Firm Profile > Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP > New York, United States

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Labor and employment > ERISA litigation

Corporate and M&A > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

Practice head Maria-Leticia Ossa Daza has steadily driven the growth of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's regional practice, which now numbers some 28 lawyers, including March-2019 hire, Maria Isabel Nieto, who arrives as director of Latin American strategy. Headline work saw the practice advise long-standing client Zurich Insurance Group on its $409m acquisition of QBE Insurance Group's business lines in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico; and BNP Paribas Cardif on the negotiation of a long-term, strategic bancassurance alliance in Latin America with Scotiabank, notably for the markets of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The heart of the practice, however, arguablyremains its profound engagement with the Colombian market where the firm is a regular presence in significant deals. Recent matters saw the team advise a joint venture (including CMA CGM and Puertos Inversiones y Obras) on all aspects of a 30-year concession to develop, construct, operate and maintain the new Puerto Antioquia maritime terminal; assist John Laing Group with its acquisition of a 30% stake in the Ruta del Cacao 4G toll-road concession; and represent Weener Plastics in its purchase of Colombia-based packaging company, Proenfar. Elsewhere, matters included advising Vilmorin & Cie on its acquisitions of Sursem and Geneze, seed companies operating in Argentina and Brazil, respectively. Other key partners include firm chairman, Thomas Cerabino , capital markets practice co-chair Gregory Astrachan  and vice-chair of the securities litigation practice group, Antonio Yanez  (all in New York); Houston-based Archie Fallon; and in the firm's Paris office, Eduardo Fernandez  and Lionel Spizzichino . Clients include Insight Partners, Grupo Argos, Swiss Re and CBA. Since publication, the firm has announced the March 2020 hire of Jorge Kamine -formerly at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; based in Washington DC, he will focus on extending  the Latin American practice group's transactional and project work in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP > Firm Profile