International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer announces that Michael Lacovara, has joined the firm as a partner in its US litigation practice. Michael’s arrival further strengthens Freshfields’ already formidable roster of lawyers focusing on complex civil litigation in the US.
Michael started his career and was a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in New York and Palo Alto, establishing the firm’s Silicon Valley litigation practice. He has represented a variety of financial services and technology firms during his career, most notably as trial counsel to Microsoft in the landmark antitrust case, United States v. Microsoft. Among many other assignments, he also served as co-lead counsel for a major financial institution in litigation and parallel SEC and DOJ investigations into alleged price fixing in the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Michael’s appointment brings Freshfields’ US litigation practice to 13 partners, with a total of 77 lawyers. The practice has grown significantly over the past three years through both lateral hires and internal promotions. The integrated litigation practice includes a group of highly-regarded complex commercial and securities litigators, one of the nation’s leading white collar defense and government investigations groups, and the world’s top-ranked international arbitration practice. The strength of the practice is reflected in its current engagements, including more than 200 arbitration claims globally (representing more than $200 billion in disputes), more than 30 FCPA investigations, and representing the largest financial services institutions in North America in some of their biggest challenges.
Commenting on the move Michael noted ’I am honored and excited to be joining one of the world’s great firms and a terrific group of lawyers in the US as I resume my career as a litigator. Freshfields’ international footprint and global client base offer an unrivalled platform on which my new partners and I can continue to build a premier US litigation practice.’
Michael returns to private practice at Freshfields, after several years in the financial services world. He left Sullivan & Cromwell to become a partner, general counsel, and co-COO of Sandler O’Neill + Partners, LP, a full-service investment bank focused on financial services companies. Michael also spent a number of years as CEO of a Nasdaq-listed public company; and co-founded and served as CEO of a securities trading and investment banking firm that was a portfolio company of private equity firm Warburg Pincus.
Julian Pritchard, Freshfields’ US managing partner, commented ‘Michael is a highly respected trial lawyer and litigator, with a stellar reputation for steering clients through complex and highly publicized cases. His experience representing major clients in antitrust, tax, and commercial litigation is a strong complement to the talent and capabilities of our thriving US practice, and will provide our clients with yet another asset to help them navigate the current challenges in their respective markets.’
Christopher Pugh, the firm’s global head of litigation, noted ‘our US litigation capabilities have drawn the attention of the market over the last three years, with the team representing clients on high profile disputes in industries ranging from the financial, telecom, pharmaceutical and publishing sectors. Michael rightly joins a team of the highest quality which is much in demand.’
