Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP > Chicago, United States > Firm Profile

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Industry focus > Insurance: non-contentious Tier 1

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP stands out with its broad practice and its strong and expanding bench of ‘highly knowledgeable, client sensitive, business savvy’ practitioners. Strengths include insurance capital markets, M&A and restructuring transactions as well as designing alternative risk transfer solutions. Alexander Dye, who has expertise in insurance M&A and capital markets transactions and ‘deeply experienced’ practitioner John Schwolsky lead the team from New York. Michael Groll, who is experienced in corporate and securities law, is also based in New York.  The arrivals of Kara Baysinger and Stephanie Duchene in San Francisco as well as Matt Gaul and David Heales in New York from Mayer Brown in April 2021 expanded the group’s regulatory capabilities and insurtech expertise. In October 2021, Prakash Paran joined the New York and London offices from DLA Piper LLP (US), strengthening the cross-border insurance M&A practice, while David Luce joined the New York office from DLA Piper LLP (US) in January 2022.

Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds Tier 1

As well as providing a full suite of legal services to some of the largest fund managers in the world, the offering at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP assists open-end and closed-end funds, ETFs and BDCs with their development of novel investment strategies and cutting-edge new products. Recent highlights in this regard including advising clients on digital assets, offering private equity strategies in a registered fund product, and the development of products with ESG programs. Leadership of the asset management department is now split between Margery Neale and Lior Ohayon – both of whom are based in New York. In the firm’s Washington DC office, Barry Barbash, who has particular experience dealing with status issues arising under the Investment Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act of 1940, and securities regulation expert Anne Choe are key contacts. Barbash is also a former director of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management, and is one of a large number of practitioners bringing previous SEC experience to the team.

Labor and employment > ERISA litigation Tier 1

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP represents employers across a broad range of industries, including insurance, financial services and education, in both individual and class action lawsuits relating to employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) disputes, Department of Labor investigations and plan fee issues, among others. The firm enjoyed notable success in its representation of Northwestern University in its high-profile case relating to workers' retirement savings. The practice benefits from integrated expertise in transactional benefits, broad labor law and securities litigation, allowing it to handle a broad range of cases. The Chicago-based team is led by Craig Martin, an experienced trial lawyer, alongside Amanda Amert, a specialist in ERISA litigation who represents employers and plan providers at the trial and appellate level. Matt Basil represents Fortune 500 companies in fiduciary duty and contracts disputes.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 2

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is a popular address for national and international financial services companies, accounting firms, insurance and reinsurance companies, media companies, and individuals in their commercial disputes. Areas of activity are M&A-related cases, earn-out, insurance, patent, SICO and ERISA disputes. New York-based practice head Tariq Mundiya is a specialist in representing clients in litigation arising out of corporate control transactions, securities, and corporate litigation under the federal and state securities laws. Craig Martin in Chicago is appreciated for being ‘an effective advocate.‘ The Washington DC-based Elizabeth Bower and Michael Gottlieb are key contacts in contentious cybersecurity and privacy matters. Simona Agnolucci is a class action expert in San Francisco.

Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 2

The 'smart, business focused, personable, and practical‘ team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP  is praised as ‘strategic in the approach to cases and efficient in getting to a positive outcome‘. The firm recently set up a dedicated M&A litigation practice, in which vice chair of the business and corporate litigation group Sameer Advani is a key figure. The firm’s litigators represent companies, controlling shareholders, boards of directors, special committees and financial advisors in a range of transactional situations, including Delaware activism and takeover litigation, going private transactions and litigation arising out of alleged conflicts of directors or financial advisors. Tariq Mundiya is chair of the firm’s litigation department and oversees the firm’s deal-related disputes. He recently secured the dismissal of complaints against Xerox Corporation arising out of the company’s terminated transaction with Fujifilm Holdings Corporation. Vice chair of securities litigation Todd Cosenza is another standout practitioner. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 2

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has a successful record in obtaining precedent-setting victories in courts across the US involving securities litigation and shareholder class actions. The firm frequently defends underwriters in complex and high-value cases, and it has become a key adviser on busted IPO cases. It also represents clients facing regulatory investigations and inquiries from the SEC. From New York, Tariq Mundiya leads the litigation department, while Todd Cosenza and Antonio Yanez are co-chairs of the securities litigation practice. The firm has a growing presence in Chicago since opening a new office in 2020, with Craig Martin, who has notable expertise in stockholder actions and fiduciary duties cases, is among the key lawyers.

Industry focus > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 2

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP‘s Houston-based practice is known for its expertise in M&A, private equity, finance, restructuring, regulation, compliance and enforcement. Particular strengths of the team include the acquisition and divestiture of upstream and midstream assets, establishment of joint ventures, drilling partnerships and asset-level projects; energy finance and capital markets mandates; the formation of private equity funds and vehicles dedicated to energy investing; and corporate governance advice.

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

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP enjoys productive relationships with major names across the mid-market and bulge bracket, combining strong deal volume and high transactional value in its work for the likes of Insight, Warburg Pincus, and Centerbridge. The team advises on buyouts, exits, take-privates, and buy-and-build transactions, with involvement in key areas such as retail, technology, life sciences, and healthcare, and also regularly handles cross-border buyouts in collaboration with its international offices, with one notable example being the firm’s work for Genstar in the sale of ISS to Deutsche Borse, a key deal for practice co-head Jeffrey Poss. Poss leads the team alongside Neil Townsend, who remains an active dealmaker on behalf of key relationship clients and regularly takes point on deals in the optical sector. Morgan Elwyn regularly closes high-value deals for top clients, particularly Insight, while New York managing partner Rosalind Fahey Kruse is strong in the healthcare and life sciences spaces. Matthew Rizzo is highly active in the mid-market, particularly healthcare and biotech. Attorneys are in New York unless otherwise stated.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism

Based in New York, the group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has experience of acting for activist shareholders, as well as boards of directors and special committees of large public companies; this makes it particularly well-placed to advise clients on activist campaigns and proxy contests. The group is led by Russell Leaf, litigation department chair Tariq Mundiya, and Robert B. Stebbins, former general counsel for the SEC, who rejoined the firm in 2021. Jared Fertman is also a key individual.

Media, technology and telecoms > Fintech Tier 2

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP combines a strong mix of financial services and technology expertise. The team is ‘well integrated across disciplines’, fielding several experienced corporate, regulatory, transactional and litigation lawyers. The regulatory side of the practice includes senior counsel Christopher Giancarlo, a former chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission who co-chairs the firm’s Digital Works practice and is ‘well known for his vast understanding and knowledge of the crypto space‘. Fellow digital works co-chair Conrad Bahlke is also noted for his good regulatory experience in crypto and blockchain. Washington DC-based regulatory partner Justin Browder is also ‘a brilliant lawyer with an acute business semse and an amazing service level‘. Clients, which include fintech providers, financial services companies and investment funds, also benefit from the firm’s transactional capabilities. Private equity co-chair Jeffrey Poss has a good track record representing investors while Matthew Berger in Palo Alto assists on related technology transactions and IP matters. The recruitment of David Luce, DLA Piper LLP (US)‘s former global co-chair, adds weight to an already strong group. Lawyers are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

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

Alongside regular representation of Comcast before the FCC in complex regulatory matters, the Washington DC-based team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP handles further high-stake proceedings for key market players. The practice is co-headed by Jonathan Friedman whose clients include major cable operators, video programmers, and equipment manufacturers. In advising Comcast, Friedman regularly works together with fellow co-head Michael Hurwitz , a specialist in regulatory policy for communications and media companies especially regarding M&A approvals. Daniel Alvarez complements the practice with his extensive expertise in related areas such as technology, privacy, and cybersecurity. Another regulatory expert is Melanie Medina who currently leads the team in advocacy of Comcast NBCUniversal before the FCC in high-profile spectrum policy and auction matters. On the litigation side, David Murray represents clients from the telecoms and broadcast industry in civil and appellate courts as well as arbitration. The team has strengthened its expertise in privacy with the hire of Laura Jehl from McDermott Will & Emery LLP in May 2021.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s white-collar defense and compliance, investigations and enforcement practice is well regarded in the market for high-profile, cross-border investigations and acts for public companies and financial institutions, as well as senior executives. The team is headed by New York’s Michael Schachter, and William Stellmach and Martin Weinstein  in Washington DC. Schachter is a veteran litigator with considerable experience in internal investigations, while Stellmach, a former federal prosecutor, is recommended for securities and commodities fraud, bribery, antitrust and sanctions matters. Weinstein is a name to note for compliance, M&A due diligence and FCPA issues. Randall Jackson, who is also based in New York, handles civil litigation and regulatory matters, and has particular experience in financial crime cases.

Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 3

Craig Martin – Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. Based in Chicago, Craig Martin ‘knows the law and is incredibly responsive‘ according to one client. He has been trying cases for over a decade; these span  several areas, including patent infringement, antitrust, commercial contract, trade disputes, restrictive covenants and non-compete agreements. White-collar criminal defense work and civil rights cases are also frequent mandates for Martin. Following a trial in the Middle District of Florida in 2021, he secured a significant victory for Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting, Inc. in a high-profile action related to its consulting services.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 3

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP ‘provides high quality service’ to borrower clients, in addition to a growing number of lenders, across all main areas of debt finance. Private equity sponsors make up the main part of the client base, and the team regularly conducts LBOs and dividend recapitalizations for the likes of Platinum Equity and Insight Partners . The firm has welcomed a number of new arrivals in recent months: Andres Mena joined from Paul Hastings LLP in September 2021 to serve as joint-practice head alongside Viktor Okasmaa; Chicago’s Melainie Mansfield arrived from Milbank in Jun 2021; and January 2022 saw Sarah Gelb move over from Dechert LLP. With regards to departures, David Tarr left in April 2021 and Jeffrey Goldfarb departed in October. All names listed are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 3

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP offers a sizeable team of restructuring professionals, ‘equipped to service the full spectrum of restructuring mandates’. Its pillars of expertise encompass company-side, creditor-side and cross-border matters. In key reflections of the firm’s expertise, practice co-head Matthew Feldman acted as lead partner alongside Paul Shalhoub  in the representation of Attestor Limited, its affiliate entities and Humana, Inc. in regard to the Mallinckrodt Chapter 11 cases, while co-head Rachel Strickland  acted as lead partner alongside Andrew Mordkoff in the representation of GBG USA Inc. in its Chapter 11 cases. All are based in New York, including the new arrivals of Brett Miller, Todd Goren  and Dennis Jenkins from Morrison Foerster in May 2021. Counsel Craig Damast also joined from Morrison Foerster. Melainie Mansfield joined from Dechert LLP in June 2021 and is based in Chicago.  

Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products Tier 3

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP frequently advises energy companies, lenders, and dealers on derivatives in the physical commodities markets, particularly in the energy, metals, and agricultural products industries. The team also has experience in listed and over-the-counter derivatives, as well as proxy generation swaps, cross-border derivatives, enforcement defense, and regulatory advice. Based in Washington DC, practice chair Thomas French focuses on complex derivatives, often advising hedge funds and investment banks, while Athena Eastwood and senior counsel Paul Pantano are key resources regarding regulatory matters. In New York, counsel Conrad Bahlke and Rita Molesworth deal with derivatives and commodities transactions and regulatory advice for financial institutions, respectively. Of note, regulatory expert John Thomas joined from commodities trading company J. Aron & Company LLC in August 2021, counsel Margo Bailey joined from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission in May 2021, and regulatory specialist Neal Kumar was promoted to partner in January 2021.

Industry focus > Energy regulation: electric power Tier 3

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has significant experience representing clients in high-profile regulatory matters before the CFTC, FERC, the National Futures Association (NFA) and derivatives exchanges. The group has compliance and enforcement practitioners based in Europe and runs ‘one of the best energy practices in the US’. Based in Washington DC, co-head Norman C. Bay is a ‘leading practitioner’ with experience as the former Chairman, Commissioner and Director of FERC’s Office of Enforcement. Athena Eastwood, in Washington DC, jointly leads the group that welcomed counsel Margo Bailey from the CFTC in May 2021.

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

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP‘s active fund formation practice is strengthened by the group’s extensive experience advising on bespoke liquidity and capital solutions matters, including LP secondary transactions; GP-led transactions including continuation funds, tender offers and stake sales; investments into GPs; and fund restructurings and recapitalizations. Lior Ohayon and Margery Neale jointly lead the firm’s asset management department from the New York office, which also fields recommended attorneys Phillip Isom – who is regularly instructed to assist with structuring and organizing the ownership arrangements of private investment firms – and Arash Farhadieh – who is singled out by one client for his ‘intimate knowledge‘ of funds work. January 2021 saw the expansion of the group into Washington DC, through the acquisition of counsel Benjamin Allensworth, who brings 18 years of experience representing investment managers – most recently as managing director and counsel at the Managed Funds Association – to the role.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 3

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP frequently collaborates with the firm’s insurance and private equity practice groups to provide ‘the highest level of support and advice’ to clients in these respective sectors, on employee benefits and executive compensation issues arising out of M&A. Michael Katz , who ‘notably represents private equity investors’, as well as public companies and individual senior executives, jointly leads the New York team alongside Jordan Messinger, who advised on the employee benefits aspects of Genstar Capital’s $2.275 sale of ISS to Deutsche Börse. San Francisco-based Scott Thompson recently joined the practice from Venable LLP in November 2021.

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 3

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has an ‘extremely knowledgeable‘ team that is ‘always extremely responsive to requests for assistance‘. The Palo Alto office has an experienced group, including practice head Matthew Berger and partner Tiffany Lee, who are praised for their ‘keen understanding of the industry, its trends and the constantly evolving business landscape‘. The firm represents a selection of household name technology, social media and e-commerce companies, including Salesforce and Spotify. The team has had a longstanding relationship with Facebook/Meta, assisting with numerous development, services and infrastructure agreements. On the hardware side it represents LG Display on its agreements with consumer electronics companies for the manufacture and supply of displays. New York partner Eugene Chang also has an active IP licensing and outsourcing practice.

Real estate Tier 3

Displaying ‘tremendous subject matter expertise‘ Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP‘s New York-based real estate team excel in complex financings and acquisitions across multiple state, with California, New York, Florida and Washington DC, as its core markets. David Drewes and Thomas Henry in New York are the practice co-heads, both representing a broad variety of private developers, private equity and hedge funds and lenders. Also in New York, Krystyna Blakeslee is noted for origination, acquisition and disposition of mortgage loans.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 4

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is expanding its antitrust offering in line with the firm’s expansion, with recently-opened offices in Chicago and Los Angeles alongside a broadly developing practice on the West Coast. The firm is now providing antitrust counsel to major tech clients such as Samsung, as well as continuing to provide strategic merger advice to its broad range of private equity and corporate clients. Notable clearances secured in 2021 include Time Manufacturing’s acquisition of the Ruthmann Group, a multi-jurisdictional merger that saw practice head William Rooney, a highly experienced advisor and successful litigator on antitrust issues, working with the firm’s London and Frankfurt offices. This cross-border expertise is another key selling point for the firm, combined with its increased geographical spread across the United States. Wesley Powell also plays a key role in merger reviews and regulatory investigations, as well as handling merger-related litigation, while practice co-head Jeffrey Korn handles merger clearances before US and European enforcement agencies. Counsel Agathe Richard also plays a key role in cross-border merger review work, assisting Rooney in Arkema’s successful clearance of its $1.36bn divestment of its PMMA business to Trinseo. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

International Trade > International trade Tier 4

At Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, ‘lawyers from multiple countries habitually work together as a team‘ making it a ‘truly integrated national firm‘ in the eyes of one client. The US team specializes in trade controls, anti-money laundering and CFIUS matters, where it is consistently appointed by multinational financial institutions and corporations to assist with both compliance and enforcement matters. Washington DC office managing partner David Mortlock chairs the global trade and investment practice and ‘makes complex and technical concepts readily accessible‘; he is particularly well known for his work on economic sanctions and export controls. New department vice-chair Britt Mosman recently joined in Washington DC from the Treasury, where she served as an attorney advisor providing counsel on economic sanctions and national security issues.

Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings Tier 4

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has a prolific high-yield debt practice, frequent offerings linked to buyouts and M&A transactions. The firm is also noted for offerings by insurance companies and healthcare businesses. New York partner Cristopher Greer is co-chair of the capital markets group and has an extensive record in high-yield debt driven financings of buyouts by private equity houses such as Platinum Equity.

Industry focus > Energy: renewable/alternative power Tier 4

A varied client roster, comprising utilities, independent power producers , investors, sponsors, developers, lenders and owners, turns to Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP for assistance with an array of transactional, commercial and compliance matters involving power and renewable energy generation assets. Bringing together cross-practice expertise, the group has extensive experience working on the debt and equity financing of renewable power projects, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass technology and energy storage. Recent engagements also include renewable energy M&A, commodity transactions, climate change-related structures, hedging instruments and compliance advice. The team is jointly led by Norman C. Bay, who also oversees energy regulatory and enforcement mandates, and Athena Eastwood  in Washington DC, with both taking the lead in commodities matters. Corporate and financial services partner Jorge Kamine, who splits his time between DC and New York, ‘is a subject matter expert in renewable/alternative power with a special expertise in large, complicated deal structures‘.

Industry focus > Environment: transactional Tier 4

Offering comprehensive environmental, health and safety support, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP concentrates on the environmental aspects of M&A and private equity transactions, project finance, real estate developments and other ventures. The firm also provides clients with multi-disciplinary advice on their ESG strategies, covering sustainability, environmental financial instruments, regulatory development, and disclosure practices. William Thomas , who is based in Washington DC, oversees the practice. He is counsel of choice for numerous companies, financiers and developers on environmental matters pertaining to transactions and projects.

Investment fund formation and management > Alternative/hedge funds Tier 4

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is regarded as a go-to advisor for complex, innovative or bet-the-firm transactional matters within the hedge fund space; clients ranging from the world’s most sophisticated hedge fund managers to recognized global banks and large family offices instruct the group to advise on the entire spectrum of investment fund products and asset classes. The group’s ability to leverage its fund formation, tax and insurance capabilities ensures that it continues to stand out particularly as a leading reinsurance and insurance-linked securities fund formation practice. The key senior practitioners, all of whom are based in New York, are Margery Neale, Joseph Cunningham, Rita Molesworth and Mark Vandehaar.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 4

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP handles a range of deals across a wealth of different sectors, catering to major players in the financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, insurance, real estate and technology industries, among others. The team is well-suited to support on the full spectrum of transaction types, including more specialized deals such as LBOS, SPACs, de-SPACs and minority investments. The ‘extremely talented’ David Boston has been particularly active in terms of asset management-related M&A of late and co-heads the practice alongside Steven Seidman, a specialist in both transactional and corporate governance affairs; the pair are based in New York alongside Laura Delanoy, an expert in both public and private M&A.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 4

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP works collaboratively with the firm’s corporate, financial, and real estate groups on a host of transactional tax structuring mandates. Practice head Christopher Peters  advises clients on capital markets transactions and private equity fund related matters, while Henry Cohn centers his practice on the tax treatment of partnerships, REITs, and US insurance companies. Arthur Lynch is well regarded by clients for his ‘astute‘ approach to insurance and capital markets taxation. In Washington DC, Roger Wise specializes in the structuring of mutual and hedge funds. Vadim Mahmoudov, an M&A tax and US debt restructuring specialist with significant experience in private equity and insurance, joined the New York office from PwC Legal in August 2021. Hillel Jacobson has left the practice. All named lawyers are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Industry focus > Sport

Real estate > Real estate finance

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: automotive/transport

Praised for its ability to ‘listen and adapt well to the ever-changing automotive product liability environment’, Dykema Gossett PLLC handles complex cases for manufacturers and suppliers. The scope of the work is wide-ranging and includes personal injury, wrongful death, product recall and related product defect litigation associated with  automotive products, systems and components. The firm is well-equipped to handle class action litigation throughout the life cycle of a case and has also developed a particularly strong reputation at the discovery phase, where it is frequently brought in to manage the process even where another firm is retained as lead counsel. As well as handling litigation, the team also regularly advises clients from a risk management perspective, including assisting on product assessment, product safety design and labeling. Based out of Ann Arbor, Jill Wheaton  is overarching head of the firm’s product liability and class actions practice and has significant experience within the automotive sector, including at an appellate level. Ann Arbor-based John Thomas leads the firm’s class action practice and has extensive experience in the automotive sector, gleaned not only from many years in private practice but also a long tenure as in-house counsel for Ford Motor Company. Los Angeles-based Derek Whitefield  is particularly accomplished in relation to handling automotive crash safety and has handled airbag cases from numerous manufacturers. Of the more junior partners, Michael Carey in Minneapolis continues to garner a strong reputation and has niche expertise regarding litigation and risk management relating to autonomous vehicles. Terri Reiskin left the firm in May 2021.

Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design