Being a preeminent player in the US and international capital markets, and a primary choice for issuers, sponsors, and managers, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton fields a ‘lean but very effective’ outfit, specializing in handling complex secondary public offers and high-value IPOs. The team is well versed in overseeing strategic partnerships, share repurchases on behalf of issuers, and multi-jurisdictional acquisitions, while predominantly focusing on the financial services and tech spheres. With the whole team based in New York, Jeff Karpf has extensive expertise in representing investment banks in private equity and liability management transactions, David Lopez is a corporate governance and capital markets expert, while Craig Brod is knowledgeable in private debt and equity financings. Adam Fleisher concentrates on complex private placements, and both Francesca Odell and Helena Grannis stand out for their work in complex issuances and shareholder proposals. Ilir Mujalovic and Harald Halbhuber joined the New York team in February 2026, from A&O Shearman.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team is lean but very effective. They have great juniors whose hourly rates are not as high, but they also have good senior associates who know how to run deals and partners that are available but only get involved when needed.’
‘Elizabeth Chang and Emily Arndt are amazing women finance attorneys: both full of knowledge but willing to be practical and business friendly. They are smart, accurate and fast. They are always on the ball and seem to anticipate questions and needs.’
Key clients
- Corebridge Financial, Inc.
- Citigroup Inc.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
David Lopez
Ilir Mujalovic
Other key lawyers
Jeff Karpf; David Lopez; Craig Brod; Adam Fleisher; Francesca Odell; Helena Grannis; Lillian Tsu; Ilir Mujalovic; Harald Halbhuber