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Steptoe LLP

Steptoe LLP

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United States • Dispute resolution

2

International litigation

Steptoe LLP boasts a strong international litigation practice, with particular strength in cross-border judgment enforcement and the coordination of international litigation, routinely acting for sovereign states, multinational corporations and high-profile individuals, including in energy-related disputes. Steering the team in Washington DC is Steven Davidson who retains a strong reputation in cross-border commercial litigation, with particular strength in judgment and award enforcement and multi-forum disputes. Handling the full-lifecycle of commercial disputes is Washington DC-based Michael Baratz, who is highly active across federal and state courts. Based in New York, Michael Miller has vast experience in white-collar criminal defense and government investigations. Also in New York, Nate Kritzer specializes in investment-related litigation, including securities and shareholder disputes, class actions and cross-border enforcement matters. Mariana Pendás has joined the firm.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: NPS ®

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘What makes Steptoe’s practice unique is its strong combination of technical rigour in complex cross‑border matters and a highly pragmatic, creditor‑focused approach. The team excels at distilling difficult multi‑jurisdictional issues—particularly in U.S. insolvency, regulatory interfaces, and international enforcement—into clear, actionable advice. Compared to other firms, Steptoe stands out for providing highly tailored guidance rather than generic insolvency analysis. The team is lean, efficient, and focused on material issues, which is especially useful for in‑house teams navigating tight timelines and complex stakeholder environments. In short, Steptoe offers a mix of technical excellence, responsiveness, and commercially oriented judgment that positions the practice as a strong advisor for sophisticated cross‑border restructuring matters.’

  • ‘This practice excels in decade-long IP litigation for our startup against one giant, thanks to sharp issue-spotting, commercial focus, and responsive teams. Crucially, they ensure accessibility of premium services to our startup despite their high cost.'

  • ‘Boyd Cloern stands out for pinpointing key issues, leading complex matters with precision, and sustaining underdog litigation—valuing his focus, accessibility, and strategic insight over nearly 10 years. Our dispute requires careful management of multiple, interrelated complexities; seeing him lead his team through those challenges with precision and assurance has been impressive. His excellent team—Leah Quadrino, Joe Ecker, and Scott Richey—perfectly complements him, with each being exceptional in their own right.’

Key clients

  • ExxonMobil Corp
  • Korean Electric Power Co
  • Hytera Communications Corp
  • Coda Development
  • Credit Suisse (now UBS)
  • WestRock Company
  • The von Pezold family
  • Amaplat Mauritius Limited; Amari Nickel Holdings Zimbabwe Limited
  • Gramercy
  • Brooklyn Amity School
  • TAP Airportugal
  • Elsevier

Work highlights

Represented ExxonMobil in litigation against two Cuban state-owned entities in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, asserting claims under the Helms-Burton Act for unlawful trafficking in expropriated property and seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for assets seized after the Cuban revolution.
Defended these clients from the Republic of Korea in litigation claims brought by an electric company in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia alleging the potential violation of US nuclear technology export controls and seeking an injunction to stop our clients from undertaking business opportunities in various jurisdictions.
Defends Hytera against Motorola's claims of trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement in the Northern District of Illinois.
Practice head

Steven Davidson

Other key lawyers

Michael Baratz; Michael Miller; Nate Kritzer; Leah Quadrino; Boyd Cloern; Joe Ecker; Scott Richey; Mariana Pendás

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