Global Policy and Litigation Strategy

The Global Policy and Litigation Strategy Group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and affiliates (“Skadden”) helps worldwide clients navigate government, regulatory and foreign policy issues that affect their business decisions. Our attorneys, many of whom have served in senior U.S. government positions, offer a wealth of experience and perspective to help solve sensitive, high-priority problems arising out of the U.S. political and regulatory landscapes and to manage their impact on the global marketplace.

The Global Policy and Litigation Strategy Group provides companies with strategic advice and integrated legal services in a variety of arenas. By marshaling the diverse resources of approximately 1,800 attorneys across 23 offices worldwide, our group breaks down traditional legal boundaries and brings together significant, hands-on experience from more than 40 practice areas. The Global Policy and Litigation Strategy Group can advise clients on:

• Crisis management and coordination
• Crisis prevention: compliance and regulatory issues
• Government investigations
• Legislative, government and political relations
• Transactional implications for cross-border matters
• Litigation strategy

Members of the group have served in senior U.S. government positions, in the White House and on Capitol Hill, in the Justice Department, SEC, IRS and FERC, and in many other departments and agencies that have enormous influence today on the conduct of businesses in the global marketplace.

Our Experience

Serving clients in every major international financial center, Skadden attorneys are broadly oriented yet strategically focused. We take pride in identifying and pursuing our clients' highest priority goals, and in helping them achieve those goals. We have a comprehensive grasp of our clients' industries and interests, particularly in those sectors that traditionally have been the subject of intense regulatory focus. For example, Skadden is a leading firm in the representation of, among others, financial services, communications, energy and health care companies.

From helping clients understand how Washington, D.C. works and how to minimize risks, to protecting their interests when responding to a headline-making investigation, our Global Policy and Litigation Strategy Group counsels companies and individuals in the following primary areas:

Crisis Management. We advise clients in managing "bet-the-company" and other major legal crises. Our attorneys develop targeted strategies for dealing with governmental investigations, shareholders, the investment community and the media. We coordinate decisions on all fronts to ensure that a global strategy is being implemented coherently and consistently across the board and with a long-term view.

Crisis Prevention: Compliance and Regulatory Issues. Our attorneys, many of whom have held significant positions with federal agencies, work with clients to reduce or avoid litigation and to minimize image-damaging publicity by helping to establish effective ethics and compliance programs, and sound corporate governance policies and practices.

Government Investigations. Skadden is an internationally recognized leader in the representation of corporations, boards of directors, management and other individuals in connection with a broad range of government investigations, enforcement actions, internal investigations, and white collar criminal investigations and litigation.

Legislative, Government and Political Relations. With a depth of knowledge gained from many decades of public service, our attorneys guide clients through complex and demanding compliance regimes. We have extensive experience in state and federal pay-to-play, ethics and lobbying laws that specifically relate to contracting with a governmental entity. Skadden's Washington, D.C.-based attorneys monitor legislative developments and are available to provide strategic insights on complex policy issues.

Transactional Implications for Cross-Border Matters. Skadden's reputation as a preeminent corporate law firm is underscored by the depth of experience we have in handling cross-border transactions and myriad issues arising out of U.S. government regulatory practices in a wide variety of arenas, including antitrust and competition, CFIUS, SEC, financial regulatory, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and U.S. and international tax.

Litigation Strategy. When litigation cannot be avoided, our group can rapidly assemble a focused, integrated and efficient team to address all important aspects of a client’s problem and to handle numerous cases in multiple jurisdictions and forums. With approximately 600 litigators worldwide who are admitted to practice throughout the U.S. and in more than 30 other countries and territories, Skadden has achieved impressive results for clients in some of the largest and most high-profile cases in recent years, earning a reputation as a go-to firm.

Our Team

Skadden's Global Policy and Litigation Strategy group is led by partner Gregory Craig, a former White House Counsel under President Obama, Assistant to the President and Special Counsel to President Clinton, Director of Policy Planning under Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Senior Advisor on defense, foreign policy and national security for the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy. In addition to his vast and varied experience in public service, Mr. Craig has had more than 30 years of experience in private practice, representing companies and individuals in a wide range of high-profile civil and criminal matters.