Profile: Jones Day

Jones Day - Who's Who Legal '70'

What is the Who's Who Legal '70'?

The firm claims to count more than half of the Fortune 500 among its clients and its international network ensures that they can rely on the services of a truly global organisation. Jones Day’s strength is highlighted by the 50 placings in this book – up two from last year. These are divided among 17 separate practice areas.

COMPETITION AND REGULATED INDUSTRIES
The firm’s antitrust practice boasts over 100 competition specialists, seven of whom appear in our competition chapter. The group has been involved in a number of high-profile deals over the past 12 months, including advising DoubleClick on its acquisition by Google. Among other matters it is also advising XM Satellite Radio Holdings on its US$13 billion merger with Sirius Satellite Radio. Joe Sims once again leads in terms of nominations and sources noted: “He can take a hard line, but do so in a way that is very effective.” Another interviewee told us that Sims was in his “list of the top people right now”. Practice leader Phillip Proger was also consistently recommended – rivals praised him as “sharp and very good, especially with the agencies on mergers”. Kathryn Fenton completes the firm’s DC trio and was praised as “serious and highly competent”. In November 2007, Michael Sennett joined Jones Day along with three other antitrust attorneys from Bell Boyd & Lloyd in Chicago. Sennett, the former chair of Bell Boyd’s antitrust practice, is regarded by peers as “a leader of the profession” and he counsels on transactions and investigations before the DoJ, FTC and state attorneys general. His litigation credentials were also noted on a number of occasions. Bernard Amory is one of the leading lights in Brussels; he is reported to be “very effective, top of the line”. His reputation as “one of the great telecoms lawyers” sees him listed in the corresponding chapter alongside Alexandre Verheyden in Brussels and Stefano Macchi di Cellere in Milan. Thomas Jestaedt in Brussels also features prominently in the competition chapter and sources noted his extensive work on behalf of SAP, which he represented in the Oracle/PeopleSoft proceedings. Jestaedt’s state aid work is also said to be “exceptional”, as is his knowledge of the German market. Eric Morgan de Rivery in Paris is “energetic and dedicated” and received praise from clients and peers alike.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Dispute resolution is another forte at Jones Day, with prominent entries in the litigation and arbitration chapters. The business crime section is, however, where the firm shines brightest. With a total of seven entries throughout the United States, Jones Day emerges as one of the most sought-after firms for white-collar criminal defence. The greatest concentration of the firm’s talent in this area is found in California where three highly rated Jones Day practitioners make it onto our list for that state. Brian Sun in Los Angeles was an assistant US attorney in the city and served as head of a federal task force targeting sophisticated money laundering operations in the US and abroad. Brian O’Neill, from the same office, also brings government credentials to the table having served as an assistant US attorney and chief of special prosecutions in LA. John Cline in San Francisco enjoys a “reputation as a superior lawyer”. He served as co-counsel for Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby in his criminal trial in Washington, DC. Peter Romatowski oversees the firm’s SEC enforcement practice from DC and comes recommended as “excellent” and “extraordinarily good”. Daniel Reidy in Chicago is “very highly regarded” as “an exceptional trial lawyer”. Reidy formerly served as assistant US attorney and as first assistant US attorney for the northern district. Charles Carberry in New York and George Moscarino in Cleveland wrap up an excellent showing in the chapter.

The firm is also strong for arbitration, with a total of three entries. Michael Bühler leads the group and Sigvard Jarvin, of counsel to the Paris office, joins him in the chapter. The November 2007 hire of Jingzhou Tao from DLA Piper provides the group with perhaps China’s most respected name in the field of international arbitration. The arbitration group sits within the firm’s considerable litigation department of more than 1,000 lawyers. Paul Crist and Patrick McCartan, both Cleveland-based, feature in the commercial litigation section. Crist is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and comes recommended for multi-jurisdictional product liability litigation. Senior partner McCartan is also a Fellow of the College and was variously described as “excellent” and “one of the best”.

CORPORATE AND FINANCIAL
The firm’s M&A practice is the largest single element in its non-disputes business. Two of its number make the chapter – Robert Profusek in New York and Lyle Ganske in Cleveland. Ganske advised Nextel Communications in its US$46.5 billion merger-of-equals with Sprint and is partner-in-charge in the Cleveland office. Profusek chairs the firm’s M&A practice and also worked on the Nextel merger. Other clients with whom he has worked include ABM International, Blackstone Group, Disney and Goldman Sachs, to name but a few.

Richard Koppes is of counsel to Jones Day’s San Francisco office, and a “very well-regarded expert” in the field of corporate governance. He has a “depth of knowledge in the area that is all but unrivalled” and in addition to a number of directorships he is former deputy executive officer and general counsel of CalPERS – the largest US public employee pension fund, which is a leading advocate of good governance practice. Jingzhou Tao, mentioned above for his arbitration knowledge, also appears prominently for corporate advisory work and has represented a number of Fortune 500 companies as well as leading European and Japanese corporations on transactions in China.
Philippe Billot co-chairs the firm’s banking and finance practice, coordinating the group’s activity throughout its network of eight European offices. Billot was consistently recommended to researchers for his banking expertise and he regularly advises clients such as Morgan Stanley, GE Capital and HSBC on issues such as structured finance, syndicated loans, bank regulation, restructurings and workouts. Richard Kosnik, head of the New York securities practice, affords the firm a presence in the capital markets chapter. Kosnik spent four years with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and in private practice he has represented BAE Systems, Telefónica, The Bank of New York and CSFB to name but a few. Bruno Castellini joined the firm’s Milan office from Freshfields in late 2007 and gives the firm a European presence in the capital markets chapter. Arman Galledari in London is the firm’s sole entry in the project finance chapter and comes recommended as “great for oil and gas”.

TAX AND BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING
Four individuals from Jones Day make the corporate tax chapter – two on either side of the Atlantic. Ray Wiacek oversees the practice from the firm’s Washington, DC office and his work on the tax aspects of corporate transactions was noted. Clients include Bank of America, Bridgestone/Firestone and Pfizer, to name but a few. Carolyn Joy Lee joined the firm from Roberts & Holland in September 2007 and gives Jones Day an all-important presence in New York. Lee’s state and local taxation work was recognised, as was her advice relating to the taxation of real property transactions. Howard Liebman in Brussels is similarly well regarded for international tax and corporate structuring. The “outstanding” Vincent Agulhon in Paris completes the strong quartet.

Jones Day’s business restructuring and reorganisation group numbers approximately 100 lawyers and members of the team feature prominently in the corresponding chapter. Cleveland-based David Heiman founded the practice and is president of the American College of Bankruptcy Lawyers. Heiman has worked on a number of the United States’ largest chapter 11 and restructuring matters such as those for Allied Stores, Federated Department Stores, RH Macy and Imperial Home Decor. Corinne Ball co-heads the New York office’s restructuring and reorganisation group and organises the global restructuring practice; she was consistently recommended by some of the practice area’s leading lights. Simon Powell in Hong Kong affords the firm a presence in Asia.

LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
Andrew Kramer boasts a “very high profile domestically” for advising management on labour and employment matters. Kramer appears among the chapter’s most highly nominated individuals and has represented clients from a variety of industries including carmaking, newspapers, electrical and insurance. The high-profile hire of ERISA litigator Steven Sacher in Washington, DC, adds further weight to the firm’s already respected practice. Willis Goldsmith in New York, Roger King from Columbus and Lawrence DiNardo from Chicago complete the firm’s nominations.

CONSTRUCTION
The firm’s construction group numbers in excess of 65 lawyers. Members of the team have worked on high-profile projects such as Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Alameda Corridor Project in California and the JP Morgan Headquarters in New York. Daniel McMillan co-chairs the firm’s international construction practice and his dispute resolution skills were noted on a number of occasions. McMillan worked on the Alameda Corridor Project and has represented clients such as Washington Group International, Chevron and Genentech. New York-based Susanna Fodor’s transactional work on behalf of owners was brought to our attention and Craig Shuttleworth in London brings an international dimension to the firm’s listing.

Jones Day’s listing in the environment chapter is another transatlantic affair with “excellent” Ronald Janke appearing in Cleveland and Françoise Labrousse in Paris. The firm is also well known for the strength of its IP practice and two partners feature in the patent chapter. Kenneth Adamo features on our breakdown of the practice area’s high-flyers and in addition to a renowned practice in the area he has written and spoken extensively on the subject. Robert Turner in Dallas was also consistently recommended, as was Peggy Cheung in the trademarks chapter.