Shearman & Sterling has expanded its Litigation and Leveraged Finance practices with the addition of three partners in New York – Litigation partners , Matthew L. Craner, and Agnès Dunogué and Leveraged Finance partner Ronan Wicks. All were formerly partners with Orrick.

“The addition of  these high-profile attorneys will strengthen what are traditionally strong practices for our firm,” said Shearman & Sterling senior partner Creighton Condon. “We continue to see Litigation and Leveraged Finance as priority focus areas for our clients and for our firm, and our new partners will bolster our capabilities significantly.”

Adam Hakki, Shearman & Sterling’s Global Litigation head, said, ”Matt, and Agnès are stellar securities litigators with prominent reputations in the market, particularly for their skill in representing financial institutions in high-stakes cases. Their addition to the partnership will allow us to serve our financial institution and other clients even more effectively, and together with our deep existing team, should further position us as a ‘go-to’ firm for financial institutions with significant litigation and regulatory enforcement matters.”

Litigation

Matthew L. Craner worked as Deputy Chair of the firm's Securities Litigation & Regulatory Enforcement practice at his prior firm. He focuses on M&A, securities, accounting, and complex corporate and business matters, including enforcement actions and internal corporate investigations. Mr. Craner has extensive experience representing financial institutions, including investment banks, private equity funds and hedge funds, and accounting firms, directors, and senior management in shareholder class actions, derivative suits, and other complex commercial litigation, as well as investigations and proceedings before the SEC and other government and regulatory agencies. As noted above, Mr. Craner is a core member of a partner team representing major financial institutions in high-profile mortgage-backed securities litigations and will be a key player in the coverage of these and other financial institutions.

Agnès Dunogué concentrates on securities litigation, complex commercial litigation, and appellate work. Ms. Dunogué has represented investment banks, corporates, directors, and officers in numerous securities matters in state and federal courts. Her experience also includes advising clients on matters related to mergers and acquisitions, as well as investigations by the SEC and New York Stock Exchange. Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Dunogué clerked for Judge Robert Sack of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Kimba Wood of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She is also a core member of the partner team representing major financial institutions in high-profile mortgage-backed securities litigations and will be a key player in the coverage of these and other financial institutions.

Mr. Craner said, “We expect joining Shearman to allow us to take our practices to the next level and be a part of a vibrant team of financial institutions-focused litigators.”

Ms. Dunogué added, “We are thrilled to be joining such a stellar and respected firm. We look forward to working together to build on its success.”

Leveraged Finance

Ronan Wicks was the global co-head of his prior firm’s Banking & Debt Capital Markets Group, having launched that group with Mr. Flanagan and Mr. White, and is the senior member of this lateral team. He has advised major financial institutions on high-profile leveraged and investment grade acquisition financings and restructurings. In addition to his extensive experience advising financial institutions, Mr. Wicks has advised debt funds in distress situations and has also advised financing clients in leveraged deals in the telecommunications and media, manufacturing, technology, and sports and entertainment industries.

“Shearman & Sterling has always been one of the gold-standard firms in the leveraged finance area,” Mr. Wicks said. “I am very excited to become part of the firm and to join forces with our new colleagues in expanding this market-leading practice.”

The firm recently added Finance partner Gus Atiyah in Washington, DC. Mr. Atiyah had been a partner at Fried Frank, where he advised private equity and debt funds, corporations and financial institutions in a wide range of industries, as well as general counsel at National Bank of Kuwait.