Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Mergers and Acquisitions Partner Erik Wang has been named a “Hong Kong Rising Star” for 2024 by Asian Legal Business. In its second annual list, ALB highlights Hong Kong’s next generation of outstanding lawyers who demonstrate exceptional potential in the industry and receive strong praise from their clients. Erik was recognized for his work advising on several high-profile transactions across Asia for prominent corporations and private equity firms, including Alibaba Group, Blackstone and KKR, among others.    Read more: https://lnkd.in/dxCMRf-n

Simpson Thacher's first-year associates recently participated in STBReady, the Firm’s in-depth orientation program that is designed to help associates prepare to meaningfully contribute to their matters from day one. During the program, first-year associates attend sessions and events focused on helping them understand and navigate the Firm, while also building a foundation for their professional development. STBReady is only the start for our associates – their learning journey continues through participation in practice-specific training curriculums and a continuous development program focused on financial literacy topics, including through Columbia Business School, and other professional skills that will support them in becoming well-rounded attorneys.

Simpson Thacher is representing Blackstone in connection with its proposed acquisition of a majority ownership position in Jersey Mike’s Subs, a leading franchisor of fast casual submarine sandwich stores. Jersey Mike’s Founder and CEO Peter Cancro will maintain a significant equity stake and continue to lead the business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Jersey Mike’s Subs, with more than 3,000 locations open and in development, serves authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs on in-store freshly baked bread — the same recipe it started with in 1956. The Simpson Thacher team includes Elizabeth Cooper, Michael Chao, Erica Egenes, Wang Chen, Elias Rosenblatt, Luca Tomasi and Gillian Wei (M&A); Greg Grogan, Laura Gallo, Ryan Stott, Josh Goldman and Mtume Sangiewa (Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits); Sophie Staples, Jonathan Goldstein, Edward Grais and Shareef Salfity (Tax); Lori Lesser, Kate Mirino and Corina Holland (Intellectual Property); Krista McManus and Dennis Loiacono (Real Estate); Peter Guryan, Kelly Karapetyan, James Goldfeier and Richard Jamgochian (Antitrust); Brian Gluck, Adam Moss and Alexander Kleinhaus-Resisi (Credit); John Schueller and Katherine Draper (Securitization); Leah Malone, Emily Holland and Chayla Sherrod (ESG).

In their monthly column in the New York Law Journal, Litigation Partners William Russell and Linton Mann III discuss People v. Blue. In that decision, the Court of Appeals clarified that when criminal defendants wish to waive their Constitutional right to counsel and represent themselves, the trial court does not need to specifically apprise the defendants of the maximum amount of time to which they could potentially be sentenced. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eyZ9n8Xx

Simpson Thacher is pleased to announce that it has elevated 44 attorneys to Partner, effective January 1, 2025. Read more: https://lnkd.in/esaHExHq

Global Restructuring Review (GRR) has named Simpson Thacher’s Restructuring team as a nominee for “European Practice of the Year” at its GRR Awards 2024. Our Restructuring team was recognized for its work advising our clients across a number of significant mandates in the region, ranging from consensual transactions through to formal processes – including on Telepizza’s Spanish restructuring plan and Casino’s accelerated safeguard plan in France. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eNRBU4ps  

Jennifer Levitt, Co-Head of the Firm’s Fund Finance Practice, has been named a 2024 “Legal Visionary” by the Los Angeles Times. This recognition highlights exceptional lawyers in the Los Angeles area for their exceptional skill, commitment to excellence, thought leadership and impactful contributions to both their clients and the broader community. Jennifer was selected for her work in crafting innovative financing solutions for private equity sponsors, as well as for her contributions to community initiatives, including for immigrant victims of domestic violence.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/ee_6Gciz

Mergers and Acquisitions Partner Naveed Anwar was profiled by Law360 as a Private Equity “MVP” for 2024. In the past year, Law360 highlighted Naveed’s pivotal role advising KKR in its $4 billion acquisition of Broadcom Inc.’s End-User Computing Division, among many other significant transactions. When asked about his proudest accomplishment of the past year, Naveed said he takes pride in the fact that clients turn to Simpson Thacher for guidance in transactions requiring creativity and unconventional thinking. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eC78GcQr

On November 13, the New York office hosted 32 high school students from Brooklyn School for Math & Research (B-SMART) as part of the Firm’s Urban Education Initiative. The students learned about different jobs within a law firm and participated in a moot court activity. Twenty-two Simpson Thacher attorneys and staff participated in the program that was organized by Kristin Glaudel, Urban Education Initiative Program Manager and Leila Dastgheib-Beheshti, DEI Coordinator. Corporate Partner Jaclyn Starr gave welcome remarks.

Jonathan Youngwood, Global Co-Chair of the Firm’s Litigation Department, was named “Litigator of the Week” by The Am Law Litigation Daily alongside Heather Weaver, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU, in recognition of their success obtaining a broad victory through a preliminary injunction from the federal district court in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which determined (in two decisions, spanning a collective 210 pages) that a state law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ebHgbq_W