Maeve O’Connor is Co-Chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group and Securities Litigation Practice, Chair of the firm’s Insurance Litigation Practice, and spent six years as a member of the firm’s Management Committee. She has significant experience in defending securities and M&A litigation and in representing major corporations and financial services companies in a range of litigation and regulatory matters. She is recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA (2025), where clients note that she is “an excellent strategist” and “extraordinary.” In previous editions of the guide, clients highlight her “creativity, diligence and good judgment” and sources have said that she is “a superior advocate in court,” and “a genius litigator” who provides “outstanding service and great strategic advice.” She is described as “phenomenal,” “absolutely stellar… she has terrific long-range strategic sensibilities, is a joy to be around, and is terrific in the courtroom.” She is also said to be “a truly brilliant lawyer,” and “one of the sharpest thinkers and advocates.” The Legal 500 US (2025) lists Ms. O’Connor in its Hall of Fame and recognizes her as “the standout partner.” She has also been described as “a brilliant strategic and tactical thinker” and according to one client, “she’s kind of a judge-whisperer, somehow able to put forward the winning argument every time.” The guide has also described her as a leading lawyer whose “intellect and presence make her a formidable opponent to plaintiffs’ lawyers,” a “whip-smart, ferocious and superbly skilled litigator” and an “outstanding writer and advocate,” ranking her among the select few Leading Lawyers in Securities Litigation. She is also recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a “National Practice Area Star” and “Litigation Star” (2026) and as one of the “Top 250 Women in Litigation” (2025). Ms. O’Connor has been selected as a David Rockefeller Fellow for the Class of 2020 by the Partnership for New York City.
Prior to joining Debevoise, Ms. O’Connor served as a law clerk to the Hon. H. Lee Sarokin, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Ms. O’Connor received her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she was a senior editor of the Yale Law Journal. She obtained her B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.