Based in Washington DC, Williams & Connolly LLP provides ‘experience-based advice and detailed analysis’. The firm draws heavily on its lawyers’ reputations as trial and appellate advocates to represent major US corporates in high-stakes securities cases. Steven Farina, Amanda MacDonald and Robert Van Kirk lead the practice. MacDonald and Farina are currently representing Medtronic in a notable securities litigation class action. Veteran partner Van Kirk is currently acting for The Carlyle Group in a high-profile matter. Emerging partner talent John Williams played a pivotal role in that case. He is highly regarded and clients praise his ‘exceptional communication skills and practice’. Michael Mestitz, who worked with MacDonald on a class action claim against pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, is another name to note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Very strong combination of client hand-holding, experience-based advice and detailed analysis and prognostic forecasting, and exceptional communication skills and practice.’
‘John Williams - very strong combination of client hand-holding, experience-based advice and detailed analysis and prognostic forecasting, and exceptional communication skills and practice.’
Key clients
- Medtronic
- The Carlyle Group, Inc.
- Silver Lake
- Roivant Sciences Ltd.
- Pfizer Inc.
- CVS Health
- The Carlyle Group, Inc., various affiliated entities, and the former directors of Authentix, Inc.
- Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of ZocDoc
- Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftspruefungsgesellschaft
- Carrie Tolstedt
- Robinhood Financial
Work highlights
- Representing Medtronic and several current and former executives in a putative securities litigation class action filed in federal court in 2022 asserting purported violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, SEC Rule 10b-5, and Section 20A of the Exchange Act.
- Representing The Carlyle Group, its board of directors, and several executives in derivative and direct claims with respect to the company’s termination of a tax receivable agreement.
- Representing Silver Lake in a putative securities litigation class action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting purported violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, SEC Rule 10b-5, and Section 20A of the Exchange Act, securing dismissal before the trial court. The case is now on appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
Lawyers
Leading lawyers
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Steven Farina, Robert Van Kirk, Amanda MacDonald