Linklaters

Linklaters is a 185-year-old leading global law firm with over 3,100 lawyers across 31 offices in 21 countries.

U.S. Global Practice Head: Thomas McGrath

Global Chairman of Corporate: George Casey

Head of U.S. Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group: Antonia Sherman

Head of U.S. Banking Group: Danelle Le Cren

Head of U.S. Capital Markets: Doug Donahue

Head of U.S. Data Solutions, Cyber & Privacy: Ieuan Jolly

Head of U.S. Energy and Infrastructure: Ron Erlichman and Marius Griskonis

Head of U.S. Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations: Adam Lurie

Head of Linklaters' Latin America Group: Matthew Poulter

Contacts:

Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group: Antonia Sherman

Artificial Intelligence: Ieuan Jolly

Arbitration: Christian Albanesi

Banking: Danelle Le Cren

Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Insolvency: Margot Schonholtz

Business Crime and Investigations: Doug Davison

Capital Markets: Doug Donahue

CFIUS and Foreign Investment: Jon Gafni

Corporate/M&A and Private Equity: George Casey

Crisis Management: Adam Lurie

Data Solutions, Cyber and Privacy: Ieuan Jolly

Energy and Infrastructure: Ron Erlichman and Marius Griskonis

Environment and ESG: Doug Davison and Lauren Bachtel

Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits: Andrew Gaines

Financial Regulation: Brad Caswell

Fintech: Joshua Ashley Klayman

Intellectual Property: Shruti Chopra

Investment Funds: David Miller and Jason Behrens

Litigation: Adam Lurie

Tax: Max Levine

THE FIRM

Linklaters LLP is a leading global law firm, supporting clients in achieving their strategies wherever they do business. The firm uses its expertise and resources to help clients pursue opportunities and manage risk across emerging and developed markets around the world.

U.S. PRACTICE

U.S. law is increasingly the law of choice in complex transactions and disputes around the world. Our global U.S. team brings commercial U.S. knowledge and familiarity with local markets to both domestic and cross-border matters. Our network of U.S. lawyers extends across the world’s major business and financial centers including New York, Washington, D.C., Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Paris, São Paulo, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo.

Our U.S. lawyers work together on a global basis to provide specialist advice on transactional, regulatory, disclosure, compliance, litigation, tax, data, antitrust and liability management issues. We can offer clients advice on increasingly important regulatory fields, particularly antitrust, cybersecurity, FCPA, investigations and tax. This team is fully-integrated and well-positioned to meet client demand for top quality advice on U.S. law matters globally.

A 2023 Financial Times Leader in Diversity, Linklaters is proudly Mansfield Certified Plus in the U.S.

PRINCIPAL AREAS OF WORK

Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group:

Linklaters’ U.S. antitrust and foreign investment practice represents global clients across industries in merger clearances, criminal antitrust investigations and civil litigation. The merger control practice navigates merger clearances for some of the largest global M&A transactions, focusing on getting proposed deals approved by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The firm’s cartel practice also defends clients in international price-fixing investigations and represents clients in civil antitrust litigation. The firm’s offering is bolstered by its U.S. foreign investment practice, which focuses on representing clients before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (formerly DSS) and other U.S. government authorities responsible for cross-border investment controls. The firm draws on the experience of former enforcement officials, commercial litigators and antitrust attorneys with a wealth of practical experience in dealing with antitrust authorities in the U.S.

Arbitration:

Linklaters’ international arbitration practice is one of the largest in the world. The team, led by 30 partners and counsel, act as arbitrators and counsel in arbitral proceedings throughout the world, including the key arbitration centers of New York, Washington D.C., Paris, Madrid, Geneva, London, São Paulo, Mexico, Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai.

The team acts under the rules of all of the major arbitral institutions, in ad hoc proceedings (e.g. under the UNCITRAL Rules) and in investment arbitration matters under bilateral and multilateral treaties. The team’s capabilities extend beyond the countries where Linklaters has offices. The team has worked on arbitration cases in Peru, Uruguay, Colombia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Austria, Switzerland, Iraq and Angola.

Artificial Intelligence:

Linklaters' global technology team is one of the longest-standing and most sophisticated in the world. The team offers individual lawyers with deep specialism in both the regulatory and commercial issues affecting AI, meaning that advice is holistic and capable of real-world implementation. The team's knowledge of key regulators and vendors in this space means that clients benefit from deep market insight.

The tech team is part of a much broader multi-disciplinary global AI practice that advises on the broad range of regulatory, enforcement and litigation risks associated with the use of AI. Our data, IP, competition and consumer, product liability, tort/contract, employment, ESG and sectoral law specialists work together seamlessly to offer pragmatic and cutting-edge advice.

Banking:

Linklaters’ U.S. banking team advises market-leading financial institutions, asset managers, funds, financial sponsors, mezzanine providers, and public and private companies on complex domestic and cross-border financing transactions, including transactions involving high-yield debt securities. With banking lawyers in the Americas, Europe and Asia, we have a proven track record of providing the highest quality legal advice across a range of financing products wherever needed.

Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Insolvency:

Linklaters’ market-leading U.S. restructuring and insolvency practice delivers sophisticated solutions on high profile, in-court and out-of-court restructuring and insolvency matters. They advise financial institutions, investment funds, asset managers, global companies, financial advisors and other stakeholders on all phases of complex domestic and cross-border restructuring and bankruptcy matters, including banking litigation, distressed M&A and other asset sale transactions.

Business Crime and Investigations:

In an increasingly global regulatory environment, where investigations often span numerous jurisdictions and involve coordination by multiple government authorities, it is more critical than ever that corporations and financial institutions seek guidance from strong, experienced and globally integrated counsel. Linklaters’ international footprint and deep breadth of regulatory and agency experience ideally positions the business crime and investigations team to respond immediately to our clients during a crisis and to steer clients through their most serious cross-border regulatory matters.

The firm represents corporations, financial institutions, senior executives, board members and public officials on a variety of criminal and civil regulatory matters, including matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), bribery and corruption, fraud (including trade, accounting disclosure, health care and money laundering), export controls and sanctions, antitrust and competition, data privacy, cybersecurity, the False Claims Act (FCA) and other regulatory inquiries and investigations. Linklaters defends clients in all stages of federal and state criminal proceedings and in related civil and administrative disputes, and the firm has deep experience defending matters against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), among other agencies. By virtue of the firm’s international presence, Linklaters is able to seamlessly advise on all sides of multi-jurisdictional investigations, avoiding the challenges that arise with using separate counsel for each jurisdiction.

Capital Markets:

Linklaters’ U.S. capital markets team regularly advises dealers, banks, hedge funds, asset managers, sovereigns and corporates on the full range of capital markets transactions and legal issues involving U.S. and non-U.S. issuers. This includes: equity, equity-linked and debt securities traded on the major U.S. and international exchanges, initial public offerings, high yield debt offerings, SEC-registered offerings (including shelf registration) and non-registered offerings made pursuant to Section 4(a)(2), Rule 144A and Regulation S, SPAC/de-SPAC transactions, liability management transactions, and the structuring, regulation and documentation of derivatives and structured finance.

CFIUS and Foreign Investment:

Linklaters’ global foreign investment team provides sound, practical advice to help clients navigate the evolving challenges of national security reviews of cross-border investments. In the U.S., the team advise both U.S. and non-U.S. parties, and represent clients before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, among others.

Linklaters’ CFIUS team has advised clients on successful transactions globally, including complex, high-profile investments involving sensitive technologies, infrastructure and customers. The team has an in-depth understanding of the rules governing CFIUS and the broader foreign investment environment, and are thought leaders on the implementation of CFIUS reform legislation.

Corporate & M&A and Private Equity:

Linklaters’ cross-border corporate/M&A practice has a strong presence in the world’s major business and financial centers, with U.S.-qualified lawyers across our global offices. This wide network allows the firm to coordinate multi-jurisdictional deals efficiently and tactically on a global level while maintaining an excellent understanding of domestic U.S. law. The team has a proven track record of providing the highest-quality legal advice across the full range of corporate and financial products including public M&A, private M&A, private equity, SPACs, venture capital, joint ventures, corporate advisory and regulatory compliance.

The team also provides expertise in all aspects of private equity, from establishing the fund to advising private equity houses and other financial sponsor clients on leveraged transactions including private acquisitions, take-privates, carve-outs, consortium deals and distressed acquisitions and private sale and IPO exits.

Crisis Management:

In today’s global media environment, crises require a swift and sure-footed response, taking account of the subject matter and the stakeholders involved. A crisis can put a company’s reputation, financial stability and key relationships around the world into jeopardy. It can also divert senior management time from the strategic objective of the business. How to manage a crisis once it has occurred is of acute concern to all large businesses, their boards and their management teams. Linklaters supports clients in preventing, avoiding or mitigating all potential crises before they grow into an existential event.

Data Solutions, Cyber and Privacy:

The U.S. Data Solutions, Cyber and Privacy practice forms part of Linklaters’ global data and cyber offering spanning a team of over 100 lawyers in Asia, the U.S. and Europe. The U.S. team focuses on a wide range of cybersecurity and privacy legal, policy and investigative matters including cybercrimes, privacy breaches and intellectual property theft, as well as litigation and investigations. Much of the team’s work has an international dimension, and the team has broad experience helping companies prepare for cybersecurity and privacy incidents. Linklaters brings both deep knowledge and practical experience to bear when advising clients on any cybersecurity and privacy issue at any stage of its lifecycle.

Energy & Infrastructure:

Toppingglobal league tables,Linklaters’ energy and infrastructure team regularly works on complex, large-scale projects in the U.S. and internationally. With experience acting on transformative, award-winning projects across the Americas, Linklaters’ energy and infrastructure practice covers renewables, energy storage, carbon capture storage and offtake, hydrogen, water and waste, clean transport, nuclear, oil and gas, petrochemicals, LNG, thermal power, mining, airports, roads and bridges, ports, event venues, telecoms and rail-related transactions. The firm represents sponsors, lenders, export credit agencies, development finance institutions, contractors and suppliers. With experience advising the range of market participants, Linklaters provides constructive, commercial solutions based on the firm’s broad understanding of issues that could arise during a project.

Environment & ESG:

ESG in its broadest sense covers environmental, social and governance issues but consensus on details of the meaning can vary and public perceptions are changing rapidly. Linklaters takes a holistic approach, covering a wider range of areas across multiple sectors and contexts – including climate change and resource efficiency, human rights and community engagement, anti-bribery and corruption, transparency and disclosure, risk management and dispute resolution.

The extensive range of experience across Linklaters’ multidisciplinary team enables the team to respond swiftly to our clients’ business needs in addressing ESG challenges as they arise.

Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits:

Linklaters’ U.S. executive compensation and employee benefits team advises clients on all aspects of compensation and benefits, including corporate, securities, tax laws, stock exchange listing requirements and ERISA. This team has extensive experience in the structuring, negotiation and preparation of employment, retention and severance agreements, the design and implementation of executive incentive programs, equity-based plans and deferred compensation programs and the preparation of tax-qualified retirement and welfare plans. In addition, we have broad experience with respect to the ERISA requirements applicable to the investment of pension plan assets and regularly advise financial institutions and investment funds on the ERISA aspects of the structuring and operation of all types of investment funds and structured financial products.

Financial Regulation:

Linklaters’ U.S. financial regulation group is part of a market-leading financial regulation practice that represents domestic and global investment managers, banks and bank holding companies, broker-dealers, swap dealers, Fintech firms, and other financial institutions on the full spectrum of U.S. financial regulatory matters: from day-to-day regulatory compliance counselling, to advising on complex M&A transactional matters, governance issues, supervisory and enforcement matters.

Fintech:

Financial institutions and disruptive companies alike trust Linklaters with their most complex fintech projects. The team has experience working with clients at all stages of growth, from early-stage start-ups to established financial institutions.

Linklaters has consistently held the position of market-leader in advising on the application of new technologies to finance, from the implementation of SWIFT payments to the advent of blockchain and digital currencies, and everything in-between. Our team of lawyers had been working on ground-breaking technological developments in financial markets long before the term “fintech” was coined.

Linklaters’ strong relationships with regulators, banks, insurers, funds and infrastructure and service providers means that the team has a strong understanding of the issues that affect every area of the financial technology ecosystem. This enables Linklaters’ lawyers to deliver incisive, informed and innovative advice across the fintech spectrum.

Intellectual Property:

Linklaters' U.S. IP practice advises on market leading "IP heavy" corporate transactions and stand-alone agreements for the development and exploitation of IP rights. Most of the team's work is international and at the cutting edge of technology, life sciences, infrastructure, telecoms and other sectors.

The team has established market-leading expertise advising on the IP aspects of the highest profile transactions globally. Many of the transactions on which Linklaters' advises are in IP-rich sectors, such as technology, payments, life sciences, biotechnology, pharma, infrastructure, telecoms, where IP is the key asset of the business, and a significant driver of the deal.

Investment Funds:

Linklaters’ U.S. investment funds group advises international sponsors and investors on the structuring, formation, taxation and regulation of all types of funds, clubs and joint ventures investing in all asset classes. The team also represent institutional investors with respect to alternative fund investments, secondaries, co-investments, joint ventures, seeding/start-up arrangements, acquisitions of asset managers; and management team spin-outs.

Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations:

Linklaters’ U.S. team advises and defends clients with significant exposure in cross-border and U.S. disputes and investigations. The team focuses on complex commercial litigation, regulatory and internal investigations, antitrust, securities, white-collar crime, class and derivative actions, accounting fraud, bankruptcy litigation and lender liability actions. Linklaters’ offering includes advising on a variety of criminal and civil regulatory matters, including matters involving the FCPA, bribery and corruption, U.S. economic sanctions, data privacy, cybersecurity, and other regulatory inquiries and investigations. The team are especially well-equipped to address the most challenging cross-border internal investigations and disputes, leveraging their ability to draw upon large multidisciplinary and multi-jurisdictional teams at short notice. Linklaters’ collaborative international teams have represented clients before criminal authorities and regulators across multiple jurisdictions and in a wide variety of fields. The team has also successfully handled the most sensitive internal investigations.

Tax:

Linklaters’ U.S. tax team counsels clients in M&A transactions, spin-offs and other divestitures, internal restructurings, consolidated return matters and workouts, as well as transactions involving REITs, partnerships and other pass-through entities. Linklaters has a strong and well-regarded U.S. tax practice that has undertaken complex cross-border transactions for some of the world’s largest corporations, investment funds and sovereign wealth funds, both U.S. and non-U.S. headquartered. These transactions have included an extensive range of U.S. tax issues involving both intra-group and external acquisitions, dispositions, investments, spin-offs, restructurings and financings.

Latin America Group:

Linklaters has a dedicated Latin America Group. We were one of the first international firms to open an office in Brazil in 1997 and have practiced in the region for more than a decade. Our teams have the ability to advise on both New York and English law, providing hands-on experience in the Latin American jurisdictions where the deals take place, with the right combination of local advice and international capabilities. Our established relationships with leading firms across the region, paired with our collaborative approach to working with local counsel, means we will think globally and act locally. In Latin America, we offer fully-fledged corporate, finance, governance and arbitration capabilities, covering all products: Banking (corporate financing and refinancing, acquisition financing, structured loans, trade financing); Capital markets (debt, equity, liability management, structured products and derivatives); Corporate/M&A (share and asset deals, JVs and strategic alliances, reorganizations); Energy and infrastructure (oil and gas, power and transmission, renewable energy, infrastructure); Arbitration/ADR (commercial arbitration, investment arbitration); Investigations and compliance (compliance, governance models, investigations, anti-bribery and corruption).