Debevoise & Plimpton LLP - Who's Who Legal 70

What is the Who's Who Legal 70?

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in Who's Who Legal

	Private funds
	13

	Project Finance
	1

	Real Estate
	1

	Trademarks
	2

	Corporate Tax
	6

	Commercial Litigation
	4

	Corporate Tax
	6

	Environment
	1

	Commercial Litigation
	4

	Internet & e-Commerce
	1

	Regulatory Communications
	2

	Insurance & Reinsurance
	4

	Mergers & Acquisitions
	1

	Business Crime Defence
	2

	Aviation
	1

	Arbitration
	5

	Banking
	2

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP lawyers are listed an impressive 48 times from offices across Europe and the US in this edition. The firm features lawyers in 14 chapters, and its single largest contingent is in the private funds chapter, for which is takes our law firm of the year award, securing a notable 14 listings in that section.

Debevoise was hailed as having “an extremely strong funds team in London with an impressive track record”. Geoffrey Kittredge is “an asset to the firm”, and co-chairs the European funds group with Marwan Al-Turki. Collectively they have advised clients such as Exponent, Park Square Capital and the Carlyle Group. In New York, Michael Harrell is “an undisputed leader”, whose recent work includes investment in distressed banks, natural resources and infrastructure. Michael Harrell is the co-chair of the firm’s global private equity funds and investment management groups. He is a “big player and well recognised” in the industry. David Schwartz is “an excellent name in fund of funds work” and is well known for representing HarbourVest Partners. Rebecca Silberstein is “vastly knowledgeable” and her clients include BAML Capital Partners, Stone Point Capital and Morgan Stanley. In Hong Kong Andrew Ostrognai is the chair of the firm’s private equity practice in Asia and has a “very good reputation”. The firm has a noteworthy presence in Frankfurt with the “undoubted inclusion” of Friedrich Hey, whose emphasis on US/Germany cross-border tax planning also earns him a listing in the tax chapter.

Along with Hey, four lawyers demonstrate Debevoise’s tax expertise. In New York, Andrew Berg is hailed internationally as a “terrific lawyer”. Gary Friedman is “top-tier” on the tax aspects of multi-jurisdictional M&A deals. Peter Schuur has extensive experience advising on tax matters for corporate transactions in the insurance industry. In Paris Pierre-Pascal Bruneau is “well regarded”.

This year entrants from New York and London represent the firm’s dispute resolution practice, with many of them featuring in both the arbitration and litigation chapters. Chair of the firm’s litigation department and former director of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, Mary Jo White is “as good as it gets” in the industry. She also appears in the business crime chapter for her white-collar crime work, alongside W Neil Eggleston. John Kiernan’s practice covers a range of commercial and quasi-commercial litigation, arbitration and internal investigations. David W Rivkin is a “smart litigator” and a “world-class arbitrator” with experience before virtually every major arbitration institution. Donald Donovan was repeatedly commended to researchers as a leading international arbitration lawyer. Mark Friedman received a lot of nominations from his peers for his internal investigations work and knowledge of international corruption matters. He has extensive experience litigating for commercial clients. He is based jointly in New York and London, where he appears alongside arbitration lawyer Sophie Lamb, whose “reputation is growing very quickly”, and the “legendary” former UK attorney-general Lord Goldsmith QC.

Based in New York, “senior statesman” Wolcott Dunham is lauded for his “client-based approach”, specialising in regulatory compliance work and advising clients on the Dodd-Frank legislation. Nicholas Potter is “well respected” as co-chair of the firm’s financial institutions group. In London Jeremy Hill is “an absolute must for inclusion” for the insurance chapter. He is “one of the best insurance lawyers” according to one interviewee.

The firm’s regulatory communications teams are also well recognised. Jeffrey Cunard in DC leads the firm’s corporate intellectual property and information technology practices. He specialises in licence, joint ventures and outsourcing arrangements. Dmitri Nikiforov is chair of Debevoise’s Moscow office, and principally specialises in regulatory work for natural resource companies.

Debevoise enjoys a level of expertise that extends into the trademarks, internet, construction, insolvency and restructuring, aviation and environment chapters.