Winston & Strawn LLP

Located at the heart of Chicago’s downtown “Loop” area, the firm’s global headquarters has been part of the Chicago legal scene since its founding by Frederick Hampden Winston in 1853. Now numbering nearly 1,000 attorneys, the firm has a presence in Europe as well as on both coasts of the United States. A strong firm in the corporate, commercial and dispute resolution areas, Winston also boasts nominees in the aviation, environment and competition chapters.

The firm’s greatest representation occurs in the commercial litigation chapter. The firm enjoys a reputation for “stellar performances” in high-stakes litigation, and chairman Dan Webb received more recommendations than any other lawyer in the research. One source enthused that Webb “is probably the best in the city, if not the country”, while Kimball Anderson was also the subject of a great deal of praise for his “cool analysis of even the trickiest situation”. He also appears in our arbitration chapter, where respondents agreed that he “should clearly be on any list of the best”. This “formidable” team’s contingent is augmented this year by the inclusion of “rising star” Bradley Lerman, joined by another new inclusion, Timothy Rooney, whose clients include Bell Atlantic.

Both Webb and Lerman also feature in the business crime chapter, where they are joined by Howard Pearl, who features alongside his partners at the top of the research, recommended for his high-profile work on criminal matters such as his representation of former Congressman Dan Rostenkowski. In the management labour and employment chapter, Columbus Gangemi is a “first string” practitioner, representing high-profile clients such as Caterpillar and American Airlines in all aspects of labour and employment law. Joseph Torres joins him. A specialist in traditional labour management relations and ERISA litigation, peers deem him “highly competent”.

Finance partners at the firm also shine in various chapters. In the banking section, “sensational” Gregory Murray focuses on commercial lending. He is joined by leveraged finance expert Charles Boehrer, and Ronald Jacobson, who counts Bank of America and Lehman brothers among his clients. The capital markets group is a player in the international as well as the local markets, representing underwriters such as JP Morgan Securities. Respondents praise David Galainena as “a great lawyer to have on a deal”. “Held in the highest regard”, Robert Wall was praised as the “go-to guy”. He also features in the mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance chapters, where competitiors rate him “at the top of his game”.

Three lawyers also make the cut in the private funds survey. Lesley Nissen was praised for his “exhaustive knowledge” of fund formation work, and peers rate Andrew McDonough as an “incredibly competent lawyer”. Partner Margaret Lomenzo was recommended as a “future star”. Aviation finance lawyer Arnold Gough also received favourable mentions in the research.

In other corporate areas, Winston’s lawyers put in an impressive performance. Matthew Botica is the “very smart” co-chair of the firm’s insolvency and restructuring group. He is joined by partner Jeff Marwil, recommended for his strategic advice. Competitors “think the world of” corporate tax partner James Lynch, whose clients include Exelon, Sara Lee and Kellogg.

Winston & Strawn lawyers perform well in two further practice areas. In the competition chapter, strong duo Duane Kelley and Mark McCareins both received plaudits. Kelley, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, is a “fantastic trial lawyer”, and Mark McCareins is an “outstanding business litigator with a strong antitrust subspeciality”.

Environment practitioner Eleni Kouimelis is the final Winston practitioner to appear in this edition, the sole lawyer to represent the firm in this chapter following the departures of her former colleagues James Russell and Jennifer Nijman. Her Clean Air Act work received special mention from interviewees.