Chairman's Letter
Dear Clients and Friends:
As market shifts, political changes, and disruptive technologies continued to shape the global economy in 2015, our firm was privileged to have some of the world's most innovative companies turn to us to help them with their most significant challenges and opportunities.
Thanks to the trust and support of our clients, we have been recognized as one of the most innovative firms globally. Our clients have achieved success in some of the year's largest and most complex domestic and cross-border transactions, and in critical litigation victories. Following are just a few highlights from our year:
- Ranked #1 on The American Lawyer's A-List of the most successful firms in the U.S. for the second year in a row
- Ranked among the Top 10 in the Financial Times' Innovative Lawyers reports for Asia, Europe and North America
- Negotiated a landmark cross-border merger in Europe's defense industry, and helped complete Europe's most complex securitization restructuring
- Advised on the year's largest rights issue in Hong Kong, and guided the largest-ever internet investment in Korea
- Advised on one of Latin America's largest-ever real estate financings, and structured the purchase of Manhattan's largest apartment complex
- Recognized by International Financing Review for our work on transactions that were named deals of the year in the North America Leveraged Loan, North America High-Yield Bond, Latin America Equity Issue, Latin America Bond, and Emerging EMEA Bond categories
- Secured our leadership in inter partes reviews, handling more post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board than any other international firm
- Recognized as a Real Estate Practice Group of the Year and a Pro Bono Firm of the Year by Law360
- Achieved significant litigation victories for such clients as American Apparel, Goldman Sachs, L'Oréal, Merck, Morgan Stanley, and Trend Micro
In the following pages, we take a closer look at some of the biggest issues facing our clients' businesses and some of our significant client successes. We also highlight the extraordinary talent that has joined our firm, and how we continue to embrace diversity and inclusiveness in our culture. Our commitment to providing pro bono service that has a major impact on the communities in which we work is also covered, as well as our commitment to being stewards for the environment.
In the year ahead, we remain focused on providing exceptional service and it is an honor to partner with so many of the world's leading companies in navigating new paths to growth.
Seth M. Zachary
Chairman