Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP > San Francisco, United States > Firm Profile

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
650 California St
Suite 2000
San Francisco
CALIFORNIA
94108
United States

Antitrust > Cartel Tier 1

Offering a comprehensive cross-border practice, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is equipped to handle the full range of cartel work, including both civil and criminal investigations, litigation defense, and enforcement matters. Regulatory advice is another strength of the team, which includes several former officials from the FTC and the DOJ. Leah Brannon leads the team alongside Jeremy Calsyn, who specializes in global cartel investigations and defense in follow-on class actions. Brannon is recommended for handling investigations by the DOJ, FTC and the European Commission. Being particularly experienced in the application of complex economics to antitrust matters, Kenneth Reinker’s practice spans an array of industries, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare, high-technology, media and financial institutions. Daniel Culley has a track record in cross-examinations of government witnesses and focuses on high-tech industries and two-sided markets, while Brian Byrne in San Francisco is adept in cross-border enforcement matters, as well as antitrust-related civil litigation and reviews of M&A. Experienced first-chair trial attorney Heather Nyong’o is equipped to represent her clients, which include multinational corporations and executives, in domestic and international cartel investigations and litigation. Unless stated otherwise, all mentioned lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

Leah Brannon; Jeremy Calsyn

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Fox Corporation

Work highlights

  • Represented Fox Corporation in a civil antitrust class action alleging price fixing and information exchanges related to local television advertising.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 1

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton maintains a market-leading offering that spans the full range of antitrust litigation, with notable strength in merger litigation and contentious cross-border mandates. Leah Brannon and Jeremy Calsyn jointly oversee the department; Brannon focuses on global merger clearance matters, monopolization cases, and conspiracy litigation, while Calsyn represents clients in class actions and cartel and price-fixing litigation, particularly in the automotive parts industry. Dave Gelfand is a name to note on the merger litigation front, having successfully represented major healthcare and aviation clients in high-profile litigated merger challenges. Heather Nyong’o is another key name for civil antitrust litigation work, regularly representing major multinationals and executives in such cases, while seasoned antitrust litigator George Cary  handles IP-related antitrust work in the high-tech sector from the San Francisco office. Ryan Shores joined from Shearman & Sterling LLP in July 2023, further strengthening the firm’s merger challenge offering. Unless otherwise stated, all mentioned lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

Leah Brannon; Jeremy Calsyn

Other key lawyers:

George Cary; Heather Nyong’o; Dave Gelfand; Ryan Shores

Key clients

ASSA ABLOY AB

Cushman & Wakefield/Pinnacle

JetBlue Airways

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.

Medtronic

Netafim Irrigation

Varsity Brands

Swedish Match

Walgreens Boots Alliance

GMO-Z.com Trust Company Inc.

Work highlights

  • Representing Cushman & Wakefield and its wholly owned subsidiary Pinnacle in roughly 30 lawsuits by proposed plaintiffs class of multifamily housing renters alleging multifamily housing owners, managers, and the tech company RealPage violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act by artificially increasing the price of multifamily rental units.
  • Representing JetBlue Airways in the federal lawsuit and trial brought by the U.S. DOJ and several state Attorneys General challenging its $3.8 billion merger with Spirit Airlines.
  • Represented ASSA ABLOY in litigation brought by the DOJ seeking to block its $4.3 billion acquisition of Spectrum Brands’ Hardware and Home Improvement division.

Antitrust > Merger control Tier 1

Underscoring its status as a destination antitrust practice, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton remains active on complex and market-defining merger mandates for blue-chip corporates and private equity investors, standing out for its work on  contentious merger-related investigations and litigation. The team boasts strong multijurisdictional capabilities, regularly working with its teams in Europe on cross-border merger control mandates, and excels in securing approvals for deals in industries facing regulatory scrutiny. Practice co-head Leah Brannon is a vastly experienced figure with a track record in global merger approvals. Jeremy Calsyn also co-heads the team, and is active on a host of complex matters, notably representing Korean Air in the DOJ investigation in its $1.4bn acquisition of Asiana Airlines. Elsewhere in the team, George Cary continues to lead on business-critical mergers, while Brian Byrne, based in both San Francisco and Washington DC, handles strategic clearances for a diverse roster of clients. David Gelfand has enjoyed recent success in four litigated merger challenges involving the States Attorneys General, the FTC and DOJ, and Bruce Hoffman, former Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, regularly advises on significant merger clearance matters and investigations. Daniel Culley is a go-to for business-critical mergers, government investigations, and litigation for top-level clients in a wide range of industries, particularly within the tech industry. Clients turn to both Kenneth Reinker and Elaine Ewing for their expertise across deals in a wide range of industries, encompassing contentious investigations and global approvals. The team was strengthened by the 2023 arrival of Ryan Shores, formerly at A&O Shearman, a prolific merger counsel who is trial lead on the JetBlue merger. Attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Practice head(s):

Leah Brannon; Jeremy Calsyn

Key clients

Broadcom

Encap Investments L.P.

IQVIA

Korean Airlines

Raytheon Technologies

Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

Figma

Applied Materials

Work highlights

  • Represented Autogrill in securing antitrust clearance for its combination with Dufry.
  • Acting as global antitrust counsel to Broadcom Inc  in its proposed acquisition of software company VMware, Inc.
  • Representing IQVIA for antitrust aspects of its acquisition of DeepIntent.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

The white-collar defense and investigations team at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is headed by Lisa Vicens in New York and Matthew Solomon in Washington DC. Vicens is highly skilled at navigating internal and governmental investigations into companies, especially concerning allegations of criminal activity that involves a cross-border element. Solomon is recommended for his skills as a litigator, having accumulated extensive experience in white-collar jury trials across the country. Based in the New York office, Victor Hou, Joon Kim, and Jonathan Kolodner are all notable members of the team. Kim regularly assists companies and senior executives facing criminal and regulatory investigations, while Hou is an expert in securities litigation. Kolodner frequently advises clients on a range of matters such as fraud, corruption, antitrust violations, and cyber-related offences. The team in Washington DC is strengthened by the addition of David Last who joined in July 2023 from the DOJ where he gained an in-depth understanding of FCPA matters.

Practice head(s):

Lisa Vicens; Matthew Solomon

Other key lawyers:

Victor Hou; Joon Kim; Jonathan Kolodner; David Last; Abena Mainoo; Lev Dassin

Testimonials

‘Thye have a great team, including Joon Kim, Victor Hou, Lev Dassin, Jon Kolodner, all of whom are superb lawyers and wonderful people. They are a terrific group.’

‘Joon Kim s great at dealing with clients and government lawyers. He is an excellent courtroom advocate.’

‘Victor Hou is highly responsive, very practical, clearly structured, and has a deep knowledge.’

‘Cleary is an elite white-collar firm and practices at the highest level. They are extremely skilled, especially in internal investigations and securities matters. Cleary also has strong reputation of working collaboratively and collegially with co-counsel and opposing counsel without sacrificing their ability to zealously represent their clients.’

‘Victor Hou is simply one of the best white-collar and big case litigators that there is. He is smart, wise and manages to be both very tough and extremely likable at the same time. He has had remarkable successes in the white-collar and securities space.’

‘Joon Kim is an outstanding lawyer. He is a skilled investigator and a true gentleman.’

Key clients

Vale

Citigroup

BNP Paribas

HSBC

Odebrecht S.A

Sequioa Capital

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Odebrecht S.A.

Compass Minerals

Work highlights

  • Advising multiple financial institutions in connection with regulatory investigations, including the SEC and CFTC, related to off-channel communications use.
  • Represented the CEO of Ripple Labs, in successfully obtaining the dismissal with prejudice of the claim by the SEC that he aided and abetted some of Ripple’s offers and sales of XRP.
  • Representing the current CEO of Wells Fargo Bank in all matters relating to the fallout from the various regulatory enforcement actions taken against Wells Favor for failures in the consumer protection space

Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 1

The team at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton brings strength to representing multinational clients in high-stakes litigation and advising on the full range of e-discovery, data privacy, information governance and investigation matters. Practice head Christian Mahoney, based in Washington DC, is a specialist in antitrust and securities enforcement and is highly regarded for his work in DOJ investigations. New York-based Michael Bohner is noted for his expertise in representing clients in defensible data retention, preservation and production processes. Delante Stevens, also from DC, focuses on regulatory reviews, developing review plans and regularly assists clients with class-action suits.

Practice head(s):

Christian Mahoney

Other key lawyers:

Michael W. Bohner; Delante Stevens

Key clients

Fresenius Medical Care North America

Robert Bosch GmbH

Keurig Dr Pepper

Korean Airlines

Change Healthcare

Lighthouse Global

TPG Capital

Varsity Brands

Goldman Sachs

BNP Paribas

IQVIA

Tempur Sealy International

National Amusements

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation Tier 1

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton offers comprehensive financial services litigation to a notable client base of major financial institutions and corporations. The group has extensive experience in antitrust and securities litigation and regularly defends clients in SEC and DOJ investigations. The team is led by Washington DC-based Robin Bergen and New York-based Lev Dassin, who specialize in regulatory enforcement matters and government investigations respectively. Bergen is involved in advising and representing financial institutions and service firms before State Attorneys General and other regulatory entities in cases relating to financial products. Dassin, who previously served as Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, holds considerable trial practice and focuses on white-collar criminal defense alongside civil and commercial litigation. With their combined expertise, the group regularly works on complex, high-value, and multijurisdictional matters. Nowell Bamberger, based in Washington DC, is recognized for his cross-border dispute resolution work in the US and abroad. Jennifer Kennedy Park, based in the Bay Area, is known for her expertise in dealing with enforcement actions, compliance matters, and internal investigations. David Last joined the Washington DC team in July 2023 after serving in the FCPA Unit of the DOJ.

Practice head(s):

Lev Dassin; Robin Bergen

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Smart, well-informed, great at understanding business issues, and give practical, thoughtful advice. ’

‘Partners invest time and effort to address concerns, and find practical solutions to complicated problems.’

Key clients

Anson

Assured Guaranty

BNP Paribas

BNYM

CEO of Ripple

Citibanamex

Citibank

Citigroup, Inc

Credit Agricole

Goldman Sachs

HSBC

Polychain

Sequoia Capital Operations, LLC

Synchrony Financial

Two Sigma Securities, LLC

Work highlights

  • Defended several global financial institutions in matters arising from the Madoff fraud and the bankruptcy of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC.
  • Represented the CEO of Ripple Labs Inc. in an SEC.
  • Advising multiple Citibank entities in class action litigation brought in the Southern District of New York under the federal antitrust laws for unjust enrichment and for alleged collusion in connection with the sale of Mexican Government Bonds.

Dispute resolution > International litigation Tier 1

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s international litigation practice has extensive experience representing leading domestic and multinational clients, including international organizations, trade associations, and corporations across a wide range of industries. Litigators within the team are adept at handling matters including ISDA Master Agreements, loan and licensing agreements, joint ventures, and repurchase and supply agreements. The broader international nature of the firm allows the team to work closely with other practices within the firm. Based in New York, Carmine Boccuzzi’s practice is based around work involving foreign sovereigns and state-owned entities, as well as domestic disputes involving capital markets and antitrust. Also in the New York office, Jared Gerber frequently acts on high-profile complex matters, notably including the highly publicized Vale SA litigation levied by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The capabilities of the practice are expanding, with the arrival of both David Last from the FCPA Unit of the Department of Justice in July 2023, and Angela Dunning from Cooley LLP in October 2023. Noted practitioners include Jeffrey Rosenthal, with experience in international arbitration and litigation, and Roger Cooper, with a focus on class actions.

Practice head(s):

Carmine Boccuzzi; Roger Cooper

Key clients

Allergan

Assured Guaranty

BHP Group

BNP Paribas

Citibanamex

Commerzbank

Credit Agricole

Crédit Lyonnais, S.A.

HSBC

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

LATAM Airlines Group S.A.

Medytox

National Westminster Bank plc

Odebrecht

Republic of Lebanon, former Minister of Justice Marie-Claude Najm

Robert Bosch GmbH and Robert Bosch LLC

Ryanair

The Republic of Argentina

T-Mobile

Vale

YPF

Work highlights

  • Advising German automotive parts supplier Robert Bosch GmbH and Robert Bosch LLC (Bosch) since Fall 2015, when Bosch became embroiled in massive litigations around the country following Volkswagen’s admission that it employed Bosch engine control units to cheat on government emissions tests in diesel vehicles.
  • Advising Chilean LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and its affiliates in Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and the United States in the voluntary reorganization and restructuring of their debt under Chapter 11 protection in the United States.
  • Scored several major victories for BNP Paribas in Anti-Terrorism Act, Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, Alien Tort Statute, and related lawsuits based on the banks’ guilty pleas to sanctions and related violations involving transactions with the EU, Cuba, Iran and/or Sudan.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 1

The securities litigators at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in New York ‘are focused solely on winning'. The practice, which includes former SEC personnel and federal prosecutors, frequently handles Rule 10b-5 claims and other securities fraud cases, and its experience includes defending Petrobras in the largest securities class action of the last ten years. Practice head Roger Cooper is highly regarded by both peers and clients. He recently worked with key partner Jared Gerber to defend pharmaceutical company Allergan in a case concerning alleged misstatements and omissions concerning the health risks associated with certain breast implant products, securing a rare victory on summary judgment. Up-and-coming partner Mark McDonald is increasingly visible in high-profile cases. He recently worked with Victor Hou on the defense of Brazilian engineering and construction conglomerate Odebrecht S.A. in two private securities actions concerning a bribery scandal that resulted in a guilty plea and $2.6bn settlement with the United States Department of Justice as well as settlements with other foreign governments.

Practice head(s):

Roger Cooper

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Cleary excels at high-profile securities litigation – often with an international component. The firm has a strong group of securities litigators. Cleary as a firm has a significant international presence; and the ability of its securities litigators to handle complex cases, which frequently have cross-border implications, stands out. Over the years, I have worked with Cleary on securities class actions (we represented different defendants) and seen the strength of the firm’s legal strategy, briefing, and oral argument.’

‘Roger Cooper, who leads Cleary’s securities litigation practice, is excellent. His knowledge of securities litigation, as well as his work – legal strategy, briefing, and oral argument — is top-shelf. He consistently serves as the lead partner on high-profile, complicated, challenging cases that often make headlines in the legal (and broader) press. In addition, Roger is very collaborative. As I mentioned above, I have worked with Cleary, and Roger specifically, on securities class actions. In those cases, Roger has worked very well with other defense counsel, including me, taking an inclusive approach to litigation. That makes him different from many other securities litigators.’

‘Cleary’s securities litigation team has been consistently outstanding for at least the past 20 years, with each generation of leaders training the next one. They work collaboratively among themselves and co-defense counsel, know what they are doing and are focused solely on winning, with the least amount of muss and fuss. They do great work.’

‘In recent years I have worked primarily with Roger Cooper, Cleary’s team leader. He is knowledgeable, collaborative, engaged and a genuine pleasure to work with.’

‘The team is very experienced and knowledgeable, demonstrates great strategic insight and has a strong execution.’

‘Roger Cooper and Lina Bensman stand out.’

Key clients

Allergan

Assured Guaranty

Bed Bath & Beyond

Brad Garlinghouse

Compass Minerals

Goldman Sachs

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

Juul Labs, Inc.

National Amusements, Inc.

Odebrecht S.A.

Petrobras

Polychain Capital

Ryanair

Synchrony Financial

T-Mobile

Two Sigma Securities, LLC

Vale S.A.

Work highlights

  • Representing Allergan plc and several of its former officers and directors in a securities class action brought in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging that the company made misstatements and omissions concerning the health risks associated with certain breast implant products, and the media coverage of the decision recognized it was a “rare” defense victory on summary judgment, given that so few securities class actions even make it to the summary judgment stage and the ones that do often present disputed factual issues.
  • Counsel to Assured Guaranty in an action brought by Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (“LBIE”) in New York state court, in which LBIE originally sought US$1.4 billion based on allegations that AGFP improperly calculated the settlement amount upon termination of numerous credit default swaps (“CDS”) subject to an ISDA Master Agreement, and AGFP asserted counterclaims for breach of contract.
  • Represented Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and its CEO Sue Gove in defending against a putative securities class action filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleginging a leader of the meme-stock movement, Ryan Cohen engineered a “pump and dump” scheme by encouraging retail investors on social media to purchase shares of the company in order to generate short-term profits for himself at their expense.

Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s capital markets team is versatile, with individual practitioners at the forefront of industry trends such as ESG, green bonds and SDG-linked bonds. Members of the department also split their time between issuer and underwriter engagements. It has an excellent record in SEC-registered issuances and offerings for issuers that have recently been upgraded to investment grade status. The firm is a leading player in sovereign debt, particularly for Latin American states; it has the market leading Latin America practice amongst international firms. Jeffrey Karpf is a leading name in the market, including in investment grade bonds, convertible debt and liability management, and has close links to underwriters and managers. David Lopez is a leader in liability management and across the debt capital markets (DCM) space. Craig Brod , Adam Fleisher  and Francesca Odell are also key partners. Named individuals are all based in New York.

Other key lawyers:

Jeffrey Karpf; David Lopez; Craig Brod; Adam Fleisher; Francesca Odell

Testimonials

‘Cleary Gottlieb is an outstanding law firm, all members are very collaborative and all of them are super experts in their field and results oriented. Working with them makes any process more efficient and smooth.’

‘We know each other very well, we have constructed a longstanding relationship based on quality work and trust. They work as a team, they know the client and how to handle it. Francesca Odell is the leader of the team and she works very well with her team delivering results in a timely and quality fashion.’

 

Key clients

The initial purchasers to GE HealthCare and the dealer managers to General Electric Company

Lowe’s Companies Inc.

The managers to Asian Development Bank

HCA Inc.

The underwriters to Citigroup Inc.

United Mexican States (Mexico)

Ontario Teachers’ Finance Trust

The underwriters and initial purchasers to Prudential Financial Inc.

The underwriters to American Express

American Tower Corporation

The representatives of the underwriters to Edison International

Southern California Edison

The underwriters to Bank of New York Mellon

The underwriters to BlackRock Inc.

The representatives of the underwriters to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

The dealers to Citizens Bank

The underwriters to The Hershey Company

The underwriters to American International Group (AIG)

Liberty Mutual Group Inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

Finance > Capital markets: global offerings

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is a dominant force in global offerings, for both sovereign and corporate issuers. The firm represents a number of Latin American states in their capital markets offerings, along with other countries in Africa, Europe and Asia. It also advises a multitude of Latin American corporate issuers, along bulge-bracket investment banks. The firm houses a team of former regulators, making it especially adept at advising foreign issuers looking to tap the US capital markets. Sustainability linked offerings continue to be a forte for the department. Jeffrey Karpf has outstanding client relationships and has led a series of headline and immensely challenging deals over recent years. David Lopez is a leader in liability management, including for Latin America issuers. Mexico capital markets specialist Jorge Juantorena and Francesca Odell are also at the forefront of Latin America capital markets offerings. Adam Fleisher  and Duane McLaughlin are key partners too. All named individuals are based in New York.

Other key lawyers:

Jeffrey Karpf; David Lopez; Jorge Juantorena; Francesca Odell; Adam Fleisher; Duane McLaughlin

Key clients

Western Digital Corporation

Copel

The initial purchasers to GE HealthCare and the dealer managers to General Electric Company

The underwriters to Citigroup

The managers to Asian Development Bank

HCA Inc.

Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (México)

Ontario Teachers’ Finance Trust

Stripe

The underwriters to Corebridge Financial

The Lion Electric Company, Inc.

América Móvil S.A.B. de C.V.

CEMEX

Fomento Económico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA)

Initial purchasers to Grupo Traxión

Republic of Chile

Initial purchasers to the Republic of Costa Rica

Codelco (Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile)

Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex)

Dominican Republic

Republic of Uruguay

Republic of Guatemala

Finance > Financial services regulation Tier 1

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is noted for its expertise in advising both US and international banks, handling matters tied to restructuring, asset management and compliance with Bank Holding Company Act and Volcker Rule provisions, among others. The practice is also frequently sought out by clients facing regulatory and enforcement actions by the SEC and FINRA, and was active in supporting clients in the wake of the 2023 banking crisis, where it provided assistance with the FDIC resolution process. Washington DC-based practice head Derek Bush offers extensive expertise in Dodd-Frank regulations, bank restructuring and government investigations. In New York, Hugh Conroy focuses on structured finance and derivative transactions in addition to his work on Dodd-Frank, while Patrick Fuller, also in New York, handles bank licensing issues in addition to bank M&A. January 2023 saw the firm augment its broker-dealer specialization with the acquisition of James Burns and Brant Brown, both arriving in Washington DC from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

Practice head(s):

Derek Bush

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Miami International Holdings, Inc.

ING

BNP Paribas

Citigroup

Credit Suisse

Deutsche Bank

Goldman Sachs

Standard Chartered

Institute of International Bankers

American Express

Banco Estado

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (BBVA)

HSBC

Natixis

Mizuho Financial Group

Bank of America

Toronto Dominion Bank

PayPal, Inc

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Société Générale

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA)

Finance > Fintech

Geared to handle the full spectrum of corporate governance issues, the New York-based practice Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is particularly well-versed in cryptocurrency restructuring, economic sanctions, M&A, as well as SEC enforcement matters. Derek Bush splits his time between Washington DC and New York and often assists domestic and international banks as well as financial services providers on regulatory matters. Hugh Conroy is often engaged in issues surrounding the Federal Reserve payment system, while Brandon Hammer handles the application of bankruptcy rules, commercial law, and regulatory matters pertaining to digital assets. Julia Knight advises banking organizations on enforcement proceedings and internal investigations.

Practice head(s):

Derek Bush; Hugh Conroy; David Lopez

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

BITRIA, Inc

Coinbase Inc

GMO-Z.com

Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC

Paxos Trust Company

Polychain Capital, Inc

Brad Garlinghouse

Miami International Holdings, Inc

Warbler labs

BitGo

Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation

Wintermute

Societe Generale

Standard Chartered

Custodia Bank

Finance > Structured finance: derivatives and structured products Tier 1

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton assists a broad spectrum of clients, from corporate issuers and financial institutions to clearing house and exchanges, be they domestic or international. The firm provides regulatory and legislative analysis relating to derivatives as well as advice on structuring, documentary and tax-related matters. It is also well equipped to advise clients in the development of novel derivatives templates and market protocols. These include digital assets, voluntary carbon credits and sustainability-linked derivatives. Michael Dayan, ‘one of the top lawyers in his field’, is greatly experienced in OTC derivatives matters as well as regulatory and insolvency issues affecting derivative products. He heads the practice alongside Deborah North, who is experienced in traditional and esoteric derivative products, including digital assets, crypto and carbon credit derivatives. The ‘outstanding’ Clayton Simmons specializes in structuring, documentation, and regulatory work concerning OTC derivatives and securities-backed credit facilities as well as other structured products. Brandon Hammer is also noted for his work with major clients on regulatory and structuring work. All mentioned lawyers practice in New York.

Practice head(s):

Michael Dayan; Deborah North

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘I can’t think of another law firm that is on par with CGSH in terms of its breadth of knowledge and ability to structure complex equity capital markets solutions.’

‘Cleary Gottlieb (particularly Brandon Hammer and Clay Simmons) are an excellent partner and adviser. They have excellent cross-border capabilities and their bankruptcy and regulatory expertise is a unique combination that makes their advice holistic, thoughtful, commercial and practical. Few firms have similar capabilities and none provide that feedback alongside such excellent client service.’

‘Able to marry deep industry knowledge, practical business judgment, and keen legal intellect to give advice.’

‘The individuals at CGSH are extremely knowledgeable and practical. In particular, Michael Dayan is one of the top lawyers in his field and his advice carries weight in negotiations with his peers.’

‘Brandon Hammer has been the key to the relationship. He is prompt, thoughtful, responsive, and a growing expert and leader in the space.’

‘Their team extremely responsive and good to deal with.’

‘Clayton Simmons in particular is a pleasure to work with and is hugely helpful in picking up new points quickly and getting to the bottom of what was important to our client.’

‘Clayton Simmons and Elizabeth Hamilton are outstanding.’

Key clients

ARRC

Bank of America

Barclays

Blackstone

Citadel

Citigroup

Credit Suisse

Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)

Goldman Sachs

ISDA

KBR Inc.

Mantle Ridge

Miami Holdings

Morgan Stanley

Mubadala

RBC

SIFMA

SIFMA AMG

Standard Charter

Toronto Dominion

Walgreens

Wells Fargo

Zimmer Biomet

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

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, known for its experience in complex M&A and private equity investments, remains a premier choice for advice on employee benefits, executive compensation, corporate governance, and ERISA fiduciary matters. Michael Albano, leading the New York-based team, is particularly noted for his role in high-value M&A transactions, notably advising T-Mobile on its $1.35 billion acquisition of Ka’ena Corporation. Julia Petty offers expertise in M&A, spin-offs, and divestitures, with a focus on disclosure, governance, and shareholder outreach. Elizabeth Dyer specializes in the ERISA aspects of structured finance transactions and addresses ERISA-related concerns for private equity funds, hedge funds, and other financial instruments. The team’s depth and capabilities were further enhanced with the addition of Alan Levine in March 2023, formerly of Morrison Cohen LLP, who brings a wealth of experience in advising on compensation and benefits issues within the private equity and hedge fund sectors. Audry Casusol has left the firm.

Practice head(s):

Michael Albano

Other key lawyers:

Julia Petty; Elizabeth Dyer; Alan Levine; Laura Bagarella; Amanda Toy

Testimonials

‘Very high quality.’

Key clients

Artémis

FullBeauty Brands Inc.

Hahn & Company

Johnson Controls

MBK Partners and UCK PartnersInc.

Mitsui & Co.Ltd.

Open Text Corporation

Stripe Inc.

Summit Health-CityMD

Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA

Tempur Sealy International Inc.

Thales SA

T-Mobile

TPG

Vale S.A.

Warburg Pincus

KKR

Work highlights

  • Represented T-Mobile in its $1.35 billion acquisition of Ka’ena Corporation and its subsidiaries and brands Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile, and Plum.
  • Represented Tempur Sealy International in its acquisition of Mattress Firm Group Inc., valued at approximately $4 billion.
  • Represented Summit Health-CityMD in a cash and equity sale to VillageMD, valued at approximately $8.9 billion.

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

Fielding a ‘very knowledgeable set’ of experienced lawyers, the Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton practice chiefly applies its sector-specific expertise to cross-border M&A in the tech, media, and life sciences spheres and maintains a roster of leading domestic and international corporations. The team is capable of handling a broad array of transactions, including complex joint ventures and all-cash sale transactions, with its recent caseload notably including the representation of Vale S.A. in a $26bn strategic partnership with Manara Minerals. Kimberly Spoerri specializes in complex spin-offs and minority investments, and Kyle Harris stands out for his work on divestitures. The ‘strong and valued’ Paul Shim leverages extensive knowledge in the corporate field. Aaron Meyers primarily assists with private equity investments, while Kelsey Nussenfeld is also noted as key. In the Bay Area, Benet O’Reilly focuses on restructuring transactions, and Christopher Moore routinely handles transactions in the tech sector. All lawyers are New York-based unless otherwise mentioned. James Langston left the firm in May 2024, while Nickolas Bogdanovich left the firm in August 2024.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Characteristics/uniqueness: Natural and appreciated collaboration with and highly respected by other third-party advisors, strong support for management and board, including anticipatory thinking and planning; also challenged board and management as needed. Professionalism at all times and excellent communicators — no drama, cool under pressure. Efficiently and seamlessly tapped into specialty areas of expertise at the firm beyond the immediate team/mission, including governance, employment law, M&A, activist investors and activism, regulatory, as needed. Humble, authentic, smart, experienced, nimble; strong values and integrity.’

‘Paul Shim – strong and valued leader and advisor on a range of matters, including corporate and personnel issues that few ever encounter. Paul is a deep thinker who brings significant experience and expertise to all kinds of complex problems and solutions. He reached out to expertise at the firm when problems or opportunities required additional background or specialized advice and did so in a way that was easy and seamless for the client. Always prepared, always available, professional, and worked well with everyone. Trust his judgment completely.’

‘Cleary is a full-service law firm that is capable of handling the most complex of deals and has an immediate response to any and all requests always through with a very knowledgeable set of experienced and seasoned lawyers that get the job done.’

‘I would like to highlight Kimberly Spoerri, who has been fantastic to work with in an interdisciplinary, time-sensitive transaction’.

Key clients

Advent International Corporation

Ardea Partners

Barclays Investments

BofA Securities

CapitalG Investments

Fomento Económico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V.

FullBeauty Brands

Goldman Sachs

Groupe Artémis

OpenText

SAINT-GOBAIN

Summit Health-CityMD

Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA

Temasek Holdings Ltd

Tempur Sealy

Thales

T-Mobile US, Inc.

Vale

Warburg Pincus

Work highlights

  • Advised Vale S.A. in connection with Vale’s entry into a $26bn strategic partnership with Manara Minerals.
  • Represented Summit Health-CityMD, a Warburg Pincus portfolio company, in a cash and equity sale to VillageMD that is valued at approximately $8.9bn.
  • Advised Artémis on its agreement to acquire a majority stake in CAA, previously held by TPG, in a deal reported to be valued at $7bn.

Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 1

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton advises both lenders and borrowers on major loan originations. The practice is well-versed in commercial real estate finance and advises high-profile clients in their transactions, including representing investors, lenders, funds, sovereigns, developers, and operators in complex multi-state mortgage and mezzanine loan transactions. The New York-based team is jointly led by Steven Wilner, Daniel Reynolds, and Joseph Lanzkron. Reynolds centers his practice around domestic and international real estate transactions, advising both lenders and borrowers. His recent work has included representing clients in joint venture negotiations and he continues to represent Brookfield Real Estate Finance Partners as lender on major loans.  Lanzkron handles a wide range of real estate transactions and is particularly sought out for his expertise in real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and joint ventures. Michael Weinberger left the firm in June 2023, while Aron Zuckerman left the firm in 2024.

Practice head(s):

Steven Wilner; Daniel Reynolds; Joe Lanzkron

Key clients

Goldman Sachs

Brookfield

Corebridge Financial (f/k/a AIG Investments)

Banco Inbursa

KSL Capital Partners

Argent Ventures

AllianceBernstein

Standard Chartered Bank

KKR

Angelo Gordon

MSD Capital

KB Kookmin Bank

JPMorgan Chase

Tax > Financial products Tier 1

The tax practice at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton supports global powerhouse corporations, high-profile financial institutions and sovereign wealth funds with tax advice relating to a wide range of financial products as well as advising clients on the IRA’s renewable energy tax credits. The team has particular strengths in advising on the taxation of cryptocurrencies, private equity, derivatives, and hedge fund deals. The tax team, headed by New York-based Meyer Fedida , comprises of Jason Factor , who has extensive expertise in private equity and hedge funds, William McRae , who has extensive expertise in the taxation of equity derivatives and other financial products, and Diana Wollman whose practice focuses on tax controversy and complex transactions. Susanna Parker, who is also based in New York, is recognized for her knowledge of continuation funds, secondaries, and other structured fund investments. Based in the Bay Area, Maureen Linch, alongside her expertise on a wide range of transactional and structuring matters, has significant experience in the renewable energy space.

Practice head(s):

Meyer Fedida

Testimonials

‘Collaborative, always available, and focused on problem solving.’

‘Very collaborative and technically strong.’

‘Deep expertise, efficient work, great advice.’

Key clients

Stripe, Inc.

Alphabet

Warburg Pincus

Mubadala Investment Company PJSC

TPG

T-Mobile US, Inc

Vale S.A.

Genesis Global Holdco, LLC

Thales

Sixth Street

Viking Global Investors LP

Financière Pinault

Institute of International Bankers

Fomento Económico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA)

Tempur Sealy International Inc.

Advent International Corporation and Warburg Pincus

Tax > International tax Tier 1

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton advises multinational clients, financial institutions, investment funds, governments, and individuals on the full range of international tax matters including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, start-ups, and cross-border direct investments. Practice head Meyer Fedida regularly supports clients with the tax aspects of complex multijurisdictional M&A, private equity deals, as well as fund formation matters. Jason Factor focuses on domestic and international tax aspects related to private equity and hedge funds, partnership and joint venture arrangements, divestitures, private clients’ tax work, real estate, and financing transactions. William McRae has a special focus on taxation of non-US sovereign wealth funds as well as international tax planning for multinational corporate groups, among other specific tax issues. Leslie Samuels‘ practice covers all aspects of international and domestic taxation, including mergers and acquisitions, new financial products and foreign direct investment in the US. Diana Wollman has expertise in international tax controversy issues and complex M&A. Susanna Parker supports clients with tax issues relating to private equity and hedge funds whilst Maureen Linch, who is based in the Bay Area, focuses on advisory tax matters that affect both domestic and international businesses. All lawyers mentioned are in New York unless otherwise stated.

Practice head(s):

Meyer Fedida

Key clients

Stripe, Inc.

Alphabet

Warburg Pincus

Mubadala Investment Company PJSC

TPG

T-Mobile US, Inc

Vale S.A.

Genesis Global Holdco, LLC

Thales

Sixth Street

Viking Global Investors LP

Financière Pinault

Institute of International Bankers

Fomento Económico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA)

Tempur Sealy International Inc.

Advent International Corporation and Warburg Pincus

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 1

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s leading non-contentious tax team offers an integrated global service to multinational companies, financial institutions, investment funds, governments, and individuals, among other clients. The group regularly handles complex multibillion-dollar transactions, recently representing private financial services and SaaS company Stripe Inc. in relation to its $6.5 billion Series I preferred stock fundraise. Practice head Meyer Fedida has an excellent reputation for his expertise in private equity M&A and fund formation matters. Jason Factor‘s considerable experience encompasses M&A, fundraisings, private funds liquidity, and alternative transactions. William McRae advises private equity funds, real estate funds, and other investment vehicles, as well as several of the world’s leading sovereign wealth funds. Diana Wollman offers public and private sector expertise, while Susanna Parker, promoted to partner in January 2023, is particularly strong in matters involving private equity and hedge funds, continuation funds, secondaries, and other structured fund investments. Maureen Linch, based in the firm’s Bay Area office, has notable experience in the renewable energy space, advising on the new energy tax credits introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act. Senior Counsel James Peaslee has vast experience in finance tax matters, with particular expertise in securitization tax. All named lawyers are based in New York, unless otherwise noted.

Practice head(s):

Meyer Fedida

Testimonials

‘They understand the client, are technically strong, and focus on problem solving. They are always available and collaborative. Meyer Fedida and Jason Factor stand out.’

‘Extremely collaborative, clear and focused on problem solving.’

Key clients

Stripe, Inc.

Alphabet

Warburg Pincus

Mubadala Investment Company PJSC

TPG

T-Mobile US, Inc

Vale S.A.

Genesis Global Holdco, LLC

Thales

Sixth Street

Viking Global Investors LP

Financière Pinault

Institute of International Bankers

Fomento Económico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA)

Tempur Sealy International Inc.

Advent International Corporation and Warburg Pincus

Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense Tier 2

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton‘s securities and M&A litigation group has extensive experience thanks to partners that have served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and can handle large and complex matters including claims related to directors’ and officers’ fiduciary duties. Frequently acting for special committees, financial advisors, and acquirers in disputes, both in state and federal courts, the firm often appears in big cases in the Delaware Chancery Court. It has a strong bench of partners in New York, led by Roger Cooper who is acting for T-Mobile in class action and derivative litigation concerning alleged breach of their fiduciary duties in connection with the company’s merger with Sprint in 2020. Emerging partner talent Mark McDonald also plays a pivotal role in that case. Cooper also secured the dismissal of class action for Flavors & Fragrances Inc. and Frutarom Industries concerning their integration. Experienced trial lawyer Victor Hou and Rahul Mukhi, who works from both the New York and Silicon Valley offices and focuses on enforcement and regulatory matters, are also involved in significant deal-related cases.

Practice head(s):

Roger Cooper

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

National Amusements, Inc

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

T-Mobile USA

Empire Resorts

Juul Labs

Goldman Sachs

Work highlights

  • Advising National Amusements, Inc. and Shari Redstone in lawsuits in the Delaware Chancery Court challenging the fairness of the $30bn merger of CBS and Viacom in 2019.
  • Advising T-Mobile and certain of its officers and directors in a purported direct and derivative class action brought by a T-Mobile stockholder in the Delaware Chancery Court.
  • Advising Empire Resorts, certain former officers and directors of Empire and Empire’s acquirers in a putative class action brought by former stockholders of Empire in Delaware Chancery Court following the acquisition of Empire Resorts by its majority stockholder Kien Huat Realty III Limited, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with the merger.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has continued to make headway in representing technology clients in equity offerings; it advised Stripe on its Series 1 preferred stock raise of more than $6.5bn, representing the largest ever US equity private placement. It remains at the forefront of US equity offerings by international issuers, especially deals originating in Latin America. It is also noted for its SEC regulatory matters. The firm has worked on some of the largest IPOs of recent years along with a series of large at-the-market stock offerings. Jeffrey Karpf is a leading figure within the team, covering both equity and debt offerings. David Lopez, Craig Brod , Adam Fleisher and Francesca Odell are also key names in the team. Capital markets specialist Helena Grannis was promoted to the partnership in 2023, while Nicolas Grabar has retired. All named individuals are based in New York.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Highly knowledgeable and creatively thinking team that delivers strong value.’

‘Highly thoughtful, creative individuals who provide advice for the businessperson instead of advice that really isn’t actionable. Adam Fleisher especially comes to mind as my ‘go to’ person to call to get thoughtful answers to complex questions, where I can implement the advice.’

 

Key clients

Stripe

Fomento Económico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V.

The underwriters to Corebridge Financial

The underwriters to Citigroup Inc.

The dealer manager to White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd.

The underwriter in the New York Community Bancorp

Edison International

Eneva S.A.

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.

dMY Squared Technology Group Inc.

The Lion Electric Company, Inc.

América Móvil S.A.B. de C.V.

Sales agent to Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Sales agents to Edison International

Equity Residential

Dealer Manager to Spire Global

The ODP Corporation

Finance > Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has a significant presence in domestic and global high-yield debt offerings. Much of its debt offerings practice is driven by Latin American clients, including corporate and sovereign issuers. It has a solid record in high-yield offerings linked to leveraged financings, M&A, liability management and restructurings. The firm is also noted for ESG and sustainability-linked offerings. Duane McLaughlin has an established record in high-yield debt offerings, as does Adam Brenneman and Jorge Juantorena, who specializes in Latin America offerings. All named partners are based in New York.

Other key lawyers:

Duane McLaughlin; Adam Brenneman; Jorge Juantorena; Manuel Silva

Testimonials

‘Everyone at Cleary is very good at what they do. No matter who we work with, I can count on them being responsive, reliable, experienced. The entire team is amazing. I am yet to work with someone at CG who I don’t think the highest of.’

‘We find true partnership in CG. Jorge Juantorena and Manuel Silva are the most reliable professionals you can find. Their expertise and knowledge make them the best at what they do. ’

 

Key clients

Petroleos Mexicanos

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.

The initial purchasers to the Republic of Costa Rica

The initial purchaser to the Republic of Guatemala

The Republic of Guatemala

The dealers to BBVA México

The representatives of the underwriters to Southern California Edison Co. (SCE)

The initial purchasers to CEMEX

Edison International

Open Text Corporation

Dominican Republic

Pampa Energia S.A.

Sabre GLBL

Grupo Idesa, S.A. de C.V.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 2

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s debt finance team in New York is adept at handling acquisition finance, syndicated and directly placed leveraged loans, investment grade revolving and term loans and asset-based facilities. The team is jointly led by Duane McLaughlin and Meme Peponis . Areas of expertise for Peponis include debt financings such as, leveraged loans and high-yield bonds. McLaughlin regularly handles bank lending and capital markets, representing investment grade and leveraged borrowers. Amy Shapiro is also a key member of the team, assisting private equity firms and their portfolio companies on financing matters, as well as financial sponsors in fund and management company financings. The team welcomed Kate Grimm from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in June 2023.    

Practice head(s):

Duane McLaughlin; Margaret (Meme) Peponis

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Alphabet Inc.

Western Digital Corporation

Tempur Sealy International Inc.

HCA Healthcare Inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

Casey’s General Stores

Howmet Aerospace Inc.

Open Text Corporation

Belron

Artémis

Albany International Group

The Lenders to CEMEX

McCormick & Company

Voya Financial Inc.

Alcoa Corp.

Warburg Pincus

LATAM Airlines Group

Cushman & Wakefield

Sotera Health Company

Solesis

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 2

‘Global in its reach and effectiveness,’ Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton‘s New York-based bankruptcy and restructuring department handle complex bankruptcy cases, including advising clients worldwide on restructuring matters that cross legal and geographical borders. The firm represents both debtors and creditors in cross-border restructurings and insolvency proceedings across the US, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia for clients in a variety of industries including crypto, energy and retail. Richard Cooper has a focus on Latin America in restructuring involving companies and countries, while Lisa Schweitzer  has advised a range of parties including corporate debtors and individual creditors in domestic and cross-border bankruptcies. Sean O’Neal has a split practice between creditor and debtor work, both in and out of court, whereas David Botter joined the firm in 2023 from Akin and is experienced in multijurisdictional and cross-border matters for distressed companies and creditors. Luke Barefoot  is noted for his expertise in bankruptcy litigation and cross-border bankruptcy disputes.

Practice head(s):

Richard Cooper; Sean O’Neal; Lisa Schweitzer

Other key lawyers:

Luke Barefoot; David Botter

Testimonials

‘The team has been global in its reach and effectiveness. We have worked with them on restructuring not just in the US but in multiple non-US jurisdictions.’

‘We have worked most closely and successfully with David Botter who joined Cleary as a partner within the lasts year after having been a partner at Akin Gump. Our experience working with multiple partners and offices has been seamless.’

‘They have a stellar Latin American practice. they are lean and provide practical advice and know their subject matter well. they do not overbill like other law firms. they are also very diverse in their partners and associates.’

‘Working with the team is a pleasure. they become true friends and partners in the deal listening to your opinions and thoughts.’

‘They know deeply the market, the law and consciences of the most of the decisions. But much more than this, they work in team giving clients a personal and a unique service.’

Key clients

LATAM Airlines

Goldman Sachs

PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk

Samarco Mineração S.A.

Credit Suisse

BNP Paribas

Genesis Global Holdco, LLC

HSBC

Mubadala Investment Company

AMERRA Capital Management, LLC

Argent Capital

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Miami International Holdings Inc.

Brookfield

Apollo Capital Management

Work highlights

  • Represented LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and some of its affiliates in Chile, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, the Cayman Islands, and the United States, in the company’s successful exit from a first-of-its-kind cross-border debt restructuring before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
  • Representing Genesis Global Capital and certain of its affiliates, in their Chapter 11 restructuring proceeding involving over $5 billion in debt, and related corporate governance, litigation, regulatory, and investigative matters, including an investigation overseen by the Board’s Special Committee, as well as a robust sale process of debtor and non-debtors assets.
  • Represented an ad hoc group of bondholders of bonds issued by subsidiaries of Azul S.A. a Brazilian airline, in the out-of-court restructuring of approximately $1.5 billion of indebtedness and a new money raise of $800 million.

Finance > Structured finance: securitization Tier 2

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton advises investors, asset managers and underwriters in a broad suite of asset-backed securitizations, including on novel structures. The firm particularly focuses on CLO matters and is well-acquainted with compliance and regulatory issues surrounding risk-retention requirements. Michael Mazzuchi, who advises on CBOs, synthetic debt securities and CLOs on a domestic and international level, leads the team alongside Macey Levington, whose practice includes CLOs and securitizations of receivables. Within the team, John McGill advises asset managers and investment banks on a range of CLO matters. Amber Phillips is also noted for her work assisting in MBS transactions and asset-based lending arrangements. Nora McCloskey Sines, as an associate, assists arrangers, lenders and asset managers in transactional, regulatory and enforcement matters. All lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Practice head(s):

Michael Mazzuchi; Macey Levington

Key clients

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Santander

BMO

J.P. Morgan

Morgan Stanley

PNC

Mizuho Securities

Blue Owl

Goldman Sachs

Credit Suisse

Nomura

Silver Point Capital

CVC Capital Partners

Bank of America

Jefferies

StoneX

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 2

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton‘s varied case load includes the structuring and organizing of diverse private funds across credit, real estate, infrastructure and life sciences. The firm has a well-established client roster of private funds sponsors, investors and various family offices, and due to the global set up of the firm is frequently mandated on cross-border matters, including recently on Asia- and Europe-focused funds. Practice head and ‘standout’ practitioner Elizabeth Lenas has a proven track record with high profile fundraises, and assists some of the firms’ landmark clients, namely Sixth Street and Sequoia Capital. The majority of the team sits in the New York office alongside Lenas, with key names such as managing partner Michael Gerstenzang, who includes secondary transactions and co-investment arrangements as part of his funds advisory offering, private funds strategist Adrian Leipsic and Maurice Gindi strengthening the firms offering. Jamal Fulton works with buyout, growth and social impact private funds, while Kenneth Blazejewski co leads the firms’ private funds alternative and liquidity transactions practice.

Practice head(s):

Elizabeth Lenas

Testimonials

‘The people, and customer usability.’

‘They are sociable, knowledgeable, and most importantly commercial. Elizabeth Lenas is a standout partner.’

Key clients

TPG

Sixth Street

KKR

Brookfield Asset Management

Blackstone

Coller Capital

iCapital

Concrete Rose

Viking Global Investors

Flexstone Partners

Polychain Capital

Warbler Labs, Inc.

Ares Management

Sequoia Capital

Fifth Wall

J.P. Morgan

Cascade

M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 2

The ‘extremely responsive’ and ‘excellent’ team at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is equipped to service the needs of its high-profile listed clients, advising on ESG issues, stockholder engagement plans and proxy advisory firms, among other matters. The ‘formidable’ Francesca Odell is well-versed in a variety of topics, including complex ESG issues,  disclosure and compliance matters and shareholder activism, and Jeffrey Karpf‘s practice focuses on corporate and financial transactions and corporate governance matters. Both Helena Grannis and Lillian Tsu are well-placed to advise clients on ESG matters. All practitioners mentioned are based in New York. Jim Langston has left the firm.

Practice head(s):

Francesca Odell; Helena Grannis

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Team is pro-active. Informs client of changes in regulations.’

‘Partner Jeff Karpf and associate Natalia Rezai are very responsive and proactive and business-minded in their advice.’

‘The CGSH team is an excellent one, we’ve been working with them for several years in a wide variety of matters, they are always our benchamark of knowledge, responsivness, sophistication and commitment ’

‘We’d like to give a special recognition to Francesca Odell, the partner in charge of our account, Natalia Rezai, Synne Chapman and Belen Pironi.

‘They are all incredibly committed to our business and matters, they have a deep knowledge but at the same time sophistication, flexibility and can adapt very well to changing environments.’

‘The team is so focused on client service – they are extremely responsive and very attuned to the issues facing our company and our strategic priorities. They are able to use this to deliver excellent advice. They also have a personal touch that makes you feel as if you are their only client. ’

‘Francesca Odell is formidable – her combination of expertise and amazing bedside manner make her a pleasure to work with.

‘Helena Grannis is so adept at navigating technical SEC and accounting related issues and brings a fount of knowledge to the SEC reporting practice.’

Key clients

Albany International Corp.

American Express

American Tower Corporation

Annaly Capital Management

Amazon

API Group

Broadcom Inc.

The Clorox Company

Compass Minerals

Consolidated Edison Inc. (ConEd)

Cushman & Wakefield

Dentsply Sirona

Fox Corporation

GlobalFoundries

Google/Alphabet

The Hartford Financial Services Group

Henry Schein

Honeywell International, Inc.

Howmet Aerospace Inc.

HSBC USA

Inter & Co, Inc.

International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)

Jeld-Wen

Levi Strauss & Co.

LivaNova, PLC

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

McCormick & Company

MercadoLibre

The ODP Corporation

Petrobras

Pinterest

Polaris

Post Holdings, Inc.

Sabre

Sotera Health

Tronox

Tempur Sealy International

T-Mobile

TPG Inc.

Tyson Foods

Vale S.A.

Verizon Communications

Voya Financial

Walgreens

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

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s private equity practice is active across middle-market and bulge-bracket transactions, especially in the tech, aerospace, and healthcare sectors, and is noted for its ability to facilitate complexly structured club deals, cash-and-stock acquisitions, and cross-border transactions. The team regularly acts as counsel to Warburg Pincus and its portfolio companies in connection with impactful platform and add-on acquisitions as well as high-value exits, and it also advises a series of sovereign wealth funds and other asset managers on their cross-border investment activities. M&A and corporate governance expert David Leinwand leads the New York-based team, which is also home to ‘intelligent, efficient, thoughtful, and responsive‘ cross-border M&A specialist John Kupiec as well as Paul Shim, who maintains close relationships with an array of sovereign wealth clients. Further key contacts include Matthew Salerno, who leads on a large volume of high-value PE-backed investments, and Paul Imperatore, who handles both private equity and venture capital transactions.

Practice head(s):

David Leinwand

Testimonials

‘Cleary provides high-quality work, responsive service, and an understanding of market trends and developments. What we have found, in addition, is that the partners at Cleary are great business partners – they help us identify and think through issues, as well as come up with legal solutions to business problems. They don’t just defer to the client, but also actively help the client achieve the desired outcome.’

‘Paul Shim offers experience, business judgment, commercial understanding, technical knowledge, and responsiveness. Provides excellent legal and commercial advice. John Kupiec is intelligent, efficient, thoughtful, and responsive. Does a great job of guiding the client on what matters and options for resolving outstanding issues.’

Key clients

The Carlyle Group

Warburg Pincus

TPG Capital

Brookfield Asset Management

Sixth Street

Wafra, Inc

Viking Global Investors

Sequoia Capital

Temasek Holdings Ltd

Altaris Capital

Anchorage Capital

Cascade Asset Management Company

Duravant

Internet Brands

Summit Health CityMD

Allied Universal

GTCR

Paradigm

Advent International

Berkshire Partners

Work highlights

  • Advised Summit Health-CityMD, a Warburg Pincus portfolio company, in a cash and equity sale to VillageMD valued at approximately $8.9bn.
  • Advised Warburg Pincus and Advent International in their $4.25bn acquisition of BioPharma Solutions from its parent company Baxter.
  • Advised Warburg Pincus on the sale of Wencor Group from affiliates of Warburg Pincus and Wencor Group’s management to Heico Corporation for $2.05bn, comprising $1.9bn in cash and $150m in HEICO Class A common stock.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 3

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP maintains a client roster that encompasses high-end corporate clients, including major financial institutions and international companies which rely on the team's expertise in cases involving breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, and negligence issues, among others. Carmine Boccuzzi heads the team out of New York and is noted for his experience representing major investment banks and handling international disputes on behalf of foreign states and state-owned entities. Also in New York, Rishi Zutshi is a key point of contact for disputes involving complex financial issues as well as antitrust and shareholder derivative matters, while Lina Bensman continues to be involved in much of the firm’s high-stakes litigation work in addition to handling complex arbitrations and investigations.

Practice head(s):

Carmine Boccuzzi

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

The Republic of Argentina

Assured Guaranty

BHP Group

Tetra Laval International SA

BNP Paribas

Robert Bosch

Citibank

Commerzbank AG

Citibanamex

Credit Agricole

Goldman Sachs

HSBC

LATAM Airlines Group S.A.

Manbro Energy Corporation

Sysco Corporation

National Westminster Bank plc

Crédit Lyonnais, S.A.

National Amusements, Inc.

Two Sigma Securities

YPF, S.A.

Work highlights

  • Advised Robert Bosch GmbH and Robert Bosch LLC in connection with litigation around the country following Volkswagen’s admission that it employed Bosch engine control units to cheat on government emissions tests in diesel vehicles.
  • Advised LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and its affiliates in Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and the United States on the voluntary reorganization and restructuring of their debt under Chapter 11 protection in the United States.
  • Acted for Assured Guaranty in an action brought by Lehman Brothers International in New York state court, in which Lehman originally sought $1.4bn based on allegations that Assured improperly calculated the settlement amount upon termination of numerous credit default swaps subject to an ISDA Master Agreement, and Assured asserted counterclaims for breach of contract.

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 3

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s international arbitration practice draws on ‘an outstanding mixture of seasoned professionals and hard-working staff’, according to sources. Split between New York and Washington DC, the US group additionally plugs into the firm’s extensive global network to represent clients worldwide on commercial and investor-state cases, with a notable emphasis on Latin America. The department is co-led from New York by Ari MacKinnon, who focuses on Latin America-related disputes; he is representing Pluspetrol Resources Corporation in a Spanish-language ICC arbitration initiated by Peruvian state-owned oil company, Perupetro. Department co-chair Jeffrey Rosenthal, also in New York, maintains a broad dispute resolution practice that spans a range of judicial and arbitral matters, with recent activity in post-merger disputes, treaty cases, joint venture disputes and securities issues, among others.

Practice head(s):

Ari MacKinnon; Jeffrey Rosenthal

Other key lawyers:

Mark McDonald; Jonathan Blackman; Katie Gonzalez; Boaz Morag

Testimonials

‘The team is an outstanding mixture of seasoned professionals and hard-working staff, who put forward a deep analysis of the matters. There is coordination around all aspects of the service.’

‘The individuals are highly involved in the matters and have -each of them- developed their own specific knowledge, which makes the overall mixture a very balanced one, between technical knowledge, analysis, and knowledge of the area of practice.’

‘Lawyers are smart, detailed and business-friendly, particularly Ari MacKinnon and Boaz Morag.’

Key clients

Sysco Corporation

Pluspetrol Perú Corp

Pluspetrol Resources Corp

Tecpetrol Bloque 56

Sonatrach Peru Corporation

The Republic of Argentina

The Resource Group

The Republic of Iraq

Telecom Italia

Work highlights

  • Representing Sysco in an LCIA arbitration and multiple related federal court litigations against affiliates of Burford Capital.
  • Acting for Pluspetrol Resources Corporation in a Spanish-language ICC arbitration concerning the allegedly wrongful termination of a license contract for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in Peru.
  • Representing the Republic of Argentina in multiple lawsuits and defending its interests across various US jurisdictions.

Energy > Energy transactions: electric power Tier 3

Complex, cross border mandates form the cornerstone of the energy transactions offering at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, engaging with marquee projects and advising multinational energy players across South America, Australia, Europe and Asia. Domestically, the group demonstrates impressive capital markets expertise, working with a stellar roster of underwriters, energy producers and industrial manufacturers on substantial transactions that include first-of-its-kind global green bond issuances for clients. Richard Cooper and Jeffrey Lewis co-lead the practice, with the duo possessing vast experience in cross-border restructurings and financings between them. Chantal Kordula advises global investment funds and international energy producers on asset purchases and key financings for a wide array of projects, whereas Adam Brenneman is a crucial port-of-call for capital markets expertise in the group. All individuals are based in New York.

Practice head(s):

Rich Cooper; Jeffrey Lewis

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

The Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority

Warburg Pincus and portfolio companies

Brookfield Global Transition Fund

Edison Co.

Comisión Federal de Electricidad

Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 3

A wide number of investors, developers, and oil and water companies routinely turn to New York-based Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton for its team’s expertise in the oil and gas transactions space. In addition to handling complex mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and project financing matters, the team is also actively involved in exploration and production, pipeline and LNG projects. Financing transactions expert Jeffrey Lewis leads the practice together with Richard Cooper, who is known for his experience in domestic and international project finance and restructuring of distressed companies in the infrastructure sector, while Chantal Kordula notably focuses on project finance and PPP transactions, areas in which Adam Brenneman is also well versed.

Practice head(s):

Richard Cooper; Jeffrey Lewis

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Cleary Gottlieb Steen Hamilton offers prime legal services, with a focus on results.’

‘Jeff Lewis and Chantal Kordula are exceptional professionals with a solid legal background and superb negotiation skills.’

Key clients

Chemours Company

Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders of Ocyan SA

Seacrest Petróleo Bermuda Limited

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras)

Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX)

Credit Suisse

Bladex

First Citizens Bank of Trinidad and Tobago

Grupo IDESA S.A. de C.V.

Finance > Project finance Tier 3

Intellectual property > Patents: licensing Tier 3

The intellectual property team at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP handles large domestic and cross-border technology transactions and includes practitioners with expertise in working with software and software-related companies across the country. The team also regularly assists clients with data protection and other technology-related issues arise in the course of their transactional activities. The ‘extremely thorough and intelligentDaniel Ilan oversees the department in New York and has experience advising multinational corporations and private equity firms on IP, technology, cybersecurity, and privacy matters. With extensive experience in high-profile technology transactions, Marcela Robledo spearheads the practice in the Bay Area. In New York, Brendan Cohen and Melissa Faragasso are further members of the team.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Ilan

Testimonials

‘Daniel Ilan is extremely thorough and intelligent.’

Key clients

Advent International Corporation

American Tower

Applied Materials

Atlassian Pty Ltd

Johnson Controls, Inc

Miami International Holdings

OpenText

Palantir

Synopsys, Inc

Tempur Sealy International

Thales

T-Mobile

Voya Financial

Warburg Pincus

Western Digital

Work highlights

  • Represented OpenText in several matters, including in its recommended offer to acquire the entire share capital of Micro Focus for approximately $6bn.
  • Advised Western Digital on several matters, including in amendments to its existing term loan and revolving loan agreement and delayed draw term loan agreement valued at $5bn.
  • Advised Thales SA on several matters, including its acquisition of Imperva Inc. from Thoma Bravo for $3.6bn.

International trade and national security > CFIUS Tier 3

Noted for its ‘deep experience dealing with CFIUS’, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s CFIUS offering sits within the broader global foreign direct investment practice. With experience across the full spread of related national security issues, the group guides clients through an array of filings and regulatory compliance matters, through to second-state investigations and the negotiation of mitigation agreements with CFIUS, the DCSA and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). Up-and-coming partner Chase Kaniecki specializes in advising on international trade and national security issues, including CFIUS reviews; he is representing Best Assistant Education Online, a subsidiary of China’s NetDragon Websoft Holdings, on CFIUS matters connected to its planned merger with Gravitas Education Holdings. The Washington DC-based group also includes associates Samuel Chang and William Dawley. Associate Pete Young has left the firm.

Practice head(s):

Chase Kaniecki

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Very responsive, knowledgeable and pragmatic.’

‘The CFIUS team has deep experience dealing with CFIUS under different types of transactions.’

‘Chase Kaniecki is very professional and has good relationships with individuals within the CFIUS agencies. William Dawley is also very professional.’

Key clients

Open Text Corporation

American Tower Corporation

Langan Engineering

Vale

Latour Capital

ENGIE

Hanwha

Solvay

Best Assistance Education Online

Advent

M&A/corporate and commercial > Shareholder activism Tier 3

National and international companies across various industries find Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton a reliable choice of counsel when responding to shareholder activists and proxy contests. Activism preparedness advice has been a key area of focus, particularly since the start of the Covid pandemic, and the team assists with a variety of governance change demands. James Langston spearheads the shareholder activism group, with considerable experience in multiple high-profile takeover defense matters. Francesca Odell, head of the corporate advisory practice, is a further senior figure to note. More junior partner Kyle Harris is gaining experience acting for prominent clients from a breadth of industries facing hostile situations. All named lawyers are based in New York.

Practice head(s):

James Langston; Francesca Odell

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Solvay

Assured Guaranty

GeoPark: Limited

JELD-WEN Holding

LivaNova

Work highlights

  • Provided Assured Guaranty with governance and activism preparedness advice in response to a short-sale activism by David Einhorn’s Greenlight Capital.
  • Representing GeoPark in addressing Gerald O’Shaughnessy’s challenge for the removal of incumbent members of the board of directors.
  • Advising JELD-WEN Holding on various enhancements to its existing governance profile.

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 3

Characterised by a combination of ‘intellectual rigor‘ and ‘deep caring‘, the cybersecurity and privacy team at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton handles a range of matters including incident response, data breach litigation, enforcement and compliance. Team head Daniel Ilan is praised by clients as ‘fully up to speed on new developments’, bringing his expertise particularly to issues arising in transactional contexts. Cyber-related compliance and anti-corruption matters are handled by Jonathan Kolodner, who is noted for his experience as a government official. Rahul Mukhi is also a go-to in this area, with experience regarding complex ransomware attacks. Marcela Robledo advises at the intersection of data privacy and intellectual property issues, often in significant technology transactions. All named team members are based in New York.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Ilan

Testimonials

‘Daniel Ilan has deep knowledge of all aspects of IP law and makes a point of being in the mix and fully up to speed on new developments, including the challenges, uncertainties and puzzles created by technological evolution and displacement. The team he brings to the table is hard working and precise.’

‘What makes Cleary lawyers in general, and Daniel Ilan in particular, is the intellectual rigor and the deep caring they bring to the work – they don’t leave a stone unturned.’

Key clients

American Express

Fimalac

FullBeauty Brands

Giorgio Armani Corporation

Goldman Sachs

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

NFL Players Association Trust

Olympus Technologies Inc.

Tempur Sealy International, Inc.

T-Mobile

Thales

Work highlights

  • Representing Olympus Technologies Inc in all privacy and data security issues associated with the technology and design of its innovative generative AI offerings.
  • Represented Tempur Sealy in its acquisition of Mattress Firm, the nation’s largest mattress specialty retailer, in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately US$4billion.
  • Representing T-Mobile in its pending up to US$1.35 billion acquisition of Mint Mobile (as part of Ka’ena and its subsidiaries and brands).

Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions Tier 3

The team at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton continues to advise international tech corporations on various cross-border and high-value M&A tech transactions. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the group regularly liaises with its data privacy and cybersecurity task forces to advise on transactions involving digital platforms, digital assets, and cloud assets. New York-based Glenn McGrory heads the practice and is skilled at handling cross-border deals for fintech companies. Also in New York is Daniel Ilan, who is well-equipped to cover IP and data transactions. In San Francisco, Marcela Robledo fields considerable expertise in data privacy and cybersecurity matters, while Christopher Moore frequently assists tech clients with high-profile private and public M&A.

Practice head(s):

Glenn McGrory

Testimonials

‘The firm is reliable, excellent, and provides a high quality of advice and work.’ 

‘Amongst peer firms, their associates seem particularly well-trained and on top of matters. They really take ownership of their work, which allows partners more freedom to provide higher level advice while keeping the client up to date on matters.’

‘We would recommend Glenn McGrory.’

Key clients

Advent International Corporation

Applied Materials

Atlassian Pty Ltd

CapitalG Investments

Fimalac

Johnson Controls, Inc

Miami International Holdings

OpenText

Olympus Technologies Inc

Palantir

Stripe

Synopsys, Inc

Thales

T-Mobile

Voya Financial

Warburg Pincus

Western Digital

Work highlights

  • Represented OpenText in several matters, including in its recommended offer to acquire the entire share capital of Micro Focus, valued at approximately $6bn.
  • Advised Western Digital on several matters, including amendments to its existing term loan and revolving loan agreement and delayed draw term loan agreement, valued at $5bn.
  • Advised Thales SA on several matters, including in its acquisition of Imperva Inc. from Thoma Bravo, valued at $3.6bn.

International trade and national security > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions Tier 4

An increasingly prominent name in the national security space. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton houses a dynamic export controls and economic sanctions practice that is ‘capable of solving extremely challenging issues in a very efficient way’. The Washington DC-based group is well versed across the full life cycle of matters, from compliance and license applications, through to investigations and enforcement proceedings. Department head Chase Kanieckiproposes practical and achievable legal paths’ and is a specialist in national security matters, including export controls, sanctions and CFIUS-related work—he also advises on customs law. Talented associate Samuel Chang provides support.

Practice head(s):

Chase Kaniecki

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is a very reliable and super professional partner that is capable of solving extremely challenging issues in a very efficient way.’

‘Chase Kaniecki was able to provide us with exceptionally useful advice on our very sensitive and challenging case, his expertise in the area of economic sanctions, investment, international trade and export regulations is absolutely outstanding and we would strongly recommend his consulting services.’

‘The Cleary team stands out for the proactivity of its lawyers, for its business-oriented approach and for its clear analyses and simple and practical recommendations.’

‘Chase Kaniecki is very approachable, understands the complexities of the business and proposes practical and achievable legal paths. Very flexible also when designing legal risk assessment projects.’

‘Samuel Chang is a great young lawyer. Great analytical skills and quick answers, always providing accurate advice.’

‘The team is very attentive to the requests and needs of the company and very fast; activity is tailored on the needs of the company and it provides very complete advice.’

Key clients

Ocyan

Nayara Energy

European Investment Bank

Cooper Machinery Services

IZIT

Luberef

ARAUCO

Suzano

Real estate Tier 4

The real estate team at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton’s has a strong track record in transactions, joint venture arrangements, and financings, providing assistance to a number of large foreign and institutional investors, particularly on the borrower and operator sides. Over the last year, the firm has also seen a number of distressed assets and restructuring mandates, accompanied with an uptick in mandates relating to marinas and multi-family residential. The practice is led by co-heads Steven Wilner, who regularly represents wealth funds and asset management companies on a range of investments, and Joseph Lanzkron, noted for his transaction and restructuring work. Co-heads Aron Zuckerman and Daniel Reynolds are also key contacts on domestic and international complex transactions and financings. Each of the heads are based in New York.

Practice head(s):

Steven Wilner; Daniel Reynolds; Joe Lanzkron; Aron Zuckerman

Key clients

Brookfield

Wafra

Argent Ventures

Island Capital Group

Madison Capital

Island Global Yachting

Monarch Alternative Capital

Angelo Gordon

Firm overview: Cleary Gottlieb is a pioneer in globalizing the legal profession. Since 1946, the firm’s lawyers and staff have worked across practices, industries, jurisdictions and continents to provide clients with simple, actionable approaches to their most complex legal and business challenges. The firm has 16 offices in major financial centers around the world. However, Cleary operates as a single, integrated global partnership, not a US firm with a network of overseas locations. The firm is fluent in the many languages of local and global business, and Cleary’s consistent success in multiple jurisdictions earned Cleary Chambers and Partners’ inaugural “International Law Firm of the Year” award.

The firm employs approximately 1,100 lawyers from more than 50 countries and diverse backgrounds who are admitted to practice in numerous jurisdictions. Cleary was among the first international law firms to hire and promote non-US lawyers as equal partners around the world. The firm’s international approach has, from the beginning, included a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion that is central to Cleary’s founding principles and ongoing identity. Cleary believes its lawyers benefit from interacting with the creativity, talents and perspectives contributed by people of different backgrounds and experiences, and that its efforts to nurture diversity enable it to more effectively serve a broader range of clients.

Cleary offers clients robust experience in more than 70 practice areas. All of Cleary’s clients enjoy access to the full resources of its offices and lawyers worldwide, and many of the firm’s attorneys have served in one or more of its offices.

Main practice areas
Corporate:
Cleary advises clients on a host of transactional matters that protect and advance their strategic goals. Its lawyers have crafted solutions resulting in a number of first-of-its-kind deals, as well as some of the largest, most complex transactions involving cross-border issues. Among other transactional areas, Cleary provides experience in mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; capital markets, derivatives, structured finance, leveraged and acquisition finance; private equity transactions, private fund formation, privatizations, project finance, banking, bankruptcy and restructuring, real estate, energy, financial technology, infrastructure, sovereign governments, sustainability, global crisis management, international trade and more. Additionally, the team has robust knowledge of the myriad corporate governance, intellectual property and related issues that companies and their boards face.

Dispute resolution: With the increasingly global nature of disputes, Cleary is well positioned to help navigate clients through their most challenging adversarial issues. Firm engagements frequently involve complex legal issues that require novel solutions and cross-border coordination of the firm’s varied resources, allowing Cleary to pair its renowned corporate, regulatory and financial experience with its litigation prowess. Cleary handles litigation and arbitration involving a wide variety of issues, including securities, M&A, shareholder derivative claims, general commercial disputes, intellectual property, antitrust, bankruptcy, white-collar crime, anti-corruption, sovereign debt, investment treaties and public international law.

Regulatory: The global regulatory landscape is ever-changing, and Cleary lawyers continue to draw upon a breadth of experience to proactively advise clients on emerging issues, as well as respond to increasing regulatory scrutiny related to transactions or in connection with potential risks that can lead to litigation or enforcement action. The firm has significant experience in such areas as antitrust, issues unique to financial institutions, cybersecurity and privacy, environmental law, foreign direct investment and sanctions, tax, and compliance. In Europe, lawyers include former officials of the European Court of Justice, the General Court and the European Commission. The U.S. team includes former senior officials of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Offices
USA
New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Washington, DC

Europe and The Middle East
Abu Dhabi, Brussels, Cologne, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Paris, Rome

Asia Pacific
Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul

Latin America
São Paulo

Firm details
Managing partner:
 Michael Gerstenzang
Number of partners worldwide: 173
Number of lawyers worldwide: Approximately 1,100
Languages: Multilingual; the firm’s lawyers speak more than 50 different languages

Photo Name Position Profile
Nicolas Grabar photo Nicolas Grabar Nicolas Grabar’s practice focuses on international capital markets and securities regulation and…
Jorge Juantorena photo Mr Jorge Juantorena Jorge U. Juantorena’s practice focuses on international capital markets and securities regulation.…
Chantal Kordula photo Ms Chantal Kordula Chantal is a partner at Cleary Gottlieb. Fluent in Spanish, French, and…
Jeffrey Lewis photo Mr Jeffrey Lewis Advises private and public sector clients in connection with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures,…
Ari MacKinnon photo Ari MacKinnon Ari D. MacKinnon’s practice focuses on international arbitration in Latin America, with…
Heather Nyong’o photo Ms Heather Nyong’o Heather Nyong’o focuses her practice on antitrust enforcement, including governmental and criminal…
Manuel Silva photo Manuel Silva Manuel’s practice focuses on cross-border transactions, principally in Latin America. He regularly…
Lisa Vicens photo Lisa Vicens Lisa Vicens’ practice focuses on governmental and internal investigations, white collar defense,…