Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border) | Global

Covington & Burling is a leading law firm globally for regulatory advice with a consistent focus on regulatory issues across all of its offices. The firm assists clients around the world with matters related to international trade, public policy and global compliance issues such as data protection, antitrust and competition regulation. The firm also has notable industry focus across its global platform, targeting pharmaceuticals and healthcare products, food, technology and media.

The law firm has a market-leading corporate crime team which is widely recognised for globally coordinating multi-jurisdictional and high-profile anti-corruption investigations. It is also highly regarded for its cross-border FCPA work and advice on global compliance programmes. Additionally highlighted for a pioneering focus on 'Me Too' cases. The firm has nine offices, spanning three continents, with a focus on the financial sectors such as New York, London and Hong Kong. The New York office plays a pivotal role in spearheading the international strategy of the firm, boasting a formidable bench of investigators. For key markets beyond its office coverage - notably Switzerland and Brazil - the firm engages with local counsel, enjoying strong relationships with a selection of acclaimed independent firms.

The law firm has a pre-eminent investigations offering, spearheaded by leading practices in D.C. and California, bolstered by a strong New York team. Renowned for its peerless FCPA expertise and skill, the firm's dedicated specialists frequently deal with US agencies, such as the DOJ and SEC, as well as facing an array of regulators across the globe, with numerous members of the team offering cultural knowledge and multilingual capabilities. Frequently acts as global coordinator in multi-jurisdictional investigations, facilitated by effective cross-office collaboration, including particularly established outposts in Hong Kong and Singapore. For jurisdictions where the law firm is without an on-the-ground presence, it readily coordinates with local counsel.

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 offerings, as well as running international investigations and disputes, including global antitrust files.

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 key 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.

The law firm's investigations practice is highly capable of coordinating all global aspects of multi-jurisdictional investigations and cross-border enforcement matters. Its US practice is typically highlighted for its expertise in the financial sector and frequently represents global banks in cases concerning corruption and securities fraud. In addition to a strong New York team and a notable offering in Washington, D.C., the law firm's cross-border capability is further fuelled by its broad international office coverage.

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 high-value contentious cases, appealing to a broad range of international companies and banks based both within and outside the USA.

Miller & Chevalier is a single-office law firm based in Washington, D.C. exclusively specialised in cross-border investigations and FCPA work with global implications. The team, which has around 100 highly-specialised lawyers, comprises individuals boasting considerable expertise in compliance and well equipped to deal with the various regulators, domestically and internationally.

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, 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.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has impressive global coverage including 11 offices across the USA and seven located throughout the world in key jurisdictions in Asia, the Middle East and Western Europe. The firm supports multinational clients by utilising this global network to coordinate cross-border transactions and investigations as well as drawing on carefully selected local counsel from jurisdictions outside of its network.

A distinguished full-service law firm, Freshfields is recognised for its international mindset and its ability to lead cross-border work from its London centre. The law firm has outstanding international capabilities and can utilise widespread offices in its top-tier, integrated network, which incorporates highly rated teams across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Africa. Equally, the firm has established the 'Stronger Together' group of local firms, serving clients' needs in jurisdictions where collaboration with co-counsel is required.

The firm's international practice is predominantly driven by its notable Washington, D.C. team, which is well versed in multi-jurisdictional investigations for large corporations, with particular strength in the healthcare sector. It also houses a well-regarded international sanctions practice. The firm utilises its extensive global office coverage when coordinating cross-border work, offering local expertise in a wide range of jurisdictions.

Spearheaded by an impressive team in Washington, D.C., the law firm acts for both corporations and individuals on cross-border investigations and is adept at FCPA matters, domestically and overseas. It houses an impressive roster of lawyers including ex-prosecutors primed to face US governmental agencies. The law firm is able to draw upon its own local experts in many jurisdictions and is well equipped to handle multi-jurisdictional investigations and international fraud cases. It is particularly noted for its fruitful cross-office collaboration with the Dubai, Tokyo, Sydney and Brazil teams.

Morrison Foerster particularly stands out in the market for its grasp of cross-border work between the US and Asian markets, which is driven by the firm's longstanding investment into its technology sector expertise. The firm is an appealing choice for large corporations and established players invested in areas such as electronics and biopharma and has a particularly strong track record in handling inbound and outbound transactions involving the USA, Japan and China, frequently representing clients on both sides of the Pacific.

Highly rated for its international work across a broad range of regulated industries, Arnold & Porter frequently acts as global counsel to a host of leading multinational companies in the life sciences sector. The law firm is particularly highlighted for its high-end expertise in regulatory issues and product liability cases, coordinating advice on the global development and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical devices across the USA, the EU and Asia. 

Baker McKenzie offers one of the most expansive and established international footprints in the legal industry, and its global reach is frequently referenced by multinational clients as one of its primary assets. The New York office acts as an important hub of lawyers with international experience and expertise across multiple areas, offering a full-service scope. The law firm enjoys an excellent reputation for its international and cross-border capabilities and is often praised for the smooth execution and collaboration clients experience across the firm's network.

Ropes & Gray provides an integrated international offering with a strong global focus on financial services, life sciences and pharmaceuticals. The law 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 side of the practice.