Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP represents boards of directors and special committees across a range of high-stakes, multijurisdictional litigation cases. The practice works closely with its corporate team to advise on individual, class, and derivative actions arising from hostile transactions, boasting a strong reputation in stockholder derivative litigation. Gary Bornstein is a go-to advisor for putative class actions, derivative litigation, and hostile takeover situations, and represented Paramount throughout a litigation case concerning a merger with Skydance Media. Kevin Orsini secured a settlement for BDT Capital to resolve a putative class action litigation and has extensive experience before the Delaware courts. Justin Clarke leads precedent-setting M&A and securities cases, including representing the board of directors of Krystal Biotech in a shareholder derivative lawsuit alleging breach of fiduciary duty. Meanwhile, Antony Ryan's broad knowledge encompasses a range of M&A and securities litigation cases, including representing Deutsche Telekom in a putative class action and derivative litigation. Another key name is Robert Baron, who has extensive experience across M&A litigation cases. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Covering the entire scope of M&A litigation matters, Kirkland & Ellis LLP advises clients on cases from pre-trial litigation through to the appeals process. These matters include issues arising from mergers, shareholder activism, proxy contests, tender offers, leveraged buyouts, and SPAC transactions. The team brings extensive trial experience in the Delaware Court of Chancery and is adept at managing litigation involving multiple jurisdictions and expedited proceedings. Sandra Goldstein is reputed for her depth of expertise in securities, M&A, and commercial disputes, handling stock drop class actions, shareholder derivative suits, and litigation demands. Stefan Atkinson counsels companies and their directors, based in the US and abroad, on issues of corporate governance and litigation. while John Del Monaco focuses on securities and shareholder litigation, as well as representing clients in arbitration. Haley Stern and Mary Reale advise companies on transactional and corporate governance matters, both of whom bring trial experience in the Delaware Court of Chancery. All lawyers mentioned here are based in New York. Matthew Solum departed from the firm.

Latham & Watkins is positioned to handle a range of complex transactions and corporate governance issues. Successful cases include defending Novo Nordisk against a temporary restraining order motion filed by Pfizer, which sought to block Novo Nordisk’s acquisition of the weight-loss drugmaker Metsera. Spearheading the practice are New York-based Blair Connelly, Michele Johnson, who is based in Orange County, and San Diego’s Colleen Smith. Connelly specializes in M&A and corporate governance litigation, Johnson focuses on securities class action and shareholder derivative litigation, and Smith specializes in the pharmaceuticals and life sciences industries. They are joined by Orange County-based Kristin Murphy, who focuses on complex business litigation and Delaware-focused corporate governance matters. Eric Leon, who is based in New York, handles commercial contracts, copyright and trademarks, unfair competition, and bankruptcy litigation.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP's M&A disputes practice has a proven track record of supporting clients in various transaction-related disputes, including M&A counterpart disputes, SPAC and de-SPAC defense, controller and special committee disputes, earn-out and valuation disputes, and strategic counseling. The team is also adept at handling cases in the Delaware Court of Chancery. Spearheading the practice from New York are Andrew Gordon, who handles high-stakes deal termination litigation, including defending Edwards Lifesciences in breach of contract litigation, and Jaren Janghorbani, a commercial litigator and trial lawyer who advised Metsera in litigation related to the acquisition of Pfizer. Geoff Chepiga, deputy chair, is well-versed in high-stakes transaction-related disputes and advised Sketchers USA in a multitude of appraisal actions arising from the acquisition of 3G Capital. Other key names include Wilmington-based Andre Bouchard, who is particularly focused on disputes in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and Daniel Mason, who handles a full range of corporate and commercial litigation involving fiduciary duties of directors and controlling stockholders.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP has a comprehensive M&A defense offering, allowing it to advise issuers and their board of directors, special committees, and private equity firms on matters concerning defeating efforts to enjoin transactions prior to closing, winning dismissals of claims, and litigating post-closing claims for damages. The team represented Paramount Global in a litigation case related to its merger with Skydance Media, and Pfizer in a putative securities class action related to secondary stock offerings. Jointly leading the practice are Jonathan Youngwood, who has over 25 years of experience representing clients in commercial litigation, arbitration, investigations, and regulatory matters, and Lynn Neuner, who focuses on commercial litigation, securities litigation, insurance coverage, and advertising disputes. Peter Kazanoff defends clients against claims arising from financial fraud, particularly those related to complex Ponzi schemes. Stephen Blake, who is based in Palo Alto, represented El Puerto de Liverpool in defeating a preliminary injunction in an M&A dispute, and Craig Waldman focuses on private equity and corporate clients in transaction-related litigation and corporate control litigation. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York, unless otherwise specified.

With a Wilmington-based litigation practice, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP advises a full array of industries on a range of corporate and securities litigation, defense of class and derivative actions, representation of special committees, fiduciary duties, fraud claims, and bankruptcy litigation. Alongside litigating cases in Delaware, the team also handles cases before the courts in California, Georgia, Montana, Puerto Rico, and Texas. The team is led by Joseph Larkin, who is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer who handles bet-the-company disputes at the Delaware Court of Chancery, federal, and state court. He is joined by Cliff Gardner, who defends corporations and their directors in M&A related litigation, stockholder derivative lawsuits, complex commercial disputes, and securities class actions. Jenness Parker is experienced in Delaware statutes used to obtain judicial validation of corporate acts. Another key name is Edward Micheletti.

Baker Botts L.L.P.‘s M&A litigation practice spans an array of industries, including energy, technology, financial services, healthcare, consumer products, and media. The team has litigators spanning Dallas, Houston, New York, and Washington DC, who defend clients in shareholder disputes, M&A litigation, and securities litigation. The team is led by Houston-based Danny David, who is actively involved in securities litigation matters, including representing Sunnova Energy Corporation and its CEO and CFO in a high-stakes securities litigation case, resulting in a favorable outcome. Fellow Houston co-head Amy Hefley handles day-to-day concerns arising from securities suits against Camber Energy and McDermott International. They are joined by Bridget Moore, who is based in Washington DC. New York-based Richard Harper litigates on behalf of technology, media, and entertainment companies.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP's well-established client base includes global corporations, banks, and SPAC companies. Rory Leraris handles a mix of M&A litigation work, spanning securities, shareholder derivatives, antitrust, and general commercial disputes, and advised Equinix in securities and shareholder derivative litigation. He is joined by Andrew Ditchfield, who handles a full range of transaction-related and regulatory matters, including representing Emerson Electric in a $7.2 billion acquisition of Aspen Technology. Another key name is Brian Burnovski, who assists boards, company executives, and in-house counsel across the technology and financial technology sectors, including securing a victory for Nuvei in a litigation arising out of its acquisition of Paya.

DLA Piper LLP (US)‘s wide-ranging M&A litigation practice encompasses complex disputes arising from SPAC and de-SPAC mergers, as well as aggressive trial defense and strategic pre-deal counseling. The team’s client base spans public and private corporations, private equity firms, and investment funds. Wilmington-based practice head John Reed brings deep experience before the Delaware courts, counselling and representing clients in class actions, derivative breach of fiduciary duty claims, and corporate control disputes. Chicago-based co-head Jeffery Torsian specializes in complex bet-the-company litigation and arbitrations, advising corporate boards, senior executives, and in-house counsel on various matters. Fellow co-head Melaine Walker is based in Los Angeles, with experience in federal securities class actions, shareholder disputes, and complex merger-related business litigation. Another key name is John Clarke, who focuses on litigation related to capital markets in New York.

Freshfields‘ national securities and shareholder litigation practice defends clients across technology, life sciences, and electric vehicle sectors. The team focuses on complex cases, including novel theories of corporate control, COVID-19 shareholder litigation, scheme liability, and SPAC litigation. Practice head Meredith Kotler, based in New York, represents public companies and their boards in securities, corporate governance, and M&A litigation, including the full dismissal of a securities class action against Centessa Pharmaceuticals and Amarin. Fellow New York co-head Agnès Dunogué joined from A&O Shearman in July 2025. Mary Eaton‘s recent cases include defending BuzzFeed in two mass arbitration cases arising from de-SPAC transactions, and she acted as lead counsel for Tyson Foods in a Section 220 book and records action. Silicon Valley-based TMT lawyer Boris Feldman specializes in SPAC deals and has represented Tesla and Rivian in shareholder derivative matters. Doru Gavril represented Instacart in the dismissal of all shareholder lawsuits, while Rebecca Lockert focuses on securities and shareholder litigation matters. Both lawyers are based in Silicon Valley.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP represents corporations, financial institutions, and special committees in both state and federal courts nationwide, with notable experience in disputed merger transactions and contested takeovers. The team is experienced in high-stakes securities class actions with multijurisdictional elements. Spearheading the practice from New York are Scott Luftglass, who represented Apollo Global Management Inc. in shareholder derivative actions, and Peter Simmons, who advises private equity companies and investment banks in connection with their roles as financial advisors to public companies in significant M&A transactions. They are joined by Michael Sternheim, also based in New York, who advised Clover Health in connection with the successful resolution of shareholder class actions and derivative actions relating to a de-SPAC transaction.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is home to a well-experienced M&A litigation team, covering a wide array of matters related to securities class actions, shareholder derivative litigation, hostile takeover, M&A litigation, investigations, and enforcement actions. The team represents large American companies, investors, and their boards in courts across the country, and is recognized for its expertise in multifaceted securities and M&A litigation matters. The practice is led by San Francisco-based Brian Lutz, who represented the Meta team and Nike in securities class action suits, and Monica Loseman, who defends clients in federal and state litigation resulting from investigations by government agencies, including representing Lynn Tilton and Patriarch Partners in the defeat of the US Securities and Exchange Commission at trial. Los Angeles-based Craig Varnen co-chairs the securities litigation practice and defended F45 Training in a post-IPO securities class action. Jason Mendro, in Washington DC, advises boards of directors and special litigation committees addressing shareholder litigation demands.

Goodwin covers a wide array of deal and merger litigation cases, working closely with their M&A transactional team to successfully engage in risk mitigation. The team litigates at state and federal courts alongside arbitrating M&A disputes domestically and internationally. Boston-based Caroline Bullerjahn focuses on life sciences disputes, while New York-based Douglas Flaum handles US and cross-border commercial, securities, and real estate matters. Deborah Birnbach, who works out of Boston, and San Francisco-based Jonathan Shapiro both advise on a full range of securities and shareholder litigation matters. Another key name is Jordan Weiss, who is based in New York.

Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP handles a full range of Delaware-based litigation cases, including the complex valuation of Delaware corporations and alternative entities, and represents special committees of independent directors in connection with transaction conflicts and investigations of pending derivative claims. The team has expanded its reach to include activist investors and takeover defense, appraisal litigation, and demand review committees. Jointly leading the practice out of Delaware are Megan Ward Cascio, who handles shareholder disputes, derivative actions, and breach of fiduciary duty lawsuits, and Kevin Coen, who focuses on corporate and business disputes. William Lafferty brings deep experience in the Delaware Court of Chancery and has a proven track record across M&A, proxy contests, and shareholder class and derivative actions. John DiTomo is an active Delaware litigator who manages high-profile cases, while Thomas Briggs Jr. advises on matters concerning master limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships.

Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. represents Delaware corporations and alternative entities, publicly traded companies, and private or family-owned businesses before the Delaware Court of Chancery and Supreme Court. The practice handles appraisal matters, breach of fiduciary duty claims, corporate governance and control disputes, and stockholder litigation, as well as book and record demands. Wilmington-based practice head Raymond DiCamillo has established experience litigating corporate control, corporate governance, and statutory and contractual disputes in the Delaware state and federal courts. Rudolf Koch focuses on shareholder class actions, derivative lawsuits, contested mergers and acquisitions, contractual disputes, and appraisal actions, while Blake Rohrbacher brings expertise in Delaware law concerning non-profit and non-stock corporations. Catherine Dearlove focuses on governance disputes involving Delaware limited partnerships, while Matthew Murphy handles litigation involving fiduciary duties, corporate governance, and contractual disputes. Another key name is Lisa Schmidt.

The team at Ross Aronstam & Moritz LLP focuses on defending clients before the Delaware Court of Chancery, working closely with national law firms to advise directors and special committees on internal investigations, corporate governance, and transactional issues. Practice head Bradley Aronstam, who leads the team out of Wilmington, secured a post-trial award on behalf of a former stockholder of Auris Health Inc. in their dispute with Johnson & Johnson. Fellow Wilmington co-head David Ross litigates claims for injunctive relief and expedited trials, as well as handling corporate and commercial cases, trade secret misappropriation disputes, and trust contests, and Garrett Moritz is experienced across all business litigation cases. They are joined by Michael Sirkin, who focuses on cases tried in the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s practice handles parallel streams of litigation across several jurisdictions, spanning M&A, securities, derivative and class action litigation, internal investigations, and regulatory matters. The team represents clients before the Delaware courts, with extensive experience defending shareholder litigation triggered by SPAC transactions. Practice head John Neuwirth advises clients on national securities class and derivative actions, M&A litigation, and government investigations. Neuwirth secured a win for TripAdvisor in a fiduciary duty class action litigation. Fellow co-head Caroline Zalka specializes in bet-the-company litigations involving high-stakes transactions, green-washing allegations, cryptocurrency disruption, and price fixing. They are joined by Evert Christensen, who defends clients in M&A, securities, and stockholder class and derivative litigation, including representing Silicon Motion Technology Corporation in a securities fraud class action. All lawyers mentioned above are based in New York.

The M&A litigation team at Winston Taylor works closely with its teams across capital markets, antitrust, white collar, bankruptcy, and executive compensation to handle a range of M&A and corporate governance cases in Delaware. The practice has a strong trial bench and is experienced in SPAC-related litigation. Leading the team out of New York is securities litigator James Smith. He is joined by Chicago-based co-head William O’Neil, who advises large corporations and private equity funds on business disputes, while Los Angeles co-head John Schreiber represents public companies in bet-the-company securities and corporate governance disputes. New York-based Matthew DiRisio is positioned to handle a full spectrum of securities and corporate governance cases, and Jeffrey Steinfeld focuses on securities disputes.

A&O Shearman’s litigation team handles an array of deal-related disputes before the Delaware Court of Chancery, federal, and state courts. Practice head Mallory Tosch Hoggatt, who splits her time between Houston and New York, advises large companies and funds in shareholder class actions, busted deals, post-transaction disputes, and regulatory inquiries. Fellow New York-based co-head Alan Goudiss advises healthcare, technology, media, telecommunication, financial services, and industrial industry clients on a range of M&A litigation matters. They are joined by New-York co-heads Adam Hakki and Paula Anderson. Jeff Hoschander focuses on life sciences, financial services, and the technology industry commercial, securities, and shareholder derivative litigation.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton's practice covers securities and M&A litigation, representing special committees, financial advisors, and acquirers. The team brings experience in federal securities litigation before the Delaware Court of Chancery, including traditional Rule 10b-5 matters. Leading the practice from New York is Roger Cooper, who litigates shareholder, class action, and derivative action cases arising from securities, M&A, and corporate governance. Cooper advised T-Mobile US during the dismissal of direct and derivative class actions arising from the merger with Sprint. He is joined by Mark McDonald, who focuses on disputes at the federal and Delaware Court of Chancery, and secured a victory for OCI N.V. in an expedited litigation concerning the interpretation of a joint venture agreement. The team extended its offering with the hiring of Breon Peace in May 2025.

Dechert's team of M&A litigators works closely with its M&A transactional law practice to advise clients across all types of change of control, damages claims, and complex transactional litigation. The firm represents clients before federal courts, state courts, and at stock exchange inquiries. Practice head Joni Jacobsen, who is based in New York, defends directors and officers in securities class action litigation, derivative litigation, SEC investigations, and corporate governance disputes. Also based in New York are Andrew Levander, who specializes in white-collar crime litigation and government investigations, and Angela Liu, who handles securities class actions, derivative suits, and corporate governance disputes. Washington DC-based Steven Engel focuses on civil litigation cases for public and private companies. New York-based Neil Steiner assists private equity funds and their portfolio companies looking to tackle issues as they arise during transactions.

King & Spalding places a notable emphasis on mitigating risk and potential exposure during M&A transactions for its clients. The team also advises clients on purchase price disputes and the defense of claims alleging negligence or misleading statements in connection with significant M&A transactions. Spearheading the practice are Jessica Corley, based in Atlanta, and Damien Marshall, based in New York. Working out of the New York office is Richard Marooney, whose clients include those in financial services, accounting, and energy. Atlanta-based Warren Pope represents clients in securities and M&A class actions and shareholder derivative litigation.

The M&A litigation team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP regularly appears before the Delaware Court of Chancery, representing public and private companies across a broad range of industries. The practice excels in handling take-private transactions, contested takeovers, management buyouts, and change-in-control transactions. The team is jointly led out of New York by Tariq Mundiya, Sameer Advani, and Shaimaa Hussein. Mundiya focuses on internal investigations and securities, and corporate litigation under federal and state securities laws. Advani litigates matters in bankruptcy courts and under foreign and domestic arbitration rules, and Hussein represents multinational corporations and financial institutions in commercial litigation and enforcement actions.

Brown Rudnick LLP covers the entire scope of post-closing M&A disputes for private equity firms, large corporations, and company founders, acting on both plaintiff and defense mandates. The team represents clients at the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Southern District of New York and is well-versed in bet-the-company litigations. Practice head Dylan Kletter advises entities and individuals across a range of high-stakes commercial litigation matters. Hartford co-head Mark Baldwin represents healthcare providers and private equity firms across commercial, corporate, and environmental litigation. Another key team member is Boston-based Meghan McCafferty.

K&L Gates handles a range of trial, arbitration, mediation, and appeal cases for local, regional, and global ventures. Leading the team is Jackie Celender out of Pittsburg, who focuses on commercial litigation, class action defense, and international arbitration. Wilmington-based Steven Caponi focuses on corporate and IP matters.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is a litigation-focused firm with a strong trial bench. The team represents asset managers, activist investors, private equity firms, and public companies across a range of M&A dispute matters. Spearheading the team from New York are Andrew Rossman, who handles several busted-deal cases, and Michael Carlinsky, who has experience representing companies in South America in litigation matters and internal investigations. They are joined by Brian Timmons, who is based in Los Angeles and handles the national litigation practice, and Michael Barlow, who specializes in fiduciary litigation and corporate governance. Michael Swartz joined the team in March 2025.

Following the merger between Schulte Roth & Zabel and McDermott Will & Emery in August 2025, McDermott Will & Schulte has developed a private capital M&A disputes team focused on investment fund litigation, shareholder activism, and post M&A disputes. The practice has experience across trial, appeal, and arbitration cases. Spearheading the team is New York-based William Gussman, a commercial litigator with knowledge of fraudulent transfer actions and partnership disputes. Julia Beskin balances plaintiff and defense work, supporting direct lending and private investment clients facing distressed situations. Frank Olander was both promoted to partner, handling a range of commercial disputes and M&A litigation.