Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Alisa Waxman is a corporate partner and a member of the firm’s Investment Management Group. Her practice focuses on advising sponsors of private equity funds, including buyout, growth, venture, energy, infrastructure and credit opportunities funds. Ms. Waxman’s recent experience includes acting for clients such as Ara Partners, Bain Capital, Brookfield Asset Management, Clearwater Capital Partners, EIG Global Energy Partners, Fortress Investment Group, Global Atlantic, Global Infrastructure Partners, KKR, Newport Global Advisors, Leeds Equity Partners, Oak HC/FT, Providence Equity Partners, PSG and Vinci Partners. Ms. Waxman is recommended by Chambers Global (2023) and Chambers USA (2023), where clients note she is “technically strong and super smart.” In previous editions of the guide, she has been described as “smart, business-savvy and extremely responsive.” She has also been named a Rising Star by Law360 (2022). Ms. Waxman joined Debevoise in 2011. Ms. Waxman received a J.D. from University of Pennsylvania Law School cum laude in 2011, where she was a comments editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. She received a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish Literature summa cum laude from Temple University in 2006, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Andrew Ford

ndrew Ford is a corporate partner based in Debevoise's New York office and a member of the firm’s Investment Management Group. Mr. Ford represents U.S. alternative asset managers on the structuring and establishment of a variety of global and geographically specific private alternative investment products, including the organization of traditional private investment funds and co-investment structures and the establishment of bespoke separately managed accounts and platforms. He has experience in raising private alternative investment funds, targeting investments in the private equity, infrastructure and natural resources sectors, as well as investment products sourcing distressed investment opportunities and engaging in loan origination activities. Mr. Ford is recognized by both Chambers Global (2023) and Chambers USA (2023), with the guides describing him as “an extremely strong advisor,” who is “really detail-oriented” and “hyper-focused on delivering the best client service.” He is also said to be “extraordinarily business-focused,” “an excellent lawyer,” a “very effective negotiator” who is “technically superb” and a “very clever and astute operator” with a “burgeoning reputation” in the funds arena. He is praised for his “encyclopedic knowledge” of the structuring and establishment of private equity funds, with clients noting that he is “a very smart negotiator. He is able to craft convincing arguments to advance his client’s interests.” Mr. Ford joined the firm in 2019. He received his LL.B., with honors, from the University of Nottingham in 2003 and a Diploma in Legal Practice from Nottingham Law School in 2004. Mr. Ford is admitted as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales and is also admitted to the bar in New York.

Andrew Ahern

Andrew Ahern is a corporate partner based in Debevoise's New York and a member of the firm’s Investment Management Group. His practice focuses on advising sponsors of private investment funds, including buyout, energy and infrastructure, and credit opportunities, venture capital and funds of funds. He is also a member of the Alternative Assets Transactions and Liquidity Solutions Group, where he regularly advises leading fund sponsors and investors in connection with complex secondary transactions, including fund restructurings and recapitalizations, GP-led tender offers and stapled secondary offerings. Mr. Ahern's recent experience includes acting for clients such as EIG, HarbourVest Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Oak HC/FT, Providence Equity Partners, Sequoia Capital, Silver Lake Waterman, StepStone Group and VWH Capital Management. Mr. Ahern is recommended by Chambers Global (2023) and Chambers USA (2023), where clients have noted his focus on client service and his “attention to detail, nuance and ability to anticipate business issues.” They comment that he provides “very sound advice” and he is “very commercial.” He is said to be “a tremendous attorney,” who is “very practical … and is able to get to a business-oriented solution and cut to the chase.” He has also been described as “extremely intelligent” and “very experienced in fund formation matters and in fund restructurings.” He is also recommended by IFLR1000 (2022) and was recognized as an MVP by Law360 (2019) for fund formation. Mr. Ahern joined the firm in 2005. He graduated in 2002 with a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Bucknell University and received a J.D. in 2005 from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Kent Scholar and member of the Columbia Law Review. He is admitted to practice in New York and California.

Andrew Levine

He is well recognized in the region and elsewhere for defending companies and individuals in criminal, civil and regulatory enforcement matters and for conducting internal investigations. Mr. Levine serves as the go-to anti-corruption adviser to numerous leading global companies and represents many clients on corruption-related matters in Latin America, including the Lava Jato, Zelotes, Carne Fraca and FIFA scandals. He has led important representations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, among other countries.

Andrew Ceresney

Partner

Avi Gesser

Mr. Gesser is Co-Chair of the firm’s Data Strategy & Security Group. His practice focuses on advising major companies on a wide range of cybersecurity, privacy and artificial intelligence matters.

Bruce Yannett

He focuses on white collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement and internal investigations. He represents a broad range of companies, financial institutions and their executives in matters involving securities fraud, accounting fraud, foreign bribery, cybersecurity, insider trading, and money laundering.

Bruce Yannett

Caroline Swett

Caroline Swett is a partner and member of the firm’s Financial Institutions Banking, Special Situations and ESG Groups. She advises domestic and foreign banks and other financial institutions on a wide range of regulatory, enforcement and transactional matters. Ms. Swett has particular experience advising financial institutions on complex Regulation W issues, governance mechanisms and practices, supervisory examinations and downgrades, regulatory permissibility, charter formations and Fintech acquisitions.

Catherine Amirfar

Catherine Amirfar is Co-Chair of Debevoise’s International Dispute Resolution Group and the Public International Law Group, and a member of the firm’s Management Committee.

Christopher Ford

Christopher S. Ford is a counsel in the Litigation Department who is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Group and Data Strategy & Security practice. Mr. Ford has litigated trademark, trade dress, and false advertising cases in federal court and before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board, and regularly advises clients on issues relating to their trademark and brand management. He is a member of the International Trademark Association’s Non-Traditional Marks committee and has been the chair of its U.S. Litigation task force since 2020. He has guest lectured on trademark and trade dress issues at New York University School of Law and Rutgers School of Law.

Christopher Anthony

He has worked extensively on acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures for both private equity and corporate clients.

David O"Neil

His practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, anti-corruption and FCPA defense and congressional investigations.

David Schwartz

David Schwartz is a corporate partner in the Investment Management Group and a leader in the firm’s Alternative Assets Transactions and Liquidity Solutions Group. He is also a member of the Private Equity Group. Mr. Schwartz represents sponsors of, and institutional investors in, private investment funds, including buyout, emerging markets, funds of funds, infrastructure, real estate and venture capital funds, as well as separate and other managed accounts. He also advises sponsors and investors in connection with complex secondary transactions, including traditional sales and purchases of fund interests, listed fund transactions, secondary direct transactions, “manager for hire” arrangements, synthetic secondaries, “stapled” primary and secondary transactions and fund recapitalizations and restructurings. Mr. Schwartz represents numerous private equity clients, including Capital International, Ford Foundation, HarbourVest Partners, Morgan Stanley and major sovereign wealth funds.

David Grosgold

His practice focuses on domestic and cross-border corporate transactions in the financial services and insurance industries, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, reinsurance and bancassurance transactions in the U.S., Latin America and Asia.

David G. Sewell

Counsel

David H. Bernstein

David H. Bernstein is one of the world’s most prominent trademark lawyers. Many of the world’s most recognizable brands have relied on him to help them navigate high-stakes IP claims. Mr. Bernstein is also one of the world’s leading domain name arbitrators, an active mediator in trademark cases, an adjunct professor of law at New York University and George Washington University, a faculty member at the Federal Judicial Center and the World Intellectual Property Organization, the author of amicus briefs in many of the leading trademark cases in the United States, and an active leader of the International Trademark Association, where he has served as Counsel, a member of the Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Annual Meeting, and Chair of the International Amicus, Emerging Issues and Meetings Committees. He is described by various legal directories as a “rockstar,” “the dean of the IP litigation bar,” and “indisputably one of the very best trademark lawyers in the country.”

Dietmar Prager

Dietmar W. Prager is a litigation partner at Debevoise’s New York office who focuses his practice on international arbitration and litigation. He co-leads Debevoise’s Latin America Practice Group.

Donald F. Donovan

He serves as Co-Chair of Debevoise’s Public International Law Group and for some 20 years also served as Co-Chair of its International Disputes Group. He serves as counsel in international disputes before international courts, international arbitration tribunals, and courts in the United States.

Erez Liebermann

Erez Liebermann is a litigation partner and a member of the firm’s Data Strategy & Security Group. His practice focuses on advising major businesses on a wide range of complex, high-impact cyber-incident response matters and on data-related regulatory requirements. With decades of experience in data issues as a litigator, federal prosecutor and senior in-house counsel at a global insurance company, Mr. Liebermann regularly advises clients at the C-suite and board level on building strategies to reduce their data-related regulatory and reputational risks, and on navigating high-profile government investigations following data incidents.

Eric Juergens

Capital Markets

Gregory Lyons

His practice focuses on serving the needs of financial institutions, as well as private equity and other entities that invest in financial institutions, with a particular emphasis on domestic and cross-border bank regulatory, transactional and examination matters. His practice includes U.S. and foreign bank regulatory, formation, merger, conversion, structuring securities and securities finance work, risk capital and trust matters and corporate and securities law matters. Mr. Lyons has represented banking and other financial institutions before the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state banking and securities regulatory agencies. He has extensive experience counseling clients in the securities, securities finance, insurance and other non-banking financial service sectors regarding acquiring, leveraging and ongoing ownership of banking institutions, as well as advising banking organizations with non-traditional banking activities and assisting clients in the analysis of associated business and regulatory risks.

Guilherme Recena Costa

Mr. Recena Costa has a particular focus on disputes arising in the mining, energy and financial sectors, as well as broad experience of matters involving Latin America in general and, in particular, Brazil. He has represented clients in matters under the ICC, ICSID, LCIA, NIA and UNCITRAL Rules and under various substantive laws and has also advised on ancillary court proceedings in a number of jurisdictions. Mr. Recena Costa has recently represented clients in disputes concerning the expropriation of mining rights, breaches of mining investment agreements and various M&A, commercial and tax-related agreements. He has worked closely with mining industry experts to deal with complex technical issues, with valuation experts to assess damages and with tax experts to address tax claims and structures.

Henry Lebowitz

His practice focuses on leading the IP and technology aspects of mergers and acquisitions, financings, capital markets and other corporate transactions. Mr. Lebowitz has advised companies on complex transactions, litigation, portfolio development and other IP matters in an array of industries. He also regularly assists clients in evaluating patents, trademarks and other intellectual property, developing effective IP portfolios, assessing the merits of IP-related litigation and other disputes and implementing strategies to avoid or favorably resolve such disputes.

Ina C. Popova

Ina C. Popova is a partner in the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group, and her practice focuses on international arbitration, international litigation and public international law.

Jane Engelhardt

Jane Engelhardt is the head of the primary investor-side practice. She is a partner and a member of the Investment Management and Private Equity Groups, as well as a leader of the Private Fund Transactions Group. Her practice involves a wide variety of private equity and venture funds and focuses on representations of clients in connection with primary investments and secondary transactions, including traditional sales and purchases of fund interests, and “stapled” primary and secondary transactions, fund structured co-investments, anchor/seed investments and platform arrangements. Her clients include Citigroup, HarbourVest Partners, The Ford Foundation, J.P. Morgan, Liberty Mutual Insurance, The Nature Conservancy, PSP Investments, Prudential Insurance Company, Sequoia Capital, Silk Road Fund, Pantheon Ventures, OMERS and Zurich Alternative Asset Management as well as sovereign wealth funds and family offices. Ms. Engelhardt is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers Global (2023) and Chambers USA (2023), where clients note that she is “analytical and practical while providing a great market perspective.” Sources say she is “a total superstar,” “one of the best in the industry,” “amazing” and “her depth of knowledge is very thorough, she’s very practical and her customer service is great.” She has also been described as a “very experienced campaigner who makes points with vigor and makes a very sound legal argument.” Ms. Engelhardt joined the firm in 1996. She received a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1996, where she was a Stone Scholar all three years, and an M.A. and an M.Phil. from Columbia University in English and Comparative Literature. Ms. Engelhardt received her A.B. from Bryn Mawr College.

Jared Kagan

Jared Kagan is a counsel in the firm’s Intellectual Property group. His practice includes litigation and counselling on trademark, false advertising, copyright, and defamation matters, and has litigated cases in both state and federal court, before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and before the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau.

Jasmine Ball

Jasmine Ball is a corporate partner and member of the firm’s Restructuring Group. Ms. Ball regularly represents debtors, investors, creditors and other parties in distressed mergers & acquisitions, workouts, debt and equity financing and refinancing, complex restructurings and Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Ms. Ball is recognized by The Legal 500 US (2014–2023), where she is praised for her “extensive knowledge of the bankruptcy code, combined with in-depth knowledge on how to leverage and negotiate matters with a broad range of often competing stakeholders,” and her “strong management skills and critical thinking.” She is also noted as “calm, focused,” and “thoughtful and smart.” She is listed as a Notable Practitioner for Restructuring and Insolvency by IFLR1000 (2022) Ms. Ball is among the winners of The M&A Advisor’s 2022 Restructuring Community Impact Award and Restructuring Deal of the Year Award (Over $5B), as well as AirFinance Journal’s Asia-Pacific Deal of the Year Award and Airline Economics’ Asia Pacific Restructuring Deal of the Year Award, each for her role as restructuring counsel to Philippine Airlines. She was previously among the winners of The M&A Advisor’s 2021 Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year (over $1B) for her role as counsel to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board as co-sponsor of Neiman Marcus in its Chapter 11 restructuring. Ms. Ball was among the winners of Turnaround Management Association’s 2018 International Restructuring of the Year, Global M&A Network’s Turnaround Atlas Awards 2018 Corporate Turnaround of the Year and M&A Advisor’s 2017 Restructuring Deal of the Year ($1B to $5B) for her role as aircraft counsel to CHC Group in its successful Chapter 11 proceedings, as well as Turnaround Management Association’s 2016 Transaction of the Year: Large Company Award for her role in advising Altegrity in its Chapter 11 proceedings and successful restructuring of more than $1.8 billion in funded indebtedness. She was also a recipient of Turnaround Management Association’s 2014 Transaction of the Year: Mega Company Award for her role in advising American Airlines and AMR, as special aircraft counsel, in their highly successful Chapter 11 proceedings. Ms. Ball has been named a 2015 recipient of the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business awards and recognized as an Outstanding Young Restructuring Lawyer (2013) by Turnarounds & Workouts. Ms. Ball is an author of the Collier Business Workout Guide (Matthew Bender, 2022) and a contributing author to the Collier Guide to Chapter 11: Key Topics and Selected Industries (Matthew Bender, 2016). Other publications include: “Recent Court Decisions Add Potential Risks in Workout Transactions,” Journal of Corporate Renewal (2016); “Restructuring Aircraft Leases in Bankruptcy,” Jetrader (2014); “Rules of the Road: Buying Distressed Assets,” Bankruptcy Law360 and Corporate Finance Law360 (2010); “In the Zone,” The Deal (2009); “Duties of Directors of Distressed Companies: Avoiding an Intrinsic Fairness Review,” Debevoise & Plimpton Private Equity Report (2009); “The Duties of Private Equity Directors of Distressed Companies,” Directors & Boards Boardroom Briefing (2009); “Caution Ahead: Rules of the Road for Buying Assets from Distressed Companies,” Debevoise & Plimpton Private Equity Report (2009); “Alert: Duties of Directors of Distressed Companies: An Update and Refresher,” Debevoise & Plimpton Private Equity Report (2008); “Section 363 Sales: How to Play the Game,” Debevoise & Plimpton Private Equity Report (2007); “Distressed Deals: Section 363 M&A: How to Play the Game,” The Deal (2007); and “The Globopar Financial Restructuring: A New Model for International Workouts,” International Corporate Rescue (2006). Ms. Ball has presented at the International Air Transport Association, Airline Economics’ Aviation and Finance Leasing School, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the American Bar Association, the Practising Law Institute, the American College of Investment Counsel, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, among others. Ms. Ball is a member of the Bar of the State of New York and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Ms. Ball is Board Advisor of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) New York Chapter and serves on the Board of Directors of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY). She is also a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Turnaround Management Association, the TMA New York Academic Relations Committee, the International Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the Advisory Board of Practical Law Bankruptcy. She is also a member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council and is active in various Asian legal associations, including Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and Asian American Bar Association activities. Ms. Ball received her B.S. from Princeton University and her J.D. from the University of Michigan, where she was an executive editor of the Journal of International Law.

Jason Auerbach

Jason Auerbach is a partner based in the New York office and a member of the firm’s Investment Management Group. His practice focuses on advising sponsors of private investment funds, co-investment vehicles and separately managed accounts covering numerous sectors and strategies including buyout, fund of funds, secondaries and growth capital funds. Mr. Auerbach’s recent experience includes acting for clients such as Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and HarbourVest Partners.

Jeffrey Robins

His practice focuses on representing broker-dealers, swap dealers, banks, securities exchanges, industry associations and buy-side institutions in regulatory and transactional matters. Throughout his career, Mr. Robins has carved out a reputation as a leading broker-dealer and derivatives lawyer with a sophisticated practice. He has substantial experience helping clients navigate registration, margin, capital, custody, and sales and trading issues, cross-border transactions, structuring transactions using multiple regulated entities, the development of compliance and supervisory policies and procedures, the regulatory characterization of securities and derivatives transactions and a number of other regulatory issues. He also has extensive transactional experience in bilateral financing and derivatives transactions, particularly those that are heavily regulated.

Jennifer Chu

Her practice focuses on advising corporations and private equity firms in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other corporate matters, across a broad range of industries with a particular focus on transactions in the healthcare, financial services and insurance industries.

Jim Pastore

Jim Pastore is a litigation partner and a member of the firm’s Data Strategy & Security practice and Intellectual Property Litigation Group. From 2009 to 2014, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Southern District of New York, where he was assigned to the Complex Frauds Unit and Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Section. He successfully litigated eight jury trials to verdict and was the lead prosecutor in United States v. Monsegur, a/k/a “Sabu” and Operation Cardshop, both of which were named to the FBI’s top 10 cases of 2012. Mr. Pastore also led Operation Dirty R.A.T., which targeted the creators and users of Blackshades ransom and malware, resulting in the largest ever worldwide law enforcement action against cybercriminals. In connection with the so-called “doomsday virus,” Mr. Pastore obtained a unique order to prevent catastrophic Internet outage.

Jim Pastore

He is a recognized leader in the field, is regularly quoted in the press, and has extensive experience responding to, investigating and litigating data breaches, both in private practice and during his tenure as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York. He holds a dual degree in English and computer applications, and served as an adjunct professor of cybersecurity at Cardozo Law School. Clients across a range of industries have called on Mr. Pastore to assist with cybersecurity and data privacy advice, with a particular focus on breach response.

Joe Binder

Joe Binder is a corporate partner and a member of Debevoise's Investment Management Group. His practice focuses on advising established and emerging sponsors on all aspects of private investment funds, including fund formation and ongoing fund and management company operations. Mr. Binder’s experience includes acting for clients such as Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, HarbourVest Partners, Crescent Capital Group, Stone Point Capital, Morgan Stanley, and One Rock Capital. Mr. Binder first joined Debevoise as an associate in the tax and investment management groups in 2013, and later spent time as Associate General Counsel at Debevoise client, Sequoia Capital. He rejoined the firm as a counsel in 2022. He earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School summa cum laude in 2013. Mr. Binder is the co-author of “A Model for Measuring the Expected Value of Assuming Tax-Partnership Liability,” an article published by the Brooklyn Journal of Corporate, Financial & Commercial Law in 2013. He received a B.A. magna cum laude from Northeastern Illinois University in 2008. Prior to law school, Mr. Binder worked as a communications consultant to nonprofit organizations in New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.

Jonathan Adler

Jonathan Adler is a corporate partner based in Debevoise's New York office and a member of the firm’s Investment Management Group. His practice focuses on advising sponsors of private investment funds, including buyout, growth capital, energy, infrastructure and credit funds. In addition to his work with U.S. and European funds, Mr. Adler has also advised clients in establishing private equity funds, offices and joint ventures in various emerging markets, including Africa, India and South America. Mr. Adler’s recent experience includes acting for clients such as The Carlyle Group, Carmel Partners, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Crescent Capital Group, Global Infrastructure Partners, JP Morgan, KKR, Prudential Capital Group, Trimaran Capital Partners and Vinci Partners. Mr. Adler is ranked as a leading lawyer for private equity funds by Chambers Global (2023) and Chambers USA (2023), where clients note that he is “a very smart practitioner who has a strong knowledge of the market” and he has “an incredible ability to synthesize complex information.” Sources have also said that “he cuts to the heart of a problem quickly and he’s quick thinker.” They have described him as “a supremely talented fund formation lawyer providing thoughtful and commercial advice; he is very creative.” Clients have also noted that he has a “fine combination of really good technical skills and a really good sense of the commercial and practical realities” and that he is “an extraordinary lawyer; he's very thoughtful and brings a commercial, get-things-resolved attitude.” He was named to Private Funds Management’s “30 Under 40”, which recognizes the top private equity funds lawyers under the age of 40. He was also named a Rising Star by Law360 (2017) and is recommended by IFLR1000 (2022). Mr. Adler joined the firm in 2005. He received a J.D. magna cum laude from New York University in 2005, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif, and a B.S. from Cornell University in 2002. Mr. Adler is admitted to the bar in New York.

Justin Storms

Justin Storms is a corporate partner based in Debevoise's New York office and a member of the firm’s Investment Management Group. Mr. Storms represents clients in a wide range of activities in the private alternative investment space, including the organization of traditional private investment funds and co-investment structures, the establishment of bespoke separately managed accounts and platforms, the development of “house” governance and compensation structures, and select representations of institutional investors. Mr. Storms’ recent experience includes acting for clients such as Carlyle, HarbourVest Partners and KKR, among others. Recognized as a leading individual for private equity funds by Chambers Global (2023) and Chambers USA (2023), sources highlight Mr. Storms’ ability to provide “practical and insightful advice for challenging issues.” They say “he understands his clients’ needs and cuts through issues to find a solution.” He is also said to be “a thoughtful adviser,” “a resourceful and hands-on partner,” and “a sophisticated, savvy, commercial lawyer who works tirelessly to deliver high-quality work.” The guides have also described him as “detail-orientated,” “a premier negotiator,” “technically very strong,” “incredibly insightful” and as a “fount of knowledge in fund formation matters.” He receives further praise from clients for his “incredibly deep understanding of the issues at hand” and for being “an extremely commercial and practical lawyer” who is “able to come up with smart and creative solutions.” Mr. Storms joined the firm in 2019. He received his B.A. summa cum laude from The University of Texas in 2000 and a J.D. magna cum laude from New York University School of Law in 2003. He is admitted to practice in New York.

Kara Brockmeyer

Kara Brockmeyer is a litigation partner whose practice focuses on representing companies and individuals in anti-corruption, fraud and related government investigations and internal investigations, as well as advising on deal due diligence and compliance matters.

Kevin Schmidt

He has worked extensively on acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic investments, including cross-border transactions for both private equity and corporate clients.

Laura Sinisterra

Laura Sinisterra is a partner in the firm's International Dispute Resolution Group in New York.

Lorna Bowen

Lorna Bowen, Chair of the U.S. Investment Management Group, is a corporate partner based in Debevoise's New York office. Her practice focuses on advising international asset managers on the establishment and operation of private fund products across the alternative fund spectrum, including private credit, distressed debt, infrastructure, private equity and other products in the illiquid closed-end fund space, funds of funds and alternative open-end fund products. Ms. Bowen’s practice also has an emphasis on the development of tailored investment platforms and structured solutions for strategic institutional investors. She has experience in a wide range of corporate transactions in the sector, seeding/start-up financing deals, joint ventures and co-investments. Ms. Bowen is recommended by Chambers Global (2023) and Chambers USA (2023), where sources highlight her “depth and breadth” in the private equity funds space, noting that she has “great checks on emerging issues.” She has also been described as “technically savvy” with “a great mind for complexity.” She receives further praise from clients who have said that she is “very commercial and solution-oriented,” and “a terrific and responsive lawyer” who is “very astute at getting to the nub of the issue.” The guides have described her as “smart, practical, expeditious and well respected” and “an excellent lawyer, on top of her brief and very focused on getting the result her client wants.” Ms. Bowen is also recognized by IFLR1000 (2022). Ms. Bowen joined the firm in 2019. She received a Bachelor of Civil Law (Euro Legal Studies) from University College Dublin (Université de Rouen) and is admitted to the New York Bar. She is also admitted as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales.

Luke Dembosky

Luke Dembosky co-chairs Debevoise & Plimpton’s global Data Strategy and Security practice. He advises companies on managing cyber risks, responding to cyber incidents and handling related internal investigations and regulatory defense.

Marc Ponchione

Marc Ponchione, a partner in Debevoise's Investment Management Group, focuses on advising financial services firms on various regulatory, compliance and transactional issues arising in the asset management industry. Mr. Ponchione is based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Mr. Ponchione represents asset managers, funds, sponsors and issuers of financial products on a broad range of regulatory and transactional issues inside and outside the United States. He regularly advises clients on issues under the federal securities laws, including the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 as well as various other regulations affecting investment managers, funds and financial product sponsors. Mr. Ponchione is ranked as a leading lawyer for Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance by Chambers Global (2023) and Chambers USA (2023), where clients note that he is “dependable ... very responsive and [he] delivers excellent work product.” He has also been described as “intelligent, thoughtful, diligent and practical.” Mr. Ponchione is further recognized by IFLR1000 (2022) as a Notable Practitioner for Investment Funds and Financial Services Regulatory. From 2001 to 2006, he served as senior counsel at the Securities and Exchange Commission (Division of Investment Management). Mr. Ponchione serves on the American Bar Association Subcommittee on Hedge Funds, the American Bar Association Subcommittee on Investment Companies and Investment Advisers and the New York City Bar Committee on Investment Management Regulation. He frequently writes on investment management best practices and issues for various legal and business publications, and is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Ponchione received his B.A. from Marietta College in 1996 and his J.D. from Duquesne University in 1999. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Marietta College.

Mark Friedman

His practice concentrates on international arbitration and litigation, and he also has broad experience in civil and criminal matters. Mr. Friedman has represented clients in a wide variety of complex commercial and Investor-State disputes across many industry sectors, including energy, mining, finance, insurance, construction, shareholder relationships, joint ventures, media, telecommunications and manufacturing. He has acted as counsel or arbitrator in disputes under the rules of the ICC, LCIA, AAA, ICDR, CPR, UNCITRAL and ICSID.

Mark W. Friedman

Mark W. Friedman is a litigation partner, Co-Chair of the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group and a member of the Special Situations team.

Mary Beth Hogan

Litigation

Mary Jo White

Partner, Senior Chair

Matthew Kaplan

Capital Markets

Maurizio Levi-Minzi

He has nearly 30 years of experience advising clients in complex joint ventures and cross-border acquisitions of a broad variety of assets in sectors such as energy, technology, asset management infrastructure and consumer products. Mr. Levi-Minzi has led transactions in Latin America, the United States, Europe and Asia for private equity groups and strategic investors including Ambev, Barrick, Brookfield, BTG Pactual, Carlyle, Clessidra, CPPIB, CSN, GP Investments, H.I.G. Capital Management and Mitsui.

Megan K. Bannigan

Her practice focuses on trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, false advertising, design patents, rights of publicity, licensing and other contractual disputes. She represents clients across a range of industries, including consumer products, cosmetics, entertainment, fashion and luxury goods, financial services, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, professional sports and technology. Ms. Bannigan has extensive trial experience, helping to secure an over $20 million jury verdict for client Learning Annex in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, among other matters. She also has experience representing clients before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and the International Trade Commission.

Michael Gillespie

Over three decades, Mr. Gillespie has served as trusted advisor to some of the largest companies and groups globally. His work has covered a broad span, from M&A and other strategic transactions to critical governance, compliance and risk management issues. He has served on Debevoise’s Management Committee and is a senior member of the M&A, TMT and Latin America groups, among others. Mr. Gillespie is also Co-Head of Diversity & Inclusion at the firm.

Natalie Reid

Natalie Reid is a partner in the firm’s International Dispute Resolution Group, co-chair of the firm’s Public International Law Group, and co-chair of the Caribbean practice. She also serves as Co-Chair of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the firm.

Paul Bird

His practice focuses on advising private equity firms, public companies, boards of directors and special committees in connection with mergers & acquisitions and other significant corporate matters, including cross-border transactions, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs and takeover defense. He also regularly counsels corporations and their directors on corporate governance and fiduciary duty matters. A former member of the firm’s Management Committee, Mr. Bird was Co-Chair of the firm’s Corporate Department from 2010 to 2016 and Co-Head of the firms’ Mergers & Acquisitions Practice from 2001 to 2010.

Paul Rodel

Capital Markets

Paul Brusiloff

Finance

Rebecca Silberstein

Ms. Silberstein, Global Chair of Debevoise’s Investment Management Group, oversees the firm’s funds practice in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Ms. Silberstein was previously Co-Chair of the firm’s Private Equity Group for over a decade, and has built a leading fund formation practice over her nearly 30 years at the firm. She focuses on advising private equity firms and financial sponsors of private investment funds, including global private equity, leveraged buyout, energy and infrastructure, banking and financial services, mezzanine, credit and distressed debt funds, as well as bespoke funds and separate accounts. She also advises on regulatory matters, carry plans, employee investment programs and acquisitions and dispositions of interests in private equity firms, as well as joint ventures and strategic partnerships, management team spin-outs and the establishment of new private equity firms. Ms. Silberstein’s clients include Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Credit Suisse, Global Infrastructure Partners, Investcorp, Kelso & Company, Morgan Stanley, One Rock Capital and Stone Point Capital. Ms. Silberstein was named to The American Lawyer’s “45 Under 45” list of the top women lawyers, where she is applauded for building a high-profile practice with “a unique mix of tenacity and grace.” Ms. Silberstein is ranked in the top band for private equity fund formation by Chambers USA (2023), where she is said to be a “a fierce advocate for her clients,” “proactive, smart, and commercial” and “technically skilled.” The guide has described her as “an impressive lawyer [who] has her pulse on what’s happening in the field” and a “fantastic” lawyer who is “very practical, very smart and really knows the industry.” Sources say she is “a luminary,” with clients praising her for her understanding of “the nuances of our business and the market.” The guides have also described her as “a fount of knowledge,” and “a market leader.” She has received extensive praise from clients, who laud her “great advocacy and great representation in the context of a very commercial backdrop” and endorse her “incredibly thoughtful and business-minded approach,” noting that “she has a tremendous understanding of the issues that are unique to this industry and is a standout negotiator.” She is recognized as a top-tier lawyer in Chambers Global (2023), and in previous editions of the guide, sources say she “always understands the issues, is very commercial in her approach and understands our business and sensitivities well.” Ms. Silberstein has also been named a Notable Woman in Law by Crain’s New York Business (2019), listed as a Most Highly Regarded Individual in New York for private funds by Who’s Who Legal Private Funds: Formation (2017), and she is noted as a highly regarded lawyer for Investment Funds Private Funds in the United States by IFLR1000 (2022). In 2016, she was named “Best in Investment Funds” at the fifth annual Americas Women in Business Law Awards presented by Euromoney Legal Media Group. Ms. Silberstein served as the New York City Bar Association’s 2018-2021 Chair of the Private Investment Funds Committee and has been a leader of the International Bar Association’s Investment Funds Committee for over a decade, serving as 2017–2018 Co-Chair of the Committee. She was the 2014 Chair and is a leading member of the Private Investment Funds Forum and is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences. She is Chair of the Organizing Committee of the IBA’s Private Investment Funds Conference and was Chair of the 2019 IBA Annual Conference on the Globalisation of Investment Funds. Ms. Silberstein joined Debevoise in 1993 and became a partner in 2001. She received her B.A. magna cum laude from Yeshiva University in 1990 and her J.D. summa cum laude from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1993, where she was a supervising editor of the Law Review.

Sally Bergmann

Sally Bergmann is a corporate partner and a member of Debevoise's Investment Management Group. Her practice focuses on advising sponsors of private equity funds, including buyout, venture, real estate and credit opportunities funds. Ms. Bergmann’s recent experience includes acting for clients such as Blackstone Alternative Asset Management, Breakthrough Properties, Burford Capital, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, EQT, Kelso & Company, KKR, Morgan Stanley, Odyssey Investment Partners, Pine Island Capital Partners, Sequoia Capital, Tishman Speyer and WeWork. Ms. Bergmann is recommended by Chambers Global (2023) and Chambers USA (2023), where clients note that she is “very sharp, practical” and “a tremendous legal adviser” who is “thoughtful, commercial and solution-oriented.” She has also received praise for her “unparalleled” client service, with sources saying that she is “very quick and knowledgeable” and “she always has her finger on the pulse.” She has also been named a Rising Star by Law360 (2023) and listed as a Rising Star for Investment Funds by IFLR1000 (2022). Ms. Bergmann is a co-author of “Expect Fundraising Market To Grow More Competitive,” Law360 (August, 2022). She is also the author of “The Application of Conduit Theory in Interest Rate Swap Transactions: Schering-Plough Corporation v. United States,” 63 Tax. L. 437 (2010). Ms. Bergmann is a member of the 2022 Associate Leadership Institute Planning Committee for the NY City Bar Association’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion and was Debevoise’s 2019 Fellow for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. From 2009 to 2011, she served as a member of The Tax Lawyer. Ms. Bergmann joined Debevoise in 2011. She received a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2011, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis in 2008.

Satish Kini

Mr. Kini advises on a wide range of regulatory and transactional issues. For example, he has: represented large financial services firms in transactional matters, including to secure regulatory approvals for transactions from U.S. federal and state bank regulatory agencies and to develop compliance frameworks for various business combinations; counseled banks, securities firms, insurers and asset managers in a broad range of regulatory and compliance issues, ranging from the Volcker Rule to affiliate transactions, anti-money laundering, economic sanctions and data privacy/security; represented clients in adversarial proceedings before the federal bank regulatory agencies and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), including in investigations, enforcement proceedings and adverse examination contexts; and advised clients on regulatory and compliance issues arising out of cross-border transactions and outsourcing arrangements, including with respect to sanctions and money laundering issues. In the context of these matters, Mr. Kini has led internal fact investigations of clients (involving allegations of data breaches/fraud, money laundering and sanctions compliance issues) and advised clients on compliance governance and structuring. He also has briefed senior business decision-makers and boards of directors, based in the United States and abroad, on important regulatory, enforcement and investigations matters. Mr. Kini has represented a wide range of firms (including banks, securities broker-dealers, insurers and asset managers) and leading industry trade associations on regulatory reform issues, including those arising out of the Dodd-Frank Act, and has assisted clients to participate in the policymaking process before federal regulators. He has helped to create industry coalitions to advocate for regulatory positions and to arrive at consensus interpretations on difficult issues. He also has testified on Dodd-Frank issues before Congress and has represented clients on Dodd-Frank and other matters before the federal banking agencies, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the U.S. Treasury Department and its Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Sergio Torres

His practice focuses on domestic and cross-border acquisitions, divestitures, complex joint ventures, venture capital and private equity investments and corporate governance matters for private equity sponsors, financial institutions and other corporate clients. His experience includes advising clients such as Kelso & Company, Carlyle, Blackstone, Gympass, Naviera Ultranav, Ambev, CPPIB, BTG, H.I.G, Southern Cross and Globo Ventures.

Steven Slutzky

Capital Markets

Stuart Hammer

Counsel

Uri Herzberg

Mr. Herzberg has a broad-based transactional practice with extensive experience advising private equity firms and multinational corporations in structuring and negotiating mergers, acquisitions, investments, divestitures, joint ventures and other corporate transactions.

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