2024 Annual Review
Our 2024 Year in Review
A Message from the Chair
Neil J. Oxford, Chair of Hughes Hubbard & Reed
This past year was incredibly successful and rewarding for Hughes Hubbard across the board. Measured by the firm’s most important metric – the results and victories we achieve for our clients – 2024 was remarkable.
Our lawyers won major victories across the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. From strategically important corporate deals to complex bet-the-company litigation and arbitration matters, our culture of collaboration and excellence drove outstanding outcomes for our clients.
Throughout the year, our litigators secured important pre-trial rulings for the Danish tax agency SKAT, the plaintiff in a multidistrict litigation, where it is seeking to recover damages for a multi-billion dollar tax fraud scheme. In the first bellwether trial, which began on Jan. 7, 2025 and lasted five weeks, the firm secured a sweeping victory on behalf of SKAT, with the jury awarding the agency ~$500 million in damages. The victory was reported on by Bloomberg, Law360, Yahoo Finance and International Tax Review. In advance of trial, the firm also achieved significant settlements with two defendants in that first bellwether case.
Our litigators achieved an important win in March when we successfully represented the National Small Business Association in its constitutional challenge to the Corporate Transparency Act in federal court in Alabama. This case gained widespread news coverage, including by Reuters, The American Lawyer, American Banker, The Journal of Accountancy, and Wealth Management.
In May, after 16 months of work by a large team of our corporate restructuring and bankruptcy lawyers representing Gemini Trust Company in the bankruptcy of cryptocurrency lender Genesis Global Capital and related government investigations into Gemini’s Earn program, Gemini returned digital assets worth more than $2.18 billion to over 232,000 Gemini users, representing an overall recovery rate of 232% versus the November 2022 value of the loans Gemini's users had made to Genesis. This garnered widespread media coverage, including by Law360 and CoinDesk.
In August, Chris Kiplok, co-chair of our Corporate Reorganization and Bankruptcy department, served as the court-appointed examiner in the bankruptcy case of New York investment management firm Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April in the Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court with $122 million in debt. This drew media coverage, including by Law360 and Octus.
In September, lawyers in our Paris office advised the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (also called the Ivory Coast) on drafting and negotiating a €2 billion, 50-year concession agreement for restoration and biodiversity conservation covering an area of 104,000 hectares (about 400 square miles) of the Haut-Sassandra classified forest.
In October, our corporate lawyers helped Sotheby’s close a $1 billion investment round with ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, and Patrick Drahi, who acquired Sotheby’s in 2019. The investment received wide media coverage, including by Reuters, Bloomberg, Financial Times, Economy Middle East, Yahoo! Finance, The National, Artnet and ARTnews.
Rounding off the year, in December, our corporate team advised Indian hotel giant OYO on its $525 million acquisition of G6 Hospitality, the parent company of iconic U.S. hospitality brand Motel 6. The deal was reported by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes and AP News.
The breadth of our lawyers’ skills and knowledge across all practice areas and globally is key to our success as a firm and to providing our clients the best counsel and representation. Last year, we expanded our deep bench through both internal promotions of talented lawyers across our offices and lateral hires in key practice areas.
In Paris, we welcomed partner Alex Bafi to our Securities & Capital Markets practice. Alex has extensive experience in U.S. securities, including equity and debt capital markets and high-yield financing, and regularly advises investment banks and corporations on a wide range of complex and innovative offerings.
In Washington, DC, we welcomed Gaela Gehring Flores as partner and co-chair of the firm’s International Arbitration practice. Gaela has acted as counsel in more than 60 international disputes, appearing before international tribunals in some of the most high-profile investment treaty arbitrations as well as before private international commercial tribunals.
Also in Washington, we welcomed Jeremy Paner as partner in the firm’s Sanctions, Export Controls & Anti-Money Laundering practice. Jeremy spent most of his early career as lead sanctions investigator and analyst for the Office of Global Targeting within the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
As 2024 drew to a close, we rang in the new year with a series of well-deserved promotions. The firm elevated to partner Daniel McLaughlin, a member of the Global Investigations, Enforcement and Compliance practice in our Paris office, effective Jan. 1.
At the same time, we promoted four lawyers to counsel: Eleanor Erney in our International Arbitration group; Sean Murphy, Corporate and Finance; Mathieu Rossignol, Global Investigations, Enforcement and Compliance; and Walter Song, Corporate and Equipment Finance.
Once again we were recognized as leading lawyers in Chambers’ 2024 U.S., Global, Europe and Latin America guides. We were highly recommended by Latin Lawyer and named in multiple practice areas throughout Legal 500’s Latin America and U.S. guides. Among other recognitions, our investigations practice retained its spot on Global Investigation Review’s GIR 30 list, a ranking of the best law firms for complex multijurisdictional corporate investigations, and our bankruptcy practice was named to Global Restructuring Review’s GRR 100 list, a ranking of the top law firms for restructuring and insolvency matters around the world.
On behalf of all of us at Hughes Hubbard, I extend my deepest gratitude to our clients, for trusting us with their most important matters, and to our lawyers and business professionals, whose talents, collegiality and commitment to excellence are key to the firm’s success.
“They have the unique ability to participate and co-ordinate highly complex cases out of the US with their outstanding experience and knowledge.”
Legal 500, 2024
Results
2024 saw Hughes Hubbard lawyers achieve groundbreaking litigation victories, advise on complex corporate deals, lead clients through noteworthy restructurings and more.
Litigation
In 2024, Hughes Hubbard achieved victory for clients across a wide range of industries, including multiple victories for a foreign government in a $2.1 billion tax refund fraud jury trial and winning a dismissal in a case surrounding the ownership of a Van Gogh painting.
Victories for SKAT in $2.1 Billion Tax Fraud Litigation
In February and November, the firm secured important pre-trial rulings for the Danish tax agency SKAT, and achieved a settlement with one of the defendants accused of helping its clients claim fraudulent tax refunds in an overall $2.1 billion tax fraud scheme, to prepare for the first bellwether case in the multidistrict litigation. In that first trial – which began on Jan. 7, 2025, and lasted five weeks – the firm secured a sweeping victory on behalf of SKAT, with the jury awarding the agency ~$500 million in damages. The victory was reported on by Bloomberg, Law360, Yahoo Finance and International Tax Review. Read More
Dismissal of Lawsuit Over Van Gogh Sunflowers Painting
Hughes Hubbard advised leading Japanese insurer Sompo Holdings, the owner of one of Vincent van Gogh’s iconic Sunflowers paintings, and its affiliates in winning dismissal with prejudice of an action to recover the painting (valued at $250 million) plus $1.5 billion in damages. Read More
Faced With Constitutional Challenge, SEC Drops Case
Hughes Hubbard challenged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the constitutionality of its case against firm client Alan J. Markowitz, an engagement partner at audit firm Marcum. Hughes Hubbard’s challenge was crafted along the same lines as the arguments in a similar case, SEC v. Jarkesy, which at the time was being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. When the court decided against the SEC in Jarkesy, the agency also dismissed its case against Markowitz as well.
Victory in District Court in Constitutional Challenge to Corporate Transparency Act
The firm won an important victory for the National Small Business Association in its challenge to the constitutionality of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) when a judge in the U.S. District Court in Huntsville, AL, ruled the CTA is not within the powers granted to Congress in the U.S. Constitution. Following this victory, the government appealed the ruling to the Eleventh Circuit. Follow on cases are pending throughout the country, and the Treasury Department has announced plans to narrow its regulation to limit enforcement of the statute.
Important Win for Brightwood Capital in Banner Ridge Partners Lawsuit
The firm won a major motion for private investment fund Brightwood Capital, defeating an application for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by specialist credit investor Banner Ridge Partners over a roughly $253 million continuation-fund deal. Read More
Representation of a New Player in the Credit Market
The firm defended UK-based Corinthia Global Management, a new player in the $1.7 trillion private credit space, in a lawsuit arising from its hiring of members of the private credit team at rival Barings LLC.
Aso O. Tavitian Foundation Gifts 331 Works of Art to the Clark Art Institute
Hughes Hubbard advised the Aso O. Tavitian Foundation on its gift to the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute of an extraordinary collection of 331 works of art. The gift also included more than $45 million to build a new wing for the collection, and to fund a new curator’s position. Read More
Defense of Deutsche Bahn
Hughes Hubbard, working closely with German law firm Hengeler Mueller, is advising and representing the U.S. subsidiary of the German state-owned railway company, Deutsche Bahn, on potential liabilities arising from former subsidiaries that distributed asbestos and talc products.
Victory for the Estate of James Clayton Larmett in Suit Brought by Former Doorman
The firm won an important ruling for the Estate of James Clayton Larmett in a suit brought in Manhattan by Larmett's former doorman Jose Rafael Padilla alleging Larmett promised Padilla a third of his estate.
Major Motion in Freedom of Information Act Pro Bono Case
Hughes Hubbard won an important motion in an ongoing case in which the firm, working with the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, is representing Sam Biddle, a journalist seeking information under the Freedom of Information Act from the Department of Defense (DOD) regarding Google’s involvement in certain DOD projects.
Dismissal for Sotheby’s Stemming from Sale of Picasso Painting
The firm successfully represented Sotheby's in a case brought by Maria Iride Crippa, an Italian citizen living in Switzerland, on claims arising from Sotheby's 2021 sale of Pablo Picasso's painting “Le Peintre."
M&A
2024 saw Hughes Hubbard lawyers lead novel mergers and acquisitions deals in diverse industries, including hospitality, information technology, publishing, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing.
OYO’s All‑Cash $525M Purchase of Motel 6
Hughes Hubbard advised Indian hotel giant OYO on its $525 million acquisition of G6 Hospitality, the parent company of iconic U.S. hospitality brand Motel 6. Read More
Rheinmetall’s $950M Acquisition of Loc Performance Products
Hughes Hubbard represented Rheinmetall AG, a German technology group for mobility and security, in its acquisition of Loc Performance Products for a total purchase price of $950 million. Read More
Knorr‑Bremse Acquires Alstom for €630M
The firm advised Knorr-Bremse AG, the global market leader for braking systems and a leading provider of other rail and commercial vehicle systems, in its approximately €630 million acquisition of the North American conventional rail signaling business of Alstom. Read More
Standard Motor Products in Its $390M Acquisition of Nissens Automotive
Hughes Hubbard represented Standard Motor Products, a leading automotive parts manufacturer and distributor, in its $390 million acquisition of Nissens Automotive, a leading European manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket engine cooling and air conditioning products with a growing array of vehicle control technologies. Read More
ANI Pharmaceuticals’ $381M Acquisition of Alimera Sciences
The firm advised diversified biopharmaceutical company ANI Pharmaceuticals in its acquisition of global pharmaceutical company Alimera Sciences, in a transaction that valued Alimera at approximately $381 million in up-front consideration. Read More
Geller & Company’s Sale to Corient
Hughes Hubbard advised Geller & Company on the sale of its multi-family office business to Corient, one of the fastest-growing national wealth advisors in the U.S. Read More
Bloomsbury’s $83M Acquisition of Rowman & Littlefield’s Academic Publishing Business
Hughes Hubbard advised Bloomsbury Publishing in its complex carve-out acquisition of the academic imprints and associated titles of Rowman & Littlefield, the leading independent book publisher in the U.S. academic market, for $83 million. It was Bloomsbury’s largest acquisition to date. Read More
Wipro’s $66M Aggne Global Acquisition
The firm advised Wipro in its $66 million acquisition of U.S.-based Aggne Global – a provider of optimization software to insurance companies – and its India-based affiliate Aggne Global IT Services. Read More
Wipro Acquires Applied Value Technologies for $40M
Hughes Hubbard advised Wipro on its $40 million acquisition of U.S.-based IT services consulting firm Applied Value Technologies. Read More
Investigations & Sanctions
Hughes Hubbard’s internationally recognized and award-winning global investigations team was once again ranked among the top 30 practices in the world in 2024. Our diverse team of highly qualified, international and multilingual lawyers have decades of experience, including as government enforcement officials in high stakes investigations and related compliance matters. In 2024, our team once again represented confidential clients in front of major regulating bodies across the world, including before the World Bank and other multilateral development bank investigations.
Firm Named to Global Investigations Review’s GIR 30 List for Second Year in a Row
The firm was named to Global Investigations Review’s (GIR) GIR 30 list, a ranking of the best law firms for complex multijurisdictional corporate investigations. The ranking measures firms’ institutional strengths based on a range of factors, including a firm’s reach, caseload and appearances before government authorities. “The firm made waves in the world of financial crime enforcement when it helped a business group push back against a US transparency law designed to help investigators unravel complex corporate structures,” the publication wrote.
GIR highlighted our work on a variety of matters, including a favorable ruling for the National Small Business Association in March when an Alabama federal judge ruled that the Corporate Transparency Act was unconstitutional. It also discussed the firm’s representation of telecommunications company Ericsson in an independent review of the adequacy of prior disclosures the company made before and after it entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice.
GIR also featured the firm’s continued representation of the Danish tax authority on a $2.1 billion fraud case in which some 300 pension funds in four countries allegedly made false tax refund claims between 2002 and 2015. “Hughes Hubbard helped the agency recover $250 million... and successfully had more than $1 million in counterclaims against its client dismissed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York,” the publication wrote.
Corporate & Aviation
Last year Hughes Hubbard’s corporate team pioneered multi-billion and -million dollar deals across the globe for companies ranging from iconic brands to tech start-ups.
Vale Base Metals’ $1.5B Credit Facility
The firm advised a nine-bank club led by Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank on a $1.5 billion term loan credit facility to the Vale Base Metals Limited group, a subsidiary of Vale S.A. This was a landmark transaction for the group, which has operations across four continents focusing on the production of base metals essential for the energy transition, such as nickel, copper and cobalt. Read More
Sotheby’s $1B Investment Round
Hughes Hubbard advised Sotheby’s in closing a minority investment round with ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company. The total amount of investments by ADQ and Patrick Drahi, who acquired Sotheby’s in 2019 and remains Sotheby’s majority owner, is approximately $1 billion. Read More
Griffin’s $700M Unsecured Notes Offerings
Hughes Hubbard represented Griffin Global Asset Management on a senior unsecured notes offering and subsequent add-on totaling $700 million. Read More
€2B Reforestation and Carbon Credit Deal for Côte d’Ivoire
The firm advised the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire on drafting and negotiating a 50-year concession agreement for restoration and biodiversity conservation covering an area of 104,000 hectares (about 400 square miles) of the Haut-Sassandra classified forest. Read More
Sopra Steria’s €400M Euro Term Facility Agreement
The firm guided French consulting firm Sopra Steria on its term loan agreement.
Ualá’s $300M Series E Fundraising Round
Hughes Hubbard represented Ualá, the Latin American neobank founded in Argentina, in its $300 million Series E preferred stock fundraising round at a post-money valuation of $2.75 billion. Read More
$400M Unsecured Notes Offering for Griffin
Hughes Hubbard represented Griffin Global Asset Management on the closing of an offering of an aggregate principal amount of $400 million of senior unsecured notes priced at par by GGAM Finance, a subsidiary of Griffin Global Asset Management Holdings. Read More
$132M Sustainability‑Linked Loan to Tereos Brazil
The firm advised a bank group led by Rabobank in the group’s $132 million sustainability-linked export prepayment facility for sugar company Tereos Açúcar e Energia Brasil S.A., the Brazilian subsidiary of global agricultural cooperative conglomerate Tereos. Read More
Flushing Financial Corporation’s $70M Public Offering
The firm represented Flushing Financial Corporation in its $70 million public offering, which closed in December. Read More
Claure Group’s Investment in New York City Football Club
Hughes Hubbard advised Claure Group on its investment in the Major League Soccer team New York City FC. With the investment, Marcelo Claure joins New York City FC’s ownership group as co-vice chairman. Read More
Griffin’s Purchase and Leaseback of Ten Boeing Aircraft to Air India
The firm advised Griffin Global Asset Management on the purchase and leaseback of ten Boeing aircraft to Air India.
EBI Financing for Ivorian Cocoa Exporter
The firm advised EBI SA, a French subsidiary of pan-African banking conglomerate Ecobank, in the negotiation of a commodity financing facility for cocoa producer Kineden Commodities.
Bankruptcy & Restructuring
In 2024 Hughes Hubbard guided both publicly disclosed and confidential clients, in industries ranging from cryptocurrency to healthcare, through their restructurings.
Gemini Provides Users With 232% Recovery From Genesis Crypto Bankruptcy and Resolves Government Investigations
The firm represented Gemini Trust Company in the bankruptcy of cryptocurrency lender Genesis Global Capital and related government investigations into Gemini’s Earn program. After sixteen months of work by a large team of attorneys at the firm, on May 29, 2024, Gemini returned digital assets worth more than $2.18 billion to over 232,000 Gemini users, representing an overall recovery rate of 232% versus the November 2022 value of the loans Gemini's users had made to Genesis. The firm also advised Gemini in resolving related investigations by the New York State Department of Financial Services, the New York Attorney General, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Nuvo’s Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing
Hughes Hubbard is representing Nuvo Group USA and two of its affiliates, including public company Holdco Nuvo Group D.G Ltd. (collectively, Nuvo), in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, which Nuvo commenced after failing to raise sufficient financing to fund its operations following a de-SPAC transaction. Read More
Secured Status for Singapore Claimants in Terraform Chapter 11
Hughes Hubbard represented a class of purchasers of the TerraUST stablecoin in the Terraform Labs chapter 11 bankruptcy, achieving a Bankruptcy Court order confirming that the claimants can continue pursuing litigation against the debtor in Singapore and collect on their claims through a $57 million escrow deposited by Terraform pre-petition.
Chris Kiplok Serves as Examiner in Weiss Multi‑Strategy Advisers Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Hughes Hubbard partner Chris Kiplok served as the court-appointed examiner in the Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers bankruptcy case. Partner Dustin Smith served as the examiner’s lead counsel. Read More
Arbitration
2024 saw Hughes Hubbard’s arbitration team achieve victory for clients across the world, from U.S. courts to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Russia Must Oppose Confirmation of Arbitration Award in U.S. Court
Hughes Hubbard won an important ruling that the Russian government must defend a suit seeking confirmation of an over $34 million arbitration award against the country in favor of a group of 11 Ukrainian gasoline companies, as part of a series of arbitrations over gas stations and other assets the Russian government seized after its 2014 invasion of Crimea. This ruling followed the firm pushing back against Russia’s attempt to toss its claims in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in April. Read More
ICSID Arbitration Settlement for Republic of Togo
The firm obtained a major success for the Togolese Republic in the settlement of an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes arbitration against Groupe Bolloré Africa Logistics, which has since become Africa Global Logistics, a major transport and logistics company in Africa.
Arbitration Award Confirmed for Deutsche Telekom
Hughes Hubbard successfully represented German telecommunications provider Deutsche Telekom in an action to confirm an arbitration award against India arising out of India’s breach of its 1995 bilateral investment treaty with Germany.
Senegal’s $5B ICC Arbitration Against ArcelorMittal
The firm is representing the Republic of Senegal in an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration against Luxembourg-based multinational steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal, the second largest steel producer in the world.
$30M Arbitration Award Enforcement for Shenzhen Zehuijin Investment Center
The firm achieved victory for Chinese investment firm Shenzhen Zehuijin Investment Center, enforcing an arbitration award of approximately $30 million over a breached loan agreement. Read More
$50M+ in Arbitration Awards for Pharaon
Hughes Hubbard successfully represented the Saudi Arabia-based Pharaon Commercial Investment Group in a dispute with its business partner GICA, Algeria's state-owned cement company, and SCIBS, the joint venture between Pharaon and GICA.
“The firm is organized, leads large projects and provides in-depth legal advice on complex questions.”
Chambers USA, 2024
Global Reach
Throughout our history, Hughes Hubbard has successfully represented clients across the world. Our Paris office is the hub of the firm’s work in Europe, advising clients in complex matters across all industries and practice areas. While most of the matters our Paris lawyers work on are confidential, we’re happy to share these global successes from lawyers across all our offices. 2024 saw important results for our clients across the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Victories for SKAT in $2.1 Billion Tax Fraud Litigation
In February and November, the firm secured important pre-trial rulings for the Danish tax agency SKAT, and achieved a settlement with one of the defendants accused of helping its clients claim fraudulent tax refunds in an overall $2.1 billion tax fraud scheme, to prepare for the first bellwether case in the multidistrict litigation. In that first trial – which began on Jan. 7, 2025, and lasted five weeks – the firm secured a sweeping victory on behalf of SKAT, with the jury awarding the agency ~$500 million in damages. The victory was reported on by Bloomberg, Law360, Yahoo Finance and International Tax Review. Read More
OYO’s All‑Cash $525M Purchase of Motel 6
Hughes Hubbard advised Indian hotel giant OYO on its $525 million acquisition of G6 Hospitality, the parent company of iconic U.S. hospitality brand Motel 6. Read More
Senegal’s $5B ICC Arbitration Against ArcelorMittal
The firm is representing the Republic of Senegal in an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration against Luxembourg-based multinational steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal, the second largest steel producer in the world.
Vale Base Metals’ $1.5B Credit Facility
The firm advised a nine-bank club led by Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank on a $1.5 billion term loan credit facility to the Vale Base Metals Limited group, a subsidiary of Vale S.A. This was a landmark transaction for the group, which has operations across four continents focusing on the production of base metals essential for the energy transition, such as nickel, copper and cobalt. Read More
€2B Reforestation and Carbon Credit Deal for Côte d’Ivoire
The firm advised the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire on drafting and negotiating a 50-year concession agreement for restoration and biodiversity conservation covering an area of 104,000 hectares (about 400 square miles) of the Haut-Sassandra classified forest. Read More
Rheinmetall’s $950M Acquisition of Loc Performance Products
Hughes Hubbard represented Rheinmetall AG, a German technology group for mobility and security, in its acquisition of Loc Performance Products for a total purchase price of $950 million. Read More
Russia Must Oppose Confirmation of Arbitration Award in U.S. Court
Hughes Hubbard won an important ruling that the Russian government must defend a suit seeking confirmation of an over $34 million arbitration award against the country in favor of a group of 11 Ukrainian gasoline companies, as part of a series of arbitrations over gas stations and other assets the Russian government seized after its 2014 invasion of Crimea. This ruling followed the firm pushing back against Russia’s attempt to toss its claims in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in April. Read More
Knorr‑Bremse Acquires Alstom for €630M
Hughes Hubbard is advising Knorr-Bremse AG, the global market leader for braking systems and a leading provider of other rail and commercial vehicle systems, in its approximately €630 million acquisition of the North American conventional rail signaling business of Alstom. Read More
Griffin’s Purchase and Leaseback of Ten Boeing Aircraft to Air India
The firm advised Griffin Global Asset Management on the purchase and leaseback of ten Boeing aircraft to Air India.
EBI Financing for Ivorian Cocoa Exporter
The firm advised EBI SA, a French subsidiary of pan-African banking conglomerate Ecobank, in the negotiation of a commodity financing facility for cocoa producer Kineden Commodities.
Standard Motor Products in Its $390M Acquisition of Nissens Automotive
Hughes Hubbard represented Standard Motor Products, a leading automotive parts manufacturer and distributor, in its $390 million acquisition of Nissens Automotive, a leading European manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket engine cooling and air conditioning products with a growing array of vehicle control technologies. Read More
Dismissal of Lawsuit Over Van Gogh Sunflowers Painting
Hughes Hubbard advised leading Japanese insurer Sompo Holdings, the owner of one of Vincent van Gogh’s iconic Sunflowers paintings, and its affiliates in winning dismissal with prejudice of an action to recover the painting (valued at $250 million) plus $1.5 billion in damages. Read More
ANI Pharmaceuticals’ $381M Acquisition of Alimera Sciences
Hughes Hubbard advised diversified biopharmaceutical company ANI Pharmaceuticals in its acquisition of global pharmaceutical company Alimera Sciences, in a transaction that valued Alimera at approximately $381 million in up-front consideration. Read More
Sopra Steria’s Euro Term Facility Agreement
The firm guided French consulting firm Sopra Steria in a €400M term loan agreement.
$132M Sustainability‑Linked Loan to Tereos Brazil
The firm advised a bank group led by Rabobank in the group’s $132 million sustainability-linked export prepayment facility for sugar company Tereos Açúcar e Energia Brasil S.A., the Brazilian subsidiary of global agricultural cooperative conglomerate Tereos. Read More
Bloomsbury’s $83M Acquisition of Rowman & Littlefield’s Academic Publishing Business
Hughes Hubbard advised Bloomsbury Publishing in its complex carve-out acquisition of the academic imprints and associated titles of Rowman & Littlefield, the leading independent book publisher in the U.S. academic market, for $83 million. It was Bloomsbury’s largest acquisition to date. Read More
ICSID Arbitration Settlement for Republic of Togo
Hughes Hubbard obtained a major success for the Togolese Republic in the settlement of an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes arbitration against Groupe Bolloré Africa Logistics, which has since become Africa Global Logistics, a major transport and logistics company in Africa.
Defense of Deutsche Bahn
Hughes Hubbard, working closely with German law firm Hengeler Mueller, is advising and representing the U.S. subsidiary of the German state-owned railway company, Deutsche Bahn, on potential liabilities arising from former subsidiaries that distributed asbestos and talc products.
Wipro’s $66M Aggne Global Acquisition
Hughes Hubbard advised Wipro in its $66 million acquisition of U.S.-based Aggne Global – a provider of optimization software to insurance companies – and its India-based affiliate Aggne Global IT Services. Read More
$50M+ in Arbitration Awards for Pharaon
Hughes Hubbard successfully represented the Saudi Arabia-based Pharaon Commercial Investment Group in a dispute with its business partner GICA, Algeria's state-owned cement company, and SCIBS, the joint venture between Pharaon and GICA.
Wipro Acquires Applied Value Technologies for $40M
The firm advised Wipro on its $40 million acquisition of U.S.-based IT services consulting firm Applied Value Technologies. Read More
$30M Arbitration Award Enforcement for Shenzhen Zehuijin Investment Center
Hughes Hubbard achieved victory for Chinese investment firm Shenzhen Zehuijin Investment Center, enforcing an arbitration award of approximately $30 million over a breached loan agreement. Read More
“They are highly experienced, practical and solution-oriented counsel.”
Chambers USA, 2024
New Partners & Counsel
Last year, the firm added to our deep bench through the internal promotion and lateral hiring of an exceptional class of talented lawyers.
Alex Bafi
Senior Counsel
Alex is a senior counsel in Hughes Hubbard’s Paris office. He advises corporates, private equity investors and investment banks on complex and innovative securities offerings including IPOs, rights offerings, and investment grade and high yield debt offerings. His work covers more than 20 markets including France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Greece, North Africa and the Middle East. He has advised on over €50 billion in securities offerings since 2017.
Gaela Gehring Flores
Partner
Gaela is Chair of Hughes Hubbard's International Arbitration practice group in the Washington, D.C., office. She has over 25 years of experience focused on representing both multinational corporations and sovereign states in international commercial and investment arbitrations. She has handled over 60 high-stakes international disputes before some of the best-known investment treaty arbitration institutions, as well as before private international commercial tribunals. Gaela also demonstrates a commitment to pro bono services through her work with immigrant and undocumented communities.
Daniel J. McLaughlin
Partner - International Specialist (Paris)
Daniel is a partner in the Global Investigations, Enforcement and Compliance practice group. Based in the Paris office, he represents large multinational clients on a range of issues, including the design and implementation of anti-corruption compliance programs, conducting internal investigations, and undertaking third-party due diligence reviews. Daniel has overseen large internal investigations and represented clients under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, the UK Serious Fraud Office, and other regulators.
Jeremy P. Paner
Partner
Jeremy is a partner in the Washington, DC, office of Hughes Hubbard. He represents clients in a wide range of industries on compliance with trade sanctions and national security-related matters, with particular focus on U.S. economic sanctions. Jeremy regularly advises clients on whether certain relationships and/or transactions are prohibited and/or sanctionable under U.S. law. Jeremy spent most of his early career as a lead sanctions investigator and analyst for the Office of Global Targeting within the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Eleanor Erney
Counsel
Eleanor is counsel in the Washington office of Hughes Hubbard. As part of the firm’s Arbitration practice group, Eleanor has significant experience in both investment treaty arbitrations and international commercial arbitrations under the ICSID, ICC, UNCITRAL, SIAC and LCIA Rules. She has represented both investors and sovereign states in arbitration proceedings and has served as Tribunal Secretary.
Sean Patrick Murphy
Counsel
Sean is counsel in Hughes Hubbard’s New York office and is part of the firm’s Corporate and Finance group, with a focus on commercial aircraft finance.
Walter Song
Counsel
Walter is counsel in Hughes Hubbard’s Washington, DC, office and is a member of the firm’s Corporate and Equipment Finance Group, with a focus on commercial aircraft finance. He has experience in a wide array of structured equipment financings, including securitizations, syndicated credit facilities, warehouse facilities, sale-leaseback transactions and restructurings.
“The Hughes Hubbard team had both depth and breadth of expertise, including meaningful experience working with foreign companies and significant insight into the US regulators.”
Chambers USA, 2024
Pro Bono
In 2024, Hughes Hubbard achieved success for pro bono clients facing deportation, seeking asylum, engaging in a rental subsidy class action lawsuit and more.
Asylum for Afghan Family That Fled ISIS and Taliban
Hughes Hubbard won asylum for a family of eight who fled Afghanistan to escape death threats from members of ISIS and the Taliban. Read More
Firm Wins Groundbreaking Settlement in Rental Subsidy Class Action Against NYC
The firm won a major settlement in its pro bono rental subsidy class action litigation against New York City, in which the firm alleged the New York City Department of Social Services was unlawfully terminating rental vouchers for low-income New Yorkers.
Asylum for Cameroonian Refugee
Hughes Hubbard – in partnership with the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project – won asylum in a Maryland immigration court for a Cameroonian refugee who fled her home country in 2019 after she was falsely accused of being a separatist and imprisoned. Read More
Fordham Law’s Consumer Debt Litigation Index
The firm provided pro bono assistance to National Center for Access to Justice at Fordham Law School’s National Center for Access to Justice in the creation of its published Consumer Debt Litigation Index.
Relief for LGBTQ+ Peruvian Woman Facing Deportation
Hughes Hubbard obtained withholding of removal relief for a transgender woman born in Peru who is facing proceedings for deportation from the United States. Read More
Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa Status for Honduran Child
The firm secured Special Immigrant Juvenile visa status in the U.S. for a child who had been abused, abandoned and neglected while growing up in Honduras. Read More
Pro Bono Amicus Brief Supports Application of Torture Victims Protection Act
Hughes Hubbard submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on behalf of two former U.S. ambassadors, arguing for the affirmance of the district court’s application of the Torture Victims Protection Act in a case stemming from extrajudicial torture and killing ordered by Jean Morose Viliena, the former mayor of Les Irois, Haiti.
Asylum for LGBTQ+ Colombian
The firm secured asylum for a Colombian woman who was detained after being physically and sexually abused over the course of six months due to her LGBTQ+ status.
Asylum for Honduran Musician
Hughes Hubbard won asylum in a Texas immigration court for a well-known musical artist from Honduras who was persecuted for his protest songs against the government.
Three Siblings from El Salvador Obtain Green Cards
After more than nine years, the firm obtained legal permanent residence in the U.S. for the last of three El Salvadorian siblings who fled violence and instability in their home country and sought reunion with their mother.
Posthumous Release of Jazz Records
Hughes Hubbard assisted Aida Brandes-Hargrove – the widow of influential American jazz musician and composer Roy Hargrove, whose primary instruments were the trumpet and flugelhorn – on a pro bono basis with negotiating the release of three posthumous records.
Accolades
Last year the firm was once again named in surveys and league tables and won major industry awards across all practice areas.
Global Investigations Review 30
For the second year in a row, Hughes Hubbard was named to Global Investigations Review’s GIR 30 list, a ranking of the best law firms for complex multijurisdictional corporate investigations. Read More
Ishka Insights
Ishka Insights awarded Hughes Hubbard Best European Deal 2023 in their Deal of the Year Awards for the firm's representation of Griffin Global Asset Management in a $400 million engine financing with Rolls-Royce. Read More
Latin Lawyer 250
Hughes Hubbard was ranked a Highly Recommended firm in the Latin Lawyer 250 for 2025. Read More
India Business Law Journal
India Business Law Journal named Hughes Hubbard a foreign law firm to watch for India-related matters in 2024. Read More
Global Restructuring Review 100
Hughes Hubbard was recognized by Global Restructuring Review as one of the top 30 law firms for restructuring and insolvency matters around the world.
Chambers Guides
Across its four guides for USA, Global, Europe and Latin America, Chambers recognized the firm with 27 attorney recommendations and 17 practice group rankings. Read More
Legal 500 Guides
Legal 500 recognized Hughes Hubbard with 78 attorney recommendations and 12 practice group rankings in its 2024 guides. Read More
Chambers High Net Worth
For the fifth year running, the Chambers High Net Worth guide, which focuses on the private wealth sector, recognized HHR as one of the nation’s leading law firms for Art and Cultural Property Law. Read More
AmLaw 2024 Pro Bono Survey
Hughes Hubbard was recognized as a Top 25 Firm on The American Lawyer’s 2024 Pro Bono Scorecard.
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