Finance & Capital Markets (International & Cross-Border) | Global

New York-headquartered Davis Polk has high-end capabilities across transactional, regulatory and contentious areas. It is set up to serve global clients and project-manage matters from key financial centres, including London, Paris, Beijing and Hong Kong, and collaborates with selected partner firms in other jurisdictions for local law aspects. Primarily serving large US and international investment banks, financial institutions and corporates, the firm has extensive experience handling sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional M&A, financing and capital markets matters, as well as running international investigations and disputes, including global antitrust files.

As a top-tier New York practice, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is regularly sought out by major private equity firms and global corporations as a go-to firm for advice on international transactional mandates. Primarily handling high-end mergers and acquisitions as well as sophisticated fund formation, financing and cross-border tax matters, the firm's New York office is a significant hub of global expertise. It frequently coordinates cross-border work with the firm's other international offices across Europe, Latin America and Asia and with carefully chosen independent co-counsel from other jurisdictions.

"The Cravath team showed a savvy understanding of cross-border issues."

Sidley Austin is frequently sought out by international clients for its global sector expertise, with the firm's focus built around strong relationships with clients in financial service, energy, life sciences and biotechnology. While the firm's US base remains the central hub of its global operations, Sidley Austin also attracts ample praise for its ability to join up experts across its platform throughout Europe and Asia, with offices in London, Singapore and China among others also playing a vital role in the firm's international appeal. The firm has an impressive ability to handle global transactions, disputes and investigations, enabling it to provide a comprehensive service on sophisticated matters for clients in its key industry groups.

"Many of our transactions involve cross-border elements, and Skadden are able to think through potential issues and use local resources when needed."

Sullivan & Cromwell has developed a stellar reputation as an international law firm, combining a leading US law practice headquartered in New York with top-end expertise throughout its offices across Asia-Pacific and European financial centres. The firm provides broad international capabilities on substantial transactions and in high-value contentious cases, appealing to a broad range of international companies and banks based both within and outside the USA.

A big player on the New York finance scene with a strong reputation for advising asset managers and private equity houses. Its US teams frequently collaborate with global colleagues in key European and Asian centres, and often advise clients from its US offices on their business in Latin America. The New York finance and capital markets teams often take a leading role in cross-border transactions, coordinating with the firm's international offices and local counsel in relevant jurisdictions.

The US teams provide solid capabilities in advising on complex, cross-border finance, particularly on project finance across the US-Latin America nexus, and in providing support for banks and other lenders investing in infrastructure and energy developments. US teams, largely in New York and Chicago, also excel in coordinating cross-border securitisation matters, and combine internal collaboration with project-managing other counsel. Teams can call upon strong sector knowledge in technology and energy, providing further cross-border value to clients in these industries.

Milbank is globally recognised as a premium choice for financing and corporate transactions across all of the world's major business centres. Its offices in the USA, Europe and Asia consistently advise institutional lenders and investors on the financing of business activities and major project development throughout the world, and maintain a flexible approach to engaging local counsel based on the specific requirements of their clients.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges has forged an excellent reputation internationally through a global platform principally built around its transactional capabilities. The firm's primary headquarters in New York and its impressive London base both act as important global hubs and are coupled with a far-reaching network of offices which extends across the USA and Europe, with Asian operations run from China. All the firm's offices have a principal focus on advising international banks, large multinational corporations and private equity funds. The firm typically offers strength in cross-border finance, restructuring, high-end M&A and tax across its platform.

White & Case provides clients with an impressive global platform. The firm handles high-end, complex mandates from the USA and works seamlessly with other teams in its expansive network across EMEA and Asia-Pacific and with other offices across North and South America. The team excels in transactional and contentious matters, and is recognised for its ability to drive cross-border deals into other jurisdictions. By remaining highly attuned to the needs of all international clients, it is a popular choice for global operations.  

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius offers its clients expertise across a broad range of practice areas from strategically situated offices in the USA, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It is sought out to advise on cross-border M&A and financing, international arbitration and regulatory investigations work by a clientele that includes multinational corporations and private equity funds. The US offices are particularly well placed to advise on matters concerning Latin American jurisdictions, and its regulatory expertise makes it a popular choice for clients in the energy, life sciences and technology sectors.

Paul Hastings has a highly respected corporate offering with an excellent reputation for its cross-office collaboration and strong global network. The team stands out for its work on complex cross-border cases, frequently directing negotiations and advising clients in relation to deals in key foreign markets, particularly in Europe, Africa and Asia jurisdictions. Clients praise the firm's deep bench consisting of highly qualified and capable lawyers, with the commercial awareness and legal expertise to successfully achieve transactional goals. The firm is regularly sought after by US and overseas investors for its international appeal and ability to collaborate seamlessly with local counsel and provide timely legal support worldwide.

New York-headquartered Paul, Weiss has a strong corporate identity and culture, offering high-end M&A capabilities. The firm's typical clients include financial institutions, multinational companies and large private equity houses and asset managers. For global work anchored in the USA or with US aspects, the firm is a strong choice for transactional work such as M&A, financing and private equity investments. The firm's own offices connect its US base with presence in Europe and Asia, and it is also known to collaborate effectively with high-end firms in other jurisdictions.

Ropes & Gray provides an integrated international offering with a strong global focus on financial services, life sciences and pharmaceuticals. The firm's US offices act as its primary driving force for international work, with Boston and New York frequently leading cross-border work, typically coordinating global transactions for major private equity funds and corporations. Key areas of geographic strength include Asian markets, and Ropes & Gray is often considered a popular choice by US and Asian clients for investments from the USA into China and Japan, where the firm can also offer locally-based US law-qualified experts. The US team also works in a seamless manner with the firm's London office, particularly for the funds and corporate sides of the practice.