First and foremost, our litigators are courtroom lawyers, who have earned the respect of the judiciary, prosecutors, regulators and the bar in the course of the thousands of cases that we have tried in courts across the nation. We specialize in streamlining complex cases and developing strategies that win.

We view matters through the lens of our clients’ business objectives, drawing on the expertise of our firm across all major industry sectors. As clients and peers frequently note, the breadth of expertise and depth of quality lawyers across our practice is exceptional. Our approach has created a long track record of success for our clients, at trial and on appeal, through motions, verdicts and strategic settlements.

• “A formidable player in the New York litigation market, Davis Polk & Wardwell is applauded for its strength across the board in litigation matters . . . .” Chambers USA (2008).
• Fourteen Davis Polk partners in New York and California are among the nation’s top ranked litigators, according to Chambers USA (2009).

• We represent Siemens AG and are advising it in criminal and regulatory matters in numerous jurisdictions relating to corruption allegations - including advising the company on financial reporting, coordinating its global defense as to non-U.S. investigations, and assisting in the development of enhanced compliance policies and procedures. We acted as counsel in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) proceedings, and we currently represent Siemens before various multilateral development banks and in civil matters arising from the corruption matter. In coordination with the simultaneous settlement of related German proceedings, we successfully structured a court-approved resolution of all criminal and civil investigations by the DOJ and the SEC.
• We successfully defended Morgan Stanley in an action brought by IDT Corporation. The New York Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Morgan Stanley, holding that all of IDT’s claims were time-barred and that IDT’s unjust enrichment claim based on an allegedly extorted fee failed to state a claim, as that fee was governed by a contract.
• We successfully represented Comcast in litigation with the National Football League over telecasting the NFL Network. The litigation included a New York state court action, and an FCC proceeding that was tried before an Administrative Law Judge. During post-trial briefing, the parties entered into a favorable settlement that included a long-term agreement to telecast the NFL Network.
• We won dismissal of a securities fraud class action against AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in the Southern District of New York. Plaintiffs alleged that the company defrauded investors by failing to disclose certain information regarding a drug for which AstraZeneca was seeking FDA approval.
• We represent Deloitte in connection with a shareholder litigation, as well as criminal and regulatory proceedings, arising from a massive restatement by Royal Ahold, N.V. – the Dutch grocer and former owner of U.S. Foodservice – that was prompted by the discovery of two large-scale frauds. In 2008, we won dismissal of the civil suit against Deloitte and in 2009 we prevailed on appeal before the Fourth Circuit.
• We are defending T-Mobile USA against state and federal class actions in California, Florida, Idaho, New Jersey and Washington that challenge the legality of early termination fees in wireless services contracts, and seek refunds in excess of $1 billion. In federal court in New Jersey, T-Mobile won preliminary approval of a favorable nationwide settlement of all early termination fee claims.
• We successfully represented Pfizer in numerous consumer fraud class actions, including federal multidistrict litigation (MDL), relating to the marketing of Neurontin. We defeated class certification in the MDL and in state courts and have won dismissal of a number of other purported class actions brought on behalf of national and state-wide classes of consumers and third-party payers.
• We represent the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) in connection with a number of matters, including an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, and as a creditor in the Lehman Brothers insolvency cases.