Alston & Bird has added seasoned trial lawyers and commercial litigators Michael C. Hefter, Seth M. Cohen, and Ryan Philp as partners in the Litigation & Trial Practice Group, resident in the New York office.
“We are pleased to welcome this trio of highly regarded, industry recognized, and trial-ready litigators whose long-standing collaboration has successfully navigated complex, bet-the-company disputes in a range of sectors,” said Brett Jaffe, Alston & Bird partner and co-chair of Litigation. “They bring sharp legal minds, sound business judgment, agile service, and collegiality to every matter, which will make them assets to clients and to their colleagues in New York, across our Litigation Area, and throughout our global law firm.”
Michael, Seth, and Ryan maintain active trial practices in federal and state courts across the country as well as U.S. and international arbitrations, with clients spanning a range of sectors, including energy, health care, investment and commercial banking, private equity and hedge funds, venture capital, real estate, media and telecommunications, aerospace and defense, technology, and others. Each of the three partners has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial litigation, including corporate governance disputes, mergers and acquisition litigation, shareholder class and derivative actions, bankruptcy litigation, business torts, RICO actions, and a full range of complex disputes.
“We are ecstatic to join Alston & Bird, which we have long admired as a preeminent firm with a first-rate litigation capability and a proven commitment to growth in the New York market and well beyond,” said Michael. “There are remarkable synergies between our existing practice and Alston & Bird’s phenomenal litigators, including the kinds of matters we handle, the industries we know well, and shared values that include a commitment to excellent client service.” The team added that Alston & Bird’s corporate practice is primed to service their clients’ ongoing transactional needs as well.
Michael, Seth, and Ryan join Alston & Bird from Hogan Lovells, where they had practiced together since 2017, although the team itself dates back well over a decade.
“These three exceptional trial lawyers bring a strategic approach, relentless drive, and formidable track record of delivering meaningful results, enhancing the outstanding litigation offering that we continue to grow here in New York,” said James Sullivan, partner in charge of Alston & Bird’s New York office. “The addition of Michael, Ryan, and Seth will immediately benefit our clients and the firm, as they will add value and deep expertise to our clients’ most complex and challenging litigation matters.”