Sandra has a broad practice, with a particular focus on securities, M&A and commercial disputes. Recently, she has represented clients in litigation relating to more than 30 transactions with a cumulative value of $500 billion+, and she has secured numerous pretrial wins, including a major summary judgment victory in a multibillion-dollar securities class action. Sandra frequently argues as lead courtroom counsel, winning over a dozen favorable decisions after oral argument before trial and appellate courts. Since 2020, she has defended over 20 major companies, including 3G, ArcLight Capital Partners, Constellation Brands, GrubHub, Honeywell, Taubman Centers, and Xerox, in more than 30 lawsuits filed across the country. Recent wins include: for Pitney Bowes, argued and won precedent-setting PSLRA discovery stay, the first defense attorney to do so in over two decades, and then case dismissal. Also won motions to dismiss for: the Murdochs and Fox Corporation of shareholder derivative suit over $73B Walt Disney merger; Six Flags and ArcLight Capital of securities class actions in Texas and New York; Amcor and Bemis of SDNY class action relating to $6.8B merger.
North America - United States • Dispute resolution
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is known for its ‘tough and aggressive’ approach to litigation, and clients note the firm’s ’deep subject matter expertise’. The firm is particularly active for clients in the private equity and alternative asset management sector, but its work also reflects companies from a broad range of industries, including retail, aviation and aeronautics, pharmaceuticals, energy, hospitality, and technology. Sandra Goldstein in New York and Mark Filip in Chicago are standout partners. Goldstein acted for 3G in class and derivative actions concerning Kraft Heinz and its $15.4bn writedown of assets, as well the disclosure of an SEC investigation. The main hub of the practice is in New York, where up-and-coming partner Stefan Atkinson, who has played key role in the firm’s work on SPAC-related cases, and Matthew Solum stand out. Atkinson led the defense of a class action against Instructure. Joshua Rabinovitz and James Gillespie are the principal practitioners in Washington DC.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Sandra Goldstein and her team are the best in the business - their track record, deep subject matter expertise and experience make them unique.’
‘They have a tough and aggressive approach to litigation.’
Key clients
- Target Corporation
- 3G Capital
- EQT Corporation
- Thoma Bravo
- GrubHub, Inc.
- Casper Sleep, Inc.
- Lannett Company
- Wynn Resorts
- Oaktree Capital Management
- Vista Equity Partners
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading lawyers
Mark represents some of the largest financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies in varied industries in complex civil litigation (including MDL and class action cases), criminal matters, internal investigations, and corporate integrity matters. He has extensive experience in court and advising boards of directors. Mark is also a member of the Kirkland Executive Management Committee.
Next Generation Partners
Stefan works on a range of complex litigation matters in the United States and abroad, including securities, M&A and antitrust suits. He also regularly counsels companies and their directors on issues of corporate governance and litigation, often in connection with major strategic transactions. Stefan’s clients have included 3G Capital, Barnes & Noble, H.J. Heinz, Mylan, Pitney Bowes, Qualcomm, Starwood Hotels, Vitamin Shoppe, The Williams Companies and Xerox.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Sandra Goldstein, Mark Filip