A heavyweight in corporate governance, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP stands out for its expertise advising public company boards of directors, independent board committees, senior management, not-for-profit organisations and public companies on the full range of corporate governance matters. The firm assists with securities regulations, compliance and crisis management, SEC reporting, financial restatements and ESG issues. It is also a go-to firm for M&A and restructuring transactions with securities law and governance aspects. Howard Dicker co-leads the New York team alongside Lyuba Goltser. Dicker specializes in securities law issues, disclosure, compliance, executive compensation and corporate governance. Public, private and not-for-profit companies all turn to Goltser to advise on governance and compliance issues including director independence, ESG and sustainability and fiduciary duties. Rebecca Graspas is noted for her work on ESG and anti-ESG issues. In Washington DC, Adé Heyliger focuses on internal investigations, leadership transitions, succession planning and independence determinations, while Kaitlin Descovich centres her practice on fiduciary duties, executive compensation and SEC reporting.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Weil Gotshal & M anges established one of the first, if not the very first, dedicated practice group within a major law firm to provide sophisticated, expert, up-to-the minute, integrated advice to public companies, boards, independent committees, significant not-for-profits, private equity sponsors, portfolio companies and individual directors and executive officers. The group also lends its expertise to all the significant transactional matters of the firm.’
‘All the partners in the group are stellar. One stand-out partner I’d like to commend is Rebecca Grapsas. I am a member of the board of directors of a significant not-for-profit, and Rebecca is leading a review of its governance. She has exceptional technical expertise, excellent judgment and a very clear and balanced way of presenting complicated issues to decision-makers.’
‘This practice has excellent depth and experience. They provide very practical, business-oriented but legally sound advice. They collaborate wonderfully with us and have made an effort to learn our business in order to give better advice.’
‘Lyuba Goltser is an excellent attorney. She gives very practical and excellent legal advice. She will sit for any question and provides a great sounding board. She is a wonderful partner to us and works with us to come up with the best solutions possible. Kaitlin Descovich is also an excellent attorney. Her thoroughness and legal abilities are outstanding. One of the things we value about Weil and our relationship is just that - we have a relationship. They are a pleasure to work with. ’
‘This team has a unique cross-functional purpose, providing practical advice for public companies harnessing technical securities acumen and applying it to everyday issues relating to disclosure, Governance, potential litigation spotting, and SEC compliance. This practice group was one of the first developed in big law firms, and continues to be a gold-star practice group for in-house counsel. The group also produces insightful, forward-thinking practice articles.’
‘Lyuba Goltser gives practical advice and is a well-seasoned attorney. She cuts through issues and identifies clients needs in a practical manner. Howard Dicker has encyclopedic securities knowledge. Essential player in technical disclosure issues and in corporate transactions. Kaitlin Descovich is a well-seasoned attorney and collaborator. Rebecca Grapsas has incredible knowledge of U.S. securities laws, along with a strong pulse on emerging corporate governance issues.’
Key clients
- AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
- Glencore Canada Corporation
- Blackstone
- Goldman Sachs
- Brookfield Asset Management Inc.
- Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.
- The Campbell’s Company
- The Hartford
- Cannae Holdings, Inc.
- The Home Depot, Inc.
- Dow Inc.
- IQVIA Holdings
Work highlights
Advised Sunoco LP on the governance and disclosure aspects of $9.1bn acquisition of Parkland Corporation.
Advised Dun & Bradstreet Holdings on the governance and disclosure aspects of its sale to Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. in a transaction valued at $7.7 bn.
Advised The Home Depot on the governance and disclosure aspects of its $5.5bn acquisition of GMS Inc..
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Howard Dicker; Lyuba Goltser
Other key lawyers
Adé Heyliger; Rebecca Graspas; Kaitlin Descovich