Ranked In
New York
Litigation: General Commercial (Band 4)Profile
Practice Areas: Practice includes corporate governance, contracts, insurance and securities and bankruptcy litigation. Led the successful defense of the challenge by Air Products to the maintenance of Airgas’ “poison pill.” Also recently led the representation of Rohm and Haas in compelling Dow Chemical to close on the acquisition of that company and the representation of JPMorgan Chase in Delaware Chancery Court and New York Supreme Court litigation over JPMorgan's acquisition of Bear Stearns. In addition, participated in the successful defense of Delaware Chancery Court litigation between IAC/Interactive and Barry Diller against Liberty Media and John Malone; and was the lead lawyer representing J.C. Flowers, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase in Delaware Chancery Court litigation with Sallie Mae over whether Sallie Mae had suffered a material adverse change in its business. Following 9/11, was a lead member of the team representing Larry Silverstein in insurance litigation arising out of the destruction of the World Trade Center, and negotiated what has been labeled the largest property insurance settlement in history. Pro bono representations include Joe Steffan, U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman discharged for acknowledging that he is gay, and Anthony Oddone, young man wrongly convicted of manslaughter.
Career: Has been a member of the Litigation Department at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz since 1987. Clerked for the Honorable Henry J Friendly of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1980-81. Has argued appeals in the DC Circuit, the New York Court of Appeals and the Appellate Divisions of the New York State Supreme Court. Admitted to practice in the State of New York, the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Seventh and D.C. Circuits and the United States Supreme Court.
Personal: Received his BA with High Honors from Swarthmore College in 1977, and his JD with Honors from the University of Chicago Law School. While in Law School, was a member of 'The University of Chicago Law Review' and served as a Comment and Articles Editor.