Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP - Who's Who Legal 70

What is the Who's Who Legal 70?

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in Who's Who Legal

	Corporate Tax
	6

	Private funds
	2

	Insolvency & Restructuring
	3

	Environment
	3

	Corporate Governance
	5

	Capital Markets
	12

	Commercial Litigation
	4

	Capital Markets
	12

	Competition
	6

	Banking
	4

	Business Crime Defence
	1

	Mergers & Acquisitions
	5

Finance is one of the firm’s particular strengths and featuring in the banking chapter is the “standout” Randall Guynn. Head of the firm’s financial institutions group, his impressive client book includes all six of the largest US, and many of the world’s leading European and Asian banking organisations. Bradley Smith, along with John Douglas have also been singled out for their banking expertise.

When it comes to capital markets Davis Polk “has long been considered a pre-eminent firm”, and once again this is reflected in our research with nine leading practitioners listed in four countries. The firm advised the underwriters of the US$19.65 billion initial public offering of Visa, the largest IPO in US history. Richard Sandler represented the banks in the Visa IPO, and is co-head of the global practice group. A “shining star of the New York bar”, according to our sources, he has represented clients such as Aetna, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. His fellow co-head Richard Truesdell has the largest convertible offering in history on his CV, the US$6.9 billion offering of perpetual convertible stock by Bank of America Corporation. In London, Paul Etienne Kumleben is “one of the best around” and has advised on transactions for companies or governments in over 25 countries. Theodore Paradise is based in Tokyo and is a “real authority” on cross-border transactions involving Japanese parties, and the “exemplary” William Barron in Hong Kong supplements his appearance with a listing in the corporate governance section.

The corporate governance practice also includes the exceptional Thomas Reid. He heads the firm’s corporate department and practises in the New York and London offices. With broad expertise, he also features in the capital markets and M&A chapters. Accompanying him in the corporate governance section are New York-based George Bason and the “great” Arthur Golden, they are also prominent in the M&A and competition chapters respectively. The highly regarded competition practice includes the “first-rate” Ronan Harty and well-respected Christopher Hockett. The “top-tier” Michael Sohn, who focuses on the antitrust aspects of mergers and acquisitions as well as government and private antitrust litigation and investigations, also features.

Davis Polk is home to three “titans of NY litigation”. Robert Fiske, “lives up to his reputation as a class act” having represented General Electric, Exxon and Bankers Trust in recent securities actions. He is also well known for his product liability expertise - he successfully defended a US$4 billion suit arising out of the Three Mile Island accident - and his antitrust work includes acting as co-counsel in the successful defence of the National Football League against a suit brought by the US Football League. He also features in the business crime defence chapter. Daniel Kolb is a former president of the New York Bar and “casts a long shadow”, while his work on behalf of clients such as major accounting firms, industrial corporations and financial institutions is rated highly. Robert Wise’s securities litigation practice also received rave reviews; he successfully defended a major underwriter in the MiniScribe securities fraud trial, and represented a series of issuers in federal securities law Rule 10B-5 class actions. He was also commended for his antitrust-related work.

With Donald Bernstein as head, the insolvency and restructuring practice is held in high esteem. He is accompanied by co-head of the group, Marshall Huebner. With six inclusions, the tax practice also continues to impress. Samuel Dimon is known as a “big name” and is highlighted as a “very good financial products lawyer”.

With an additional five inclusions since last year, Davis Polk shows its continued strength.