Four Decades for Justice
Helam Gebremariam handles a wide variety of complex litigation cases, including shareholder derivative, mergers and acquisitions, general commercial and securities matters, and antitrust matters.
Ms. Gebremariam has represented a wide variety of clients, including Alcoa, Avon, Bacardi Limited, Bausch Health Companies, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Citigroup, DuPont, Forward Air Corporation, Merck, Minerals Technologies, Nomura International, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, the Board of Directors of Tesla, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Media and Warner Bros. Entertainment. She represents clients in all stages of critical litigation and has significant trial experience.
Some of Ms. Gebremariam’s representative matters include:
Shareholder Derivative and Mergers & Acquisitions
General Commercial and Securities
Antitrust
Represented Bausch Health Companies in federal antitrust litigation concerning an alleged reverse‑payment settlement in a patent lawsuit relating to Glumetza, a type 2 diabetes drug. The action sought treble damages in excess of $6 billion. The parties agreed to settle the litigation just two months before the October 2021 trial date. The court granted final approval of the settlements in February 2022.
Ms. Gebremariam has been included in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” and “500 X – The Next Generation” lists. She has also been named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under List,” which recognizes the “best and brightest litigators across the US and Canada,” and has been named a “Future Star” by the publication. Ms. Gebremariam was additionally honored with New York University School of Law’s Black Allied Law Students Association’s 2023 Trailblazer Award and recognized for her “achievements and contributions to the field of law and beyond.” In 2024, she was selected to serve on Law360’s Securities Editorial Advisory Board.
Ms. Gebremariam previously served as Senior Counsel to Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates at the U.S. Department of Justice and Senior Counsel in the Department’s Office for Access to Justice. She was later associated with and became Counsel at a law firm in Washington, D.C. where she advised clients on a host of commercial, regulatory, and strategic matters.
After graduating from law school, Ms. Gebremariam served as a law clerk to Judge Robert P. Patterson, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She is a member of the New York University School of Law Board of Trustees and an Executive Board Member of the New York University Law Alumni of Color Association. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Immigrant Justice Corps and the Board of Trustees of the Vera Institute of Justice. In 2022, Ms. Gebremariam was selected to join the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows Program.
Ms. Gebremariam was born in Houston, Texas. She received a B.A. with departmental honors in Political Science from Columbia College in 2007 and a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2010, where she was Editor‑in‑Chief of the Law Review and an AnBryce Scholar.
Ms. Gebremariam joined Cravath in 2011. In 2015, she left the Firm to work at the U.S. Department of Justice. She rejoined Cravath in 2019 and was elected a partner in 2020. Ms. Gebremariam is a partner liaison to the African American/Black Affinity Group and a member of the Pro Bono Committee.
Some of Ms. Gebremariam’s representative matters include:
Shareholder Derivative and Mergers & Acquisitions
General Commercial and Securities
Antitrust
Represented Bausch Health Companies in federal antitrust litigation concerning an alleged reverse‑payment settlement in a patent lawsuit relating to Glumetza, a type 2 diabetes drug. The action sought treble damages in excess of $6 billion. The parties agreed to settle the litigation just two months before the October 2021 trial date. The court granted final approval of the settlements in February 2022.
Ms. Gebremariam has been included in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” and “500 X – The Next Generation” lists. She has also been named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under List,” which recognizes the “best and brightest litigators across the US and Canada,” and has been named a “Future Star” by the publication. Ms. Gebremariam was additionally honored with New York University School of Law’s Black Allied Law Students Association’s 2023 Trailblazer Award and recognized for her “achievements and contributions to the field of law and beyond.” In 2024, she was selected to serve on Law360’s Securities Editorial Advisory Board.
Ms. Gebremariam previously served as Senior Counsel to Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates at the U.S. Department of Justice and Senior Counsel in the Department’s Office for Access to Justice. She was later associated with and became Counsel at a law firm in Washington, D.C. where she advised clients on a host of commercial, regulatory, and strategic matters.
After graduating from law school, Ms. Gebremariam served as a law clerk to Judge Robert P. Patterson, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She is a member of the New York University School of Law Board of Trustees and an Executive Board Member of the New York University Law Alumni of Color Association. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Immigrant Justice Corps and the Board of Trustees of the Vera Institute of Justice. In 2022, Ms. Gebremariam was selected to join the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows Program.
Ms. Gebremariam was born in Houston, Texas. She received a B.A. with departmental honors in Political Science from Columbia College in 2007 and a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2010, where she was Editor‑in‑Chief of the Law Review and an AnBryce Scholar.
Ms. Gebremariam joined Cravath in 2011. In 2015, she left the Firm to work at the U.S. Department of Justice. She rejoined Cravath in 2019 and was elected a partner in 2020. Ms. Gebremariam is a partner liaison to the African American/Black Affinity Group and a member of the Pro Bono Committee.
Immigrant Justice Corps
Law360
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
New York University School of Law
Vera Institute of Justice
Benchmark Litigation
Lawdragon
Trailblazer Award, New York University School of Law Black Allied Law Students Association, 2023
Deals & Cases
January 24, 2024
On January 22, 2024, Forward Air Corporation (“Forward”) announced an agreement with Omni Logistics, LLC (“Omni”), a private company that is majority owned by Ridgemont Equity Partners and EVE Partners, LLC, to amend the terms of the existing merger agreement relating to their previously announced acquisition. This agreement ends the litigation between the parties, which will now be dismissed. Under the terms of the amended merger agreement, Omni shareholders will receive $20 million in cash, instead of the $150 million initially agreed, and 35% of Forward’s pro forma common equity (on a fully‑diluted, as‑converted basis), as compared to the 37.7% of Forward’s pro forma common equity (on a fully‑diluted, as‑converted basis) contemplated by the original agreement. Cravath is representing Forward in connection with the transaction and related litigation.
Deals & Cases
December 28, 2023
On November 28, 2023, the Queens County Criminal Court entered an order on consent resentencing pro bono client A.M. and securing her release. A.M. had been incarcerated since June 2010. She was originally sentenced in June 2011, pursuant to a plea agreement, to a 20‑year determinate sentence plus five years’ post‑release supervision for first‑degree manslaughter after her romantic partner, who had subjected her to severe domestic abuse, killed her former partner, who had sex trafficked her and also subjected her to severe domestic abuse.
Deals & Cases
June 09, 2023
On June 6, 2023, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Delaware Court of Chancery’s judgment in favor of Cravath client Elon Musk on all counts in a stockholder derivative suit related to Tesla, Inc.’s (“Tesla”) 2016 acquisition of SolarCity Corp. (“SolarCity”).
Deals & Cases
May 02, 2022
On April 27, 2022, the Delaware Court of Chancery granted judgment in favor of Cravath client Elon Musk on all counts in a stockholder derivative suit regarding the 2016 acquisition of SolarCity Corp. (“SolarCity”) by Tesla, Inc. (“Tesla”). The Court of Chancery’s 131‑page opinion in favor of Mr. Musk followed a highly publicized 11‑day trial in July and August 2021, and post‑trial briefing and oral argument held in January 2022.
Activities & Publications
March 21, 2024
Five Cravath partners were selected to serve on Law360’s 2024 Editorial Advisory Boards: Wes Earnhardt (Media & Entertainment), Evan Norris (Cybersecurity & Privacy), Helam Gebremariam (Securities), Bethany A. Pfalzgraf (Mergers & Acquisitions) and Maurio A. Fiore (Private Equity). As Editorial Advisory Board members, they will provide feedback on Law360’s coverage and expert insight on how best to shape future coverage.
Activities & Publications
October 20, 2023
On October 18, 2023, Cravath partners Evan R. Chesler, David R. Marriott and Helam Gebremariam participated in “Trial by Jury 2023,” a program presented by the Practising Law Institute in New York, which convened state and federal judges, as well as many distinguished litigators, to give their perspectives on jury trials. Evan and Helam spoke on a panel entitled “What’s Your Story: Conducting an Effective Direct Examination,” which reviewed techniques to conduct an effective direct examination. Dave chaired the program and delivered the opening remarks.
Accolades
August 02, 2023
Cravath partners Michael P. Addis, Helam Gebremariam, Sharonmoyee Goswami, Lauren R. Kennedy, David H. Korn, Lauren M. Rosenberg, Brittany L. Sukiennik and Michael J. Zaken were named by Benchmark Litigation to its 2023 “40 & Under List.” The list honors the achievements of the nation’s most accomplished litigators of 40 years old and under who are “leading high‑profile cases and building significant reputations in their respective practices.” The list was compiled through a process involving peer and client review, along with examination of individual cases.
Accolades
May 19, 2023
On April 14, 2023, Cravath partner Helam Gebremariam was honored with New York University Law’s Black Allied Law Students Association’s 2023 Trailblazer Award at its annual gala in New York, which was themed “First to Lead, Many to Follow: A Recognition of BALSA Trailblazers.” Helam was recognized for her “achievements and contributions to the field of law and beyond.”
Activities & Publications
March 01, 2023
New York University School of Law announced Cravath partner Helam Gebremariam as a member of its Board of Trustees, commending her “broad range of experience and expertise” and “dedication to NYU Law.” NYU Law noted Helam’s practice in Cravath’s Litigation Department, where she specializes in complex civil litigation, particularly relating to antitrust, contractual disputes and securities and shareholder derivitative suits, as well as her prior work at the U.S. Department for Justice.
Helam Gebremariam handles a wide variety of complex litigation cases, including shareholder derivative, mergers and acquisitions, general commercial and securities matters, and antitrust matters.
Ms. Gebremariam has represented a wide variety of clients, including Alcoa, Avon, Bacardi Limited, Bausch Health Companies, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Citigroup, DuPont, Forward Air Corporation, Merck, Minerals Technologies, Nomura International, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, the Board of Directors of Tesla, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Media and Warner Bros. Entertainment. She represents clients in all stages of critical litigation and has significant trial experience.
Some of Ms. Gebremariam’s representative matters include:
Shareholder Derivative and Mergers & Acquisitions
General Commercial and Securities
Antitrust
Represented Bausch Health Companies in federal antitrust litigation concerning an alleged reverse‑payment settlement in a patent lawsuit relating to Glumetza, a type 2 diabetes drug. The action sought treble damages in excess of $6 billion. The parties agreed to settle the litigation just two months before the October 2021 trial date. The court granted final approval of the settlements in February 2022.
Ms. Gebremariam has been included in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” and “500 X – The Next Generation” lists. She has also been named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under List,” which recognizes the “best and brightest litigators across the US and Canada,” and has been named a “Future Star” by the publication. Ms. Gebremariam was additionally honored with New York University School of Law’s Black Allied Law Students Association’s 2023 Trailblazer Award and recognized for her “achievements and contributions to the field of law and beyond.” In 2024, she was selected to serve on Law360’s Securities Editorial Advisory Board.
Ms. Gebremariam previously served as Senior Counsel to Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates at the U.S. Department of Justice and Senior Counsel in the Department’s Office for Access to Justice. She was later associated with and became Counsel at a law firm in Washington, D.C. where she advised clients on a host of commercial, regulatory, and strategic matters.
After graduating from law school, Ms. Gebremariam served as a law clerk to Judge Robert P. Patterson, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She is a member of the New York University School of Law Board of Trustees and an Executive Board Member of the New York University Law Alumni of Color Association. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Immigrant Justice Corps and the Board of Trustees of the Vera Institute of Justice. In 2022, Ms. Gebremariam was selected to join the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows Program.
Ms. Gebremariam was born in Houston, Texas. She received a B.A. with departmental honors in Political Science from Columbia College in 2007 and a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2010, where she was Editor‑in‑Chief of the Law Review and an AnBryce Scholar.
Ms. Gebremariam joined Cravath in 2011. In 2015, she left the Firm to work at the U.S. Department of Justice. She rejoined Cravath in 2019 and was elected a partner in 2020. Ms. Gebremariam is a partner liaison to the African American/Black Affinity Group and a member of the Pro Bono Committee.
Some of Ms. Gebremariam’s representative matters include:
Shareholder Derivative and Mergers & Acquisitions
General Commercial and Securities
Antitrust
Represented Bausch Health Companies in federal antitrust litigation concerning an alleged reverse‑payment settlement in a patent lawsuit relating to Glumetza, a type 2 diabetes drug. The action sought treble damages in excess of $6 billion. The parties agreed to settle the litigation just two months before the October 2021 trial date. The court granted final approval of the settlements in February 2022.
Ms. Gebremariam has been included in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” and “500 X – The Next Generation” lists. She has also been named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under List,” which recognizes the “best and brightest litigators across the US and Canada,” and has been named a “Future Star” by the publication. Ms. Gebremariam was additionally honored with New York University School of Law’s Black Allied Law Students Association’s 2023 Trailblazer Award and recognized for her “achievements and contributions to the field of law and beyond.” In 2024, she was selected to serve on Law360’s Securities Editorial Advisory Board.
Ms. Gebremariam previously served as Senior Counsel to Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates at the U.S. Department of Justice and Senior Counsel in the Department’s Office for Access to Justice. She was later associated with and became Counsel at a law firm in Washington, D.C. where she advised clients on a host of commercial, regulatory, and strategic matters.
After graduating from law school, Ms. Gebremariam served as a law clerk to Judge Robert P. Patterson, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She is a member of the New York University School of Law Board of Trustees and an Executive Board Member of the New York University Law Alumni of Color Association. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Immigrant Justice Corps and the Board of Trustees of the Vera Institute of Justice. In 2022, Ms. Gebremariam was selected to join the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows Program.
Ms. Gebremariam was born in Houston, Texas. She received a B.A. with departmental honors in Political Science from Columbia College in 2007 and a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2010, where she was Editor‑in‑Chief of the Law Review and an AnBryce Scholar.
Ms. Gebremariam joined Cravath in 2011. In 2015, she left the Firm to work at the U.S. Department of Justice. She rejoined Cravath in 2019 and was elected a partner in 2020. Ms. Gebremariam is a partner liaison to the African American/Black Affinity Group and a member of the Pro Bono Committee.
Immigrant Justice Corps
Law360
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
New York University School of Law
Vera Institute of Justice
Benchmark Litigation
Lawdragon
Trailblazer Award, New York University School of Law Black Allied Law Students Association, 2023
Deals & Cases
January 24, 2024
On January 22, 2024, Forward Air Corporation (“Forward”) announced an agreement with Omni Logistics, LLC (“Omni”), a private company that is majority owned by Ridgemont Equity Partners and EVE Partners, LLC, to amend the terms of the existing merger agreement relating to their previously announced acquisition. This agreement ends the litigation between the parties, which will now be dismissed. Under the terms of the amended merger agreement, Omni shareholders will receive $20 million in cash, instead of the $150 million initially agreed, and 35% of Forward’s pro forma common equity (on a fully‑diluted, as‑converted basis), as compared to the 37.7% of Forward’s pro forma common equity (on a fully‑diluted, as‑converted basis) contemplated by the original agreement. Cravath is representing Forward in connection with the transaction and related litigation.
Deals & Cases
December 28, 2023
On November 28, 2023, the Queens County Criminal Court entered an order on consent resentencing pro bono client A.M. and securing her release. A.M. had been incarcerated since June 2010. She was originally sentenced in June 2011, pursuant to a plea agreement, to a 20‑year determinate sentence plus five years’ post‑release supervision for first‑degree manslaughter after her romantic partner, who had subjected her to severe domestic abuse, killed her former partner, who had sex trafficked her and also subjected her to severe domestic abuse.
Deals & Cases
June 09, 2023
On June 6, 2023, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Delaware Court of Chancery’s judgment in favor of Cravath client Elon Musk on all counts in a stockholder derivative suit related to Tesla, Inc.’s (“Tesla”) 2016 acquisition of SolarCity Corp. (“SolarCity”).
Deals & Cases
May 02, 2022
On April 27, 2022, the Delaware Court of Chancery granted judgment in favor of Cravath client Elon Musk on all counts in a stockholder derivative suit regarding the 2016 acquisition of SolarCity Corp. (“SolarCity”) by Tesla, Inc. (“Tesla”). The Court of Chancery’s 131‑page opinion in favor of Mr. Musk followed a highly publicized 11‑day trial in July and August 2021, and post‑trial briefing and oral argument held in January 2022.
Activities & Publications
March 21, 2024
Five Cravath partners were selected to serve on Law360’s 2024 Editorial Advisory Boards: Wes Earnhardt (Media & Entertainment), Evan Norris (Cybersecurity & Privacy), Helam Gebremariam (Securities), Bethany A. Pfalzgraf (Mergers & Acquisitions) and Maurio A. Fiore (Private Equity). As Editorial Advisory Board members, they will provide feedback on Law360’s coverage and expert insight on how best to shape future coverage.
Activities & Publications
October 20, 2023
On October 18, 2023, Cravath partners Evan R. Chesler, David R. Marriott and Helam Gebremariam participated in “Trial by Jury 2023,” a program presented by the Practising Law Institute in New York, which convened state and federal judges, as well as many distinguished litigators, to give their perspectives on jury trials. Evan and Helam spoke on a panel entitled “What’s Your Story: Conducting an Effective Direct Examination,” which reviewed techniques to conduct an effective direct examination. Dave chaired the program and delivered the opening remarks.
Accolades
August 02, 2023
Cravath partners Michael P. Addis, Helam Gebremariam, Sharonmoyee Goswami, Lauren R. Kennedy, David H. Korn, Lauren M. Rosenberg, Brittany L. Sukiennik and Michael J. Zaken were named by Benchmark Litigation to its 2023 “40 & Under List.” The list honors the achievements of the nation’s most accomplished litigators of 40 years old and under who are “leading high‑profile cases and building significant reputations in their respective practices.” The list was compiled through a process involving peer and client review, along with examination of individual cases.
Accolades
May 19, 2023
On April 14, 2023, Cravath partner Helam Gebremariam was honored with New York University Law’s Black Allied Law Students Association’s 2023 Trailblazer Award at its annual gala in New York, which was themed “First to Lead, Many to Follow: A Recognition of BALSA Trailblazers.” Helam was recognized for her “achievements and contributions to the field of law and beyond.”
Activities & Publications
March 01, 2023
New York University School of Law announced Cravath partner Helam Gebremariam as a member of its Board of Trustees, commending her “broad range of experience and expertise” and “dedication to NYU Law.” NYU Law noted Helam’s practice in Cravath’s Litigation Department, where she specializes in complex civil litigation, particularly relating to antitrust, contractual disputes and securities and shareholder derivitative suits, as well as her prior work at the U.S. Department for Justice.
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