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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers

David Lender co-chairs Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s global litigation practice, with a strong recent track record representing defendants in breach of contract claims, notably Exxon in a dispute with BP, where the latter accused Exxon of failing to keep to an agreement to defend it in relation to environmental claims brought on the basis of a contaminated site in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, subject to specific conditions. This matter is currently pending an appeal before the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He also defended BASF in multi-district litigation alleging that it and a number of other defendants had, via their loyalty programs, created a monopoly in certain agricultural chemicals markets, causing farmers substantial losses, securing a dismissal in September 2024.Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s Diane Sullivan is sought after by clients facing class action and MDL proceedings concerning product liability, including representing GSK in claims alleging that the prescription drug Zantac caused cancer, where she was able to secure a settlement covering most claims in October 2024. Sullivan was also retained by L’Oréal to lead its defense in an MDL where plaintiffs allege its hair relaxer products caused breast and uterine cancers, and is also engaged by Johnson & Johnson and Imerys Talc America in the latter’s Ch. 11 proceedings, tied to claims that J&J’s talc products caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. Sullivan is based in the firm’s New York office.Drew Tulumello handles a mixture of complex disputes and appellate proceedings out of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s office, with expertise in matters ranging from white collar crime to privacy claims and a variety of class actions. June 2024 saw him secure a settlement for BNSF in a privacy suit relating to the collection of fingerprint data from third party contractors, having also achieved the overturning of the initial award of $228m award against the railroad under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. Tulumello also saw three RICO cases dismissed against United Therapeutics, and defended PepsiCo in a number of lawsuits seeking to hold it liable for plastic pollution and misleading the public in calling their products recyclable, securing the dismissal of the former case in October 2024.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 1

Regularly taking on complex, cross-border transactions, the Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP antitrust team leverages the private and public sector expertise of its team to advise clients on their high value merger projects. Its work securing antitrust clearing for The Home Depot’s $18.25bn acquisition of SRS Distribution Inc. is particularly notable. Brianne Kucerik co-chairs the firm’s Washington DC-based US antitrust practice, with experience supporting clients in industries from pharmaceuticals to aggregates. Co-chair Michael Moiseyev has longstanding experience at the FTC, now advising a range of high profile clients in their large, complex deals. Jeffrey Perry, co-chair, also brings FTC experience to his work gaining clearance for deals facing significant scrutiny. Jeff White represents clients in multi-national M&A transactions, in addition to defending clients in high-stakes antitrust litigation. The technology, retail, and energy sectors are areas of expertise for Megan Granger, who regularly conducts advocacy before both US and international agencies: also a strength for Elizabeth Ross. The team was bolstered in September 2024 by the addition of Jasmine Rosner, formerly of Amazon, and Mark Seidman, former head of the FTC Mergers IV Division.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 1

The complex commercial litigation team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is regularly called upon by clients across the full range of industries to advise on high-risk disputes. The team is well-equipped to handle consumer fraud, unfair competition and IP litigation, as well as federal and state RICO or antitrust law violations. Diane Sullivan enjoys a successful track record representing plaintiffs and defendants in a range of disputes, from commercial, antitrust and patent litigation to mass tort and class action cases. David Lender is co-head of the firm’s global litigation team, and his broad practice spans commercial, antitrust, restructuring and investor disputes. Gregory Silbert leads the complex commercial litigation practice alongside Washington DC-based Drew Tulumello, who brings to the team extensive experience as a trial lawyer and Supreme Court advocate. Yehudah Buchweitz represents high-profile clients across the sports, media and pharmaceutical sectors, while Luna Barrington handles bet-the-company disputes spanning M&A, antitrust and bankruptcy matters. Chantale Fiebig is another key member of the team, alongside Arianna Scavetti, both based in Washington DC. David Singh leads the firm’s class action defense group from Silicon Valley.. All individuals are based in New York, unless stated otherwise.

Environment > Environment: transactional Tier 1

Fielding a team with ‘strong expertise’ across the environmental aspects of corporate transactions, the Washington, DC-based team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP continues to be sought out by a multitude of clients, with the likes of Glencore, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, and American Securities LLC for advice on matters across the hazardous waste management, heavy manufacturing, chemical and energy industries. The team works alongside the firm’s wider transaction department on a full host of corporate transactions and has seen an increasing caseload of ESG-related matters, including due diligence and reporting. Annemargaret Connolly heads the firm environmental regulatory and transactional group and takes point on the assessment of environmental liability risk in transactions, as well as, ESG. Counsel Matthew Morton showcases a ‘solution-driven and pragmatic approach’ to his corporation and private equity sponsors clients on environmental-related transactional and restructuring projects, including due diligence, environmental risks and liabilities, and ESG factors. John O’Loughlin comes highly recommended for his capabilities with environmental and health and safety regulations within the healthcare, pharmaceutical, medical device, and food manufacturing sectors.    

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 1

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is a leader in debtor-side engagements with an outstanding record in large restructurings and bankruptcies; it has represented clients in six of the ten largest US bankruptcy filings in history. It also takes on a significant number of creditor-side representations and has a large private equity client base that provides a consistent flow of restructuring and bankruptcy matters for portfolio companies. The firm’s large US-based and international teams make it a formidable force in domestic and cross-border cases. While its team is mainly centred in New York, it has a large group in Houston, led by three partners. The firm has a reputation for bringing top practitioners through to the partnership with Chase Bentley and Stephanie Morrison the latest to be promoted in January 2025. Gary Holtzer, Jeffrey Saferstein and Matt Barr are co-chairs of the restructuring department, which includes senior names Ronit Berkovich and Garrett Fail. Gabriel Morgan (‘combines technical bankruptcy knowledge with very strong commercial acumen‘) is managing partner of the Houston office and another key member of the restructuring team. Sunny Singh has returned to the firm after a brief stint at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, while Ray Schrock, Candace Arthur and Alexander Welch have all recently left the firm. All named individuals are based in New York, unless stated otherwise.

Intellectual property > Patents: licensing Tier 1

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP utilizes the deep bench strength of its nationwide practitioners to advise high-profile tech clients on IP transactional matters, with a pipeline in patent acquisitions and divestitures, licensing agreements, strategic alliances and joint ventures. The team is led in New York by Charan Sandhu, expert in complex tech transactions relating to the transfer, development and acquisition of IP. In Silicon Valley, Karen Ballack is recognized as a top strategic tech and IP transactional advisor, supporting clients in the development, commercialization and exploitation of IP. New York’s Dennis Adams, brings expertise in advising an array of industries, from the life sciences to tech, on the licensing, acquisition, development and use of IP. Also in New York, Olivia Greer draws on her experience as an information privacy professional to advise clients on privacy and data security issues. The team was strengthened by the rejoining of Max Scott in 2024, a specialist in technology- and IP-related transactions. Jeffrey Osterman departed the practice in March 2025 to Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP continues to set the standard in executive compensation and employee benefits, advising major corporations, private equity sponsors, and financial institutions on high-profile transactions. The firm is noted for its ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks, ensuring compliance with ERISA, SEC disclosure requirements, and IRS tax regulations in M&A, IPOs, and restructurings. The firm’s deep bench of attorneys regularly counsels clients on golden parachute arrangements, carried interest structures, and post-merger benefits integration, frequently working alongside boards, compensation committees, and private equity sponsors. The New York team, headed by Paul Wessel,  is also a key advisor in high-stakes regulatory investigations and litigation, including DOJ and Department of Labor inquiries into benefits compliance. Key lawyers Amy Rubin, and Jennifer Haydel Britz are widely recognized for their expertise in transactional benefits structuring and executive pay governance.

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is widely recognized as a market-leading governance practice, assisting high-profile international and domestic clients with risk and crisis management, ESG strategy, the drafting of artificial intelligence protocols, and executive compensation. The team which is jointly led by Lyuba Goltser and Howard Dicker, has a large presence in the entertainment, retail, real estate, and financial services sectors. Dicker has a background in audit and tax work, contributing to his strong record in ensuring that clients remain compliment with federal regulations. However, his expertise also extends to proxy contests, shareholder activism, and boardroom best practices. Goltser is a reference in the governance landscape, providing clients with day-to-day advice in the boardroom but also acting in a supporting advisory role during lucrative capital markets transactions. Adé Heyliger is a key member of this team, leveraging previous experience in the SEC to advise clients on legislative compliance and investigations, both from government agencies and internal sources. Kaitlin Descovich in Washington DC and Rebecca Graspas in New York add valuable strength to the bench.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 1

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advises on transactions like patent acquisitions, licensing deals, and data privacy, as well as handling technology and IP issues in M&A, private equity, banking, finance, and restructuring matters. Advising Fortune 100 tech companies, it is known for its expertise in complex, high-stakes transactions. The practice also specializes in areas like AI licensing and cross-border transactions, making it a go-to firm for clients navigating the evolving technology and IP landscape. Charan Sandhu, head of the team, is active in complex IP deals and innovative licensing models. Jeffrey Osterman departed the team in March 2025 to Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.

Tax > International tax Tier 1

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP assists a diverse range of clients within the asset management and private equity space, with a comprehensive range of cross-border transactions, including, M&A, securitizations, and REITs, amongst others. The U.S. team frequently collaborates with the firm’s global offices in order to create an integrated process for handling international transactions. The taxation team also continues to collaborate with the private funds group to assist on tax aspects of market entrants to the funds and private equity space. Devon Bodoh leads the team, based out of Washington D.C. and Miami, and advises on cross-border mergers, acquisitions, and spin-offs as well as foreign tax credits. New-York based Greg Featherman handles a vast array of matters in this area including bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy workouts, and the use of net operating losses.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 1

The New York and Washington DC-based team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a strong handle on non-contentious tax matters, including those relating to private equity, commercial transactions, financing, and capital markets, advising significant entrants to the funds and private equity market, including family offices and pension funds. Joseph Pari, head of group, and Devon Bodoh have a breadth of experience in advising large household names on multibillion-dollar domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. As a recognized expert in federal income tax matters, Stuart Goldring advises debtors, creditors, acquirers, and investors in financially troubled companies. Robert Frastai and Andrew Morris are skilled in advising fund and asset managers on tax aspects of a wide range of domestic and international funds. Greg Featherman is an expert in the bankruptcy and international tax sphere. Chayim Neubort handles transactions in a wide range of industries such as healthcare, tech, pharma, and media. Noah Beck represents private equity sponsors and portfolio companies on transactional matters, while Graham Magill focuses on federal income taxation regarding cross-border M&A, spin-offs, and restructurings. Steven Lorch has joined the group from Bracewell LLP, while partners Daniel Nicholas and David Levy  have departed the firm.

Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP accompanies clients across all stages of the M&A process, helping to craft strategies that mitigate the risk of subsequent litigation, but also representing clients where shareholders launch appraisal requests and breach of fiduciary duty claims. The firm also has a strong track record in advising defendants in SPAC transaction-related disputes. John Neuwirth is sought after by boards of directors and C-Suites in the face of both shareholder suits and government investigations, and in June 2024 he, alongside Evert Christensen, was able to secure the dismissal of American Securities from a suit challenging its acquisition of Foundation Building Materials Inc. on the grounds that it aided and abetted breaches of fiduciary duties by Foundation and its majority stockholder, Lone Star. Neuwirth heads the practice alongside Caroline Zalka, whose expertise lies in advising boards on securities and disclosure litigation. Zalka represented Warner Bros. Discovery and achieved a dismissal of a class action that arose as a result of falling stock prices following the WarnerMedia – Discovery merger. All lawyers named here are New York-based.

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

The product liability & mass tort practice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP represents global corporations in their most critical product-related disputes, often involving multi-front challenges with significant financial and reputational risks. The firm’s client roster includes leading global corporations such as Apple, Johnson & Johnson, ExxonMobil, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and L’Oréal. Amongst the firm’s most significant recent matters are its defense of L’Oréal in a product liability and consumer protection lawsuit mass tort multi-district litigation involving over 8,000 cases. The firm has also been engaged in representing ExxonMobil in a highly-publicized public nuisance litigation concerning plastic pollution. The practice’s most prominent attorneys include New York based Diane Sullivan, a renowned trial lawyer with decades of experience, who has secured major defense verdicts for companies such as Merck, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson in bet-the-company mass tort cases. As the head of the firm’s California litigation practice, David Singh is a leading class action defense attorney representing high-profile clients like Apple and PepsiCo.  Arianna Scavetti works out of the firm's Washington DC office, and focuses on false advertising class actions, achieving notable victories for global consumer brands.

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

Well regarded for its full spectrum coverage across a wide range of product liability and mass tort issues, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP represents high profile global companies in high stakes product liability cases, ranging from consumer product related matters to crisis response and risk mitigation. The team has served as national coordinating counsel, and features experienced lawyers with first chair trial capabilities, such as New Jersey and New York based Diane Sullivan, in bet the company matters that involve issues of first impression and significant damage exposure. In consumer class action work, Silicon Valley based David Singh and Arianna Scavetti, in Washington DC are active in class action litigation defense, having represented consumer product companies as lead counsel in defending claims under state consumer protection statutes.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 2

Often closely integrated with the firm’s market-leading corporate transactional team, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s East Coast-focused practice is perhaps best-known for its work handling securities litigation and corporate governance matters arising out of high-profile M&A matters. In this context, the firm is highly skilled at providing effective risk management strategies, as well as regularly achieving victories at a pleading stage, including its recent high-profile victory for Warner Brothers when it persuaded the lower court and subsequently the Circuit Court to dismiss a massive putative Section 11 securities class action litigation following the $43bn merger between Warner Media and Discovery Inc. Caroline Zalka led on this matter, also spearheading a notable ongoing case for a venture capital company focused on the digital currency market in a bellwether case determining whether crypto assets should be classified as securities and therefore subject to SEC oversight. John Neuwirth, who co-heads the team alongside Zalka, is ‘incredibly meticulous in his preparation’, ensuring that he achieves favorable results for clients, including his recent work alongside Joshua Amsel, who has a ‘gifted courtroom presence’, for long-time client AMC Entertainment in fast-tracked stockholder litigation in Delaware Chancery Court arising from its planned overhaul of its capital structure. In Washington DC, Robert Stern is also a valuable resource to clients in light of his private securities litigation capabilities as well as his ability to guide clients in government regulatory investigations/enforcement actions. The arrival at the beginning of 2025 of former high-ranking SEC lawyers Sanjay Wadhwa and Andrew Dean is a major boost for the practice, particularly in the context of agency-led enforcement actions. All named practitioners are based in New York unless otherwise indicated.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s capital markets practice in New York regularly handles investment-grade offerings on both the issuer and underwriter side; the team benefits from collaboration with the firm’s premier M&A practice and is noted particularly for handling offerings made in connection with acquisition financings. Alexander Lynch advises private equity-backed portfolio companies in the consumer, tech, healthcare, financial services, and energy sectors, among others, as well as investment banks and private equity firms. He leads the practice alongside Michael Hickey, who continues to grow the firm’s underwriter practice, leveraging his experience in-house at a leading investment bank. Corey Chivers has considerable experience advising corporations, investment banks, national governments, and multinational financial institutions in connection with public and private securities offerings. Merritt Johnson is active in the healthcare, mining and metals, energy, telecoms, tech, and industrial sectors. Barbra Broudy, Heather Emmel, and Ashley Butler are also key contacts.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Headed by the New York-based duo of Alexander Lynch and Michael Hickey, the ‘very responsive, knowledgeable, and collaborative’ Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP team has in-depth expertise in advising both issuers and managers on complex IPOs, follow-on equity offerings, and private placements. The team frequently draws upon its considerable multi-jurisdictional capabilities, predominantly with North America and the Middle East, overseeing acquisition financings and equity-linked securities. The ‘incredibly hands-on and engaged’ Lynch specializes in strategic investments and major equity capital markets transactions, while Hickey has extensive experience in managing tender and exchange offers. Also in New York, Merritt Johnson stands out for his leveraged buyout and liability management transactions work, Heather Emmel is well versed in public and private mergers, and Ashley Butler is highlighted for handling private and public issuances of securities on behalf of sponsors and underwriters.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 2

Commended for its ‘outstanding market knowledge’, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is especially knowledgeable of investment and leveraged grade acquisition financings. The firm, which is praised as ‘responsive’ is also a key port of call for private equity firms on dividend recapitalizations. In New York, Daniel Dokos acts as the head of the global finance team, while Andrew Colao and Justin Lee jointly oversee the banking and finance team with Dallas-based Courtney Marcus. A key port of call for energy clients, Marcus is vastly experienced in loan restructurings, recapitalizations transactions, and asset-based lending, while Lee is noted for his expertise investment grade lending, multi-jurisdictional financing, and second lien financing. Operating out of New York, Jessie Chiang is knowledgeable of debtor-in-possession financing, debt restructuring transactions, and bridge loans while Silicon Valley-based Justina Chen is informed in syndicated lending.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is experienced in advising clients on a variety of securitization transactions, with a demonstrable focus on those involving esoteric assets. The team has advised Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Citi in securitizations asset classes ranging from commercial and residential real estate receivables, oil and gas sales, music royalties, and triple-net leases, alongside the team’s considerable activity in the CLO market. Frank Nocco heads the team from New York, and acts for issuers, underwriters, investors, and collateral managers for a variety of conventional and esoteric transactions, including whole business securitizations in the oil and gas and diamond sectors. Jason Smith is a port of call for financial companies, credit enhancers, issuers and investors in various securitization transactions involving commercial, student, equipment and solar loans, alongisde diamonds, subscriptions and other esoteric assets. Shawn Kodes and Daniel Nicholas departed the team in 2024.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 2

Primarily advising large media organizations, major sports leagues and conferences, as well as professional sports associations, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP handles a varied workload ranging from high profile commercial and employment litigation in the sports industry to contract negotiations and corporate restructurings. Key team members include Yehudah Buchweitz, Eric Hochstadt, Arianna Scavetti, and Kyle Krpata in New York, as well as Washington DC-based Andrew Tulumello and Dennis Adams. Tulumello has a strong track record in high profile commercial disputes which have shaped the sport industry, regularly representing clients in the Supreme Court, while Hochstadt and Buchweitz are key for complex state and multi-district antitrust litigation, including civil litigation and class actions. Scavetti is who professional athletes often turn to with health and safety concerns and wellbeing matters, including abuse and harassment claims.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s IP/media practice addresses pressing issues for digital music streaming companies, social media platforms and entertainment companies, drawing on the teams strength in a myriad of copyright issues, ranging from licensing disputes and negotiations to rate-setting litigation involving music PROs. Clients include Getty Images, Alibaba Group, and Sanofi. Benjamin Marks heads the practice in New York and utilizes his unique blend of trial experience, economics, IP and media industry expertise; he is a key port of call for clients with complex disputes involving music copyright royalties. Seasoned trial lawyer Todd Larson is adept in music license litigation and royalty rate-setting disputes. Randi Singer departed in 2024.

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s practice is known for its capabilities representing clients in trade secrets and restrictive covenant arbitrations and litigations in both domestic and cross-jurisdictional contexts. Its workload includes high-value disputes arising from the departures of key employees, issues arising from breaches of contract, and related conspiracies. The team’s client list comprises various well-known names spanning a range of industries.  Labor and employment-focused attorney John Barry works from the New York hub alongside Celine Chan. Highly experienced commercial litigator Bambo Obaro is based in Silicon Valley, while key names to note in Boston include Peter Mee and Rebecca Sivitz, noted for their experience handling mission-critical restrictive covenant cases. David Lender is another key commercial litigator based at the New York office.

Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling Tier 2

The group at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advises on the wide range of matters, with specialisms spanning trade secret and restrictive covenant litigation, workplace investigations, transactional issues, discrimination claims and compliance counseling, as well as class and mass action litigation. John Barry heads the team in New York and has experience handling corporate and regulatory enforcement investigations and employment issues arising from transactions. Barry is also an expert in board and management counseling in such high-stakes situations as executive terminations, mass exoduses, trade secret theft, and harassment and discrimination claims. Rebecca Sivitz works between New York and Boston and leads on a number of high-profile transactions and restructurings. New York’s Celine Chan is a name to note and Boston-based Peter Mee is a seasoned litigator who works with private equity funds, corporates and others on restructurings and bankruptcies in particular.

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

Leveraging its international network of offices, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP displays proficiency in the large-scale M&A space, where the firm’s client roster includes well-known public and private companies, primarily within the energy, tech, and food and beverage industries. The group is also well-equipped to advise on hostile takeover matters, shareholder activism, and matters stemming from action initiated by high-profile activist hedge funds. The leadership trio comprises Michael Aiello, who is well-versed in complex cross-border M&A and divestitures involving public companies, Michael Lubowitz, who represents private equity sponsors in the acquisition and disposition of public companies, and Matthew Gilroy, a go-to for acquirors, targets, and investment banks seeking assistance with complex M&A and compliance issues. Sachin Kohli, Eoghan Keenan, and Amanda Fenster are all experienced in corporate governance considerations, defensive measures, and disclosure issues related to M&A. All named individuals are based in New York.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+) Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP leverages a deciated private equity team across the US, Europe and Asia to provide comprehensive counsel to global funds and their portfolio companies. Doug Warner leads the team from New York and is the key relationship partner to many of the firm’s most high-profile sponsor clients, bringing extensive transactional expertise to domestic and cross-border acquisitions and disposals. Co-head Kyle Krpata, based in Silicon Valley, is well-placed to advise on significant deals in the tech and manufacturing sectors, while New York co-head Christopher Machera is widely recognised for his expertise in leveraged buyouts. Based in Boston, co-head Ramona Nee continues to lead multiple high-value acquisitions for clients such as Advent, Providence, and TruArc. New York’s Timothy Burns is noted for his skill in public and private M&A, take-privates, and recapitalisations. Nicholas Doloresco is active on extensive tech sector deals from Silicon Valley, whereas Jenna McBain is frequently instructed on infrastructure and energy transactions from New York. Jakub Wronski also comes recommended, operating from Boston. The team saw several key lateral hires in 2024, with Jacqui Bogucki joining from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in April, Luke Laumann arriving from White & Case LLP in September, and Navneeta Rekhi and Tana Ryan making the move from Latham & Watkins LLP in July.

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP specializes in representing multinational corporations in prosecuting and defending against Lanham Act false advertising cases as well as representing clients in consumer class actions related to false advertising, unfair competition and deceptive business practices. The team combines the firm's expertise in IP, consumer protection, antitrust and litigation and media to fully assist clients in advertising and marketing litigation. Practice head Drew Tulumello sits in Washington DC and is a renowned first-chair trial lawyer and US Supreme Court advocate who excels in defending brands in class actions related to product advertising claims. Co-leading the practice alongside Tulumello in Washington DC is Arianna Scavetti who is the go-to for cases involving product labeling and marketing which is claimed to be false or misleading. In Silicon Valley, David Singh leads the litigation team and class actions practice, advising fortune 500 companies on false advertising cases.

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is sought out by clients for its knowledge in handling music licensing and rate court proceedings. The team excels in handling music copyright matters, representing broadcast and digital media companies in copyright infringements and representing clients against record companies and music publishers for rate-setting litigation. It also provides support to clients with pre-litigation music license and copyright counselling. Other than its strong music practice, the firm also handles disputes involving content distributors and content providers such as consumer litigations, carriage and licensing disputes and antitrust litigation. Contributory liability claims for e-commerce and social media platforms are also handled by the team. Team lead Benjamin Marks focuses on copyright, trade mark, music licensing and first amendment disputes. He is also well-versed in AI issues and has been handling litigation related to how AI affects trade mark and copyright laws. Todd Larson is the name to note for music licensing litigation, David Yohai is experienced in handling IP cases and Yehudah Buchweitz often serves as counsel to media companies in contentious matters. The aforementioned lawyers are all based in New York.

Tax > Financial products Tier 2

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advises clients on a wide variety of cross-border transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, private equity funds, securitizations and real estate and REITs. Based in New York and Washington DC, Joseph Pari leads the practice, while New York based Greg Featherman advises clients on cross-border mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, other divisive strategies, as well as foreign tax credits.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP demonstrates its antitrust defense expertise through a strong track record of securing pre-trial victories, including successful motions to dismiss before discovery, defeating class certifications, and obtaining summary judgments. At trial, the team has consistently delivered favourable outcomes in class action litigation and regularly represents clients in counterclaims and IP disputes. The practice is co-chaired by Brianne Kucerik, Michael Moiseyev, and Jeffrey Perry, all based in Washington DC. In New York, Adam Hemlock‘s practice spans civil and criminal litigation, cartel matters, amnesty proceedings, and civil class actions. Also, in New York, Eric Hochstadt is sought after by prominent clients for his experience on both sides of antitrust litigation.

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

The team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP draws on experience arguing cases before all thirteen federal circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as in various state intermediate and supreme courts. The group's broad caseload regularly features matters involving antitrust, IP, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, bankruptcy and class action. Leadership is shared between Washington, D.C.-based Mark Perry; New York-based Gregory Silbert; and Zachary Tripp, who splits his time between the two cities. Recent years have seen the team act for Regeneron against Novartis in both the Second and Federal Circuits in an antitrust dispute involving a multi-billion dollar eye treatment franchise; and secure a Ninth Circuit win for Apple in a Section 230 CDA case involving a fraudulent cryptocurrency app.

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is a trusted defender of pharma companies in product-related litigation, with extensive experience serving as lead counsel in product liability, class actions, and mass tort cases, often acting as national coordinating counsel. Diane Sullivan, who splits her time between New Jersey and New York, is a seasoned trial lawyer known for handling ‘bet-the-company’ cases in jurisdictions across the US, having defended GlaxoSmithKline in individual plaintiff product liability jury trials related to the Zantac prescription drug. Silicon Valley-based David Singh’s broad experience includes representing a major pharma and healthcare company in Lanham Act false advertising consumer class actions.

Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Combining strength in high-stakes M&A, financings, and restructurings, Weil Gotshal continues to expand its oil and gas-focused team, providing comprehensive counsel to exploration and production companies, sponsors, and financial institutions. Omar Samji leads the group, advising on M&A, joint ventures, project development, commercial agreements, and equity and debt finance. Chris Bennett focuses on the acquisition and disposal of upstream and midstream assets, including processing and gathering terminal facilities, pipelines, and liquid storage terminals. Cody Carper, a private equity specialist, handles both sponsor and management-side transactions in the upstream and midstream sectors, bringing additional expertise in land, marketing, and drilling issues. Steven Lorch and Jacqui Bogucki joined the firm from Bracewell LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, respectively, in early 2024.

Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

Predominantly advising issuers and underwriters on all types of debt transactions- including acquisition financing, private placements, and investment grade debt- Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has in-depth experience of representing financial institutions and tech corporations. The team is especially active in the healthcare, entertainment, and tech spheres, with the outfit demonstrating strong multi-jurisdictional capabilities with Europe and Canada. From New York, Alexander Lynch and Michael Hickey co-lead the practice, each specializing in handling IPOs and exchange offers. Merritt Johnson mainly focuses on leveraged buyouts and liability management transactions, Heather Emmel is an expert in mezzanine debt issues and securities offerings, while Ashley Butler stands out for her corporate governance matters.

Finance > Commercial lending: Advice to bank lenders Tier 3

A strong choice for acquisition financing, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP’s broad caseload encompasses NAV facilities and fund financing transactions. In New York, Daniel Dokos acts as the head of the firm’s global finance practice, while Andrew Colao is a key port of call for private equity sponsors on corporate finance transactions. Justin Lee is noted for his capabilities in asset-based loans, bridge loans, and second-lien financing, while Jessie Chiang handles liability management and debt restructuring transactions. In Silicon Valley, Justina Chen is versed in syndicated lending, while Dallas-based Courtney Marcus is experienced in mezzanine financing and loan restructuring. Other key members of the team include New York-based Benton Lewis.

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

Praised by clients for its ‘trial experience’ and ‘technical expertise’, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is a go-to firm for start-ups and leading companies across the life sciences, biotech and high-tech sectors seeking representation in high-stakes patent litigation. The team demonstrates strength in both appellate proceedings and trials, having recently won a major jury trial on behalf of Altria in a competitor patent infringement suit. Anish Desai and Elizabeth Stotland Weiswasser departed in December 2024.

Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation Tier 3

‘Sophisticated, intellectual and practical’ Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is routinely entrusted by a host of social media platforms, streaming companies and internet service providers for assistance with complex trademark licensing, strategy and enforcement litigation. Steering the practice is Benjamin Marks, who is highly experienced in relation to trademark and music licensing disputes. Another key name to note is Todd Larson, who is a strong choice for social media and entertainment platforms. Both attorneys operate from the firm’s New York office.

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

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s private funds practice contains within it a dedicated US private funds regulatory team which, particularly since the addition of former SEC employee Chris Mulligan in Washington DC to the group, is well positioned to handle SEC examinations as well as registration and compliance. Group head Jonathon Soler boasts deep asset management experience, emblematic of the wider group’s expertise advising clients across the spectrum of the asset management transactions, and the wider group often assists buyout and growth equity funds. Among Andrew Chizzik‘s varied client roster are US-based sponsors in Europe and Europe-based sponsors in the US who the overall group also frequently advises. All practitioners mentioned are located in New York unless stated.

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) Tier 3

The Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP employment group is well equipped to prosecute and defend restrictive covenants actions, investigate claims of misconduct against high-level executives and litigate discrimination and wage and hour class and collective actions. John Barry is responsible for leading the practice from the New York office and specializes in crisis and emergent situations arising from executive terminations, mass exoduses, theft of trade secrets and discrimination claims. In the New York office, Rebecca Sivitz is a key contact for corporates, private equity funds and their boards in sensitive employment investigations and litigation. Also based in New York, Celine Chan handles employment-related investigations and litigation involving allegations of discrimination and restrictive covenants.

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactions Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP handles the full spectrum of transactional issues relating to global telecoms including M&A, cross-border transactions, IPOs and debt and equity offerings. The team is based in New York and is headed up by corporate specialist Michael Aiello who has extensive experience advising high-profile clients on complex M&A within the telecoms sector. Brian Gingold and Luke Laumann represent clients in M&A, joint ventures and investments; Gingold works with clients in the industrial, TMT, business services, consumer and healthcare industries while Laumann has expertise in infrastructure-related transactions. Arnie Fridhandler specializes in buyouts, investments, joint ventures and M&A cases, as well as in corporate governance and strategic matters.

Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs) Tier 3

Sitting within the real estate group, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s REIT practice is known for its experience in joint ventures, debt offerings, acquisitions and divestments, and distressed matters. Practice head Phillip Rosen has recently represented publicly traded REITs with complex restructurings while Phillip Rosen, who joined from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in July 2024, jointly leads the team. Both lawyers in leadership are based in New York, as are Jannelle Seales and Pejman Razavilar who splits his time between Miami and New York. Seales and Razavilar are adept at M&A and joint ventures.  

Real estate Tier 3

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's real estate team is regularly engaged to handle a range of transactions throughout the market. The practice advises on financing transactions, investments, acquisitions and dispositions, real estate M&A transactions as well as development projects, joint ventures, and restructurings; the broad practice is supported by deep industry expertise across all real estate asset classes including office, retail, mixed-use, and hospitality properties. The team is led by Thomas Henry, based in New York, whose practice focuses on advising domestic and foreign real estate companies, private equity funds, and institutional lenders and investors. The practice is strengthened by the work of Jannelle Seales, also based in New York, who focuses on mergers and acquisitions for real estate companies.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP represents companies facing allegations of FCA offenses, commodities fraud, sanctions violations, and environmental crimes. The firm’s strong New York team includes Daniel Stein, noted for handling complex litigation, and Sarah Coyne, who conducts sensitive investigations and advises financial sector clients on insider trading and securities fraud allegations. Andrew Tulumello in Washington, DC assists clients with government investigations. Jonathan Polkes departed in March 2025.

Healthcare > Life sciences Tier 4

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP supports biotech, pharma, and medical device clients in protecting their assets, with strong work in IP advice and litigation. The firm is also active in corporate matters such as cross-border M&A, strategic alliances, and licensing and collaboration agreements. Additionally, the team handles a broad range of litigation cases, including product liability, securities, commercial disputes, and antitrust. The practice is headed by New York-based Charan Sandhu who focuses on IP and complex commercial and technical matters, including tech transactions. Jeffrey Osterman departed the team to Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in March 2025.

International trade and national security > CFIUS Tier 4

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP represents public companies, private equity funds, and sovereign wealth funds in direct investment reviews conducted by CFIUS. The team is well integrated with Weil’s wider and sophisticated M&A and private equity teams which ensures a strong workflow and breadth of expertise. Shawn Cooley leads the team from Washington D.C. and has a deep experience with CFIUS having served within US government departments across three administrations. Cooley is regularly supported on matters by Nathan Cunningham.