Paul Hastings LLP

Chair of the Firm: Frank Lopez

Managing Partner: Sherrese M. Smith

Second Managing Partner: Arun K. Birla

Number of partners: 320

Number of lawyers: 1,150

Firm Overview:  

With widely recognized elite teams in finance, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, restructuring and special situations, litigation, employment, and real estate, Paul Hastings LLP is a premier law firm providing intellectual capital and superior execution globally to the world’s leading investment banks, asset managers, and corporations. The firm has a dynamic global practice and is widely recognized

for helping its clients achieve success in some of the largest domestic and cross-border transactions across a range of industries, as well as favorably resolving complex disputes in numerous jurisdictions. In recent years, Paul Hastings has been consistently ranked among the Most Successful Firms in the U.S. in The American Lawyer’s A-List, which acknowledges its financial success and strong commitment to pro bono, diversity and associate satisfaction. Additionally, the firm is top ranked for Innovation in the Financial Times’ Innovative Lawyers Report across Asia, Europe and North America and recognized as a Top 10 Overall Best Law Firm To Work For in Vault’s Annual Survey.

Main Areas of Practice:  

Corporate: 

The firm’s corporate practice is globally recognized in virtually every area of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, public and private equity and debt financings, formation of investment funds, project finance, securitizations, bankruptcy, corporate restructurings and distressed debt trading, venture capital work, technology licensing, and franchising and distribution arrangements.

Employment: 

The firm’s labor and employment practice is recognized as one of the largest in its field, with an outstanding record in defending class actions for large multinational companies. The lawyers counsel clients with respect to all areas of employment law including benefits, discrimination, downsizing, employee mobility, harassment, immigration, traditional labor, and wage and hour.

Litigation: 

The firm’s litigation practice provides premier litigation services to clients facing complex legal issues in the US, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. The litigation practice covers every major practice including securities, subprime litigation, intellectual property, class action and employment litigation, international arbitration, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and white-collar crime.

Real Estate: 

The firm’s global real estate practice covers all areas of real estate finance, sales and acquisitions, private equity, development, hotels and hospitality, leasing, joint ventures, partnerships and limited liability companies, and bankruptcy and restructuring of real estate portfolios. The practice’s environmental, planning, construction, and real estate litigation expertise is extensive, as is its experience in debt, equity and hybrid investment.

Tax: 

The firm’s global tax practice covers mergers and acquisitions, capital market offerings, investment and joint venture structuring, leasing, structured and project finance, and financial product planning and structuring. It is internationally known as having one of the preeminent tax practices in telecommunications, real estate, executive compensation, and tax-exempt and tax-favored investments.