Cravath strives to be the firm of choice for clients facing their most difficult and critical litigation. We are not just litigators; we are trial lawyers. We are trained across multiple disciplines, which enables us to think outside the box and apply creative solutions to complex matters, regardless of the subject matter, industry or client’s role in a particular dispute. The credibility and experience we bring to each matter and our preparation of each case from the outset as if it is going to trial give us a strategic advantage in all steps of litigation. Some of our practice areas include:
Antitrust: Since successfully defending IBM during the 1970s and 1980s in the landmark government case over alleged monopolization of the computer market, Cravath continues to be the go-to firm for major antitrust litigation. Our practice is led by two former Commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission—one of whom also served as U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust at the Department of Justice. We also represent clients in securing regulatory clearance for major transactions, advise clients on business conduct or potential investments and handle government investigations.
Appellate: We have extensive experience representing appellants and appellees in federal and state courts across the country. We regularly handle the appellate work for matters in which we conduct the trial court litigation, including interlocutory appeals and appeals following trial or other disposition. In addition, we are frequently retained to take over matters on appeal that were originally handled by another firm at the trial court level. We also prepare amicus briefs in connection with important cases pending in the U.S. Supreme Court or in other appellate courts in which our clients have an interest but are not parties.
Arbitration: Our litigators represent companies in many of the largest and most complex domestic and international arbitrations (including ICC, LCIA, AAA, JAMS, WIPO, CPR, UNCITRAL and private arbitrations) involving diverse industries and areas of law. Our attorneys are also from time to time nominated to serve as arbitrators by experienced litigators at other major firms.
Financial Restructuring and Reorganization: Companies facing their most challenging and critical litigation due to bankruptcy, restructuring or reorganization often rely upon our extensive experience in complex litigation. Our experience includes handling matters related to alleged breaches of fiduciary duty by officers and board members of distressed companies, disputes arising out of lender claims, alleged breaches of contract and alleged fraudulent conveyances.
General Commercial: Cravath regularly represents clients in high stakes commercial litigation. Our practice includes breach of contract, ERISA, False Claims Act, RICO, unfair competition and employment matters. We have also handled several environmental and product liability matters (including at trial) and numerous qui tam actions.
Intellectual Property: Our team includes the former head of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. We handle patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret matters involving complex technologies and products, as well as commercial litigation that frequently arises from IP matters, such as antitrust and breach of license claims. We bring to each case a trial lawyer’s courtroom perspective and deep trial experience, which distinguish us from many firms who may be IP specialists but do not try cases on a regular basis. We also supervise and coordinate IP disputes that span the globe and regularly advise clients on national and worldwide IP strategy.
Investigations and Regulatory Enforcement: Cravath handles major white collar criminal defense matters, regulatory enforcement actions and investigations for corporations, both foreign and domestic, in diverse industries. We also assist clients in handling complex internal investigations, conduct fact-finding exercises with respect to shareholder demands and advise company executives and directors on compliance obligations, potential areas of exposure and preventive measures. We have extensive experience in matters involving digital assets, the FCPA, accounting and disclosure issues, environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, insider trading, tax evasion, potential executive misconduct, securities fraud, money laundering and anti-money laundering controls, healthcare fraud and criminal antitrust matters. Our team includes attorneys who have spent portions of their careers at U.S. government agencies.
Securities: We have achieved significant wins and established important precedent in mega-deal litigation, traditional securities fraud litigation and regulatory enforcement matters on behalf of every key category of defendant: issuers, financial institutions and audit firms. Our wins and innovative strategies from the boardroom to the courtroom have given corporate defendants greater ammunition to protect critical business interests and leveled the litigation playing field. While securities cases rarely go to trial, we draw on our extensive experience to successfully try these matters when necessary. In the past several years, we have tried nearly a dozen actions across the full spectrum of securities and shareholder litigation.
Updated July 2023
