Corporate/M&A (International & Cross-Border) | Global

Cravath, Swaine & Moore is highlighted as an elite-level example of an independent, lockstep firm with significant global influence. Its approach towards international work revolves around maintaining a high-quality partner-led practice in New York which collaborates effectively with other elite independent firms based overseas to advise on cross-border matters. The firm's work is driven predominantly from its New York base, where the bulk of its expertise and resources are situated. It also has a long-established London office which provides clients with a European centre of gravity and a high-performing capital markets group.

New York-headquartered Davis Polk has high-end capabilities across transactional, regulatory and contentious areas. It is set up to serve global clients and project-manage matters from key financial centres, including London, Paris, Beijing and Hong Kong, and collaborates with selected partner firms in other jurisdictions for local law aspects. The firm primarily serves large US and international investment banks, financial institutions and corporates, and it has extensive experience handling sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional M&A, financing and capital markets offerings, as well as running international investigations and disputes, including global antitrust files.

As a top-tier New York practice, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is regularly sought out by major private equity firms and global corporations as a go-to firm for advice on international transactional mandates. Primarily handling high-end corporate/M&A deals as well as sophisticated fund formation, financing and cross-border tax matters.

For global M&A work, the firm enjoys a robust reputation across the USA and in key global money centres, which is reflected in its impressive book of clients. It regularly acts as global deal counsel for multinational corporates, including pharmaceutical, technology and energy companies, and financial institutions. The USA continues to be the firm's primary driver of substantial cross-border M&A and frequently coordinates the firm's overseas offices or with external counsel abroad in cross-border deals. The combination of Skadden's offices in New York and London is often praised, while the firm's West Coast teams regularly collaborate with Skadden's excellent teams in Asia.

Sullivan & Cromwell has developed a stellar reputation as an international law firm, combining a leading US law practice headquartered in New York with top-end expertise throughout its offices across Asia-Pacific and European financial centres. The firm provides broad international capabilities on substantial transactions and high-value contentious cases, appealing to a broad range of international companies and banks based both within and outside the USA.

Debevoise & Plimpton offers an exceptional multidisciplinary and international practice which, in addition to its renowned capabilities in the global contentious space, also holds an impressive track record for coordinating cross-border transactions. The New York office, often regarded as the central hub of the firm's international operations, is known to coordinate highly complex international work and regularly co-counsels with colleagues across London, Europe and Asia.

New York-headquartered Paul, Weiss has a strong corporate identity and culture, offering high-end M&A capabilities. The firm's typical clients include financial institutions, multinational companies and large private equity houses and asset managers. For global work anchored in the USA or with US aspects, the firm is a strong choice for transactional work such as M&A, financing and private equity investments. The firm's own offices connect its US base with presence in Europe and Asia and it is also known to collaborate effectively with high-end firms in other jurisdictions.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges has forged an excellent reputation internationally through a global platform principally built around its transactional capabilities. The firm's primary headquarters in New York and its impressive London base both act as important global hubs and are coupled with a far-reaching network of offices which extends across the USA and Europe, with Asian operations run from China. All the firm's offices have a principal focus on advising international banks, large multinational corporations and private equity funds. The firm typically offers strength in cross-border finance, restructuring, high-end M&A and tax across its platform.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is an international firm with strong US foundations. Its offices across Los Angeles, Washington, DC and New York play vital coordinating roles in multi-jurisdictional proceedings, supported by strategically located teams in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Clients also benefit from Gibson Dunn's sharp sector focus; its practitioners are accustomed to advising tech giants and energy multinationals on complex global mandates.

Jones Day's US offices are often referenced as the central pillar of its global operations and offer excellent cross-border capabilities to US-headquartered multinationals and international clients. Teams across the firm's US offices are relied upon to coordinate complex cross-border mandates and utilise the firm's broad global presence across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific to give clients a practical advantage when dealing with international issues. The US practice represents the firm's largest concentration of resources and its most in-depth hub of expertise worldwide, covering a full-service range of practice areas with lawyers boasting international experience across its platform.

White & Case provides clients with an impressive global platform. The firm handles high-end, complex mandates from the USA and works seamlessly with other teams in its expansive network across EMEA and Asia-Pacific and with other offices across North and South America. The team excels in transactional and contentious matters, and is recognised for its ability to drive cross-border deals into other jurisdictions. By remaining highly attuned to the needs of all international clients, it is a popular choice for global operations.

Baker McKenzie offers one of the most expansive and established international footprints in the legal industry and its global reach is frequently referenced by multinational clients as one of its primary assets. The New York office acts as an important hub of lawyers with international experience and expertise across multiple areas, offering a full-service scope. The firm enjoys an excellent reputation for its international and cross-border capabilities and is often praised for the smooth execution and collaboration clients experience across the firm's network.

Dechert's extensive international footprint enables it to handle major complex matters concerning multiple jurisdictions. With a significant focus on the financial sector, private equity and the life sciences industry, the firm is able to provide clients with assistance on a myriad of mandates, including fund formation, transactions and disputes from key offices across the major markets in the USA, Europe and Asia. To complement its significant global reach, the firm also frequently collaborates with co-counsel from other jurisdictions to provide a complete service.

Hogan Lovells is an internationally oriented firm which combines a well-established presence in the USA and an impressive network of offices in other key jurisdictions throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Africa. The firm's US presence remains an important contributor to its worldwide success and provides a strong transatlantic platform through frequent collaboration with the firm's London office. Washington, DC serves as a key location for the firm's international trade practice, while the firm's US base also plays a significant role in coordinating cross-border advice on regulated industries and M&A transactions.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius offers its clients expertise across a broad range of practice areas from strategically situated offices in the USA, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It is sought out to advise on cross-border M&A and financing, international arbitration and regulatory investigations work by a clientele that includes multinational corporations and private equity funds. The US offices are particularly well placed to advise on matters concerning Latin American jurisdictions.

Morrison Foerster particularly stands out in the market for its grasp of cross-border work between the US and Asian markets, which is driven by the firm's longstanding investment into its technology sector expertise. The firm is an appealing choice for large corporations and established players invested in areas such as electronics and biopharma and has a particularly strong track record in handling inbound and outbound transactions involving the USA, Japan and China, frequently representing clients on both sides of the Pacific.

Ropes & Gray provides an integrated international offering with a strong global focus on financial services, life sciences and pharmaceuticals. The firm's US offices act as its primary driving force for international work, with Boston and New York frequently leading cross-border work, typically coordinating global transactions for major private equity funds and corporations. Key areas of geographic strength include Asian markets, and Ropes & Gray is often considered a popular choice by US and Asian clients for investments from the USA into China and Japan, where the firm can also offer locally based US law-qualified experts.

Sidley Austin is frequently sought out by international clients for its global sector expertise, with the firm's focus built around strong relationships with clients in financial service, energy, life sciences and biotechnology. While the firm's US base remains the key hub of its global operations, Sidley Austin also attracts ample praise for its ability to join up experts across its platform throughout Europe and Asia, with offices in London, Singapore and China among others also playing a vital role in the firm's international appeal. The firm has an impressive ability to handle global transactions, disputes and investigations, enabling it to provide a comprehensive service on sophisticated matters for clients in its key industry groups.

Willkie is an impressive up-and-coming international firm, which has expanded on its longstanding renown for high-quality advice on US private equity and M&A transactions by building a successful European operation focused on the same core areas. The firm can offer clients an experienced US team, primarily staffed in New York, which has developed a good track record for coordinating cross-border matters.

Covington & Burling is a leading law firm globally for regulatory advice, with a consistent focus on regulatory issues across all of its offices. The firm assists clients around the world with matters related to international trade, public policy and global compliance issues such as data protection, antitrust and competition regulation. The firm also has notable industry focus across its global platform, targeting pharmaceuticals and healthcare products, food, technology and media.

A distinguished full-service law firm, Freshfields is recognised for its international mindset and its ability to lead cross-border work from its London centre. The law firm has outstanding international capabilities and can utilise widespread offices in its top-tier, integrated network, which incorporates highly rated teams across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. Equally, the firm has established the 'Stronger Together' group of local firms, serving clients' needs in jurisdictions where collaboration with co-counsel is required.

Goodwin is an impressive firm in the international arena, which has bolstered its excellent reputation in the USA by expanding its global platform. Primarily highlighted for its appeal to growth companies and private equity investors with international businesses, the firm's attractive combination of well-regarded experience in cross-border corporate M&A and buyout transactions is coupled with its strong industry focus and expertise related to the life sciences and new technology space.

Paul Hastings has a highly respected corporate offering with an excellent reputation for its cross-office collaboration and strong global network. The team stands out for its work on complex cross-border cases, frequently directing negotiations and advising clients in relation to deals in key foreign markets, particularly in European, African and Asian jurisdictions. Clients praise the firm's deep bench consisting of highly qualified and capable lawyers, with the commercial awareness and legal expertise to successfully achieve transactional goals. The firm is regularly sought after by US and overseas investors for its international appeal, and its ability to collaborate seamlessly with local counsel and provide timely legal support worldwide.

Proskauer Rose is an esteemed US law firm with a global network of offices located in major financial centres around the world. The firm is highly regarded for its capabilities handling multi-jurisdictional transactions, demonstrating strength in cross-border M&A deals and work for major investment funds. The majority of the firm's international work is driven from its offices in Boston and New York, which house teams noted for their skill and experience on complex cross-border transactions with a strong focus on the private equity sector and handling cross-border tax matters.