Securities Enforcement & Investigations. We have one of the largest groups of former SEC and NASD enforcement attorneys and federal prosecutors - more than 30 attorneys - located throughout our US offices. Our team includes a former SEC Associate Director of Enforcement, a former Assistant Chief Trial Attorney, and several former Branch Chiefs, among others. In addition, we have numerous former Assistant US Attorneys who have collectively tried hundreds of cases and who were chiefs of their offices' criminal divisions. These attorneys are at the forefront of emerging SEC and Department of Justice (DOJ) initiatives and can assist clients with internal investigations and settlement negotiations with regulators and defend clients in civil or criminal actions brought by the Government.

Securities Litigation. Our attorneys have been involved in most of the high-stakes cases of the last decade such as Cendant, Worldcom, Global Crossing and Enron. Our internationally recognized securities litigation and corporate governance practice brings together the highest level of legal experience and talent to counsel clients in matters involving all aspects of securities litigation. Over the years, Mayer Brown has developed a reputation as a "go-to" firm for clients that include issuers, accounting firms, investment banks, investment advisers and broker-dealers, as well as their officers and directors. Our attorneys offer a broad base of experience, not only in civil litigation, but also as veterans of key governmental positions. That experience extends to enormous expertise in the field of shareholder class actions and derivative litigation.

Supreme Court and Appellate Practice. Our Supreme Court and Appellate practice is the largest, most experienced, and successful such practice of any law firm in the United States. We are ranked as the top appellate practice in the country by both Legal 500 United States and Chambers USA 2007. We have a strong record of success in important cases in the securities, banking and related areas. Attorneys in our group have argued more than 200 cases before the Supreme Court - including ten in the three most recent terms. Indeed, during some terms, no team of attorneys other than the Solicitor General's Office has argued more cases than we have. Members of this group work with trial lawyers at the beginning of novel cases to make sure that the groundwork is laid for presenting the best arguments at every stage of the proceedings and preserving issues for appeal. This group has helped our clients with case-terminating motions and has preserved these victories on appeal.

Structured Finance. With our cutting edge experience in the structured finance, conduit, CDO and derivatives markets, we offer clients experienced teams with the breadth of industry insight that can help clients as they respond to the opportunities and complexities that arise in market conditions for which there are no precedents. Our lawyers are working with numerous financial institution, advisory and fund clients to develop solutions to manage credit market exposures and to address related regulatory capital issues. We are providing risk assessment and diagnostic work for clients relating to large portfolios of complex financial instruments, the review and restructuring of SIVs, and the implementation of innovative conduit based solutions to the new market environment. We are using our experience in complex derivative, synthetic transactions and specialty finance to help clients in reviewing, restructuring, reverse engineering and repackaging. With our clients we are identifying opportunities and creating value. Whatever the work, we are able to bring unparalleled regulatory expertise, which results from decades of industry leadership on a range of securities, bank capital, accounting and other issues. Mayer Brown continues to be regarded as a market leader in the regulatory matters and accounting issues that affect structured finance industry participants. We believe that this expertise – which stretches from the United States to Europe, Asia Pacific and Australia – sets us apart from most if not all of our competitors.

Financial Services Regulatory & Enforcement. Our financial services regulatory and enforcement practice is one of the largest and most diverse of its kind, with more than 44 attorneys - including several former regulators - working almost exclusively on regulatory, compliance, strategic and enforcement matters for banks, thrifts, finance companies, mortgage lenders, broker-dealers, investment advisers and funds. Mayer Brown's financial services regulatory practice is particularly well-qualified to help clients navigate the complex and rapidly evolving legislative, regulatory, policy, enforcement and operational issues facing the subprime market. Our financial regulatory practitioners have successfully assisted financial services clients contend with similar challenges in the past and the breadth of their experience affords them unique perspectives that provide critical advantages when representing clients before Congress or the regulators.

Restructuring, Bankruptcy & Insolvency. Mayer Brown has one of the longest-established restructuring, bankruptcy and insolvency practices of any major law firm. With more than 50 attorneys in the U.S. and Europe, our group has broad, international experience representing creditors and debtors in situations ranging from negotiating and effectuating restructurings and recapitalizations to representing creditors in connection with the defense of preference, fraudulent conveyance and lender liability claims. We also represent clients in connection with significant merger and acquisition transactions involving companies in bankruptcy and other distressed situations. In the UK, the practice also extends to representing licensed insolvency practitioners and management on all issues, both contentious and non-contentious arising from distressed situations.

Mergers and Acquisitions.  Mayer Brown lawyers in the Americas, Asia and Europe are readily available to provide advice on all aspects of M&A transactions including the most complex, time-sensitive and significant deals. Our lawyers are known both for their top-level client service and for their creative solutions to complex problems in public and private transactions as well as our deep knowledge of financial products. We handle transactions ranging in size and complexity from multi-billion dollar, cross-border transactions to mid-size and smaller transactions within a single national or regional market. We have represented clients in some of the largest and most complex transactions in the world, and our M&A practice is widely cited for the quality of our lawyers and the depth of our resources. We forge successful and lasting relationships with our clients and strive to provide clear thinking and straightforward answers on any issues that might arise.

Insurance & Reinsurance. Our Global Insurance & Reinsurance Industry Group has more than 100 lawyers around the world with industry-specific, relevant experience across a broad range of areas. Our team includes market-leading lawyers from the Americas, Europe and Asia with contentious and non-contentious insurance & reinsurance experience. We have strong relationships with regulators in key jurisdictions, a well-established contentious practice with an intimate knowledge of the operation and workings of the international and local insurance & reinsurance markets and impressive non-contentious experience. In the current climate, we are best placed to advise industry participants on insurance & reinsurance-related matters, including restructuring, divestment of business units, run-off, insolvency, coverage issues and contentious claims, professional negligence and related defence litigation, as well as how to manage an intensified regulatory enrivonment."