When The American Lawyer named Debevoise its “Litigation Department of the Year,” it likened the team to “the Army Rangers – a small but elite group that works seamlessly and handles the most challenging cases.”
Lord Goldsmith KC
Mark P. Goodman
Maura Kathleen Monaghan
They handle very substantial disputes and get results that ultimately save or earn their clients significant rewards.
—Chambers USA, 2022
They are very smart, collaborative and knowledgeable - they do a good job at looking out for the client first.
—Chambers USA, 2021
The firm was top-notch … they’re very professional, very smart, and very strategic. It’s definitely a top-tier firm.
I’ve been really, really impressed by their depth of expertise and judgment.
They have terrific legal skills and talent across the board, they identify all the right issues, and give us great advice and counsel.
—Chambers USA, 2020
Very high-quality attorneys and very service-oriented.
—The Legal 500 US, 2022
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP excels in complex litigation and is noted for its ‘top-drawer technical skills.’
—The Legal 500 US, 2019
Visit our UK Civil Litigation page, where we cover everything from amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules and Court Guidance, to our views on some of the most interesting judgments handed down by the Courts.
The Debevoise Commercial Litigation practice is one of the strongest in the industry, consistently delivering outstanding results for its clients. Routinely noted for its depth of expertise, strategic judgment and creative solutions, the team is well-known for handling the most complex, challenging and high-profile matters across a diverse range of industries.
In recent years, Debevoise has achieved industry-shaping successes, including a $327 million litigation win for The D. E. Shaw Group and Madison Dearborn Partners against TerraForm for breach of contract; a unanimous Supreme Court victory on behalf of a family trust, resulting in the prohibition of states from taxing non-resident trusts based solely on the in-state residence of a beneficiary; Tribune Media Company in the successful dismissal of a securities class action arising from the failed acquisition of Tribune by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.; and victories, dismissals and resolutions at every stage of litigation for leading corporations and entities, including American Airlines, Bristol Myers Squibb, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, JPMorgan Chase, and the largest hospital group in the United States, among others.
The group is stacked with broad-gauged litigators known for their judgment, business savvy and strategic advice. The team handles domestic and cross-border disputes of every kind across a diverse range of industries, including securities and derivative actions, contract disputes, products liability and mass torts, antitrust, insurance disputes, bankruptcy, environmental litigation, mergers and acquisitions, employment, professional liability, and matters involving corporate governance. That depth of experience allows Debevoise litigators to serve regularly as trusted advisers and advocates on matters that defy categorization but pose great challenges to clients and their businesses. Debevoise lawyers have advised both boards and senior management at critical crossroads. They have truly become advisors of choice in the face of substantial economic or reputational exposure.
Debevoise commercial litigators bring personal attention, deep industry knowledge and substantive legal experience to each matter, tailoring advice to clients' needs and circumstances in a manner calculated to achieve the best possible result in each case.
When defending claims, the Commercial Litigation practice has an exceptional record of avoiding the most costly aspects of litigation by prevailing at the motion-to-dismiss stage; but where a case does proceed to discovery and trial, seasoned trial lawyers, including career defense lawyers, former Assistant U.S. Attorneys, former Assistant District Attorneys and British barristers, bring decades of experience and great credibility to the project.
The Commercial Litigation team is collaborative at every level, working across the firm with co-counsel and with clients to achieve the best results in the toughest matters.