Andrew Levine > Debevoise & Plimpton LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP‘s litigation practice has extensive knowledge in various areas of litigation, with expertise in white-collar matters and regulatory defense, along with commercial litigation and international arbitration. Intellectual property is another mainstay of the practice that has a presence across the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Andrew Ceresney is the head of the team, frequently representing public companies, financial institutions, asset management firms, and accounting firms, bringing experience from his time with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Mary Beth Hogan co-chairs the practice, with a focus on intricate investigations. Also of note is Catherine Amirfar, working on public international law and treaty arbitration, representing clients in federal and state courts, as well as before the ICJ and arbitration tribunals internationally. The experience of Andrew Levine  with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and David O’Neil with FCPA defense and congressional investigations, adds to the capabilities of the team. Bruce Yannett chairs the white-collar and regulatory defense part of the practice, with Ina C. Popova highly active in international litigation and arbitration. All members of the team are based in New York.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a pioneer in international investigations, especially in Latin America. The practice group is at the forefront of internal and public investigations by civil regulators and public prosecutors; and it has an established background in anti-corruption, including FCPA compliance. Building on its prominent roles in connection with the headline Operation Lava Jato and FIFA corruption scandals, the group is active across the region, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. New York partner Andrew Levine is widely recognised as a leading figure in Latin America investigations and compliance, notably representing a range of multinational corporates, private equity houses and other financial sponsors in connection with matters in the region. The firm also has a deep bench of white-collar crime, regulatory defence and internal investigations specialist partners who are active in Latin America, including former chief of the SEC Enforcement Division’s FCPA Unit, Kara Brockmeyer; along with David O’Neil, who is co-chair of the white-collar and regulatory defence group. Partners are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has a longstanding presence in Latin America M&A where it continues to be particularly noted for financial services and insurance deals. More broadly, the practice has developed a further reputation for energy and infrastructure transactions and is at the forefront of private equity and financial sponsor-related deals in the region; one recent headline mandate involved advising Southern Cross Group on its sale of Esmax Distribución to Aramco. The Latin America team is also noted for its work in emerging technologies. ‘Outstanding‘ David Grosgold is a Colombia native with an increasing focus on Latin America, particularly Colombia and Chile, and is widely recognised for his financial services and insurance expertise. Counsel Sergio Torres is from Brazil but his practice is primarily centred on Latin America as a whole and he plays a pivotal role in many of the firm’s M&A and private equity deals in the region. The core Latin America corporate and M&A team frequently works alongside colleagues in its leading white-collar and regulatory defence practice, including Latin America-focused Andrew Levine, in relation to anti-corruption due diligence. Co-head of the Latin America group and ‘excellent M&A lawyer’, Maurizio Levi-Minzi is to retire in 2024. All named individuals are based in New York.