Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP‘s knowledge of financial regulations and their developments, including the implementation of securities laws, risk assessments, and advising on Chapter 11 filing and involuntary liquidation, is a standout feature of the practice. More generally, clients turn to the group for supervisory, enforcement, governance, and transactional matters. The group boasts several practitioners with experience in regulatory bodies. New York-based Lucas E. Beirne brings experience in the Federal Reserve’s supervisory appeals processes, while John Buretta in New York also has experience in government institutions, as a former senior Department of Justice official. Jelena McWilliams departed the team in January 2026.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Key clients
- CardWorks
- Circle
- Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
- Dfinity
- Jefferies
- Morgan Stanley
- Nomura
- Robinhood
- Scotiabank
- Silvergate
- Court Appointed Chapter 11 Trustee (Synapse)
Work highlights
Representing Silvergate in its voluntary self-liquidation and chapter 11 filing, and in related regulatory and investigative matters.
Assisted DOJ’s U.S. Trustee as chapter 11 trustee with Synapse’s bankruptcy case and repatriation of depositors’ funds.
Represented Circle Internet Financial, LLC in SEC regulatory matters concerning the non-applicability of securities laws to payment stablecoins, concurrent with Circle Internet Group Inc.’s initial public offering.
Other key lawyers
Lucas E. Beirne; John D. Buretta