The large, complex matters clients typically bring to Simpson Thacher require teamwork, often with several practice areas sharing knowledge. This is a vivid example of our core strength: the power of teamwork.

We approach teamwork through several channels: our professional development philosophy is to develop the complete lawyer; we take mentoring seriously; we even assign offices not according to department or practice, but by choice.

But in the final analysis, it’s the nature of the practice itself that demands it.

Marcela Robledo
On IP

Intellectual Property (IP) is at the core of many of Simpson Thacher’s high-profile transactions. The role of the IP transactional team is vital in determining the status of the IP assets, their allocation in the transaction and the legal guarantees around them. I work closely with the members of the Corporate Department and other specialist teams, often with partners and associates in different branch offices, communicating seamlessly to execute different types of M&A, capital markets and credit transactions.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my practice is being able to work with an array of partners and associates of all levels. As a specialist, I am usually staffed to several concurrent deals, and I enjoy meeting and interacting with different people with varied work and personality styles. Because we have so many transactions and deal with companies in all types of industries, my work is always diverse. I can be working on airplanes one day and on zippers the next day – truly from A to Z!

Scott A. Sukenick
On Intellectual Property

I spend most of my time working on patent litigation in the pharmaceutical, health care and biotechnology industries. But my work extends beyond dispute resolution. I also advise lawyers and clients in the Firm's Corporate department on the intellectual property aspects of mergers and acquisitions; securities, corporate finance, and banking/credit transactions; and general licensing issues.

It has been incredibly educational for me to see legal issues from both the corporate and litigation perspectives. For example, because I know that poorly drafted agreements can give rise to lawsuits down the line, I am particularly sensitive to potential ambiguities when drafting and reviewing licensing agreements for corporate clients. There is no question that the cross-practice nature of my work has made me a better lawyer.

Bryan Herzbach
On Real Estate

As an associate in the Real Estate group I am involved with all aspects of headline generating transactions. My work often involves negotiating and financing the acquisition of various types of real estate assets including office, assisted-living, industrial and hotel portfolios.

The size and complexity of the transactions handled by the Real Estate group require a collaborative effort with lawyers specializing in many different practice areas. Our deal teams often consist of a mix of lawyers from the Firm’s Tax, M&A, Litigation, Securities, Benefits, ERISA, Labor, Environmental and IP groups. The specialized knowledge of our colleagues in these practice areas is a critical component in structuring these transactions in the most advantageous way for our clients and providing effective advice on property-specific issues. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned from my experiences at Simpson Thacher is the importance of teamwork and cooperation across practice areas in order to maintain the highest possible level of service, commitment and advice to our clients.

Andrew M. Lacy
On Antitrust

One of the most interesting and challenging features of being an associate in the Antitrust group at Simpson is the aspect of our work that straddles the Corporate and Litigation departments. Our job is to advise clients on the regulatory aspects of proposed mergers and acquisitions. Even when a deal has achieved approval from the parties involved, it cannot go forward without clearance from the necessary antitrust authorities. This is where the antitrust team comes into play. During the early phases of a proposed merger, we assess the viability of the deal from a regulatory perspective and then work jointly with our M&A colleagues to advise the client accordingly on the structure of the deal. The regulatory risk of the transaction often shapes the terms of the deal significantly and can become a focal point of negotiations. It’s tremendously exciting to be in the middle of it all.

Working in this collaborative manner requires me to think outside of my practice area, in order to help clients understand the implications of antitrust law for their business. It’s also a great opportunity to get to know lawyers outside of my group. The interdisciplinary nature of the work I do is definitely one of the most enjoyable aspects of my life here at Simpson.

Neera Stacy
On Personal Planning

I advise high-net-worth clients on complex estate planning, estate and trust administration, charitable giving, retirement planning and issues relating to foreign individuals, assets and entities. My practice focuses on designing and implementing sophisticated estate planning structures designed to achieve the preservation and transmission of wealth in a tax-efficient manner and a client's other goals. My clients range from principals of private equity and hedge funds to fiduciaries of estates and trusts.

An exciting part of my practice is the interaction I have with lawyers in other practice areas, including Corporate, Exempt Organizations, Tax, and Real Estate. For example, I routinely work with corporate lawyers in the Private Equity group to enable the fund principals to make transfers of fund interests in a tax-efficient manner. I also collaborate with my colleagues in the Securities group to establish programs for pre-IPO estate planning.

Thanks to the inter-disciplinary nature of my work, I enjoy all of the benefits of working in an intimately-sized department, yet I am regularly involved in the types of high-profile transactions that only a firm of Simpson’s size and breadth can handle. It’s an amazing balance.

SeoJung Park
On Tax

Tax considerations often play a critical part in corporate transactions. The role of the Tax department is to understand clients' commercial objectives, and work closely with our corporate colleagues to structure and implement a transaction in a tax-efficient manner. Active collaboration with lawyers from other practice groups, including M&A, Funds, Credit, Securities and Real Estate, from the inception of a transaction is vital. High-profile, international transactions may also involve counsel from other jurisdictions, accountants and in-house counsel, and teamwork is indispensable. Tax is a continuously evolving practice area, and the wide range of sophisticated transactions that Simpson advises on makes our practice incredibly dynamic and exciting.

One of the most attractive features of being part of the Tax group at Simpson is the close network of people within the group, and the support they provide both on a professional and personal level. We also work with lawyers from many different practice groups on a daily basis, and their expertise and the collegial environment at Simpson facilitates working together as a team.