Winston & Strawn LLP > Chicago, United States > Firm Profile

Winston & Strawn LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 1

In the words of one client, Winston & Strawn LLP is home to ‘one of the most impressive e-discovery practices in the world’. The group, which includes an extensive technical staff in addition to lawyers, uses innovative tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) engines to advise on issues including big-ticket litigation, M&A transactions, information governance and investigations. The ‘very knowledgeable’ John Rosenthal heads up the practice from Washington DC and acts as national e-discovery counsel for a number of major corporations. Also in Washington DC, senior e-discovery attorney Jason Moore is well-versed in antitrust, complex commercial, healthcare, and product liability litigation, in addition to assisting with regulatory issues. Sheryl Falk co-chairs the firm’s global privacy and data security practice from the Houston office and has experience of helping clients with responding to data security incidents and investigating claims of trade secret theft.

Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 1

Dan Webb – Winston & Strawn LLP. A career-long trial lawyer who has been first-chair lawyer in over 100 jury trials, Dan Webb‘s strong track record includes acting as chief trial counsel in one of the most significant antitrust merger challenges in the healthcare industry in the past decade. In 2021, he was particularly prolific in the aviation industry and white-collar criminal trials continue to be area of particular strength for him. He also focuses on major commercial, civil and regulatory disputes. Webb’s practice is based in Chicago.Abbe Lowell – Winston & Strawn LLP. Washington DC based Abbe Lowell‘s success rate in the courtroom is particularly impressive, with twenty-seven wins and just one loss to his name. Work includes representing high-profile individuals such as former US Green Beret Michael Taylor and his son Peter Taylor in relation to an extradition request by the US Department of Justice and the Ministry of Justice of Japan. Lowell is also currently first-chair lawyer defending a real estate developer Ruel Hamilton in a federal case involving corruption.Tom Melsheimer – Winston & Strawn LLP. ‘Smart, prepared, entertaining and convincing‘ litigator and trial lawyer Tom Melsheimer has a broad practice both as a federal prosecutor and as a private practitioner. Experienced in high value matters, Melsheimer was retained to defend Kent Thiry in a large-scale DaVita criminal antitrust trial scheduled for March 2022. On the government side, Melsheimer was instrumental as first-trial lawyer in achieving an injunction blocking Texas Governor Abbott’s Texas-wide ban on mask mandates in public schools. Melsheimer is based in Dallas.George Lombardi – Winston & Strawn LLP. Chicago-based George Lombardi ‘offers good strategic insights and has a depth of experience actually trying cases‘. He is best known for his strong track record in complex life sciences and consumer product issues, as well as acting for clients in the healthcare sector. His cases often involve significant and complex legal issues, and his success rate is impressive. Notably, Lombardi represented Monsanto Company in the first product liability jury trial involving Roundup in the US, defending against claims that the herbicide causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.Jeffrey Kessler – Winston & Strawn LLP. New-York based Jeffrey Kessler has served as lead trial counsel in some of the most complex antitrust, sports, trade, and commercial trials in the US. His practice often focuses on antitrust and sports law; notably securing a unanimous US Supreme Court verdict for classes of Division I college football and basketball players against the NCAA in a landmark antitrust challenge in 2021.

Industry focus > Energy: renewable/alternative power Tier 1

The sizeable energy industry group at Winston & Strawn LLP fields multidisciplinary knowledge in practice areas key to the successful completion of transactions involving power and renewable assets, and the financing and development of renewable energy projects. The team is seen with great regularity acting for financial firms in debt financings for renewable and alternative energy projects and portfolios, but particularly stands out for its track record in finance and development work involving energy storage, and securitization and finance of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) assets. Over the last year the practice continued to be active in energy M&A deals, and in the negotiation of Power Purchase Agreements and storage agreements for a wide range of offtakers. The department is jointly led by four practitioners based across the country: Mike Blankenship in New York, Joe Karp in San Francisco, and Mike Pikiel and Rich Shutran in New York. Shutran’s experience encompasses a cross-section of M&A transactions, finance and development work, attracting mandates from major developments, owners and operators of energy projects. Also in NY, Jonathan Birenbaum  acts for strategic and financial participants in financings, projects, acquisitions and dispositions involving alternative and conventional power assets. Besides being a ‘go-to lawyer for power purchase agreements‘, Karp is among the premier energy project development lawyers in the US; his experience spans wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and other technologies. Laurae Rossi in Los Angeles stands out in for her capabilities in renewable energy projects and leads on several sophisticated debt transactions.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 1

Winston & Strawn LLP is distinguishable for its strong litigation practice, representing individual athletes, major players’ associations, sport franchises, and leagues. The practice is jointly led by Jeffrey Kessler and David Feher , while David Greenspan heads the college sports practice. Kessler is a prominent litigator and successfully represented a class of current and former Division I college basketball and FBS football players in a lawsuit alleging the NCAA had violated antitrust laws. In addition, Feher and Greenspan have notable experience in litigation and arbitration, often handling matters for sports and player’s associations respectively. Other notable team members include Jonathan Amoona, regarded for his work on both litigation and transactional matters, and San Francisco-based Jeanifer Parsigian, a litigator in antitrust, sports and commercial matters. Associate Adam Dale is also noted for his work on labor and antitrust issues. All named lawyers are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m) Tier 1

At Winston & Strawn LLP, the corporate team is able to call upon the wider firm's extensive tax, antitrust and regulatory expertise to provide a full-service offering to clients. The practice is instructed on a comprehensive array of matters including public and private M&A, cross-border deals, take-private transactions, carve-outs and distressed acquisitions. Based in Chicago, Matthew Costigan is especially well-versed within the consumer product, financial services and banking fields; he co-leads the practice alongside Uri Doron whose broad industry expertise includes industrials, defense, biomedical, pharmaceuticals and fashion. Costigan is supported locally by Matthew Bergmann , a veteran of countless M&A, private equity and capital markets transactions, as well as Timothy Kincaid who supplements his transactional prowess with contract, entity formation and corporate governance knowhow. TMT sector specialist Katie Blaszak joined the Washington DC office from Eversheds Sutherland in February 2021.

Antitrust > Cartel Tier 2

Winston & Strawn LLP has a highly successful record in cartel litigation, defending a wide range of clients in trials and enforcement proceedings relating to cartel activity, including high-profile representations in the auto parts, broiler chicken, and lithium ion batteries investigations. The firm represents companies and executives in government investigations and criminal proceedings, and has further developed its offering with a number of labour market cases, mostly notably relating to no-poach agreements. The practice is led from New York by Jeffrey Kessler, an experienced litigator who has argued in high-profile antitrust cases up to Supreme Court level, most notably leading the team arguing the Alston v NCAA case, which was ruled on in June 2021, and has broad expertise across international cartel litigation, alongside Eva Cole, who is focused on international cartel investigations, acting for clients in a variety of jurisdictions, and led on the firm’s successful representation of the Bearings defendants in the auto parts cartel investigation. Chicago’s Jim Herbison has played a key role in cases in the broiler chicken sector, while Washington DC-based Heather Lamberg is active across government and internal investigations, regularly appearing against the FTC and DOJ. New York’s Jeffrey Amato has handled government investigations in numerous jurisdictions across Latin America and Asia, and also played a key role in litigation relating to the lithium ion batteries investigation, representing Panasonic.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 2

Winston & Strawn LLP is known for its ‘deep knowledge, experience, and expertise in US antitrust matters, both from a litigation standpoint and from a counselling perspective’. In recent times, the firm has been particularly active in the financial services sector, although its reach spans a variety of industries including technology, food, pharmaceuticals, as well as sports and entertainment. Jeffrey Kessler, who brings to bear expertise at the intersection of antitrust with sports law and intellectual property matters, and Eva Cole , whose clients include corporations and individuals, jointly lead the department from New York. ‘Brilliant, hard-working, standout trial lawyer’ James Herbison, based in Chicago, handles class actions and civil litigation relating to price-fixing, bid-rigging, and other unfair competition issues. In New York, Heather Lamberg  represents clients on both sides of the aisle in antitrust litigation, while high-tech expert Susannah Torpey and chair of college sports sub-practice David Greenspan are further names to note in the firm’s New York office.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Winston & Strawn LLP is ‘characterized by personalized service, experienced and fluent Spanish-speaking attorneys, and attorneys who have worked at the DOJ and SEC’. The firm offers a practice that is global in scope and well versed in with cross-border investigations and enforcement actions. The team, which includes former prosecutors and US Attorneys, is led by New York’s Suzanne Jaffe Bloom; Abbe Lowell, who is based in New York and Washington DC; Angela Machala in Los Angeles; North Carolina’s Jack Knight; and the Chicago-based Steve Grimes. Other key practitioners include Chicago’s Dan Webb, an experienced trial lawyer, and San Francisco’s Pamela Davis. In March 2021, Carol Chen joined in Los Angeles from the US Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, and in May of the same year, Jonathan Brightbill joined from the Environmental & Natural Resources Division of the DOJ in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 2

Winston & Strawn LLP showcases considerable expertise in a range of litigation matters, such as breach of contract, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duty, product liabiltiy and mass torts cases. Clients are often active in the financial services, energy, and insurance sectors. The group also handles appellates and critical motions. Amanda Groves in Los Angeles and Thomas Walsh  in Dallas lead the complex commercial litigation group of the firm, while the Chicago-based Steven D’Amore and George Lombardi head up the global litigation practice. Dan Webb, also in Chicago, is noted for covering commercial, civil, regulatory, and white-collar criminal cases. Houston’s Denise Scofield combines commercial and environmental know-how. Kelly Librera  in New York is a key contact in insurance coverage disputes. Other prominent practitioners are Paula Hinton  and Michael Murphy, both in Houston.

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

Leveraging the expertise of market-leading trial lawyers in its Chicago headquarters, as well as on both coasts, Winston & Strawn LLP is particularly effective at handling high-stakes mandates, many within the product liability space, for clients seeking a robust and strategic defense. The team has experience handling matters for manufacturers of a broad array of consumer products, including tobacco, food and beverages, and oil and gas, both at trial and appellate level – an area that was recently enhanced by the arrival in February 2021 of the ‘tenacious and creative‘ Andrew Tauber to the Washington DC office from Mayer Brown. Clients also benefit from access to the firm’s recently created legal innovation center, which enhances the team’s litigation work by performing complex document reviews with lower-cost reviewers and advanced analytical tools. George Lombardi and Dan Webb are both widely revered trial lawyers, whose wide ranging expertise includes the defense of companies facing high-profile consumer product liability litigation. Between them they have secured numerous notable jury verdicts, including Lombardi’s recent success for Monsanto against allegations that the herbicide causes non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Sandra Edwards chairs the product liability and mass tort practice from San Francisco, working alongside Lombardi for Monsanto on the aforementioned dispute. Lawyers are in Chicago unless otherwise stated.

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

Winston & Strawn LLP handles a significant amount of toxic tort mandates under the umbrella of the broader product liability and mass tort group, which is led by Sandra Edwards  from San Francisco. George Lombardi is a trial lawyer of considerable repute; as well as his well-documented tobacco-related product liability victories, is, alongside Edwards, leading the charge for Monsanto, as trial counsel, on Roundup-related product liability matters. The firm’s appellate expertise is also well rated in challenging decisions.  Based out of Washington DC, the ‘tenacious and creative’ Andrew Tauber  adds particular value to product liability/toxic matters as his ‘appellate advocacy is first-rate’.

Finance > Project finance

The team at Winston & Strawn LLP has developed well in recent years, and is now one of the most active firms in the renewable energy lender market. Led from New York by the ‘commercial and technically brilliant' Mike Pikiel, the firm represents numerous banks in ta equity financings related to solar and wind projects, as well as negotiating facilities related to energy storage. Outside of energy, infrastructure P3 projects are another area of strength; in 2021, the firm represented the lenders and underwriters in a $1.18bn financing for the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project in North Dakota. New York associate Dan Shapiro is considered by clients to be a ‘true guru and workhorse across project finance'. The team strengthened further in 2021 with the April arrivals of New York-based Rodrigo Carvalho and Rachel Gray-Pundir from Bank of America and Kirkland & Ellis LLP respectively.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 2

Winston & Strawn LLP houses securitization lawyers across its US offices, as well as in Paris and London. The group has a strong focus on esoteric assets, with a number of novel transactions under its belt. Areas of specialism include marketplace lending and fintech securitizations, energy structured finance, aircraft and transport finance; but lawyers are also well-versed in more traditional CLOs and CMBS transactions. Co-leading the department are Los Angeles senior counsel Daniel Passage , a leader in the property assessed clean energy arena and New York’s Jeffrey Stern . In Chicago, Russell Casper has knowledge in compliance issues arising from CLOs and warehouse facilities. Splitting his time between Los Angeles and New York, Francisco Flores is known for securitizations involving asset classes including auto leases, commercial mortgages and home equity loans.

Industry focus > Transport: shipping - litigation and regulation Tier 2

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s Washington DC-based practice is sought out for particularly challenging maritime matters involving US government policy, regulations, enforcement work and litigation. It has longstanding experience in representing port authorities and marine terminal operators in disputes before the Federal Maritime Commission. The team also has extensive expertise in the application of Jones Act laws to cargo, passenger, and vessel movements, and investments in US companies. Maritime and admiralty practice chair Charlie Papavizas is widely regarded for his experience in the regulatory issues that impact upon the emerging US offshore wind industry. Bryant Gardner‘s recent work includes assisting ZIM Integrated Shipping Services with multiple regulatory compliance matters.

Intellectual property > Copyright Tier 2

With a global presence, Winston & Strawn LLP remains a destination firm for major entertainment and digital media companies, and household names such as Hasbro and Pepsi in the tech, financial services and food and beverages sectors involved in high-value copyright disputes. The practice is headed by Michael Elkin in New York, an authority in litigation involving motion picture, television, and music properties, tech and software matter expert David Enzminger in Los Angeles, and Jennifer Golinveaux in San Francisco, who defends internet service providers against secondary liability claims for infringement brought by their subscribers. Erin Ranahan in LA advises music and film copyright holders on infringement matters and the safe harbor provisions of the DMCA. IP licensing specialist Stephen Kong arrived at the LA office from Troutman Pepper in April 2021. Tom Lane departed in September 2021.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 2

Counting public and private companies, healthcare systems and C-suite executives among its key roster of clients, Winston & Strawn LLP has demonstrable experience in handling the full range of employee benefits issues, as highlighted by its advice to Carnival Corporation on equity compensation, retirement, fringe benefits and healthcare plans. Joe Adams now leads the practice, and focuses on 401(k) and profit-sharing plans, as well as ESOPs. Both Amy Gordon and Susan Nash have considerable experience in health and welfare benefit plans, and frequently assist employers and health plans on Affordable Care Act and HIPAA compliance matters. David Rogers, who is the managing partner of the firm’s Washington DC office, is another key member of the team. All named attorneys are based in Chicago unless otherwise stated. Nancy Gerrie has retired.

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

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 3

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s ‘exceptional‘ disputes team attracts praise for its ‘knowledge, flexibility and creative approach‘. Jointly led by New York-based Jeffrey Kessler, Dan Webb in Chicago and Abbe Lowell in Washington DC, the group is particularly strong for antitrust, white-collar investigations and litigation and international trade issues. Lowell and Seth Farber are noted by one client for their ‘extensive experience in dealing with the DOJ and SEC, and FCPA-related matters‘, while the ‘excellent‘ Marcelo Blackburn is popular for Latin America-related work. San Francisco-based Pamela Davis and Christopher Man in Washington DC are other contacts for white-collar crime and FCPA issues.

Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 3

Winston & Strawn LLP ‘has a core team of experienced M&A lawyers who know their business and do great work‘ best known for its trial capability, and frequently involved in matters before the Delaware Court of Chancery. It is also a key player in the emerging area of SPAC-related cases under both the federal securities laws and state fiduciary duty law. ‘Incredibly articulate advocate‘ James Smith in New York chairs the ‘best-in-class, hard-nosed and practical‘ securities litigation practice, which handles deal-related disputes. John Schreiber works in both Los Angeles and New York and is ‘a first-rate advocate who is pleasure to work with or against under even immense pressure‘. He represented former executives of oil and gas exploration company Alta Mesa Resources in matters arising from its creation via a $33.8bn de-SPAC merger. Matthew DiRisio in New York has also led numerous SPAC-related cases and is ‘a great writer with great judgment‘. William O’Neill in Chicago also plays a pivotal role in the practice.

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

Drawing upon its overarching litigation credentials, which includes several high-profile trial lawyers, including Chicago-based duo Dan Webb and George Lombardi, as well as increasingly developing a more specialized offering throughout the life cycle of product work in the healthcare and life sciences sector, Winston & Strawn LLP is well-placed to advise clients seeking robust defense from the discovery phase, dispositive motions, through to trial. Clients also benefit from access to appellate experts from an early stage, enabling them to lay the groundwork for future appeals by drafting motions in limine, proposed jury instructions, and motions for judgment as a matter of law. Based out of San Francisco,  Sandra Edwards heads the product liability and mass tort group; while Matthew Campbell in Washington DC is particularly visible in the pharmaceutical space and continues to serve as lead national counsel for OAPI in its Abilify®-related product liability litigation.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 3

Winston & Strawn LLP is ‘highly skilled in securities litigation, with strong brief writing and client counselling skills', best known for representing companies in parallel or civil proceedings following governmental investigations, qui tam lawsuits, and other corporate trauma matters in heavily regulated sectors such as healthcare and financial services. It also has a strong track record in challenging to class certification in securities class actions, which is historically a challenging process. James Smith leads the securities litigation practice and ‘instills confidence – he can be put before senior management and board with confidence they will be impressed‘. Key partner Matthew DiRisio provides ‘accurate, practical advice delivered in a timely, efficient manner‘. Smith is currently representing global medical technology company Becton, Dickinson and Company in a securities fraud class action alleging that the company made material misrepresentations and omissions surrounding the regulatory status of its Alaris infusion pump.

Industry focus > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 3

With experience throughout the oil-and-gas value chain, Winston & Strawn LLP has expertise in upstream matters and also on the up/midstream juncture, including commercial contracts. However, the practice stands out for its strength in the midstream market, advising clients including on issues ranging from water gathering and disposal, interstate pipelines, crude oil gathering, natural gas gathering and processing, and LNG projects. The practice is co-led by Mike Blankenship in Houston, the San Francisco-based Joe Karp, and Mike Pikiel and Rich Shutran in New York . Another key name in the practice group is Isaac Griesbaum in Houston, who focuses on up- and midstream oil and gas, oilfield services, and the produced water segment. Oil-and-gas specialist Max Stubbs joined from Locke Lord LLP in January 2022, further strengthening the Houston team.

Industry focus > Transport: aviation and air travel - finance Tier 3

Routinely acting for finance and leasing companies, Winston & Strawn LLP‘s New York-based practice has a strong market reputation for capital markets, finance, leasing, and related restructuring and insolvency matters. Practice leader Pete Morgan and David Neier both regularly advise on aviation finance-related work. Also key to the team is David Gillespie, who assists major airlines, operating lessors, aircraft manufacturers and financial institutions with the leasing and financing of commercial aircrafts. Former aviation finance practice chair Michael O’Brien left the firm in July 2021.

Industry focus > Transport: rail and road - litigation and regulation Tier 3

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s ‘business-oriented‘ practice has longstanding experience in transactions and litigation involving transport infrastructure, including heavy and light rail. It also has notable expertise in representing trucking and logistics companies. Praised as 'Among the best railroad appellate lawyers in private practice‘, Andrew Tauber joined the Washington DC office in 2021 from Mayer Brown, with experience covering Federal Railroad Safety Act and Locomotive Inspection Act-related litigation; and in the automotive sector, representing an automobile manufacturer facing consumer claims involving emissions standards. Chicago-based transactions specialist Nick Golem is also experienced in working with transportation industry clients.

Industry focus > Transport: shipping - finance Tier 3

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s Washington DC-based practice represents a broad array of clients engaged in the financing of maritime transportation assets, including vessel owners, operators, port authorities, and businesses that charter vessels. The team offers expertise in assisting US and non-US entities with Jones Act financings, vessel finance involving the US government’s Title XI guarantee, and capital construction fund programs. Chair of the maritime and admiralty practice Charlie Papavizas focuses on the administrative and legislative aspects of the maritime industry. Bryant Gardner‘s broad experience includes fleet refinancing and newbuild financings.

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

Winston & Strawn LLP offers a bench of ‘very capable trial lawyers across the board’, who have garnered a solid reputation over the years as one of the top patent defense trial shops. The practice stands out for its solid expertise handling cases from a wide range of sectors, including life sciences, pharmaceutical and technology, and maintains a strong presence near the major litigation venues thanks to its offices in Chicago, New York, Washington DC and its California and Texas hubs. The team, which is jointly led by Chuck Klein in Washington DC, and David Enzminger in Los Angeles, was notably reinforced in January 2022 with the arrival of Brian Ferguson, former department co-head at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Pharma expert George Lombardi and Thomas Melsheimer are other key names.

Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 3

The ‘knowledgeable, experienced, and detail-oriented’ practice at Winston & Strawn LLP works collaboratively across multiple offices on cases concerning trade secrets,  breach of contracts, non-competes, and other restrictive covenants. In Texas, Houston-based co-head John Keville and Sheryl Falk are noted for their respective expertise in mechanical engineering and computer forensics, while Dallas-based Tom Melsheimer is a seasoned trial lawyer with considerable experience in intellectual property, business torts, and False Claims Act litigation. Practice co-head David Enzminger , who regularly represents clients in the telecommunications, computer hardware and software, and manufacturing sectors, works primarily out of the firm’s Los Angeles office. Chicago-based internal investigation specialist Steven Grimes is also recommended.

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

Acting primarily for clients in the healthcare and food and beverage sectors, Winston & Strawn LLP is noted for its capability in handling the executive compensation and employee benefits aspects of mid-market M&A. Practice co-leader Scott Landau focuses on advising private equity firms and public companies in acquisitions, and Jennifer Stadler handles issues pertaining to equity and incentive compensation plans. Associate Maria Kenny assists clients with severance plans and equity and compensation arrangements, and Chicago-based Bill Merten remains a key contact in the team. Unless stated otherwise, all named attorneys are based in the firm’s New York office. Nyron Persaud left the group in May 2021.

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

Based in Texas, Winston & Strawn LLP’s REITs practice sits within the firm’s wider capital markets group and has strength in REIT formation, particularly equity and mortgage. The team is now jointly led by Charles Haag and Bryan Goolsby , and has experience handling IPOs and M&A for REIT clients and sponsors. Justin Reinus splits his time between Dallas and Los Angeles and advises clients on equity offerings and corporate governance matters. The team has strengthened its corporate and securities offering with the lateral hires of James Brown and Douglas Lionberger from Holland & Knight LLP in May 2021. Former co-chair Christina Roupas left the firm in May 2021.

Tax > US taxes: contentious Tier 3

Winston & Strawn LLP represent clients on high-value and sensitive cases, including litigation and dispute resolution before the IRS and DOJ Tax Division. The team is especially strong in SALT, but is noted for its work in international tax dispute resolution with the IRS and foreign tax authorities. Practice leaders Jim Mastracchio and Susan Seabrook joined in January 2021 from Eversheds Sutherland. Splitting his time between Washington DC and New York, Mastracchio represents public and private companies involving complex multi-jurisdictional tax investigations by tax authorities. In Washington DC, Seabrook covers global tax controversy, including transfer pricing disputes. Additionally, DC-based counsel Todd Betor joined from Eversheds Sutherland in March 2021. He specializes in SALT litigation. Lawrence Hill  and Richard Nessler departed in June and July 2021.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 3

Winston & Strawn LLP works with a diverse roster of public and private companies and asset management funds on the full spectrum of transactional and tax structuring mandates. The team is especially well known for its capabilities in middle-market private equity tax planning, while SPAC and REIT transactions have increasingly emerged as key workflows. Robert Heller and Olga Loy jointly head up the team from New York and Chicago, respectively. Loy is praised by clients for her ‘exceptional‘ abilities in the SBIC space, handling a formidable volume of fund formations, while Heller is noted for his expertise in M&A, joint ventures, and internal restructuring transactions, most recently for clients in private equity and consumer goods. New York-based David Gillespie is recommended for power, infrastructure, and transport sector matters, while in Dallas, Dean Hinderliter – who joined the team from now-defunct Thompson & Knight –  is noted for his experience in energy transactions and S corporation issues. Chicago-based Angela Russo joined the practice from Kirkland & Ellis LLP in March 2021. Edmund Cohen has retired.

Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal) Tier 4

Winston & Strawn LLP's appellate and critical motions practice is often involved in cases from the earliest stages of litigation, acting alongside the firm’s dominant trial practice to carry files from trial through to appeal. The group additionally leverages the wider firm’s broad dispute resolution offering to field niche strengths in several key areas, including class actions, securities fraud litigation, IP, white-collar criminal defense and product liability cases. Linda Coberly steers the practice out of Chicago; she led the US Supreme Court briefing for the firm’s successful representation of three classes of student athletes in their challenge to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s ‘amateurism’ rules. Andrew Tauber, highlighted as a ‘first-rate appellate lawyer’, recently joined in Washington DC from Mayer Brown.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 4

Winston & Strawn LLP is recommended by sources for its 'depth of experience in international treaty arbitrations' — the firm is equally capable in commercial disputes. The US practice is spread across the firm's domestic offices and frequently teams up with teams abroad to provide integrated global advice in multi-jurisdictional cases. The group's comprehensive sector expertise is also a big draw for clients, and it has recently acted on cases involving the energy, mining and technology sectors, among others. In Chicago, 'business-oriented' group head Ricardo Ugarte acts for an array of corporate and state clients. Houston-based Imad Khan is an 'excellent senior associate'.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Winston & Strawn LLP has extensive experience in investment grade, high-yield and convertible debt offerings, along with other hybrid securities. Exchange offers is another area of key expertise. It is especially known for underwriters’ counsel engagements and has an especially strong record in real estate, technology, industrials, media, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, financial services, energy, and food and beverages. Chicago partner Carol Anne Huff and New York’s David Sakowitz co-head the capital markets team, the former noted for SPAC-related transactions and the latter rated for high-yield and equity-linked deals. Chicago partner Cab Morris is also prominent. Former department head Christina Roupas has joined Cooley LLP.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Winston & Strawn LLP has remained wedded to the SPAC segment with a further stream of IPOs and other SPAC transactions, including de-SPAC deals, in 2021; it represented Fast Acquisition Corp on its business combination with Ferttita Entertainment. The SPAC practice now pervades multiple offices, including Chicago, New York and Houston, and covers multiple industry sectors. Chicago partner Carol Anne Huff and New York’s David Sakowitz  lead the capital markets team, with Houston managing partner Mike Blankenship also having a key role in major transactions. Former department head Christina Roupas and partner Courtney Tygesson left in 2021 to launch Cooley LLP ‘s new Chicago office.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 4

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s position in the debt finance middle-market is well established. Capable of assisting with subordinated debt, asset-based lending and acquisition financing, the firm is particularly active in the lender space and is instructed by both banks and alternative lenders.  The group’s four team heads are split across the two main offices; Mats Carlston  and William Brewer  are based in New York, while Chicago is home to Patrick Hardiman  and Michael Mullins . The department was bolstered by the April 2021 arrival of Rachel Gray-Pundir from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, which offset the departure of Michael O’Brien  in June.

Industry focus > Energy litigation: oil and gas Tier 4

Winston & Strawn LLP's oil and gas litigation team sits within the wider energy and infrastructure industry group co-led by New York-based duo Rich Shutran and Mike Pikiel, Mike Blankenship in Houston and Joe Karp in San Francisco. It works closely with other departments -such as the environmental, tax, finance and real estate practices- to advise clients on all aspects of their business activities. The group’s client base includes domestic and fully-integrated international oil companies, oilfield service companies and natural gas utilities, among others. Based in Houston, Hugh Tanner chairs the oil and gas litigation practice and has extensive experience before state and federal courts, and Denise Scofield (commercial, environmental, and toxic tort lawsuits and internal investigations among other matters) is a seasoned litigator.

Industry focus > Energy transactions: electric power Tier 4

The energy M&A team at Winston & Strawn LLP has ‘all of the necessary expertise and harnesses its institutional knowledge of its clients very well’. The practice is experienced in conventional power acquisitions and disposals, notably PPAs and offtake arrangements, and combines this with strong environmental and real estate expertise. Mike Blankenship in Houston, New York-based Mike Pikiel, Rich Shutran (also in New York) and Joe Karp in San Francisco co-lead a team of practitioners who are complemented for ‘their level of dedication to their clients’. Another key name in the area is Jonathan Birenbaum (in New York), who represents strategic and financial clients in complex transactions involving a range of structures and assets.

Industry focus > Healthcare: service providers Tier 4

The ‘well-coordinated, high quality’ healthcare team at Winston & Strawn LLP offers expertise on transactions and compliance to its clientele. Litigation is another key strength of the group, with Chicago-based practice co-head David Dahlquist representing Northshore Health facility in a challenge to its Covid-19 vaccine mandate, and also offering antitrust expertise. Also key are Washington DC-based co-heads Reed Stephens and Amandeep Sidhu, who are known for their False Claims act and FDA regulatory expertise.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission) Tier 4

The fact that there are those who consider Tom Jarvis, head of the practice at Winston & Strawn LLP, to be ‘one of the most experienced attorneys in the ITC practice’ is hardly surprising. Not only does Jarvis have a decades-long ITC track record under his belt, but he also served for many years as senior investigative attorney at the ITC before jumping back into the private practice. The technology, electronics and telecoms sectors make up the bulk of the group’s caseload. The team garners additional praise for its ‘outstanding technical and patent skills’ as well as for its ‘unparalleled communication and trial’ capabilities.

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense Tier 4

Winston & Strawn LLP is noted for dealing with a range of employment disputes in connection with discrimination, whistleblower, wrongful termination and trade secret matters. The practice is led by Chicago-based Michael Roche, who handles wage and hour class actions and pay equity claims. Working alongside him is Rex Sessions, with over 30 years of experience in strategic counseling. The team also features San-Francisco-based Joan Fife, with expertise in class actions, and Monique Ngo-Bonnici, who divides her time between Los Angeles and Silicon Valley, and handles a wide spectrum of employment related claims. Changes to the team include Ben Ostrander making partner in December 2020, and Daniel Fazio departing for DLA Piper LLP (US) in September 2021.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 4

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s global privacy and data security practice offers counseling in privacy, data protection, data security by design, litigation, trade secret audits, and investigation matters. The team is led by former federal prosecutors Sheryl Falk and Steven Grimes, who sit in Houston and Chicago, respectively, and former federal privacy regulator Alessandra Swanson, also in Chicago. Other key contacts in Chicago include Sean Wieber, who recently stood out for acting in a class action filed under the CCPA’s new private right of action, and associate Eric Shinabarger, who focuses on privacy counseling, data breach response, and regulatory compliance.

Real estate Tier 4

Winston & Strawn LLP is active across the New York, California, Illinois, and Texas real estate markets. In Los Angeles, Paul Walker is an expert in real property and loan portfolio purchase and sale transactions, and equity investments. Walker joined from Sidley Austin LLP, along with Bruce Fraser and Elizabeth Walker, in February 2021. The Chicago team is led by Andrew White, while Billie Ellis in Dallas is also a key member.

Industry focus > Healthcare: life sciences Tier 5

Winston & Strawn LLP stands out for its litigation expertise, advising on a blend of IP and product liability matters. Its product liability team has been involved in a blend of opiate-related cases, notably acting for Hikma Pharmaceuticals in Ohio, and other class actions. Transactions are another area of expertise, supplemented by a strong antitrust focus. Washington DC-based Charles Klein is a key name for patent litigation and Los Angeles-based Nimalka Wickramasekera is an expert on medical device cases. The team is co-led by Chicago-based David Dahlquist and DC-based Reed Stephens.

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 5

Fund formation work is the cornerstone of the practice at Winston & Strawn LLP – the group provides expert advice on the gamut of strategies, including venture, growth, buyout, fund of funds, international, private credit, aviation, infrastructure, and real estate. The offering is also well versed in issues concerning special circumstances relating to funds, such as sponsor separations and breakups, defaulting limited partners, fund restructurings and liquidity solutions, internal investigations, and permanent capital solutions. Small business investment company funds mandates are another area of expertise; Chicago-based Alan Roth is the key contact for such matters. Meg Frey heads up the department from Chicago, where she is supported by recognized attorneys Megan Devaney and Brad Mandel. The team also has a concerted presence in New York, where Beth Kramer and Scott Naidech are the names to note.  

M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts Tier 5

Winston & Strawn LLP offers a geographically diverse team, with key strength in New York, Dallas, and most notably on the West Coast, where the firm continues to work regularly on growth investments for funds and portfolio companies in the tech and innovation sectors, with LA-based Eva Davis the key name in that space. Elsewhere, the firm handles work for bulge-bracket through to middle market funds and their targets, alongside other equity investors, with broad coverage of industry sectors. The practice is co-led by New York-based Bradley Vaiana , who advises funds on leveraged buyouts, take privates, and exits, with expertise in PIPE transactions and real estate investments in particular. Matthew Stockstill in Dallas co-heads the team, working with private equity funds, institutional investors, and family offices on transactions and financing matters. Chicago’s Matthew Bergmann is also noted as an active dealmaker with a solid stable of funds clients, with Dallas-based David Lange also handling a broad range of transactions, alongside associated corporate governance matters.

International Trade > International trade

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

More than a fifth of Winston & Strawn LLP's substantial global arbitration caseload involves Latin America-related matters. The practice group is particularly strong in the mining sector, with work for clients in the hospitality and oil-and-gas segments also prominent. Practice chair Ricardo Ugarte  (in Chicago) specialises in international commercial arbitration and investment treaty matters and is the main point of contact, with additional senior support coming from the New York-based Talbert Navia and Allen Miller, who co-chair the firm’s overall Latin America offering. Litigation expert Marcelo Blackburn  in New York is another key name, alongside Sofia Arguello - whose practice covers a broad range of disputes and investigations in Latin America.