Firm Profile > Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP > New York, United States
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Offices
787 SEVENTH AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10019
United States
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Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Industry focus > Insurance: non-contentious Tier 1
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provides a comprehensive range of transactional and regulatory services for insurance clients, with a distinctive offering in reinsurance cessions through alternative risk transfer. In a representative M&A transaction, Alexander Dye advised Protective Life Corporation in its acquisition via reinsurance of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company’s individual life insurance and annuity business, in an estimated capital investment of $1.2bn. On the securities side, John Schwolsky represented MetLife in connection with its first yen-denominated notes offering, with an aggregate principal amount of ¥151.7bn. The ‘deeply experienced’ and ‘extraordinarily knowledgeable’ Schwolsky co-leads the practice with Dye, who has a ‘particular gift for working with smart, demanding boards of directors’. Michael Groll, who has extensive experience in sidecar transactions, catastrophe bonds, and ILS fund formations, is also noted. All named partners are based in New York.
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Key clients
Aegon
Assurant
Assured Guaranty
CNO Financial
Protective Life Corporation
Genworth Financial
MetLife
Mutual of Omaha
Prudential Financial
QBE Insurance
Swiss Re
W.R. Berkley Corporation
Zurich Financial Services
New York Life
Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company
Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 2
Complex M&A litigation is a key focus for the business litigation practice at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, which acts for companies, controlling shareholders, boards of directors, special committees and financial advisors in a range diverse array of cases, including Delaware activism and takeover litigation, going private transactions and disputes arising out of alleged conflicts of directors or financial advisors. This work encompasses both domestic and cross-border matters, and the firm's network of offices across the US, which now includes a second office in San Francisco, gives it a presence in many jurisdiction besides Delaware. Nevertheless, it also handles key matters in the Delaware Court of Chancery, including a recent high-profile trial that tested whether the issue of whether the courts would enforce strict deadlines in merger agreements between sophisticated parties. Chair of the litigation department Tariq Mundiya and vice-chair of securities litigation Todd Cosenza both appear regularly in Delaware Chancery Court. Key partner Sameer Advani is also recommended. All are based in New York.
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Key clients
Xerox Corporation
Ruane, Cunniff & Goldfarb
Vintage Capital
Special Committee of AmTrust Financial Services
CenturyLink, Inc.
VCI Enterprises, Inc.
Independent Directors of Tonopah Solar Energy
GoldenTree Asset Management LP
Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 2
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP handles a wide variety of shareholder derivative suits, securities class actions for underwriters and IPO-related securities litigation. It has a particularly prominent role IPO-related cases under the 1933 Act in both federal and state court, with matters for the underwriters of Uber and Greensky notable in 2019. Alongside Section 10b cases, the firm is also handling numerous event-driven securities matters, including class actions arising from the alleged misconduct of senior executives. In New York, litigation chair Tariq Mundiya and co-chairs of securities litigation Todd Cosenza, Michael Young and Antonio Yanez are the key practitioners. The firm recently launched a San Francisco office with hires including Simona Agnolucci from Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP, and recruited Randall Jackson in New York and Michael Gottlieb in DC, both formerly of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP. All three have significant SEC enforcement and securities litigation expertise.Practice head(s):
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Key clients
Xerox Corporation
Uber Underwriters Group
Farfetch, Inc. Underwriters Group
Curo Group Holdings Corp.
CenturyLink, Inc.
CBS Corp.
Ruane, Cunniff & Goldfarb
GoldenTree Asset Management LP
GreenSky, Inc. Underwriters Group
Liberty Tax Inc.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
JP Morgan Securities LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Investment funds > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds Tier 2
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP advises large fund managers on the creation of novel financial products, including opaque exchange-traded funds and business-development companies. The team has experience with transactional work associated with closed-end funds, including IPOs, secondary market transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. A core focus is alternative investment funds, such as interval and commodities funds. Practice head Margery Neale and Barry Barbash, advise on ETF creation, BDCs, and fund governance, and assist clients in their dealings with the SEC. Jay Spinola is experienced in shareholder activism, Benjamin Haskin has an active transactions practice, and Elliot Gluck focuses on rights offerings.
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Aberdeen Standard Investments and Aberdeen Funds
Credit Suisse Asset Management and Credit Suisse Funds
Flaherty & Crumrine Closed-End Funds
Gabelli Closed-End Funds
The New Ireland Fund
Precidian Funds/Precidian CTFs Trust
T. Rowe Price Funds
M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts Tier 2
With a consistent transactional output and a sponsor-focused approach, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP holds a considerable share of upper-middle market work, advising funds involved across a range of industries, including technology, healthcare, financial services, and industrials. The firm has also seen a significant growth in its share of large-cap transactions. The team has a solid bench of dedicated private equity partners in both its New York base and the emerging Houston and Palo Alto offices, which are a boon to the firm's work in energy and tech-related buyouts. The practice is jointly headed by Jeffrey Poss and Neil Townsend, both of whom have had busy years advising clients such as Aquiline, Genstar Capital, and FFL Partners. Morgan Elwyn has a productive relationship with Insight Partners in its tech investments, while Bruce Herzog is the key name in the Houston office. All partners are in New York unless otherwise stated.
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Key clients
Aquiline Capital Partners
Calvert Street Capital Partners
The CapStreet Group
Centerbridge Partners
CIP Capital
Colony Capital
Court Square
Dock Square Capital
Dubin Clark & Co.
FFL Partners
Genstar Capital
Harvest Partners
Insight Partners
Kayne Anderson
Riverstone Holdings
The Sterling Group
Tenex Capital Management
Warburg Pincus
M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's shareholder activism team is an integral part of its broader corporate and financial services department. Jointly led by Steven Gartner and Tariq Mundiya in New York, the practice group has core strength in acting for shareholders in activism campaigns, though the team is also recognized for its work for special committees. Highlights from the past year have included representing Third Point, Elliott and Sarissa in a number of successful campaigns, as well as advising the Hudson Bay Company in defense against an activism campaign. Russell Leaf and recently promoted partner Jared Fertman are also contacts in the New York office.
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Key clients
Vintage Capital Management
Third Point
The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of EMC Insurance Group
Sarissa Capital Management
Monarch Alternative Capital
Elliott Management
RenaissanceRe
Argo Group
Hudson’s Bay Company
Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory Tier 2
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP represents a range of domestic and international clients, including cable operators, competitive local exchange carriers, internet service providers, equipment manufacturers, broadcast licensees, and industry trade associations. The team represents clients in adjudicatory proceedings before US regulatory authorities including the FCC. Michael Hurwitz has significant experience in FCC complaint and enforcement proceedings, while the highly regarded Daniel Alvarez is renowned for his broadband deployment expertise. Another key team member is cable specialist Jonathan Friedman, who assists clients on myriad regulatory reform issues.
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Key clients
Comcast Corporation
NBCUniversal, LLC
CommScope Inc.
Manhattan Telecommunications Corporation d/b/a Metropolitan Telecommunications
INCOMPAS
Granite Telecommunications, LLC
NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
Clients appreciate that lawyers at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP 'are all highly skilled attorneys with great resumes, but that doesn't get in the way of their advice'. The group represents public companies, financial institutions and their executives in investigations and enforcement matters relating to financial crime. The team has particular expertise in parallel SEC and DOJ investigations arising from the securities and hedge fund industries, as well as in FCPA and anti-corruption cases. In New York, Randall Jackson is a veteran trial lawyer, who represents financial institutions and individuals in securities fraud and FCA litigation. The white-collar defense group is co-led by New York's Michael Schachter and Washington DC's William Stellmach, while Martin Weinstein leads the compliance, investigations and enforcement group from DC, where he regularly handles FCPA cases.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘I like the fact that the team has flexible borders. By that, I mean that the firm is managed in such a way that the barriers between practices is not hardened. So, during an investigation if an employee benefits issue arises, then it is seamless the way in which the team introduces their benefits partner into the equation, in a cost-effective way.’
‘The DC office delivered excellent service to our company in a multi-country FCPA investigation.’
‘Willkie has a culture of generating and supporting very practical, business-oriented lawyers. That is reflected in the composition of the investigations teams.’
‘The Willkie team are all highly skilled attorneys with great resumes, but that doesn’t get in the way of their advice. Bob Meyer is a prime example of that – great outside pedigree, but tailored, focused advice packaged for my business and my team.’
Key clients
Jean Boustani, former Privinvest executive
Clovis Oncology and its CEO Patrick Mahaffy
Adidas employee James Gatto
Former JPMorgan trader Akshay Aiyer
Juniper Networks
Mega International Commercial Bank
Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 3
Recently involved in a string of high-profile matters with industry-wide repercussions, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has a bench of experienced and well-respected litigators who between them cover all aspects of commercial disputes. Among the litigation highlights of the year was the widely publicized Fujifilm/Xerox merger dispute: department chair and M&A litigation expert Tariq Mundiya represented Xerox in the $2.3bn breach of contract action brought by Fujifilm in the Southern District of New York. A key development for the team was Michael Gottlieb's arrival from Boies Schiller Flexner LLP in November 2018; having brought his client CITGO to the firm, he acted for the oil company in Delaware Chancery Court in a case concerning the legitimacy of the appointments of Directors by the Guaidó government in Venezuela. In other significant news, the firm launched an office in San Francisco in September 2019, and brought in experienced litigators Benedict Hur and Simona Agnolucci from Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP as managing partners. Another highly regarded lawyer is Mary Eaton in the New York office, who specializes in shareholder litigation. Star litigator Craig Martin joined the team from Jenner & Block LLP in March 2020.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘Good advice from start to finish; they kept us appraised of the issues/challenges/direction and what to expect throughout the process.‘
‘Very responsive. Any queries we had were addressed rapidly and with clarity. I’d be happy to work with Mary Eaton on any future case.‘
Key clients
Xerox
CITGO
Bloomberg
CenturyLink
CBS
KPMG
Navy Federal Credit Union
GoldenTree Asset Management
GreenSky, Inc. Underwriters Group
School of American Ballet
South China Morning Post Publishers
Goldman Sachs
JP Morgan Securities
Morgan Stanley
Aaron Rich (brother of slain DNC staffer Seth Rich)
Finance > Commercial lending Tier 3
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is making an increasingly strong impression on the market, particularly on the borrower side where it has developed a very solid reputation for representing private equity sponsors and corporates. The firm's ability to handle high-end corporate acquisitions was demonstrated by its advice to FIS on its $42bn merger with Worldpay. The team also acts for a loyal cohort of private equity funds and is especially active in the mid-market space. The firm is also doing an increasing amount of work for banks and direct lenders. While the team will miss former practice head Leonard Klingbaum who joined Ropes & Gray LLP's New York team, the firm has a deep bench of talent to make up for the loss. New York partners such as co-chairs Viktor Okasmaa and David Tarr, and vice-chair Jeffrey Goldfarb, have developed extremely good expertise in this area. Other key lawyers include Joshua Deason, William Dye and, in Houston, Michael Niebruegge.Practice head(s):
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Key clients
Brookfield Business Partners
Interpublic Group
Hudson’s Bay Company
Court Square Capital Partners
Fidelity National Information Services (FIS)
Insight Partners and its portfolio companies
Citibank, NA
New Mountain Capital and its portfolio companies
Genstar Capital and its portfolio companies
FFL Partners
Investcorp
Pattonair
Aquiline Capital Partners and its portfolio companies
The Sterling Group
HealthEquity
ITE Rail Fund LP (ITE)
JP Morgan Ventures Energy
Toronto-Dominion Bank
Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 3
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has a deep business reorganization and restructuring practice based in New York which acts both for distressed companies and creditors on a national and international level. On the debtors' side, the team represents clients (especially independent boards of directors and special committees) during restructuring procedures in and out of court - a prominent example is iHeart Communications, which was advised by recognized partner Paul Shalhoub in relation to its Chapter 11 case. From a creditors' perspective, co-head Matthew Feldman acted for an ad-hoc group in the PG&E bankruptcy. Feldman's counterpart, Rachel Strickland, is currently active in the representation of the Official Committee of Tort Claimants in the complex Chapter 11 cases of Imerys Talc America Inc., a French multinational company.
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Testimonials
‘Team leader Matt Feldman is smart, savvy, accessible and has a never-ending work ethic. That is a rare combination of hard work and accessibility’
Key clients
Aegerion Pharmaceuticals
Ad hoc Lender Group of LBI Media
Bettina M. Whyte, as COFINA Agent
Ad hoc Group of Subrogation Claim Holders of PG&E Corporation
Official Committee of Tort Claimants in Imerys Talc America
Independent Directors of Specialty Retail Stores Holdings
Ad hoc Group of Lenders of Drive
Glansaol Holdings
Brookfield Business Partners
Ad hoc First Lien Lenders Group of Claire’s Stores
The North American Refractories Company Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust
Wells Fargo Bank
Industry focus > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 3
New York-headquartered firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an increasingly attractive proposition to many oil and gas entities, by virtue not only of the firm's traditional strength in core transactional areas including M&A, private equity, finance and restructuring, but also its heightened and more focused industry sector knowledge since the opening of the firm's Houston office in 2014. Led by Michael De Voe Piazza and private equity specialist Bruce Herzog, the oil and gas transactions team 'has a robust view of the energy market place and is very well connected with energy industry executives', enabling it to effectively handle a significant volume of private and public M&A in the upstream and midstream sectors. Other work includes joint venture structuring, energy-related private equity fund formation structuring, and energy finance and capital markets transactions. 'Responsive and informed' Houston-based partner Cody Carper has strong ties with private equity sponsors and oil and gas companies and has a flourishing reputation in the market for upstream and midstream transactions, including drilling partnerships, financing transactions, acquisitions and divestitures.
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Testimonials
The team communicates well, has a robust view of the energy market place and is very well connected with energy industry executives.
Cody Carper and Michael Piazza are extremely responsive, informed, and commercial in our negotiations.
Cody Carper’s prior experience working in-house at an energy company affords us great confidence when we are negotiating agreements with oil and gas operators.
Key clients
Bayou City Energy
EOG
Juniper Capital
Lime Rock Partners
Post Oak Energy
Alpine Energy Capital
Riverstone Holdings
Samson Resources II
Springbok Energy Partners
Waterbridge Resources LLC
Industry focus > Insurance: advice to policyholders Tier 3
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s New York-based insurance dispute resolution practice is particularly focused on representing insurance brokers aligned with policyholders, and also handles coverage cases for policyholders. Christopher St. Jeanos represented insurance broker Marsh USA in a coverage dispute pivoting on whether and when a ‘special relationship’ exists between a policyholder and insurance broker. Mitchell Auslander has experience in advising insurance companies seeking coverage from their own insurers or reinsurers. Auslander and St. Jeanos co-chair the practice.
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Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 3
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s New York-based employee benefits and executive compensation experts often work with the firm’s top-tier insurance vertical to handle high-value M&A transactions. Practice heads Michael Katz and Jordan Messinger also advise on a steady workflow of mid-cap M&A deals and public offerings in the financial services and technology fields; the firm’s recent West Coast expansion into the Palo Alto and San Francisco markets may help to strengthen its presence in the latter. Solid experience in proxy reporting and SEC disclosure is cited, while Peter Haller is the go-to name for asset managers, investment banks and investment funds clients seeking advice on ERISA fiduciary compliance or prohibited transaction advice.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘This group can break down complex regulatory questions as well as anyone else, but what really differentiates them is their ability to communicate in terms of implementation and operational compliance.‘
‘Peter Haller’s knowledge of the law and appreciation for in-house operations is great! They have a particular private equity focus.‘
‘Michael Katz is a particularly talented lawyer. His technical expertise is top notch.‘
Key clients
Warburg Pincus
Insight Partners
Genstar Capital
RenaissanceRe Holdings
Bloomberg L.P.
MetLife
KPMG LLP
Credit Suisse
Take Two Interactive Corp.
HealthEquity
W. R. Berkley Corporation
Cisco Systems
Aspen Insurance Holdings
AdaptHealth Holdings
Mueller Industries
Franklin Resources
Hudson’s Bay Company
Aquiline Capital Partners
Media, technology and telecoms > Fintech Tier 3
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's multi-disciplinary team has a track record of acting for private equity investors and fintech companies in corporate and finance transactions. Contacts in New York include practice head Jeffrey Poss, who specializes private equity and venture capital transactions, and Eugene Chang, who is a name to note for intellectual property matters. The firm strengthened its practice with several new hires in 2019: Washington DC-based Michael Gottlieb joined from Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, boosting the team's profile in cybersecurity and data privacy incident response, while litigators Simona Agnolucci and Benedict Hur joined from Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP and subsequently helped establish the firm's San Francisco office. In addition, former CFTC chairman Christopher Giancarlo joined as senior counsel in New York, adding substantial regulatory expertise in cryptocurrency space.
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FIS
Aquiline Capital Partners
Insight Partners
Genstar Capital
Ascensus
HealthEquity
Warburg Pincus
CIP Capital
The CapStreet Group
Kony
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC)
Nvoicepay
Finance of America Holdings
Real estate > Real estate Tier 3
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP acts for private fund managers and real estate investors in strategic transactions across a variety of asset classes nationwide. The team is also active in real estate development finance and mortgage finance, and has also established a reputation in the New York commercial leasing market. Thomas Henry co-chairs the department in New York, acting for domestic and international real estate companies, funds and institutional lenders. Another contact in New York is David Drewes, who was recently promoted to practice co-chair. Highlights from the past year included acting for Paramount Group (a fully integrated real estate investment trust) in a series of transactions aimed at expanding into the San Francisco office market.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘Willkie’s real estate practice is top tier and competes from both an experience and client service perspective with any real estate practice in the country. They become an extension of your company, focusing on driving your transactions to closing with excellent legal advice coupled with practical solutions.’
‘While all the partners and associates are top tier, Tom Henry in particular is in class of his own. He should be considered 1 of the best if not the best real estate attorney in the country. He has a combination of legal precision and a business acumen that is difficult to match. Some lawyers have 1 or the other but having both separates Tom from all his peers and gives him all the tools to provide first class representation to all his clients.’
‘Very strong work ethic – will work 24/7 to get work done within our timing requirements; highly professional; top shelf skill sets and knowledge for complex transactions; very good sense of when to defer to client on business decisions.’
‘Carly Saviano, Dan Backer, Mark Proctor and Liz Case are stand-outs’.
Key clients
Hudson’s Bay Company
Paramount Group
Colony Capital
Choice Hotels International
Washington Prime Group
Harbor Group International (HGI)
DiamondRock Hospitality
Meadow Partners
Tribeca Associates
Slate Property Group
Vereit
Jiaming Investment (Group) Co.
Centerbridge Partners
Bloomberg
St. John’s University
Access Industries
Dispute resolution > International trade Tier 4
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is a destination for clients seeking to obtain approval for their transactions by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Another strength of the global trade and investment practice is international trade compliance and economic sanctions; areas of focus for department head David Mortlock. In the fall of 2019, Priya Aiyar left for an in-house role at American Airlines.
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Testimonials
‘The team has several advantages: its pragmatic approach, its clear justifications for reaching a certain position, the clear guidance it provides to clients, and its willingness to understand the client’s business.‘
‘The group has practical experience gained within the industry, for example, in relation to governmental sanctions. Such experience means that additional context can be drawn outside the legal advice. It is invaluable in the corporate sector to have advice from someone who has seen a particular scenario play out from different sides. In particular, David Mortlock stands out from the crowd. His high-class knowledge and previous experience are the best.‘
‘I work with David Mortlock – he is an exceptional US sanctions lawyer, who gives very clear and comprehensive advice and always makes himself available, despite the fact that I am based in London. I really cannot praise him highly enough.‘
Key clients
Air France
Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products Tier 4
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's derivatives group is particularly active in the commodities space, with recent highlights in energy and soft commodities work. Structured finance and derivatives group chair Thomas French has experience of derivatives transaction across a range of asset classes, while Washington DC's Paul Pantano specializes in energy and commodities derivatives, and acts for energy companies, swap dealers and trade associations, among others.
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Futures Industry Association
Commodity Markets Council
Citigroup Energy
The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC)
United Nations World Food Programme
Vitol
Investment funds > Alternative/hedge funds Tier 4
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP advises hedge funds, commodity pool operators, and family offices. In addition to fund formation, the team has a focus on operational issues, such as examinations, swaps and derivatives transactions, and various other investing activities. Key figures in the practice group include Joseph Cunningham, Mark Vandehaar, and Margery Neale, who chairs the firm’s general asset management group. James Anderson has a strong regulatory practice, acting in the development and implementation of internal compliance procedures, helping to run mock SEC examinations, and handling investigations. Barry Barbash is a name to note for transactional work, and Rita Molesworth, a ‘fantastic advocate’, advises commodity pool operators and futures merchants on derivatives and securities matters.
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Testimonials
‘Rita is our advocate. She knows the private fund space inside and out, and doesn’t hesitate to apply creativity and problem-solving to her analysis of the regulations.’
Investment funds > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 4
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP advises on formation and fundraising matters for a mix of sponsors, institutional investors, family offices, limited partners, and other transactional parties. Boasting a strong on-the-ground presence in several key commercial centers across the globe, the team is well placed to advise on the formation and management of buyout, real estate, energy, and software private equity funds on an international scale. The private equity fund formation team is jointly led by Lior Ohayon and Phillip Isom, who has led recent standout work for Gainline Capital Partners and The CapStreet Group. Margery Neale heads the firm's asset management practice. All named lawyers are based in New York.
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Key clients
Insight Partners
Credit Suisse Asset Management
Monarch Alternative Capital
GoldenTree Asset Management
Astorg Partners
Gainline Capital Partners
Sage Road Capital
The CapStreet Group
ICV Partners
Morgan Stanley
PAI Partners
Paramount Group
Post Oak Energy Capital
Related Fund Management
Acceleration Resources
Blue Water Energy
C2 Energy Capital
Cibolo Energy Partners
Discovery Americas
Mission Peak Capital
TPH Asset Management
Banneker Partners
Grant Avenue Capital
Bridge Growth Partners
M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: large deals ($1bn+) Tier 4
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is active in strategic M&A across a wide variety of industries, with the firm's global platform and 'seamless' working relationships between established sector-specific practices being a considerable benefit to its M&A practice. The team is particularly strong in the areas of real estate, communications and asset management, as well as in hostile takeovers and transactions arising out of restructuring matters. Clients include investment funds, banks, corporate boards, and financial advisors. The firm's recent headline mandate was its advice to FIS in the client's $42bn merger with Worldpay. The practice is headed up by David Boston and Steven Seidman. Other names to note include Gregory Astrachan, who is recommended for his work with corporates and banking clients, and Adam Turteltaub, who focuses on cross-border deals and strategic investments. Five partners were promoted internally in 2019: Laura Acker, Ziyad Aziz, Elizabeth Bannigan, Howard Block, and Jared Fertman all made partner. Further, Claire James joined the team from Kirkland & Ellis LLP.Practice head(s):
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Testimonials
‘The team provides seamless coverage from all areas of expertise, leveraging global partners and relationships as well when necessary. Their technical knowledge and understanding of market norms is top-level. I also find them more “current” in their style–few screamers, but still able to take firm positions without resorting to bullying behavior.‘
‘Bob Rachofsky (the lead partner on our account) does a tremendous job staying on point, leveraging his talent and experience, and reflecting our own culture of firmness without being rude. He behaves like a member of our team rather than just an advisor. He is equally comfortable in negotiations, drafting sessions, board discussions, etc.‘
Key clients
AmTrust Financial Services special committee
Centerview Partners
Atlas Holdings
Perella Weinberg, as financial advisor to AIG
Brookfield Business Partners
Assurant
Aetna
Protective Live Corporation
Voya Financial
Interpublic Group
Evercore
GoldenTree Asset Management
Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)
Warburg Pincus
Zurich Insurance Group
Choice Hotels International
Alleghany Corporation
Aberdeen Asset Management
Dyal Capital Partners
BB&T
Centerbridge Partners
TriTech Software Systems
Deutsche Bank Asset Management
Antitrust > Merger control Tier 5
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP attracts praise for its strong transatlantic merger practice, particularly in collaboration with the firm's teams in London and Brussels. Operating out of New York, the department is jointly led by cross-border experts William Rooney and Jeffrey Korn. The latter focuses primarily on merger matters and regulatory investigations, whereas the former displays a key strength in advising internet and financial technology clients. Overall, the merger control team covers a broad range of industries with a strong suit in healthcare and private equity sectors. Wesley Powell takes a leading role in civil as well as criminal antitrust matters and enhances his merger control practice with expertise in financial services, health care and insurance.
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Key clients
Fidelity National Information Services Inc.
Former JPMorgan currency trader
Constantia Flexibles
Vintage Capital Management LLC
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Arkema Innovative Chemistry
Marsh-McLennan Companies
CRF Health Group Limited.
ITE Management LP
Healthequity, Inc.
Former Bank of America and Deutsche Bank trader
RenaissanceRe
Viking Global
Third Point LLC
ValueAct Capital
Owl Creek Asset Management
Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 5
Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 5
As the leader of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s ERISA fiduciary practice, New York-based Peter Haller retains a solid client list of asset managers, investment banks, investment funds and private wealth advisers. Haller is routinely engaged to advise on fiduciary obligations, prohibited transaction rules and dealings with the DOL. Additionally, the team provides advice on the structuring of investment products for pension plans.
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Key clients
Warburg Pincus
Insight Partners
Genstar Capital
RenaissanceRe Holdings
Bloomberg L.P.
MetLife
KPMG LLP
Credit Suisse
Take Two Interactive Corp.
HealthEquity
W. R. Berkley Corporation
Cisco Systems
Aspen Insurance Holdings
AdaptHealth Holdings
Mueller Industries
Franklin Resources
Hudson’s Bay Company
Aquiline Capital Partners
Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 5
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's tax practice is well integrated with the firm's corporate, real estate and restructuring practices, enabling a holistic approach to a wide range of tax matters. Practice head Christopher Peters is particularly active in the technology and insurance sectors, where he advises on private and public M&A and private equity matters. Robert Jacobson in Houston advises on federal taxation in relation to leveraged buyouts, MLPs and corporate reorganizations. Also recommended is Henry Cohn, who focuses on REIT taxation and bankruptcy-related tax issues. All named attorneys are based in New York unless otherwise stated.Practice head(s):
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Key clients
FIS
Insight Partners
Aspen Insurance Holdings
RenaissanceRe
Protective Life Corporation
Nephila Holdings
Franklin Templeton Investments
Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)
Colony Capital
Acumatica
The Sterling Group
GoldenTree Asset Management
Neuberger Berman
Cowen
FFL Partners
LoanMe
Glendale Energy Capital
Silver Creek Midstream
Labor and employment > ERISA litigation
Corporate and M&A > Corporate and M&A Tier 4
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is cementing its position in Latin America M&A with a growing depth of team. While more focused on project finance, the March-2020 arrival of Jorge Kamine from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP gives the firm additional credibility in energy transactions and more acute knowledge of the Brazil and Chile markets, among others. The firm is a growing force in Latin America private equity, both in the middle market and large-cap spaces, for clients such as Insight Partners. Insurance, energy and technology are also key industries for the Latin America team, which is led by Colombia native and M&A specialist Maria-Leticia Ossa Daza. Colombia and Mexico are other key markets for the overall practice. The core Latin America team in New York works especially closely with the Paris office, which is involved in a number of infrastructure projects in the region.
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Key clients
BNP Paribas Cardif
Zurich Insurance Group
Vilmorin & Cie
John Laing Group
CMA CGM
Weener Plastics
Insight Partners
Grupo Argos
Maurel et Prom
Swiss Re
CBA
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP > Firm Profile
Chairmen: Thomas M Cerabino; Steven J Gartner
Willkie is an elite international law firm that delivers superior client service across a broad spectrum of practice areas. In addition to the firm’s primary practice areas of corporate/M&A; private equity; business reorganization and restructuring; complex litigation; compliance, investigations and enforcement; antitrust and competition; asset management; and insurance and reinsurance, the firm’s approximately 700 attorneys collaborate to provide multidisciplinary advice across the areas of capital markets; communications and media; crisis management; cybersecurity and privacy; environment, health and safety; employment counseling; executive compensation and employee benefits; finance; global trade and investment; technology and commercial transactions; intellectual property; private clients; real estate; special committee; structured finance and derivatives; tax; and a wide range of industries.
Willkie brings together multidisciplinary capabilities to deliver comprehensive advice in an integrated manner, leveraging the firm’s resources to create value for clients.
Main areas of practice
Corporate/M&A: Working in close cooperation across offices in the US and Europe, Willkie attorneys provide advice on significant domestic M&A matters as well as complex cross-border transactions. The team represents buyers, sellers, special committees of boards, debt and equity investors and financial advisors in matters ranging from contested takeovers and management buyouts to strategic alliances, leveraged recaps and acquisitions from reorganization proceedings. The practice advises both public and private companies in a broad range of industries. The team finds solutions to meet client objectives and helps clients early on in the process to identify and assess risks in a transaction. The group also regularly advises clients on relevant regulatory and judicial developments in areas such as antitrust, tax, ERISA, corporate governance and securities laws as they affect the M&A environment.
Contact: David K Boston
Tel: +1 212 728 8625
Email: dboston@willkie.com
Contact: Steven A Seidman
Tel: +1 212 728 8763
Email: sseidman@willkie.com
Private equity: Willkie represents more than 175 US and international private equity sponsors as well as portfolio companies, management teams, issuers, debt providers and financial advisors. Willkie’s 360° private equity platform provides ‘lifecycle’ legal counsel to clients: from pre-IPO consideration, planning, and launch to other activities including follow-on offerings, M&A and investments. Building strong client relationships, many clients retain Willkie’s services beyond the first engagement and through their growth cycle. Willkie is one of the few major law firms to offer deep transactional, fund formation and regulatory compliance experience, combined with sector-specific knowledge and a commercial approach.
Contact: Jeffrey R Poss
Tel: +1 212 728 8536
Email: jposs@willkie.com
Contact: Neil W Townsend
Tel: +1 212 728 8272
Email: ntownsend@willkie.com
Business reorganization and restructuring: Willkie’s business reorganization and restructuring department is an international practice with experience in all aspects of business and financial restructuring and insolvency matters. Integrated US and European restructuring professionals offer the hands-on, results-driven experience that today’s distressed situations demand. Professionals are held in high regard for their responsiveness and proven experience in complex multi-lateral cross-border restructurings (both in and out of court). Willkie represents a broad spectrum of clients in the US, UK, France, Germany and other key European jurisdictions.
Contact: Matthew A Feldman
Tel: +1 212 728 8651
Email: mfeldman@willkie.com
Contact: Rachel C Strickland
Tel: +1 212 728 8544
Email: rstrickland@willkie.com
Complex litigation: The firm is known for advising clients in virtually all major areas of litigation, including antitrust; bankruptcy; complex commercial; compliance, investigations and enforcement; corporate governance; crisis management; employment; financial reporting; insurance and reinsurance; intellectual property; securities and white-collar litigation. Willkie provides regulatory compliance counseling and advice on internal investigations, with particular experience in asset management and international business practices, including bribery, corruption, money laundering, fraud and sanctions matters. The firm represents major corporations, financial institutions and individuals (such as corporate officers, directors and accountants) in complex commercial and class-action litigation and investigations. Lawyers are skilled in navigating ever-evolving regulations, often drawing on direct experience at government agencies.
Contact: Tariq Mundiya
Tel: +1 212 728 8565
Email: tmundiya@willkie.com
Antitrust and competition: Willkie has a long-standing history of handling high-profile antitrust litigation and mergers. The team has represented a global client base in national and international merger filings, US and European investigations of all forms of anticompetitive activity, class action and private litigation, and business ventures in multiple jurisdictions. Willkie’s team also enjoys a strong reputation for effective representation of clients in connection with regulatory investigations in the United States and before the European Commission. The firm focuses on providing practical advice to clients facing cross-border antitrust problems across a wide spectrum of industries.
Contact: Jeffrey B. Korn
Tel: +1 212 728 8842
Email: jkorn@willkie.com
Contact: William H Rooney
Tel: +1 212 728 8259
Email: wrooney@willkie.com
Asset management: The firm is recognized as preeminent in the asset management area and provides a wide array of legal services to, among other clients, registered and regulated open-end and closed-end funds, hedge funds, private equity funds and other private funds, and their sponsors, advisers, directors, partners, managers, shareholders, clients and service providers. The team regularly advises asset managers on subjects ranging from operations, to fund formations, to compliance and regulation. The team provides insight and knowledge into the legal needs of sponsors of public and private funds alike, bringing a practical, efficient approach to analyzing issues and solving problems. The group provides vast regulatory experience and includes a former Director of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management as well as other former senior SEC staff members.
Contact: Margery K Neale
Tel: +1 212 728 8297
Email: mneale@willkie.com
Willkie offices: New York, Washington, Houston, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Chicago, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Milan, Rome
*Studio Legale Delfino e Associati operates in Italy through its affiliate Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Laura Acker | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/a/acker-laura | View Profile |
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Krystyna Blakeslee | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/b/blakeslee-krystyna | View Profile |
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Howard Block | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/b/block-howard | View Profile |
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Alexander Cheney | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/c/cheney-alexander-l | View Profile |
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Charles Cording | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/c/cording-charles | View Profile |
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Casey Donnelly | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/d/donnelly-casey-e | View Profile |
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Lisa Eskenazi | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/e/eskenazi-lisa | View Profile |
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James Fitzmaurice | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/f/fitzmaurice-james | View Profile |
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Daniel Forman | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/f/forman-daniel | View Profile |
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Laura Friedrich | https://www.willkie.com/professionals/f/friedrich-laura | View Profile |
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J. Christopher Giancarlo | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/g/giancarlo-j-christopher | View Profile |
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Julian Golay | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/g/golay-julian-d | View Profile |
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Catherine Grimm | https://www.willkie.com/professionals/g/grimm-catherine | View Profile |
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Eric Halperin | Please see https://willkie.com/professionals/h/halperin-eric | View Profile |
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Mr Bruce Herzog | Please see http://www.willkie.com/professionals/h/herzog-bruce-c | View Profile |
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Shaimaa Hussein | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/h/hussein-shaimaa-m | View Profile |
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Guy Inbar | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/i/inbar-guy | View Profile |
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Claire James | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/j/james-claire | View Profile |
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Mr Jorge Kamine | https://www.willkie.com/professionals/k/kamine-jorge | View Profile |
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Jennifer Kim | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/k/kim-hyejin-jennifer | View Profile |
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John Knapke | Please see: https://www.willkie.com/professionals/k/knapke-john–michael | View Profile |
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Matthew Makover | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/m/makover-matthew | View Profile |
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Yevgeniy Markov | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/m/markov-yevgeniy | View Profile |
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Jillian Merns | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/m/merns-jillian-e | View Profile |
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Jeffrey Pawlitz | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/p/pawlitz-jeffrey | View Profile |
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Jason Pearl | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/p/pearl-jason | View Profile |
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Agathe Richard | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/r/richard-agathe | View Profile |
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Matthew Rizzo | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/r/rizzo-matthew | View Profile |
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Nicola Rosenstock | https://www.willkie.com/professionals/r/rosenstock-nicola | View Profile |
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Jessica Sheridan | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/s/sheridan-jessica | View Profile |
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Mr Spencer Simon | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/s/simon-spencer | View Profile |
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Mr Jay Spinola | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/s/spinola-jay | View Profile |
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Michael Stern | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/s/stern-michael | View Profile |
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Sarah Wong | Please see https://www.willkie.com/professionals/w/wong-sarah | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Total number of lawyers : Approx. 700Languages
English Dutch French German Italian SpanishTop Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- M&A litigation: defense
- Securities litigation: defense
- Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds
- Private equity buyouts
- Advice to shareholders
- Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory
- Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to individuals
- General commercial disputes
- Advice to borrowers
- Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate
- Energy transactions: oil and gas
- Insurance: advice to policyholders
- Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional
- Advice to boards
- Fintech
- Real estate
- Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense: advice to corporates
- International trade
- Structured finance: derivatives and structured products
- Alternative/hedge funds
- Private equity funds (including venture capital)
- M&A: large deals ($1bn+)
- Merger control
- Leading trial lawyers
- Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design
- US taxes: non-contentious