Seward & Kissel LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Seward & Kissel LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 2

Seward & Kissel LLP has established a good reputation for middle-market negotiated M&A in a range of sectors, and increasingly handles international deals involving buy-side private equity firms. The New York-based team, which is praised for being ‘incredibly attentive and well-versed in M&A‘, is under the joint leadership of James Abbott, whose areas of expertise cover cross-border deals, joint ventures and private equity investments in the media and shipping sectors, and Craig A Sklar, a key contact for investment management industry work. The highly regarded Nick Katsanos offers ‘commercial practical solutions‘ in the context of M&A, private equity and joint venture transactions in the media, broker-dealer, veterinary and shipping spaces. Counsel Danielle Lemberg takes on a leading role in a variety of corporate transactions, including M&A, private and venture capital deals.

Transport > Shipping: finance Tier 2

Fielding ‘very responsive and diligent advisers‘, Seward & Kissel LLP‘s New York-based maritime practice advises major public and private maritime companies and financial institutions on banking, finance and capital markets work. The department’s corporate and transactional expertise covers initial structuring, formation and seed financing, along with capital raising transactions in the US and overseas. Clients additionally benefit from the team’s specialisms in M&A, private equity, tax, litigation and regulatory issues, and restructuring and insolvency mandates. Heading up the firm’s maritime and transportation finance group, Mike Timpone is highly focused on the representation of US and non-US banks and other institutional lenders in secured loans and other financing deals, in addition to acting for shipowners as borrowers in such transactions. Also integral to the group are Keith Billotti, whose practice involves advising domestic and foreign maritime industry clients on corporate and US securities law, and corporate securities law expert Edward Horton. Additional key partner Hoyoon Nam advises on complex financings, while counsel Kurt Plankl and senior associate Sophia Agathis are also active team members.

Transport > Shipping: litigation and regulation Tier 2

Fielding a ‘great team with fantastic experience in shipping‘, Seward & Kissel LLP‘s US maritime litigation practice represents major publicly-held and private shipping companies, as well as shipping banks, owners and private equity companies. Acting in litigation, arbitration proceedings and investigations, the firm’s expertise covers disputes arising from shipping financings, securities work and governance issues, along with vessel operations. The team particularly specializes in the coordination of concurrent multi-jurisdictional matters. Co-chair of the firm’s litigation group Bruce G Paulsen handles finance and securities-related disputes in the shipping industry, as well as traditional maritime disputes, lien claims and environmental matters; Paulsen also has substantial expertise in international trade sanctions. Fellow litigation department co-chair Michael G Considine also co-leads the firm’s government enforcement and internal investigations practice. At counsel level, the recent experience of commercial disputes and regulatory investigations specialist Brian Maloney includes successfully defending a vessel owner against corporate veil piercing claims, while associate Laura Miller predominantly focuses on maritime and commercial litigation, government investigations and regulatory inquiries. All attorneys mentioned are based in the firm’s New York office.

Investment fund formation and management > Alternative/hedge funds Tier 3

The New York office of Seward & Kissel LLP impresses clients with its ‘expertise across fund structuring, regulation and commercial logic for US onshore and offshore funds‘ and has long-standing experience in this area. Hedge fund managers at every level, from emerging new players to some of the highest regarded firms in the market look to the firm for counsel and work with the investment funds team, as well as related practice areas, including tax, labor and compliance. The deep bench includes Christopher Riccardi and Joseph Morrissey among its most experienced regular lead lawyers, with Dan Bresler and Nicholas Miller further contacts to note.

Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds Tier 3

Clients appreciate the ‘deep and unique expertise‘ of the team at Seward & Kissel LLP that advises on the full spectrum of matters for all types of registered fund, and is especially well known for its strength in bank mutual fund activities. The firm represents a variety of asset management organizations, including some of the largest mutual fund complexes in the US and internationally. Practice head Paul Miller ‘has developed a culture inside the firm that embodies a client focused approach coupled with actually solving business problems‘. His practice focuses on registered investment companies and registered investment advisers, and he has extensive experience on matters affecting registered funds and ETFs, including their formation, their registration with the SEC, and their service provider arrangements. Robert Kurucza and counsels Alexandra Alberstadt and Lancelot King are further key contacts. All named lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense Tier 5

Seward & Kissel LLP routinely counsels clients on a spectrum of compliance mandates, often assisting corporate and individual clients on the full array of governmental investigations, parallel litigations and regulatory enforcement matters. The department has also represented investment advisers and funds public companies, and their officers and directors, with an assortment of state investigations. Jaimie Nawaday joined the team in May 2022 and conducts internal investigations for companies, and advises clients on asset forfeiture, Bank Secrecy Act and False Claims Act issues; she co-leads the team alongside Michael Considine, while Jack Yoskowitz  routinely assists individual and institutions in the financial sector with commercial and corporate litigation and regulatory matters. Michael Watling acted as a prosecutor and financial regulator for over 15 years, and has led numerous white-collar investigations; he arrived at the firm with Russell Johnston from King & Spalding LLP in November 2022. Bruce Paulsen is also a name to note.  All names mentioned are located in New York.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 5

New York firm Seward & Kissel LLP acts for domestic and foreign private issuers, investment advisers, investment funds, prime brokers, underwriters, financial institutions and private investors in a broad range of work that encompasses class actions, derivative claims, market manipulation cases and short swing profit matters. The firm has significant presence in the financial services and public shipping sectors, counting United Overseas Bank and US Bank National Association among its clients. Michael G Considine, who is advising United Overseas Bank on a putative class action concerning alleged manipulation of the Singapore Interbank Offered Rate and Singapore Swap Offer Rate, and Bruce G Paulsen are the lead partners. Jack Yoskowitz plays an increasingly prominent role in the practice and is currently acting for Tocqueville Management Corporation, its founder and minority shareholder asserts claims of breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment.

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

Seward & Kissel LLP has great experience in representing clients in private equity fund matters, staying across the spectrum of legal and regulatory requirements applicable to funds, as well as to investment advisers, an increasingly in-demand area as the SEC roll out new guidelines. A further recent growth area for the firm’s broader funds practice has been in advising fund sponsors seeking to raise capital for public/private funds, thereby combining the strengths of the private equity practitioners and experts in hedge and alternative funds. Joseph Morrissey‘s clients include some of the most recognizable private equity firms, along with market fund sponsors. Christopher Riccardi draws on extensive experience in the broader investment funds market, and a further key name to note is private equity and private debt expert Kevin Neubauer. Debra Franzese has rapidly become a go-to figure in the market for a host of the firm’s high-profile funds, while at the associate level, Noelle Indelicato supports across the range of matter types. All named lawyers are based in New York.

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation

International Trade > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions