Four Decades for Justice
Matthew Morreale is Head of the Environmental Practice. He advises Cravath’s clients on environmental matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, financings and other business transactions, as well as on environmental‑related proceedings and investigations. Mr. Morreale also regularly counsels companies and their boards of directors on matters relating to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) concerns, including with respect to shareholder engagement and proposals, disclosure and proxy requirements, sustainability reporting, acquisition and investment diligence and integration matters. Clients describe Mr. Morreale as “an excellent lawyer who understands the complex regulatory impacts on companies, including emerging climate change issues.”
Mr. Morreale has worked on hundreds of transactions across all industries in the U.S. and internationally, including deals in heavy manufacturing; oil and gas (exploration and production, transport, refining and services); chemical refining; shipping; power generation; cement and aggregates production; automobile assembly; pulp and paper; iron and steel; mining; electronics; telecommunications; food services; publishing; and retail chains. Mr. Morreale also provides counseling on environmental compliance matters; environmental and toxic tort litigation; environmental indemnification disputes; and environmental aspects of periodic reporting obligations under securities laws.
Mr. Morreale regularly lectures and writes on environmental topics, such as disclosure obligations under SEC requirements, including those relating to climate change and other ESG matters. He has been a member of the adjunct faculty of Columbia Law School since 2008, as well as Cardozo School of Law from 2003 to 2013, and has taught courses on environmental concerns in business transactions and on the law of climate change. In addition, Mr. Morreale serves on the Board of Directors of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law (since 1997) and Environmental Advocates of New York (since 2014).
Mr. Morreale has been repeatedly cited as one of the country’s leading environmental practitioners by, among others, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who Legal: Environment and Lawdragon.
Mr. Morreale was born in Garden City, New York. He received a B.A.S. (focus in mechanical and systems engineering) and a B.A. in 1990 and an M.S. in Geology in 1994, all from the University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1997, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Senior Editor for Articles and Notes of the Journal of Environmental Law.
Mr. Morreale joined Cravath in 1998 and was elected a partner in 2011. Prior to joining Cravath, he practiced environmental law, including regulatory and litigation matters, at a law firm in New York.
Mr. Morreale has worked on hundreds of transactions across all industries in the U.S. and internationally, including deals in heavy manufacturing; oil and gas (exploration and production, transport, refining and services); chemical refining; shipping; power generation; cement and aggregates production; automobile assembly; pulp and paper; iron and steel; mining; electronics; telecommunications; food services; publishing; and retail chains. Mr. Morreale also provides counseling on environmental compliance matters; environmental and toxic tort litigation; environmental indemnification disputes; and environmental aspects of periodic reporting obligations under securities laws.
Mr. Morreale regularly lectures and writes on environmental topics, such as disclosure obligations under SEC requirements, including those relating to climate change and other ESG matters. He has been a member of the adjunct faculty of Columbia Law School since 2008, as well as Cardozo School of Law from 2003 to 2013, and has taught courses on environmental concerns in business transactions and on the law of climate change. In addition, Mr. Morreale serves on the Board of Directors of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law (since 1997) and Environmental Advocates of New York (since 2014).
Mr. Morreale has been repeatedly cited as one of the country’s leading environmental practitioners by, among others, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who Legal: Environment and Lawdragon.
Mr. Morreale was born in Garden City, New York. He received a B.A.S. (focus in mechanical and systems engineering) and a B.A. in 1990 and an M.S. in Geology in 1994, all from the University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1997, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Senior Editor for Articles and Notes of the Journal of Environmental Law.
Mr. Morreale joined Cravath in 1998 and was elected a partner in 2011. Prior to joining Cravath, he practiced environmental law, including regulatory and litigation matters, at a law firm in New York.
American Bar Association
New York City Bar Association
Columbia Law School
Cardozo School of Law
Columbia Journal of Environmental Law
Environmental Advocates of New York
Best Lawyers in America
Chambers USA
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 Hall of Fame
The Legal 500 US
Who’s Who Legal
Deals & Cases
March 13, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $1.5 billion registered senior notes offering of Phillips 66 Company, guaranteed by Phillips 66, an energy manufacturing and logistics company with midstream, chemicals, refining, marketing and specialties businesses. The transaction closed on February 28, 2024.
Deals & Cases
March 05, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the registered $500 million senior notes offering of Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., a leading technology services company and the largest IT infrastructure services provider in the world. The transaction closed on February 20, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 27, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the €1.2 billion senior notes offering of Fortive Corporation, a provider of essential technologies for connected workflow solutions across a range of attractive end‑markets. The transaction closed on February 13, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 23, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million registered notes offering of CNA Financial Corporation, a global insurance organization serving businesses with a broad range of commercial property and casualty insurance products, including surety, and insurance‑related services. The transaction closed on February 9, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 12, 2024
On February 12, 2024, CymaBay Therapeutics (“CymaBay”) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (“Gilead”) announced a definitive agreement under which Gilead will acquire CymaBay for $32.50 per share in cash or a total equity value of $4.3 billion. The addition of CymaBay’s investigational lead product candidate, seladelpar for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis, complements Gilead’s existing liver portfolio and aligns with its longstanding commitment to bringing transformational medicines to patients. Cravath is representing CymaBay in connection with the transaction.
Activities & Publications
March 18, 2024
On March 18, 2024, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “A Deeper Dive into the SEC’s Landmark Climate Disclosure Rules for Public Companies.” The memo examines in depth the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently adopted final rules requiring climate‑related disclosures for public companies. The memo outlines key takeaways of the final rules; the timeline for compliance; the background of the SEC’s focus on disclosure regarding climate change; the concept of materiality as used in the rules; the rules’ applicability to FPIs and other issuers; ongoing litigation challenging the validity of the rules; and next steps for public companies and their advisors to plan for compliance.
Activities & Publications
March 08, 2024
On March 8, 2024, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “SEC Adopts Climate Disclosure Rules for Public Companies.” The memo examines the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently adopted final rules requiring climate-related disclosures for public companies. It provides a high-level summary of the key requirements of the final rules relevant to public companies and their advisors.
Activities & Publications
October 10, 2023
On October 9, 2023, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “California Legislature Passes and Governor Newsom Signs Landmark California Climate Bills.” The memo examines the California legislature’s two recently passed climate disclosure bills, known respectively as the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act and the Climate‑Related Financial Risk Act, which were signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 7, 2023, and currently constitute the most extensive set of mandatory climate disclosures in the United States. The memo outlines key features of the bills, including their important differences from the SEC’s proposed climate rule, what specific details in the bills remain undefined or otherwise uncertain and next steps for companies to consider as they prepare for these disclosure obligations.
Activities & Publications
May 18, 2023
On May 11, 2023, enterprise climate platform Watershed published a Q&A on its blog authored by Cravath partners Matthew Morreale and Michael L. Arnold entitled “Ask a lawyer: What does the SEC’s climate rule mean for 10‑K filings?” The Q&A examines how the SEC’s proposed climate disclosure rule could impact domestic public companies’ annual Form 10‑K processes, which requirements will be the most challenging for those companies to comply with and why it’s important for companies to start preparing now.
Activities & Publications
February 07, 2023
Cravath partners John W. White, Matthew Morreale and Michael L. Arnold authored an expert analysis chapter of the International Comparative Legal Guides – Environmental, Social & Governance Law 2023, which provides cross‑border insights into environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) laws and was published by Global Legal Group on January 26, 2023. The chapter, entitled “Practical Steps for Board and Management Supervision of ESG Data Gathering and Disclosure,” reviews the current landscape of ESG data and disclosure, relevant drivers and challenges, the steps management should take and consider when producing disclosure‑ready data, and the role of boards of directors in supervising the ESG data gathering and disclosure processes.
Matthew Morreale is Head of the Environmental Practice. He advises Cravath’s clients on environmental matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, financings and other business transactions, as well as on environmental‑related proceedings and investigations. Mr. Morreale also regularly counsels companies and their boards of directors on matters relating to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) concerns, including with respect to shareholder engagement and proposals, disclosure and proxy requirements, sustainability reporting, acquisition and investment diligence and integration matters. Clients describe Mr. Morreale as “an excellent lawyer who understands the complex regulatory impacts on companies, including emerging climate change issues.”
Mr. Morreale has worked on hundreds of transactions across all industries in the U.S. and internationally, including deals in heavy manufacturing; oil and gas (exploration and production, transport, refining and services); chemical refining; shipping; power generation; cement and aggregates production; automobile assembly; pulp and paper; iron and steel; mining; electronics; telecommunications; food services; publishing; and retail chains. Mr. Morreale also provides counseling on environmental compliance matters; environmental and toxic tort litigation; environmental indemnification disputes; and environmental aspects of periodic reporting obligations under securities laws.
Mr. Morreale regularly lectures and writes on environmental topics, such as disclosure obligations under SEC requirements, including those relating to climate change and other ESG matters. He has been a member of the adjunct faculty of Columbia Law School since 2008, as well as Cardozo School of Law from 2003 to 2013, and has taught courses on environmental concerns in business transactions and on the law of climate change. In addition, Mr. Morreale serves on the Board of Directors of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law (since 1997) and Environmental Advocates of New York (since 2014).
Mr. Morreale has been repeatedly cited as one of the country’s leading environmental practitioners by, among others, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who Legal: Environment and Lawdragon.
Mr. Morreale was born in Garden City, New York. He received a B.A.S. (focus in mechanical and systems engineering) and a B.A. in 1990 and an M.S. in Geology in 1994, all from the University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1997, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Senior Editor for Articles and Notes of the Journal of Environmental Law.
Mr. Morreale joined Cravath in 1998 and was elected a partner in 2011. Prior to joining Cravath, he practiced environmental law, including regulatory and litigation matters, at a law firm in New York.
Mr. Morreale has worked on hundreds of transactions across all industries in the U.S. and internationally, including deals in heavy manufacturing; oil and gas (exploration and production, transport, refining and services); chemical refining; shipping; power generation; cement and aggregates production; automobile assembly; pulp and paper; iron and steel; mining; electronics; telecommunications; food services; publishing; and retail chains. Mr. Morreale also provides counseling on environmental compliance matters; environmental and toxic tort litigation; environmental indemnification disputes; and environmental aspects of periodic reporting obligations under securities laws.
Mr. Morreale regularly lectures and writes on environmental topics, such as disclosure obligations under SEC requirements, including those relating to climate change and other ESG matters. He has been a member of the adjunct faculty of Columbia Law School since 2008, as well as Cardozo School of Law from 2003 to 2013, and has taught courses on environmental concerns in business transactions and on the law of climate change. In addition, Mr. Morreale serves on the Board of Directors of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law (since 1997) and Environmental Advocates of New York (since 2014).
Mr. Morreale has been repeatedly cited as one of the country’s leading environmental practitioners by, among others, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who Legal: Environment and Lawdragon.
Mr. Morreale was born in Garden City, New York. He received a B.A.S. (focus in mechanical and systems engineering) and a B.A. in 1990 and an M.S. in Geology in 1994, all from the University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1997, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Senior Editor for Articles and Notes of the Journal of Environmental Law.
Mr. Morreale joined Cravath in 1998 and was elected a partner in 2011. Prior to joining Cravath, he practiced environmental law, including regulatory and litigation matters, at a law firm in New York.
American Bar Association
New York City Bar Association
Columbia Law School
Cardozo School of Law
Columbia Journal of Environmental Law
Environmental Advocates of New York
Best Lawyers in America
Chambers USA
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 Hall of Fame
The Legal 500 US
Who’s Who Legal
Deals & Cases
March 13, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $1.5 billion registered senior notes offering of Phillips 66 Company, guaranteed by Phillips 66, an energy manufacturing and logistics company with midstream, chemicals, refining, marketing and specialties businesses. The transaction closed on February 28, 2024.
Deals & Cases
March 05, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the registered $500 million senior notes offering of Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., a leading technology services company and the largest IT infrastructure services provider in the world. The transaction closed on February 20, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 27, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the €1.2 billion senior notes offering of Fortive Corporation, a provider of essential technologies for connected workflow solutions across a range of attractive end‑markets. The transaction closed on February 13, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 23, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million registered notes offering of CNA Financial Corporation, a global insurance organization serving businesses with a broad range of commercial property and casualty insurance products, including surety, and insurance‑related services. The transaction closed on February 9, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 12, 2024
On February 12, 2024, CymaBay Therapeutics (“CymaBay”) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (“Gilead”) announced a definitive agreement under which Gilead will acquire CymaBay for $32.50 per share in cash or a total equity value of $4.3 billion. The addition of CymaBay’s investigational lead product candidate, seladelpar for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis, complements Gilead’s existing liver portfolio and aligns with its longstanding commitment to bringing transformational medicines to patients. Cravath is representing CymaBay in connection with the transaction.
Activities & Publications
March 18, 2024
On March 18, 2024, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “A Deeper Dive into the SEC’s Landmark Climate Disclosure Rules for Public Companies.” The memo examines in depth the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently adopted final rules requiring climate‑related disclosures for public companies. The memo outlines key takeaways of the final rules; the timeline for compliance; the background of the SEC’s focus on disclosure regarding climate change; the concept of materiality as used in the rules; the rules’ applicability to FPIs and other issuers; ongoing litigation challenging the validity of the rules; and next steps for public companies and their advisors to plan for compliance.
Activities & Publications
March 08, 2024
On March 8, 2024, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “SEC Adopts Climate Disclosure Rules for Public Companies.” The memo examines the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently adopted final rules requiring climate-related disclosures for public companies. It provides a high-level summary of the key requirements of the final rules relevant to public companies and their advisors.
Activities & Publications
October 10, 2023
On October 9, 2023, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “California Legislature Passes and Governor Newsom Signs Landmark California Climate Bills.” The memo examines the California legislature’s two recently passed climate disclosure bills, known respectively as the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act and the Climate‑Related Financial Risk Act, which were signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 7, 2023, and currently constitute the most extensive set of mandatory climate disclosures in the United States. The memo outlines key features of the bills, including their important differences from the SEC’s proposed climate rule, what specific details in the bills remain undefined or otherwise uncertain and next steps for companies to consider as they prepare for these disclosure obligations.
Activities & Publications
May 18, 2023
On May 11, 2023, enterprise climate platform Watershed published a Q&A on its blog authored by Cravath partners Matthew Morreale and Michael L. Arnold entitled “Ask a lawyer: What does the SEC’s climate rule mean for 10‑K filings?” The Q&A examines how the SEC’s proposed climate disclosure rule could impact domestic public companies’ annual Form 10‑K processes, which requirements will be the most challenging for those companies to comply with and why it’s important for companies to start preparing now.
Activities & Publications
February 07, 2023
Cravath partners John W. White, Matthew Morreale and Michael L. Arnold authored an expert analysis chapter of the International Comparative Legal Guides – Environmental, Social & Governance Law 2023, which provides cross‑border insights into environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) laws and was published by Global Legal Group on January 26, 2023. The chapter, entitled “Practical Steps for Board and Management Supervision of ESG Data Gathering and Disclosure,” reviews the current landscape of ESG data and disclosure, relevant drivers and challenges, the steps management should take and consider when producing disclosure‑ready data, and the role of boards of directors in supervising the ESG data gathering and disclosure processes.
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