Sullivan & Worcester LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Sullivan & Worcester LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Finance > Fintech

Lauded by clients for its ‘unique blend of traditional expertise and forward-thinking adaptability’, the New York-based practice Sullivan & Worcester LLP often advises policymakers on regulatory FinTech matters and is well-regarded for its broad blockchain expertise. Joel Telpner and Natalie Lederman jointly the department, the pair of whom are praised for their ‘deep expertise, innovative thinking, and client-centric approach.’ Lederman is also experienced in consumer finance transactions and regulatory digital asset matters, notably token generation events. Scott Kaufman is highlighted for his capabilities in private and public securities offerings and SEC regulation matters, while in Boston, Douglas Stransky is well-equipped to advise clients on the tax aspects of cryptocurrency. Amy A. Zuccarello advises borrower and creditor clients on distressed transactions, bankruptcy, and out-of-court restructurings.

Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs) Tier 2

Public and private REITs both benefit from their relationships with the REITs practice at Sullivan & Worcester LLP, which specializes in REIT tax issues, M&A, secured and unsecured financings, and preferred and common equity offerings. Ameek Ashok Ponda is a director in the tax practice and is an authority on REIT tax issues and regularly lectures at Boston University. Practice head Angela Gomes is a corporate finance specialist and handles securities matters for REITs. Avinash Rao advises public companies on securities law and represents REITs in M&A, equity and debt financings, and joint ventures. Lindsey Getz focuses on public REITs, while Shu Wei handles equity and debt financing work. Also noted is newly promoted partner Sarah Wellings who excels in REIT-related tax issues. All aforementioned lawyers are part of the Boston practice. Brian Hammell left the practice in August 2023.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 3

A mix of public companies, private companies, trusts and not-for-profit organizations turn to the team at Sullivan & Worcester LLP for its ability to offer advice on a host of matters, including ongoing legal counsel to investment funds and general ongoing board counselling. Nicole Crum focuses on the representation of boards and board committees, regularly advising them on all aspects of governance and compliance, while Boston’s Howard E Berkenblit handles ongoing corporate governance and disclosure matters, stock exchange listing standards and Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Dodd-Frank Act compliance. Both David M Leahy and David Mahaffey are frequently engaged by independent directors, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and closed-end funds. Practitioners are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Environment > Environment: transactional Tier 4

In the environmental sector, Sullivan & Worcester LLP is known for handling a range of due diligence and regulatory work in REIT transactions, where the team is actively involved in land use, zoning and environmental permitting issues. Based in Washington DC, Jeffrey Karp heads the firm’s environmental practice, routinely advising on regulatory compliance issues and the negotiation of environmental, energy, sustainability, and climate conditions in transactional agreements. From the Boston office, Victor Baltera also advises on regulatory compliance and permitting matters related to environmental law and land use. Boston-based Gregory Sampson recently joined the team from Womble Bond Dickinson, bringing new expertise in the development of contaminated properties and renewable energy and infrastructure projects.

Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds Tier 4

Sullivan & Worcester LLP has extensive experience advising independent directors and trustees of investment management firms, with the establishment and registering of new funds, including but not limited to exchange traded funds, variable retail and insurance open- and closed ended funds. The investment management team are also frequently engaged as fund counsel in relation to compliance and shareholder matters and board advice. David Leahy and David Mahaffey jointly lead the practice from the firm's Washington DC location, with the former advising clients on the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, while the latter specializes on federal securities law, for a whole host of registered funds clients. Nicole Crum is another key name in Washington DC and works with boards and board committees on staying compliant with SEC regulations and through government and internal investigations, while John Chilton is well versed in registered fund transactions, and Domenick Pugliese counsels independent directors of mutual funds, ETFs and variable annuity trusts. Rachael Schwartz was promoted to partner in January 2023.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 4

Sullivan & Worcester LLP has established itself as a key middle-market firm for seller clients across a diverse set of industry sectors, including fintech and gaming. The team is also known on the market for its ability to handle public-to-public mergers. In Boston, team heads Lewis Segall and Benjamin Armour spearhead the firm’s offering. The latter is a key contact for transactional work involving private companies, while the former is regularly called upon by financial institutions to advise on financing matters and investments. Also in Boston, Avinash Rao‘s expertise encompasses internal reorganizations and restructurings, while New York-based Natalie Lederman is singled out for her knowledge of regulatory issues relating to blockchain and digital assets.

Real estate Tier 4

With roots in Boston, Sullivan & Worcester LLP’s real estate development group handles an array of single and portfolio transactions, leasing, and permitting matters for developers, private equity funds, REITs, and government agencies, among others. Noted for its affordable housing and community development sub-group alongside its environment and natural resources group, the practice has experience across a wide stroke of asset classes that includes multifamily and industrials as well as hospitality and life sciences. Ashley Brooks leads the real estate group with experience covering development and finance, including the likes of workouts, construction loans and fund formation. Transaction lawyer John Steiner, director of real estate, is noted for his skill advising REITs and foreign investors as well as for his experience in the senior housing sector. Karen Kepler is another key member, mentioned for her expertise advising on real estate tax credits, among areas like condominiums, air-rights, and ground leases.

Tax > International tax Tier 4

The international tax practice at Sullivan & Worcester LLP has extensive experience in strategic tax planning and implementation for a wide range of multinational corporations including cross-border M&A, restructuring, and global tax controversy. The Boston-based team also has strengths in international taxation matters for individuals including international trust and estate counselling for high net-worth families and pre-US residency tax planning. Practice head Douglas Stransky has a special focus on domestic clients investing in foreign jurisdictions and has extensive expertise advising clients on the tax implications of multi-jurisdictional cryptocurrency and fintech-related ventures. Lewis Greenwald has considerable experience advising on tax-efficient acquisitions, transfer pricing planning, and US international tax compliance. Eric Rietveld concentrates his practice on the tax planning of REITs, real estate funds, and international tax. Brian Hammell departed in August 2023.

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 4

Sullivan & Worcester LLP’s Boston-based non-contentious tax group offers broad expertise to a wide range of clients, from high-net-worth individuals to mutual funds, with a particularly strong reputation for representing REITs. Ameek Ashok Ponda, focusing on corporate M&A structuring, REIT transactions, and cross-border financings, heads the practice alongside Richard Jones, who has extensive experience in corporate, personal income, and sales/use tax matters. International tax practice head Douglas Stransky offers niche expertise in the tax implications of cross-border cryptocurrency and fintech-related ventures. Firm co-managing partner David Nagle, handling taxable and non-taxable acquisitions, among other issues, is also a key contact. REITs specialist Sarah Wellings, promoted to partner in January 2024, advises on a variety of public and private matters, including those involving data centers, office buildings, and distributed antenna systems. Brian Hammell left the firm in August 2023 for a role at the Archdiocese of Boston.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 5

Attorneys at Sullivan & Worcester LLP routinely undertake the full spectrum of complex business-critical disputes, with standout expertise in securities litigation, insurance coverage disputes, and sector-specific disputes arising out of the tech and cryptocurrency spaces. Gerry Silver and Patrick Dinardo jointly chair the practice group out of New York and Boston, respectively. Silver’s practice focuses on software, licensing, internet and IT outsourcing, and implementation disputes; Dinardo is mostly engaged in complex contract, trust, real estate, and insolvency-related matters. Other important contacts within the group include fellow Boston-based practitioner Laura Steinberg who is an expert on complex regulatory and fiduciary issues.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 5

Sullivan & Worcester LLP advises on a range of tax-related issues which arise from employment and benefit matters. David Guadagnoli leads the practice. Described as ‘an exceptional resource’ for clients, Guadagnoli has strong experience in advising on tax-qualified retirement plans, particularly 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Amy Sheridan focuses on regulatory and tax requirements for welfare plans. Sheridan’s recent work includes assisting household employers with tax-qualified contribution plans. Both individuals are based in Boston.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies Tier 5

Sullivan & Worcester LLP assists emerging businesses with equity and debt financings, tech license negotiations, IP protection, and liquidity solutions. The firm represents venture capital entities and angel investors focusing on early-stage investments in sectors spanning the software, telecoms, therapeutics, and fintech industries. Utilizing its Tel Aviv office, the team supports Israeli tech companies in venture capital fundraisings, establishing joint ventures, and US stock exchange listings. Co-heading the practice from New York, Scott Kaufman brings ‘exceptional legal expertise’ to the fintech and blockchain spaces. Lewis Segall, based in Boston and also leading the team, advises companies on M&A, financings, and joint ventures.

Tax > US taxes: contentious Tier 5

Sullivan & Worcester LLP is particularly adept at handling SALT matters and chiefly represents high-profile clients facing tax controversy within Massachusetts. Jointly leading the team are Richard Jones, David Nagle and Daniel Ryan, all of whom are based in Boston. Jones is a SALT expert who has extensive experience working with clients in the technology, retail, and media industries. Nagle, who is a co-managing partner of the firm, additionally covers federal disputes, as does Ryan, who also maintains a non-contentious practice which covers transactional planning. Caroline Kupiec, who also works from Boston, provides key support to clients facing audits and litigation.

Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital) Tier 6

Sullivan & Worcester LLP represents private investment fund sponsors and investors as well as venture capital firms on the formation and registration, maintenance and the liquidation of private investment funds, covering diverse asset classes, with a notable specialism in real estate funds. A trio of practitioners oversee the practice: Nicole Rives, who primarily works with institutional investors and asst management departments of insurance companies on investment related matters; Lewis Segall, whose broad practice covers equity and debt financings, joint ventures and M&A; and John Hunt who advises across diverse asset classes and handles regulatory and compliance issues. William Hanson supports the team and is praised by clients as being ‘experienced, well-informed and commercial’. All lawyers mentioned are based in Boston.