Debevoise's Antitrust Group combines top-quality analysis, a thorough understanding of the law and an in-depth familiarity with regulatory and judicial processes to solve clients' most challenging antitrust problems.

According to Chambers USA and Legal 500 US, Debevoise's Antitrust Group combines "strong transactional expertise with considerable strength in handling complex litigation," to provide "well-rounded services...across a wide range of industries." Whether responding to a government investigation, defending a price-fixing class action, obtaining approval of a multinational acquisition or representing an antitrust plaintiff in court, the Group provides clients with timely, focused advice and a dedicated team to address their needs. Clients view Debevoise antitrust lawyers as powerful and effective allies who are "incredibly hard-working and skilled at devising strategies," according to Chambers USA.

The Antitrust Group is part of the firm's Litigation Department, which, in the words of Chambers USA, is "praised unanimously by clients for its efficient cost-effective approach." The Antitrust Group applies this combination of antitrust knowledge and litigation experience to gather and analyze the information needed to understand its clients' businesses and to determine the right approach to achieve their goals efficiently, whether managing the cascade of litigation that can follow a government investigation or obtaining approval of corporate transactions from competition authorities in the United States and internationally.

The firm's antitrust work has involved a wide variety of industries, including Internet product distribution, financial services, cable television and other media, pharmaceuticals, alcoholic beverages, consumer products, airlines, automobile rentals, mining and manufacturing.

Chambers USA recommends senior Debevoise antitrust lawyers as leaders in the field.

The Debevoise White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group has excelled in some of the most high-profile, difficult corporate crises.

When The American Lawyer named Debevoise its 2014 "Litigation Department of the Year," it recognized the unique strengths of the White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group. Legal 500 US described the practice as "best in class" and "simply outstanding for timeliness, knowledge, value and depth of strength." Moreover, the Group is ranked in the top band in Chambers Global in both "Corporate Investigations - Global-Wide" and "International Trade: Anti-Corruption."

Lawyers in the Group are well known for their investigative skill, seasoned judgment and consistently clear and persuasive presentation of the facts. This has led to a unique credibility in government agencies and other forums, making the Debevoise team a powerful advocate for clients with a record of considerable success in matters involving investigations by the SEC, U.S. Department of Justice, New York Attorney General, UK Serious Fraud Office and other authorities in the U.S. and around the world.

As a truly international practice with exceptional cross-border capabilities, Chambers Global has noted its "[e]xcellent worldwide coverage ... conducting internal investigations as well as defending corporate clients, boards of directors and board committees in connection with investigations by regulatory authorities and other agencies."

The Group's expertise includes defending against criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions, negotiating complex global settlements, and facilitating cooperation with government regulators, often across numerous jurisdictions and agencies. With a rare understanding of the enforcement landscape and a deep appreciation for client business issues, legal strategies are devised accordingly, and government cases are sometimes dropped altogether.

Partners in the Group include highly experienced career defense lawyers, as well as former federal prosecutors and regulators. As leading trial lawyers, but also skilled negotiators, a successful outcome for the client is frequently achieved before a trial begins.

With a deep bench of extraordinary talent, the practice has often been able to tailor highly creative solutions for client problems. The team takes a fluid and flexible approach, knows when to shift gears and capitalize on opportunities, and adapts swiftly to changing circumstances. Capabilities can be scaled to match the size of any challenge, and adjusted as a case progresses.

Noted for their "extreme responsiveness, collaborative nature and client-oriented approach," partners are closely involved in every phase of an investigation or case. Their experience in crisis management and communications has proved invaluable to clients, and allows for true business partnerships.

When The American Lawyer named Debevoise its 2014 "Litigation Department of the Year," it stated that "no rival of any size could match the magnitude of Debevoise's recent litigation results."

Winners of The American Lawyer's 2014 "Litigation Department of the Year," the Debevoise Litigation Department has four practices that independently and collectively are among the very best in the world, providing broad, unmatched litigation capabilities across a wide range of substantive areas. These include Commercial Litigation, International Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property and White Collar & Regulatory Defense.

Debevoise litigators consistently deliver outstanding results for their clients at every stage of a litigation. In its recent "Litigation Department of the Year" feature, The American Lawyer remarked that Debevoise "over two years produced two $25 billion results, a pair of trial defense wins worth $3.5 billion apiece, and the biggest investor-state award in arbitration history."

The firm's litigators bring personal attention, deep industry knowledge and substantive legal expertise to each matter, tailoring advice to clients' needs, priorities and circumstances. The group relies on a talent pool that provides practical solutions to clients' disputes. The Debevoise team is truly collaborative at every level, working seamlessly with clients, with co-counsel and across practices to achieve the best results in their clients' most challenging matters.

The litigation team brings unmatched government experience to client matters, boasting 10 former Assistant U.S. Attorneys among its ranks, as well as a wide range of other former government lawyers. Perhaps even more impressive is the Litigation Department's global reach. From mid-2011 to mid-2013 alone, the team litigated matters that touched on more than 90 countries. Said The American Lawyer: "The Debevoise map of the world covers just about everywhere outside littoral Africa and the Fertile Crescent."

Debevoise represents an array of clients across a broad spectrum of complex financing transactions. Seasoned, commercial and effective, the team has become a trusted business partner in deal after deal.

Debevoise is ranked as a leading firm in Finance and in Aviation Finance by Chambers, as well as in Structured Finance by Legal 500 and Project Finance by IFLR1000. The cascading accolades flow in large measure from the team's savvy, market-wise approach. "Their strength," notes Chambers USA, "is their deal flow: they work on more transactions so they see more market terms and precedents.

"The Finance Group invests in its clients, developing a deep understanding of their business models, their needs and objectives, and their tolerance for risk and complexity. Pragmatic, flexible, fast and responsive, the team delivers innovative solutions and flawless execution, allowing clients to take advantage of market windows and employ innovative techniques.

Members of the Finance Group regularly draw on the expertise of other parts of the firm, working closely with their colleagues in the Tax, Restructuring, Employee Benefits, Real Estate and Intellectual Property Groups, for a seamless experience. As stated in Chambers USA, the team's work standard is "exceptionally high - they have a great deal of resources and are very client sensitive and cognizant of what clients think.

"The practice spans the firm's offices in New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow and Hong Kong and stretches to the far corners of globe. Clients include issuers, transaction sponsors, project sponsors and companies, institutional investors, airlines, lessors and lessees whose needs involve acquisition finance, project finance, equipment finance, structured finance and derivatives, syndicated loans, high-yield bond offerings, mezzanine finance and private placements.

The end result is a seamless practice that leaves no stone unturned for clients. According to Chambers USA, "They're very efficient in using their time to focus on key issues and make sure all bases are covered."

The Debevoise Insurance Group brings more than 35 years of experience to the most complex insurance industry transactions, the highest-stakes disputes and the most challenging regulatory engagements.

Again and again, the team has been the first choice for big-ticket insurance industry M&A, for intricate financings against an evolving regulatory backdrop, and for restructurings and a host of other transactions. According to Legal 500, Debevoise stands out as the "very best firm - bar none - with respect to knowledge involving insurance M&A and securities work," and is "one of the most business savvy firms with a deep appreciation of what truly matters to the client."

The deep industry expertise and market knowledge that powers the transactional practice also fuels a world-class disputes practice - so much so that Chambers USA has recognized Debevoise as a leading firm for Insurance Dispute Resolution and noted the firm's "strong presence in dispute resolution ... focus[ing] on coverage litigation, life insurance and government investigations work."

The Debevoise Insurance Group advises a wide range of industry clients, including major insurers, reinsurers, hedge funds, private equity funds and other capital providers, intermediaries and significant industry associations. The practice literally spans the globe, with marquee transactions in country after country.

A broad cohort of lawyers are dedicated to the practice, including M&A lawyers, finance and capital markets lawyers, regulatory specialists, experts in insurance taxation and litigators with a deep commitment to the industry. The team regularly delivers pinpoint market intelligence, tailored solutions and seamless execution.

Ranked in the top tier both Nationwide and in New York, Chambers USA describes the Insurance practice's work as "stellar." And Chambers Global notes its "tremendous strength in the U.S. insurance market" and "high-quality service in the UK."

Debevoise’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice offers an approach to problem-solving that is described by clients as “creative, thorough and elegant.”

Consistently ranked among the leading M&A firms, Debevoise is one of the handful of true advisors of choice to the world’s leading corporations, financial institutions and private equity firms. In 2014, we worked on more than 100 deals with a total transaction value of $300 billion.

The team regularly handles a number of the most complex, highest-stakes deals in the market.

The practice offers clients sophisticated and market-wise teams in both public and private M&A, regularly develops innovative structures and approaches, and deals smoothly and effectively with associated shareholder and governance issues, activist challenges and related litigation. 

With offices in key financial centers around the world and deep cross-border expertise in New York as well, the practice is truly global. It also brings a wealth of industry-specific experience in areas such as private equity; insurance and financial institutions; healthcare; technology, media & telecommunications; asset management; aviation; and energy, mining and natural resources. That experience brings with it unique insights into the risks, value drivers and client priorities in each of these industry sectors. 

The Debevoise M&A team consists of 30 dedicated M&A partners and more than 100 counsel and associates. The team is supported by deep expertise in all core related areas, including finance, tax, antitrust, capital markets, intellectual property, real estate, benefits, environmental law and litigation. 

Debevoise M&A partners are actively engaged in all facets of the deals the firm handles, providing clients a level of talent and intensity that is genuinely rare in today’s legal marketplace. This includes one of “The Decade’s Most Influential Lawyers” according to The National Law Journal, and individuals with a reputation for finding “solutions to challenging situations and tough negotiations,” according to Chambers USA. 

A true partnership in every sense of the word, Debevoise takes a genuinely collaborative approach to every assignment. Chambers USA noted that a Debevoise client “is a client of the whole firm,” enabling Debevoise partners to “handle the matter in a seamless way.”

The Debevoise Private Equity Group continues to lead the field, in an industry it has helped shape for decades.

By any measure, the Debevoise Private Equity Group is one of the most respected in the field, in the U.S. and throughout the world. It brings a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to deal after deal - an approach that addresses each facet and each issue with sharp focus, specialized technology and deep industry expertise. With consistently high rankings from Chambers Global, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 and PEI year after year, the group has been a recognized leader for more than 35 years.

The Private Equity practice includes specialized groups expert in fund formation and investment management, buyouts and other equity and debt investments, finance, securities and capital markets, tax, and management compensation and employee benefits. Each group approaches its work with a distinctive private equity focus. And the practice as a whole also draws on the firm's industry specialists to deliver efficient, commercial, cutting-edge results.

The practice's scope and focus make it extraordinarily market wise. A proprietary database assembled over decades of sponsor-side and buy-side fund formation work allows Debevoise lawyers to track fund terms and investors' records and requirements. And a constantly updated global survey of securities and investment management laws that affect private equity funds in over 60 jurisdictions keeps Debevoise funds lawyers on top of the global regulatory environment.

Similarly, systematic surveys of key deal terms and documents help the firm's M&A and finance teams pinpoint market moves and ensure clients have the best and most up-to-date advice.

In addition, the team is constantly innovating - numerous practices now commonplace in fund documents, private equity financing arrangements and M&A agreements were pioneered by Debevoise private equity lawyers.

More than 200 lawyers work within the Group in Debevoise offices around the world, making it one of the few truly global private equity practices. Teams are lean and efficient, and can be tailored to the culture, strategy and risk profile of individual clients.

The Debevoise Private Equity Group brings together the full expertise and resources of all relevant practices, and those of the entire firm. A unique culture of collaboration enables a seamless presence at every stage of the private equity lifecycle, for clients in any location.