Litigation: Securities | USA

Cravath, Swaine & Moore possesses an esteemed civil litigation practice, highly sought after for sophisticated business disputes and securities actions. The firm fields a strong bench of market-leading attorneys, known for their extensive courtroom experience on behalf of household-name clients in the financial services and broader corporate sector. Its litigators have a dominant presence in defending against shareholder derivative actions relating to M&A and securities fraud class actions. The firm wins plaudits for its significant commercial litigation practice, drawing on broad expertise in areas such as bankruptcy, intellectual property and mass tort cases.

Davis Polk & Wardwell is a first-class player across an impressive breadth of big-ticket disputes, acclaimed for its standout reputation in defending suits brought against issuers, auditors and financial institutions in securities matters. The group demonstrates excellent abilities in wider commercial litigation, frequently acting on multibillion-dollar breach of contract claims as well as matters such as malpractice suits and class actions. The firm calls upon a formidable roster of talented litigators, offering extensive expertise in trial and appellate proceedings.

Paul, Weiss is universally recognized as a preeminent litigation firm with first-class expertise across civil and criminal disputes. The firm houses an enviable bench of outstanding courtroom advocates who act on market-leading litigation, drawing on strength in areas such as product liability, IP, antitrust and wider commercial claims. It also boasts a dominant securities litigation practice that attracts leading financial institutions, alongside multinational corporates from a breadth of industries.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett boasts a dominant securities litigation group that is recognized for its representation of leading financial institutions and blue-chip corporations in big-ticket dispute work. The firm calls upon a deep bench of trial and appellate lawyers who are regularly retained to act on multibillion-dollar securities class actions and derivative suits. Its wider commercial litigation capabilities include strengths in bankruptcy disputes, insurance coverage matters and consumer class actions.

Skadden fields a bench of expert litigators who are frequently retained to handle major commercial disputes at trial and appellate level. The firm acts for an impressive list of major global corporations, financial institutions and underwriters on securities litigation, including shareholder derivative suits and M&A disputes. Recent caseload includes excellent results in major antitrust cases, as well as significant fintech and cryptocurrency disputes.

Sullivan & Cromwell consistently demonstrates its first-class command of complex financial services litigation, acting for leading market players on precedent-setting securities disputes and regulatory concerns. The firm is also noted for its broad commercial litigation practice, which draws on extensive industry expertise in areas such as manufacturing, energy and wider technology sectors. Its litigation team offers considerable strength at trial and in appellate matters, often handling cases covering the breadth of the country.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz has a strong presence in business-critical civil and criminal litigation, and highly regarded for its deep bench and expert representation of financial institutions and global corporations. The firm's preeminent M&A litigation capabilities is demonstrated by its frequent handling of high-stakes takeover and corporate governance disputes, with extensive experience appearing before the Delaware Court of Chancery. Its lawyers are also noted for their handling of cross-border mandates involving issues such as antitrust and securities fraud.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher boasts a preeminent litigation practice that offers top-quality work on an impressive range of bet-the-company civil and securities disputes. The firm is much admired for its experienced bench of litigators, fielding extensive trial and appellate expertise. Its lawyers act in major commercial litigation, including consumer class actions, large contract disputes and cross-border cases. The group regularly handles high-stakes securities disputes such as M&A and takeover litigation, as well as advising public companies on derivative suits and class actions. The firm acts for an impressive roster of clients, including industry-leading technology companies and financial institutions.

Kirkland & Ellis possesses an eminent team offering expertise across an impressive range of civil disputes, including major M&A and shareholder litigation. The firm fields significant experience representing both companies and individual directors in class actions and wider securities disputes. Its lawyers regularly act for private equity firms and pharmaceutical, education and technology corporates, fielding deep industry expertise and notable trial and appellate experience.

Latham & Watkins consistently demonstrates strength in high-stakes civil litigation, including disputes arising out of M&A, major bankruptcy disputes and class actions. The firm attracts a strong roster of multinational corporates across a range of industries, as well as leading financial institutions. Its expert securities practice draws on extensive trial experience and regulatory capabilities, fielding particular strength in the representation of accounting and audit firms. Its lawyers also achieve excellent results on behalf of corporate issuers and financial institutions in a range of securities class actions and derivative claims. The New York practice group draws on an extensive nationwide footprint and broad subject matter expertise to offer adept handling of a range of disputes.

Shearman & Sterling demonstrates strength across an impressive range of civil disputes, particularly those arising from the financial services industry. It is well regarded for its expert defense of securities offerings class actions and RMBS litigation, drawing on additional strength in investigations and enforcement proceedings. The firm is also highly active in market manipulation and rate-fixing cases on behalf of financial clients. Its broader commercial litigation practice features strengths in areas including insurance disputes, malpractice claims and wider business tort matters. Experience includes disputes involving appellate proceedings.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges possesses a longstanding commercial litigation practice that is held in high regard for the breadth of its industry expertise. Its lawyers act for clients such as insurers, media and entertainment companies and financial institutions on trade secrets disputes, IP litigation, antitrust proceedings and wider class actions. The firm offers a dedicated securities group whose expertise includes class actions, as well as M&A litigation and corporate governance disputes. Its litigators draw on a wealth of experience practicing before the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher boasts a highly regarded business litigation group with a strong track record of trial success. It is regularly retained to act on civil disputes in the finance, insurance and bankruptcy fields as part of its broad industry coverage. The firm also offers a notable securities practice, recognized for its expert class action, financial reporting and M&A litigation capabilities. Its wide-ranging client base includes auditors, financial institutions and major corporates from a range of industries.

Cahill Gordon & Reindel possesses a strong litigation practice that is well equipped to handle major commercial proceedings, offering extensive insurance, antitrust and First Amendment expertise and notable experience acting for major financial services and telecommunications companies. The firm litigates securities cases involving RMBS, CDOs and rate-fixing issues for multiple financial institutions, as well as handling related government investigations. Its lawyers have impressive strength in large-scale class actions that sees them attract a top-notch financial client base, while also demonstrating strength in areas such as life sciences.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has an accomplished practice that combines extensive experience in securities disputes with notable commercial litigation capabilities. Its litigators have deep expertise in a broad range of civil disputes, including significant class actions and bankruptcy-related litigation. The firm is highlighted for its impressive global reach, which allows it to regularly act on cross-border investigations and civil disputes. The group counts a number of leading banks and wider financial institutions among its illustrious client base, alongside roles acting for major corporates and senior officers and directors.

Debevoise & Plimpton has a distinguished litigation practice that offers extensive civil and criminal litigation capabilities. The firm is a go-to for major disputes in fields as diverse as education, energy and pharmaceuticals, fielding particular strength in the representation of insurance companies and private equity funds. The litigation group also demonstrates excellent capabilities in healthcare-related disputes. It offers expert handling of SEC investigations complemented by significant experience in securities class actions and M&A litigation. The firm counts a number of former governmental luminaries among its impressive stable of litigators.

Freshfields boasts a respected securities litigation practice, further strengthened by recent hires in the space. Its diverse client roster includes national and international household names and prominent financial sector clients, for which it acts on the full range of securities and shareholder litigation concerns. The firm is also noted for its broad cross-border litigation capabilities, as well as its handling of commercial disputes.

Milbank has a high-level corporate litigation practice that offers deep understanding of complex financial markets and instruments. The firm acts for clients such as private equity funds, global investment banks and individual investors on a range of securities and commercial disputes, including cases involving asset-backed securities and CDOs. Its lawyers have notable strength in acting for groups of underwriters in complex claims. The group draws on excellent firmwide capability in creditor-side restructuring to handle sophisticated and often cross-border litigation in that area. It also offers notable capability handling complex multijurisdictional disputes.

Ropes & Gray fields a strong team of expert litigators and former prosecutors with significant trial experience. The firm handles a range of commercial and securities disputes, including M&A issues, employment matters and wider class action claims. It is dominant in disputes involving private equity and mutual funds, as well as offering notable expertise in the life sciences area. It also houses a strong securities litigation practice, acting on M&A litigation, underwriters' cases and Investment Company Act of 1940 disputes.

Sidley Austin fields extensive securities litigation capabilities, drawing upon a deep bench of experienced trial lawyers and SEC alumni. It has notable expertise in representing international issuers in class actions and acting for public companies in shareholder actions resulting from M&A. The firm also has a strong practice acting for accounting firms in various auditor liability matters. It also possesses broader commercial litigation skills in areas including antitrust, insurance and bankruptcy litigation, acting for its broad client base in cases at both trial and appellate levels.

Dechert is recognized by the market for its range of capabilities in litigation. It possesses great strength in white-collar criminal defense as well as in the full gamut of civil disputes. The firm is frequently retained on cross-border matters, including large cross-border investigations and international insolvency work. It is highlighted for its strong securities practice, which includes acting on high-stakes mutual fund disputes, M&A litigation and derivative actions. It also boasts a significant track record of success in appellate suits filed across multiple circuits.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson fields a strong track record in a range of commercial, securities and regulatory disputes. It regularly defends financial services clients in multijurisdictional actions, alongside representing high-profile individuals and public sector entities. It also acts on complex commercial litigation for an impressive range of clients, acting on matters including real estate, insurance and bankruptcy disputes. It has a significant market share in antitrust proceedings. The firm is increasingly recognized for its handling of securities disputes arising from issues such as takeover contests and mergers.

Goodwin possesses a well-regarded litigation group offering expertise across the gamut of civil litigation, as well as in regulatory and criminal proceedings. It offers considerable abilities in securities cases, acting for clients such as technology companies, banks, underwriters and REITs in M&A litigation and RMBS disputes, as well as wider class and derivative actions. The firm is also active in commercial disputes, including contract and ownership disputes.

Jones Day offers a broad commercial litigation practice, bolstered by significant arbitration, mediation and appellate capabilities. It is well versed in claims involving product liability issues, breach of contract disputes and securities litigation. The firm draws on significant cross-border expertise as well as strong nationwide capabilities. It represents a broad array of clients including financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies and automotive manufacturers.

O'Melveny & Myers operates a highly active commercial litigation practice, which draws on additional expertise in regulatory investigations. The firm has broad civil disputes capabilities includes handling cases involving bankruptcy, mass torts and partnership disputes. It offers expert representation of a strong roster of financial institutions and underwriting syndicates in securities class actions and derivative suits, with significant experience in M&A litigation. It fields a strong group of trial lawyers who frequently appear in federal and state courts across the USA. Its broad commercial client base includes companies from the real estate, financial services and healthcare sectors.

WilmerHale maintains an esteemed practice that regularly acts on big-ticket civil disputes, drawing on a strong global platform and notable trial skills. It has expert commercial litigation capabilities, offering experience in areas such as insurance matters and credit reporting disputes. The firm is also noted for its highly sophisticated practice in disputes arising out of bankruptcy proceedings. It boasts a strong bench of securities litigators who frequently defend against class actions and derivative suits arising in a wide range of industries.

Winston & Strawn boasts a strong New York securities litigation practice with an enviable client base of public and private companies as well as several major investment banks. It is able to draw on nationwide network to provide full coverage of complex securities concerns, including shareholder class and derivative actions and M&A litigation. The group possesses wider commercial litigation capacity, with experience handling claims in the antitrust, product liability and employment fields.

Alston & Bird is retained by notable clients in diverse industry sectors, including banking, media, life sciences and insurance, to act on an array of complex commercial disputes. It hosts expertise across contractual disputes, shareholder litigation, bankruptcy, IP and securities cases.

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft is noted for its expertise in the financial services sector and is frequently engaged by banks, asset managers and industry groups to litigate a variety of complex cases, including securities disputes. It offers broad capabilities in commercial matters including contractual disputes, IP litigation and bankruptcy proceedings.

DLA Piper boasts a strong commercial disputes practice. It is frequently retained to act on product liability claims, breach of contract disputes, insolvency litigation and nationwide class actions. The firm acts for an impressive global client base and draws on an extensive worldwide network to supplement handling of cross-border disputes. It offers further expertise in securities actions and investigations, regularly acting on behalf of public corporations, individuals, investment banks and others.

Katten has an established practice servicing a diverse client base, including major financial institutions, asset managers, public companies and their executives. It is particularly sought out by prominent names in the life sciences sector. The firm hosts a respectable bench of experienced securities litigators whose expertise runs the gamut of securities fraud, shareholder and M&A litigation.

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel possesses a strong reputation for handling a range of high-value commercial disputes. It houses a strong bench of expert litigators with excellent pedigree in acting for both individuals and corporations in civil and criminal proceedings. The firm boasts a formidable track record in a range of matters, including product liability cases, breach of contract actions and accounting malpractice claims. It demonstrates further expertise in the defense of securities class and shareholder derivative actions.

Levine Lee is a boutique litigation firm with particular strengths in securities litigation. It has experience in defending a range of corporate clients in class and derivative actions as well as considerable expertise in representing individuals. The firm's work covers an impressive span of industries including banking, finance and media.

Mayer Brown possesses a dynamic New York practice, operating from a strong global platform that sees it regularly handle cross-border commercial disputes. It demonstrates notable expertise in IP, antitrust and M&A litigation, as well as handling product liability cases. The firm acts for an impressive client base that includes leading financial institutions, technology companies and manufacturing businesses. It offers deep trial and appellate experience to complement its significant regulatory capabilities. The firm possesses additional strength in securities class and derivative actions, particularly on behalf of financial sector clients.

Mintz is recognized for its strong civil litigation capabilities, attracting an impressive roster of private equity, banking, biotech and retail clients. The firm fields an experienced team of litigators whose expertise includes breach of contract claims, employment matters and M&A disputes. It regularly handles high-level shareholder disputes and securities class actions as part of its wide-ranging civil litigation capabilities.

Morrison Foerster houses an accomplished group of trial lawyers with broad civil litigation expertise, which includes handling high-value privacy, IP and product liability disputes. It regularly defends against class actions, including antitrust, securities and consumer cases. The firm has a growing presence in securities litigation, with significant victories in class actions and M&A proceedings. It acts for an impressive roster of technology giants, alongside roles for major retail companies, manufacturers and financial institutions.

Paul Hastings retains a reputation for expert representation in commercial disputes on a global scale, offering expertise in areas such as real estate and major financial disputes as well as additional capabilities in securities litigation. It acts for an enviable list of domestic and international clients, including major financial institutions and real estate companies. The firm is widely respected for its trial experience and oral advocacy capabilities.

Seyfarth Shaw offers a full-service securities litigation practice with capabilities across the gamut of related disputes. It hosts a respected bench of attorneys with deep expertise advising clients in the financial sector including banks, investment firms, broker-dealers and insurance companies. The firm is a strong choice for individual officers, directors and other high-ranking executives implicated in securities actions.