Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is a litigation-focused firm with a strong trial bench. The team represents asset managers, activist investors, private equity firms, and public companies across a range of M&A dispute matters. Spearheading the team from New York are Andrew Rossman, who handles several busted-deal cases, and Michael Carlinsky, who has experience representing companies in South America in litigation matters and internal investigations. They are joined by Brian Timmons, who is based in Los Angeles and handles the national litigation practice, and Michael Barlow, who specializes in fiduciary litigation and corporate governance. Michael Swartz joined the team in March 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Michael Swartz is a very good litigator for shareholder activists in the industry.'
- 'Michael Swartz's expertise is great. He is an incredibly hardworking and great lawyer.'
Key clients
- Politan Capital Management, LP (Masimo Corporation)
- Desktop Metal
- KKR & Co. Inc., Fan Investor Limited, and Fan Investors L.P.
- Elliott Investment Management
- Steamfitters Local 449 Pension Plan, on behalf of a certified class of former Class V common stockholders of Dell Technologies, Inc.
- Ingersoll Rand
- HG Vora Capital Management, LLC
- Sculptor Capital Management
- Shareholder Representative Services LLC (Alexion)
- Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal LTD
- Shandong Xinchao Energy Corporation Limited
- Zhejiang Benbao Investment Co Ltd
Work highlights
Secured an expedited Delaware Court of Chancery trial victory ordering specific performance of a merger agreement, preserving deal certainty in a high-stakes busted-deal dispute.
Defeated Masimo’s Section 14(a) injunction bid, enabling shareholders to remove the founder and install an independent board in a major 2024 proxy fight.
Represented Elliott Investment Management in precedent-setting cooperation agreement litigation with Crown Castle, addressing post-Moelis enforceability standards for activist agreements.
Practice head
Andrew Rossman; Michael Carlinsky
Other key lawyers
Brian Timmons; Michael Barlow