Ms Mary Jo White > Debevoise & Plimpton LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

With a strong international presence, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a go-to firm for clients seeking guidance on complex cross-border investigations. The team has a broad range of experience advising on matters related to money laundering, tax violations, environmental crimes, and embezzlement, among others. The white-collar and regulatory defense team is co-led by David O’Neil in Washington DC and Helen Cantwell in New York. O’Neil stands out for his work defending individuals who are facing high-profile investigations, while Cantwell is especially recommended for sensitive investigations such as allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace. Based in Washington DC, Kara Brockmeyer is another prominent member of the team who routinely advises on internal investigations and compliance matters. The firm also has a strong team located in New York, which includes Andrew Ceresney, Mary Jo White, and Bruce Yannett. In particular, Yannett is noted for his expertise in FCPA matters. Lisa Zornberg departed the New York office in August 2023.

Clients praise Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in New York for ‘willing to go the extra mile’. Acting for major corporations in high-stakes securities litigation in federal and state courts around the country, the firm frequently handles stock-drop class actions, derivative actions alleging breaches of fiduciary duty, and related federal and state regulatory investigations. The practice is led by experienced partners Maeve O’Connor in New York and Jonathan Tuttle in Washington DC, who is also involved in cutting-edge areas of litigation, notably cases concerning cryptocurrency assets. Mary Jo White and Andrew Ceresney are acting for Ripple Labs in a putative class action concerning the marketing and sale of the virtual currency XRP. O’Connor and  emerging partner talent Elliot Greenfield are currently acting for cloud infrastructure and digital workspace technology company VMWare in a class action and a derivative action, which faces allegations of breaching fiduciary duties, insider trading, and unjust enrichment. Another up-and-coming partner is Susan Reagan Gittes, who frequently acts for insurance companies.