforcement matters, frequently acting for publicly traded corporations, financial institutions, private equity firms and other major companies, among them Carlyle Group, General Electric and AMC Entertainment. John Neuwirth and Caroline Zalka are co-heads of the securities litigation practice. Neuwirth successfully represented Brookfield and certain of its affiliates in a precedent-setting stockholder derivative and class action suit before the Delaware Supreme Court. Stacy Nettleton , who is ‘highly engaged, smart and is a wonderful communicator and strategist‘, Joshua Amsel , and Evert Christensen are recommended as standout securities litigators. Veteran litigator Joseph Allerhand  retired in 2021.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 1

The practice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP  has an international presence with offices in the US, UK, and across Europe and Asia, with this breadth of knowledge grants the team particular expertise in advising global debtors. Notable work includes its representation of Johnson & Johnson, in regard to the Chapter 11 cases of Imerys Talc America, Inc. filed in the District of Delaware. Another key matter for the firm was the representation of an ad hoc group of lenders pertaining to the Chapter 11 cases of Seadrill Limited, in which the team created a plan of reorganization which included $350m in new financing. Gary Holtzer , Ray Schrock  and Matt Barr are the co-chairs of practice and reside in the New York office. Garrett Fail is noted for his handling of crisis management and corporate governance related matters. Developments in the team included the arrival of Kathleen Aka from Ropes & Gray LLP, and the partner promotions of David Cohen, Matthew Goren, Natasha Hwangpo and Alexander Welch. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

Industry focus > Environment: transactional Tier 1

Fielding a team of Washington practitioners with Wall Street business sensibilities, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's environmental transactional team is rated for its longstanding experience in this field. Its impressive track record features high-value M&A, divestitures, financings, restructurings and securities disclosures in almost every environmentally-sensitive industry, including hazardous waste management, heavy manufacturing, chemicals, and energy. In the last year alone, the environmental group advised on more than 100 M&A and private equity deals with a total deal value of over $190bn. SPAC IPOs and De-SPAC transactions are a particular area of strength for the firm, and the team is also often involved in real estate acquisitions and bankruptcy matters. Additionally, the group offers advice to corporate clients on ESG and sustainability concerns, including those related to climate change, in the context of company operations as well as investment and financing processes. Department head Annemargaret Connolly  enjoys a strong reputation in the market for her involvement in highly complex and environmentally challenging transactions. She is based in Washington DC, and works closely with the firm’s European and Asian offices in cross-border deals. Also in DC, Thomas Goslin is noted for his experience of transactional mandates involving the renewable and traditional energy and natural resources sectors, while Matthew Morton is increasingly active in mandates pertaining to sustainability and ESG factors on behalf of corporations, institutional investors and private equity sponsors. Counsel John O’Loughlin is another contact for private equity, corporate and financial services clients.

Intellectual property > Patents: licensing Tier 1

With over three decades of experience advising on technology and IP transactions under his belt, New York's Michael Epstein, who has lately advised on a number of global pharmaceutical deals and private equity investments in emerging technologies, heads the dedicated team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. The renowned practice shoulders a significant workload consisting of independent licensing work, and matters involving the patent aspects of M&A, private equity, financing and restructuring transactions. New York duo Charan Sandhu and Jeffrey Osterman, and Karen Ballack in Silicon Valley, complete the group which, in addition to boasting strong cross-border capabilities, is also well known for its prowess in assisting with research and development collaborations, licensing agreements, co-marketing arrangements, outsourcing transactions, professional services agreements and e-commerce agreements. The department's client roster includes names from the technology, life sciences, electronics and software sectors.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 1

Praised for its ‘strong executive compensation practice, particularly in the private equity space’, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s stellar workload includes high-end M&A and private equity transactions. Also noted for its capability in handling a broad range of employee benefit issues, the New York-based team is led by Paul Wessel, who has deep experience advising public companies on compensation matters relating to IPOs, bankruptcies and restructurings. ‘Emerging as a leader in this space’, Amy Rubin is a key member of the group and advised Gores Guggenheim in its $20bn merger with Polestar Performance AB. Michael Nissan is the go-to contact for private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, including Advent International and Blackstone, while Sarah Downie advises senior executives and public companies on matters relating to severance agreements. Aimee Adler, who joined from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in September 2021, is a ‘great addition to the team’.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 1

Public companies, private entities and not-for-profit organizations are among the diverse array of clients at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. The New York-based group is praised for its ability to provide ‘responsive and seamless’ advice to clients in a variety of sectors, which range from healthcare and technology to financial services. The cross-departmental team, which is led by Howard Dicker, works in tandem with the firm's M&A, IPO and restructuring practices. Its work covers a number of key areas, such as ESG, day-to-day disclosure issues, executive compensation and board-level matters. ‘Brilliant and thoughtful’ lawyer Lyuba Goltser has ‘a wealth of knowledge', including expertise in not-for-profit governance, and has also worked on a number of SPAC transactions in 2021, an area of focus for the group. The team is also experienced in providing securities regulatory advice, as exemplified by former SEC employees P.J. Himelfarb and Adé Heyliger, who are both based in Washington DC.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 1

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has an ‘exceptionally hard working and diligent‘ team that covers the full suite of M&A, restructuring and standalone technology transactions. The dedicated practice represents a mix of technology and life sciences companies, as well as banks and private equity investors, on their most business critical deals, including domestic and cross-border strategic alliances, IP acquisitions and disposals, research and development agreements, outsourcing transactions and licensing agreements. Key to the team’s popularity is its ‘deep knowledge and experience in the technology field’ including its ‘ability to deal with challenging personalities in stressful negotiations‘. The largely New York-based group is co-chaired by the versatile Jeffrey Osterman and the ‘outstanding‘ Charan Sandhu, who took over from former global practice head Michael Epstein, a partner with over 30 years’ experience in the market. Other key individuals include recently promoted partner Adam Dennis, and Silicon Valley-based partner Karen Ballack who is noted for her ‘great expertise, creativity, and good judgment‘.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 1

Widely praised by its high-profile clientele, the ‘brilliant and incredibly creative’ Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP draws on its close interdisciplinary ties with the firm’s private funds group, advising on numerous capital raisings for established market players and up-and-comers alike. Led by the highly experienced federal income tax specialist Joseph Pari, who splits his time between the firm’s New York and Washington DC offices, the team regularly handles multi-billion dollar corporate and capital markets transactions, and bankruptcies for some of the biggest entities in the world. Stuart Goldring is widely recognized as one of the preeminent advisors for financially troubled companies, working with debtors, creditors, and investors on the full range of proceedings. Chayim Neubort assists various MNCs active in a range of sectors with internal tax planning and reorganization matters, while Noah Beck works chiefly with private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on transactional tax issues. DC-based Graham Magill‘s federal income tax practice encompasses both high-value deals and restructurings, with recent highlights including major acquisitions in the pharmaceutical sector. Prominent recent hires include private investment fund expert Andrew Morris, who joined from Linklaters LLP in November 2021. Stanley Ramsay and Mark Schwed  have left the practice. All named lawyers are based in New York unless noted otherwise.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP provides a cradle-to-grave service to many global companies in relation to product-related concerns, including advice on crisis management and strategic development, as well as in the context of devising ‘innovative legal strategy’ to repel, at the earliest stage possible, potentially reputation-threatening litigation. New Jersey-based trial lawyer Diane Sullivan has had a string of high-profile successes in many first-of-kind and bellwether cases in the product liability/mass tort space, including for Johnson & Johnson in the talcum powder mass tort. Sullivan co-heads the team alongside ‘excellent and hardworking‘ Silicon Valley-based David Singh, who is noted for his aptitude at handling high-profile consumer product-related class actions. Bambo Obaro is also based out of Silicon Valley and regularly partners up with Singh on major consumer class actions, including his starring role in securing the dismissal of a significant consumer class action in New York federal court for a leading coffee and retail company. The arrival in June 2021 of versatile Washington DC-based litigators Drew Tulumello and Chantale Fiebig from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP strengthens the firm’s credentials, including in relation to food and beverages consumer product liability matters.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort Tier 2

Appreciated by clients for its ‘great service and availability’, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s ‘hardworking‘ team excels at handling high-stakes toxic tort disputes for energy, utilities, retail and pharmaceutical companies, in federal and state courts throughout the country. With a large group of lawyers with first-chair trial experience in the product liability and broader commercial litigation fields, the firm has great experience as trial and national co-ordinating counsel in big-ticket disputes, including as it relates to talcum powder litigation, water contamination and disputes related to plastics pollution. The team also regularly handles toxic tort disputes in a bankruptcy context, where it is able to draw upon expertise within the firm’s market-leading insolvency offering. New Jersey-based product liability and mass tort litigator par-excellence Diane Sullivan  co-heads the team alongside the ‘excellent’ David Singh  out of Silicon Valley. New York-based Theodore Tsekerides  is also a key figure, including in bankruptcy-related matters and is recognized as a ‘great communicator’. 

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has maintained an impressive flow of big-ticket equity offering engagements. It has achieved further prominence in SPAC IPOs and de-SPAC transactions, representing a number of major sponsors such as Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp, Fortress Value Acquisition Corp, The Gores Group and TPG Pace. Although traditionally more active on the issuer-side, the capital markets team has become considerably closer to financial institutions in recent years, thanks in part to the presence of Michael Hickey and recent hire Merritt Johnson . Alexander Lynch  leads the capital markets team and is a big name in equity offerings, including in the SPAC field. Heather Emmel is also prominent in SPAC offerings and Corey Chivers  is another senior practitioner across the debt and equity segments.

Finance > Commercial lending

A ‘dedicated team with great market knowledge’, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is highly regarded across the market for its acquisition finance practice, which advises lenders and borrowers alike. Operating from New York, the US department is led by Douglas Urquhart  and counts premier investments banks, major private equity companies, and international corporate borrowers among its client base. Daniel Dokos  leads the global practice and assists the firm’s largest borrower clients on complex work including revolving credit facilities. When it comes to lender work, Morgan Bale  is a specialist; in 2021 he was instructed by a number of key investment banks. Heather Viets is another name to note, having built up a strong reputation for advising financial institutions and issuers on banking and securities transactions,

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 2

Clients believe that Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s securitization lawyers ‘excel at getting deals done while protecting their clients’ interests vigorously’. In 2021, the group handled significant esoteric securitizations, involving assets including diamond inventories. The group also has an established whole-business securitization practice, in addition to solid ABS and CLO product lines. The department is led by New York’s Frank Nocco, who also co-leads the firm’s global structured finance and derivatives group, and has experience in transactions in the US and abroad. Also in New York, Shawn Kodes has broad securitization experience, spanning auto and equipment loans and leases, consumer and commercial loans, and healthcare receivables; and Jason Smith is well-versed in structuring rental car fleet financings, and vehicle and equipment lease securitizations.

Industry focus > Healthcare: life sciences Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is known for its contentious work, advising on both commercial and criminal litigation, offering particular expertise in patent litigation, where it advises clients such as Regeneron and Johnson & Johnson on the defense of their IP portfolio. The team also acts on government investigations and product liability cases. On the corporate side, the practice advises larger pharmaceutical and technology companies on their acquisitions of smaller, innovative manufacturers. It also has experience acting on Strategic alliances and licensing agreements. The New York office hosts significant portions of the IP team, including co-head Elizabeth Weiswasser, who acts on major patent litigation, and Jeffrey Osterman, who advises on IP aspects of transactions. Silicon Valley-based Edward Reines is also well regarded for his IP and corporate disputes expertise. Derek Walter is based in the same office.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advises and litigates on behalf of major social media platforms, digital music streamers, book publishers and e-commerce companies, on a comprehensive range of copyright issues, including secondary liability, DMCA compliance, and infringement and licensing disputes. The team is led in New York by Benjamin Marks, who specializes in music copyright royalty cases and currently represents music streamer Pandora before the Copyright Royalty Board in a multi-billion-dollar dispute. Randi Singer works in New York and Silicon Valley, acting for publishing, social media and e-commerce, including giants Facebook/Meta and eBay, in complex infringement matters. Todd Larson offers music licensing expertise in the New York office.

Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 2

Praised by clients for their ‘incredibly strong’ performance in high-stakes cases, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP combines expertise from the firm’s employment, technology, IP, and litigation teams to advise on the full range of trade secret matters. In New York, John Barry – a September 2021 from Proskauer Rose LLP – is noted for his capabilities in the private equity and financial services sectors, representing data analytics companies and multinational tech entities in restrictive covenant disputes and misappropriation claims. Also in New York, first-chair trial lawyer Gary Friedman handles trade secrets litigation proceedings across the nation, most recently in the insurance and software sectors, while Nicholas Pappas is recommended for his capabilities in employment disputes at the state and federal level. In Boston, the ‘superb‘  Patrick O’Toole frequently works with various corporate clients and private equity firms on trade secret matters arising from transactions. The Silicon Valley-based Bambo Obaro heads up the firm’s trade secrets taskforce, variously advising clients on non-compete agreements and litigating in state and federal courts.

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense Tier 2

Based in New York, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is appreciated for having a ‘good understanding of client needs and nuances’ when acting for financial institutions, and public and private corporations, with notable experience handling discrimination, wage and hour, and restrictive covenant actions. Leading the practice is John Barry, who joined the team from Proskauer Rose LLP in September 2021. With over 30 years of experience, Gary Friedman is noted for his expertise in ‘complex employment related legal matters.’ Counsel Ami Zweig is recognized as an integral team member. In April 2021, Jeffrey Klein departed the firm to join Clarick Gueron Reisbaum LLP.  

Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's broad expertise in non-contentious employment and workplace matters complements its strength in labour litigation. The team provides management – including employers, boards, board committees, directors and executives – with assistance across the gamut of employment-related issues. Its lawyers have extensive experience in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee (EEOC) and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The team is led by New York-based partner John Barry, who joined from Proskauer Rose LLP and brings experience in assisting clients with crisis management and business agreements. Gary Friedman and counsel Ami Zweig are other names to note. Jeffrey Klein retired from the firm in April 2021.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 2

At Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, key distinguishers include the team’s well-established proficiency in SPAC and de-SPAC transactions, as well as its expertise in shareholder activism, defense tactics and hostile takeovers. The practice, which is an active player in the Silicon Valley and Texas markets, is led from New York by corporate chair Michael Aiello, a major figure in the market for bet-the-company transactions. Michael Lubowitz heads the M&A practice and thrives on strategic investment, hostile tender offer and spin-off deals, among others, while Matthew Gilroy is reputed for both domestic and cross-border transactions.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP remains a key player in the private equity space, prioritising a high volume of deals on behalf of major relationship clients such as Advent International, Blackstone, and Goldman Sachs, to name a few, with expertise in the bulge-bracket through to the middle-market, and in a wide range of transactional arrangements, from buyouts and minority investments through to carve-outs, take-privates, and growth equity deals. The firm is also noted for its strong record in key growth industries such as tech and software, as well as in innovative deal structures, with a leading role in several SPAC transactions, most notably Gores Guggenheim, Inc’s $20bn merger with Polestar, as well as 50-50 fund exits and continuity fund deals. The practice is led from New York by Doug Warner , who counts among his relationship clients TPG, EQT Partners, and Centerbridge, remaining highly active in high-value private equity-backed deals, alongside Kevin Sullivan in Boston, who works prolifically on behalf of Providence and its associated portfolio companies. New York’s Christopher Machera advises top funds including Blackstone on buyouts and minority investments, and has notable capabilities in advising portfolio companies on governance issues and distressed situations. In Boston, Ramona Nee won plaudits for her key role in Advent’s purchase of McAfee for an estimated $14bn, a deal which included over 70 add-on transactions in a variety of jurisdictions.

Media, technology and telecoms > Advertising and marketing: litigation Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is best known for handling federal and state court Lanham Act false advertising claims and related marketing and unfair competition disputes. The broad practice includes experts in IP, media, competition and commercial litigation, and it stretches from Washington DC, where co-head Carrie Mahan sits, to New York and California, where her counterpart Randi Singer is based, focusing on copyright, Lanham Act false advertising and trademark litigation, among other areas. Also in California, David Singh is recognized for handling false advertising class actions. Hilton is among the team’s main clients and is assisted in collaboration with the firm’s antitrust department. In DC, associate Arianna Scavetti is up-and-coming.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation Tier 2

Embedded in music and cable TV litigation, the New York-based team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has extensive expertise in all matters pertaining to content distribution and defamation defense for trade associations. Additionally, practice head Benjamin Marks is an expert in digital rights management who recently advocated on behalf of Pandora Media in the Phonorecords III and IV proceedings before the Copyright Royalty Board.  Todd Larson , a specialist in litigation pertaining to copyright and royalties, was also key on this case. Yehudah Buchweitz is an experienced commercial litigator in matters of copyright, the First Amendment, and right of publicity. Randi Singer , a specialist in secondary liability theories of infringement, is also a key member of the team.

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactions Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP covers M&A and investments in the telecoms and broadcast space with a particular focus on the satellite and broadcast sectors. Clients additionally benefit from the firm’s dedicated technology and IP transactions practice that works as an integral part of the broader team. Michael Aiello leads the team, an experienced corporate practitioner- he recently led the team out of New York in representation of SiriusXM in the acquisition of Stitcher and 99% Invisible Inc. Co-head of the transactions practice Frederick Green , also based in New York, worked alongside Aiello in this matter, and focuses his practice on corporate and securities law.  Another such expert is Brian Gingold who heads the real assets practice. Gingold is based in New York and in a recent highlight advised AMP Capital Investors in its acquisition of ITS ConGlobal. Howard Chatzinoff has retired from the firm.

Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs) Tier 2

Based in New York, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP fields a team of experts across banking, capital markets and restructuring, and handles public and private REITS offerings, IPO’s and M&A. The practice is now jointly managed by Philip Rosen  and Evan Levy who is ‘incredibly knowledgeable’, according to clients, and maintains an active real estate private equity practice. Former practice head Michael Bond  remains a core member of the group and advises on commercial lending transactions. The group leverages its wider firm capabilities across tax to handle large real-estate related transactions, including UPREIT and DownREIT acquisitions — David Levy, who joined from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in March 2021, is the main contact here. Elsewhere, the group strengthened its senior headcount with Jannelle Seales, who was elevated to the partnership in January 2022.

Tax > Financial products Tier 2

Based in Washington DC, the team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, under the leadership of Joseph Pari, works closely with the firm’s capital markets and banking and finance teams to advise on a wide variety of financial products. The key contact is Daniel Nicholas, an expert in the tax aspects of debt instruments, with knowledge in debt modifications, restructurings, interest deductibility, tax fungibility and withholding, as well as derivatives. The team was joined by a number of lawyers, including David Levy from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, who is experienced in REIT-related taxation and joined the firm in March 2021.

Tax > International tax Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advises sovereign wealth funds and pension funds on tax matters concerning cross-border M&A, restructuring, and bankruptcy. The team also covers international tax planning and obtains favorable rulings from the IRS and European and Asian tax authorities. Based in Washington DC, practice head Devon Bodoh is noted for his work on tax-related issues concerning cross-border M&A spin-offs, SPAC IPOs and de-SPAC transactions. In New York Kimberly Blanchard advises on international restructurings, joint ventures and M&A, while Greg Featherman is a specialist in foreign tax credits, cross-border M&A, and spin-offs. The team has seen a recent influx of partners, including fund formation expert Andrew Morris from Linklaters LLP in November 2021, private equity specialists Jason Vollbracht from Deloitte Global Services Ltd in September 2021 and Hillel Jacobson from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in April 2021, and REIT expert David Levy from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in March 2021. Additionally, Stanley Ramsay and Mark Schwed departed in May and April 2021.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 3

With a strong track record in securing pre-trial victories for defendants, including motions to dismiss and defeating class certification, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP covers a wide range of industries and claims in its antitrust and competition practice. Clients praise the practice group for its ability to ‘truly listen’ and create ‘a solid relation of trust and efficiency.’  Steven Newborn leads the group from Washington DC, where Carrie Mahan is regularly involved in high-stakes class actions and civil litigation, including in the agribusiness, food, and hotel sectors. In New York, Eric Hochstadt is active on the defense side in matters pertaining to monopolization, no-poaching, and price-fixing, while Adam Hemlock is another key contact on the East Coast.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP acts for large international companies and high-profile individuals on criminal, regulatory and civil matters. It has particular expertise in antitust, securities, sexual harassment, sanctions and FCA issues. Washington DC’s Steven Tyrrell co-heads the team alongside New York’s Christopher Garcia with Tyrrell recommended for FCPA and DOJ matters, and Garcia handling government investigations involving securities, tax and wire fraud. Sarah Coyne, who is also based in New York, is a former federal prosecutor who has recently been dealing with a number of abuse and discrimination, and regulatory investigations.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP combines broad-based product liability expertise with an overarching complex commercial litigation group, enabling it to effectively resource increasingly high-profile matters in the space. New Jersey-based Diane Sullivan is the most prominent figure in the group and by dint of her ‘exemplary trial skills‘ is regularly brought in at a late stage when a case is heading towards trial. This was recently exemplified by her representation of pharmacy retailer, Giant Eagle, as replacement lead trial counsel in a bellwether MDL opioid jury trial. Washington DC-based Chantale Fiebig was also involved in the aforementioned matter and her arrival in June 2021 from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP strengthens the firm’s offering, in light of her strong all-round advocacy skills and eclectic litigation offering.

Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a healthy high-yield debt practice, in large part driven by its extensive private equity and corporate client base, along with an impressive pipeline of engagements from underwriter clients. Frank Adams  is a prominent figure in acquisition and leveraged finance, along with high-yield debt. Michael Hickey has played a pivotal role in developing stronger connections to underwriters and in elevating the firm’s standing in high-yield debt. Corey Chivers  is also a key name, along with prominent emerging talent Merritt Johnson , a recent hire from Shearman & Sterling LLP. Alexander Lynch  heads the capital markets group. All named individuals are based in New York.

Industry focus > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s team is ‘very experienced in complicated matters', ‘very responsive’ and is particularly recommended for its close cooperation with the firm’s restructurings and Chapter 11 bankruptcy practice. Other areas of strength include M&A, joint ventures and the financing of securitization transactions, as well as providing experienced counsel in the private equity space. Working out of both Dallas and Houston, Rodney Moore leads the department and is known for advising PE firms and public and private companies on acquisitions, divestitures and joint venture transactions in the oil-and-gas industry.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s practice extends to a variety of litigation and labor disputes, under which it handles employment arrangements and contract negotiations for major league athletes, major players unions and major league teams. For instance, the firm represented NBA star Zion Williamson in connection with an ongoing dispute arising out of a marketing contract entered into prior to his professional career. The team is jointly led by Andrew Tulumello in Washington DC, who joined the practice from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in June 2021, and brings notable expertise regarding high-profile labor disputes. Leading the practice alongside Tulumello are Yehudah Buchweitz and Eric Hochstadt , with expertise in complex commercial litigation in the sports broadcasting sector and experience in class actions and civil antitrust matters. respectively. Former practice head Jeffrey Klein retired in April 2021. All named lawyers are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 3

Life sciences and technology expert Edward Reines, and Elizabeth Weiswasser, a skilled biopharma litigator with a broad experience handling patent cases for pharma and biotech companies, co-head the practice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. The firm has a solid presence in Silicon Valley, Houston, New York, and Washington DC as well as strong cross-border capabilities. The department has a good track record of PTAB proceedings as well as before the Federal Circuit, and is enjoying an increasing number of successes at the ITC. Additional expertise comes from Silicon Valley's Anne Cappella and Derek Walter, with the latter being particularly well-versed in the life sciences space; and Anish Desai in New York. In 2021 Brian Ferguson in Washington DC and Houston-based partners Garland Stephens and Doug McClellan left the practice, with the latter retiring.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation Tier 3

With 'deep knowledge of trademark, counterfeit and other IP matters relevant to the tech/internet industries', the team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP navigates complex issues of secondary liability involved in representing major e-commerce and social media companies. The group is led by Benjamin Marks, a seasoned litigator who specializes in trademark infringement disputes involving issues of digital rights management. In addition to acting for the firm’s tech platform clients, Randi Singer represents major brands like Hilton, CareDx and Sanofi in advertising matters, across the pharmaceuticals, consumer products and biotech sectors. Jessica Falk brings expertise to infringement cases involving multinationals in publishing and insurance. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 3

With a client base covering both domestic sponsors in Europe, and international sponsors in the US, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is able to leverage its global strength to offer equally expert advice on local and cross-border mandates. The team is active across the full asset management deal spectrum, including assisting with structured secondary sales of interests in funds, fund restructurings, majority acquisitions, minority investments in sponsors, spin-outs of merchant banking groups from large financial institutions, and governance advice. Practice head Jonathon Soler splits his workload between sponsor firms and their funds, and institutional investors. Andrew Chizzik is a key partner for Brookfield Asset Management, one of the firm’s most notable clients, for which it regularly raises multi-billion dollar funds; a recent example is the $20bn Infrastructure Fund IV. All named attorneys are based in New York.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism Tier 3

Real estate Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP utilizes its real estate, finance and tax experience to represent REITs, and institutional and private investors on IPOs, secondary and follow-on offerings, private placements of debt and equity, and public issuances of debt. It is also well known for its strengths handling restructuring mandates, in which practice head Michael Bond has deep experience as counsel in complex restructurings, joint ventures and REITs.  Philip Rosen is heavily involved in restructuring work, and is continuing to advise WeWork on restructuring of its lease portfolio. All lawyers are based in New York.

Antitrust > Cartel Tier 4

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP continues to raise its game in the US Supreme Court and the recent arrival of Washington DC-based SCOTUS advocate Andrew Tulumello from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP should further boost its profile in this regard. Among its recent high-profile wins, New York-based practice co-chair Gregory Silbert successfully obtained a unanimous SCOTUS victory for the Republic of Hungary in a case testing the reach of US jurisprudence over foreign sovereigns. The group also draws on the senior experience of Washington DC-based department co-chair Zachary Tripp and Silicon Valley-based patent appeals head Edward Reines. In Washington DC, the firm additionally gained new co-chair Mark Perry, who joined the firm in May 2022 and was formerly co-head of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP‘s practice.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional Tier 4

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP represents a long list of private equity, banks, and investment firms across the media and entertainment industry where its international network allows the firm to handle complex multijurisdictional transactions. Michael Lubowitz , a seasoned M&A practitioner, co-heads the practice out of New York. Alongside him is co-head Jackie Cohen , also in New York. She is an expert in corporate cross-border matters and recently led the team in advising Marquee Raine Acquisition Corp.