Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2012

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

The firm has an “impressive” M&A team, five of whom are listed in the corresponding chapter of this publication. The “superb” Toby Myerson is co-head of Paul Weiss’s mergers and acquisitions group and a partner in the New York office. He has been advising corporations, financial institutions and investment banks on high-profile M&A transactions for over 30 years. His clients have included British Telecommunications, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. Fellow co-head Robert Schumer is “a big name in M&A” and “a tough opponent”. His recent experience includes the representation of Time Warner in its $17.9 billion acquisition of the cable properties of Adelphia Communications. Jeanette Chan is head of the China practice group and receives praise for her “first-rate negotiation skills” while London partner David Lakhdhir is “an expert” on cross-border mergers. Stephen Lamb practises in the Wilmington office and is “an authority on complex corporate matters”.

Four lawyers from the New York office feature in the commercial litigation chapter. “Thought leader” Leslie Fagen is a senior partner in the litigation department and has over 35 years’ experience of litigating on behalf of both claimants and defendants. Peers describe him as “a formidable advocate”. Martin Flumenbaum is “an outstanding litigator” and counts WeightWatchers, EDF and IBM among his current clients. “Top-notch” lawyer Mark Pomerantz has counselled CEOs in proceedings brought by the Justice Department and the SEC, and has represented prominent corporations and individuals with regard to many sensitive and high-profile matters. Co-chair of the litigation department Theodore Wells is “a hugely talented trial lawyer” and has successfully defended well-known individuals in the public and private sectors. Both Pomerantz and Wells also feature in the business crime defence chapter.

Three attorneys are recognised for their tax expertise. Richard Bronstein has “phenomenal experience” and is a “go-to guy” for domestic and international secured financing transactions. Jeffrey Samuels’s client list includes the Discovery Channel, Time Warner Cable and Citigroup, and he is “first choice” for complex investment fund organisation, according to one source. David Sicular has extensive experience in the tax aspects of bankruptcy and insolvency restructurings and “provides excellent client service”.

Edwin Maynard is one of three Paul Weiss lawyers listed in the capital markets chapter. He recently represented the government of Canada in connection with the initial public offering by General Motors Company of common stock and convertible preferred stock – the biggest IPO in North American history. Peers commend his “exceptional analytical skills”. Tong Yu practises from the Tokyo office and has been involved in transactions for issuers in the United States, Canada, Germany, Greece, China, Japan and Korea. Based in Toronto, Christopher Cummings practises US securities law with a particular emphasis on cross-border capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. He garnered many votes for his “meticulous attention to detail”.

Paul Weiss has multiple listings in seven other chapters, attesting to its reputation as a “premier” full-service law firm.