Cravath’s New York Office Moves to Two Manhattan West
Cravath’s broad‑based intellectual property practice has deep experience advising clients ranging from early‑stage startups to global companies in corporate contexts across the full spectrum of intellectual property disciplines, technologies and jurisdictions. Our corporate IP practice is distinctive for its “cross‑disciplinary and highly collaborative approach,” placing Cravath “a class apart” for providing “integrated solutions to the most pressing legal and business problems faced by industry leaders.” (IAM Patent 1000)
Cravath’s IP lawyers work hand in glove with our premier corporate practices to handle the many intellectual property issues that arise in complex transactions, including issues relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights, data, trade secrets, privacy and information security. We also advise on matters in connection with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and fintech solutions involving Web3/blockchain, digital assets, smart contracts and decentralized networks.
Our IP lawyers bring a great depth of technical and scientific backgrounds to provide expert advice related to:
Cravath also provides strategic counseling, review and analysis in developing and managing intellectual property portfolios, commercializing innovation‑based assets and optimizing intellectual property rights to ensure our clients are maximizing value from their intellectual property in the U.S. and in non-U.S. markets.
Cravath helps clients navigate AI and data issues with respect to data ownership and licensing, business operations and disputes related to AI and data, as well as the acquisition of data and AI technologies. Our expertise across subject areas allows us to provide interdisciplinary advice on AI and data issues, including ownership of and rights to use AI algorithms and related data, confidentiality management and related transaction structuring.
Cravath advises on a wide variety of data security and privacy issues across the whole spectrum of transactions and projects, including data collection, data storage, multi‑party data arrangements and agreements, such as between data controllers and/or data processors, cross‑border data sharing, protection of personally identifiable and other sensitive information, and privacy and data protection compliance matters, including advising on privacy policies and privacy notices and other privacy compliance requirements under the GDPR and other relevant regimes.
Cravath’s IP lawyers work hand in glove with our premier corporate practices to handle the many intellectual property issues that arise in complex transactions, including issues relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights, data, trade secrets, privacy and information security. We also advise on matters in connection with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and fintech solutions involving Web3/blockchain, digital assets, smart contracts and decentralized networks.
Our IP lawyers bring a great depth of technical and scientific backgrounds to provide expert advice related to:
Cravath also provides strategic counseling, review and analysis in developing and managing intellectual property portfolios, commercializing innovation‑based assets and optimizing intellectual property rights to ensure our clients are maximizing value from their intellectual property in the U.S. and in non-U.S. markets.
Cravath helps clients navigate AI and data issues with respect to data ownership and licensing, business operations and disputes related to AI and data, as well as the acquisition of data and AI technologies. Our expertise across subject areas allows us to provide interdisciplinary advice on AI and data issues, including ownership of and rights to use AI algorithms and related data, confidentiality management and related transaction structuring.
Cravath advises on a wide variety of data security and privacy issues across the whole spectrum of transactions and projects, including data collection, data storage, multi‑party data arrangements and agreements, such as between data controllers and/or data processors, cross‑border data sharing, protection of personally identifiable and other sensitive information, and privacy and data protection compliance matters, including advising on privacy policies and privacy notices and other privacy compliance requirements under the GDPR and other relevant regimes.
Deals & Cases
September 05, 2024
On September 5, 2024, Verizon Communications Inc. and Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. (“Frontier”), the largest pure‑play fiber provider in the U.S., announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Verizon to acquire Frontier in an all‑cash transaction valued at $20 billion. Cravath is representing Frontier in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
August 08, 2024
On August 8, 2024, private investment firm Lindsay Goldberg and Golden State Foods, one of the largest diversified suppliers to the foodservice and retail industries, announced that they have entered into an agreement for Lindsay Goldberg to acquire a controlling interest in Golden State Foods. Cravath is representing Lindsay Goldberg in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
July 08, 2024
On July 7, 2024, Paramount Global (“Paramount”), a leading global media, streaming and entertainment company, and Skydance Media (“Skydance”), a diversified media company founded to create high-quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to form “New Paramount,” a next-generation media and technology leader, through a two-step transaction including the acquisition of National Amusements, Inc. (“NAI”), which holds the controlling share stake in Paramount, and subsequently a merger of Skydance and Paramount. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by the Paramount Board of Directors, acting on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee of independent directors, and by NAI, Skydance will merge with Paramount in a transaction valuing New Paramount at an enterprise value of approximately $28 billion. Existing Skydance investors will receive 317 million newly issued Class B shares in New Paramount valuing Skydance at $4.75 billion based on $15 per Paramount Class B share. The Skydance Investor Group will invest up to $6 billion in offers to Class A and Class B stockholders, and use the additional capital to paydown debt and re-capitalize the balance sheet of New Paramount. NAI and its owners have entered into a definitive agreement to sell NAI to Skydance IG for $2.4 billion on a cash-free, debt-free basis. Cravath is representing the Paramount Special Committee in connection with the agreement.
Deals & Cases
June 24, 2024
On June 24, 2024, Illumina, Inc. (“Illumina”), a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, announced the successful completion of the spin-off of GRAIL, a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early. This follows Illumina’s previously announced plans to divest GRAIL, and GRAIL is now a public and independent company. The separation was achieved through the distribution of 85.5% of the outstanding shares of GRAIL to holders of Illumina common stock on June 24, 2024. In addition to retaining their shares of Illumina common stock, Illumina shareholders received one share of GRAIL common stock for every six shares of Illumina stock held as of close of business on the record date of June 13, 2024. Illumina retained 14.5% of the outstanding shares of GRAIL common stock. Cravath represented Illumina in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
May 28, 2024
On May 28, 2024, United States Cellular Corporation (“UScellular”) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T‑Mobile for a purchase price of $4.4 billion, including a combination of cash and up to approximately $2 billion of assumed debt. Under the terms of the agreement, T‑Mobile will acquire UScellular’s wireless operations and approximately 30% of its spectrum assets across several spectrum bands. In addition, T‑Mobile will enter into a new master license agreement with UScellular on more than 2,000 towers. The agreement follows a thorough strategic review process announced in August 2023 and has been unanimously recommended by the independent directors of UScellular and unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of UScellular. Cravath is representing the independent directors of UScellular in connection with the transaction.
Activities & Publications
September 04, 2024
Cravath partners Benjamin Gruenstein, Sasha Rosenthal‑Larrea and Evan Norris and Variant deputy general counsel Daniel Barabander co‑authored an article entitled “Cybersecurity Liability for Web3 Platforms: Key Issues and Risk Mitigation Solutions,” which was published by Bloomberg Law on September 4, 2024. The article explores the liability landscape faced by web3 platforms in the wake of a cybersecurity incident, including potential for negligence, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims, as well as securities law shareholder derivative claims. The article also details how parties can mitigate their risk through the integration of proactive security solutions.
Activities & Publications
August 28, 2024
On August 28, 2024, Cravath partner David J. Kappos participated in the 2024 Global Forum on Intellectual Property, which was hosted by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore from August 27‑28, 2024, in Singapore. Dave spoke on a panel entitled “The Crossroads of IP: Man or Machine in the Age of AI?,” which reviewed the multifaceted issues confronting the IP system in the age of artificial intelligence, including whether it is tenable for the IP system to continue supporting AI innovation while holding on to the tenet that only human beings can be inventors, designers, authors and creators.
Activities & Publications
July 19, 2024
On July 16, 2024, Cravath published the third edition of its Cravath Data Privacy and Security Review newsletter, which provides an overview of U.S. state and federal legislative and regulatory developments, alongside U.S. and global enforcement trends and takeaways, in the data privacy and security field for the first six months of 2024. The Review provides an update on emerging and existing privacy and security legislation at the federal level, including the American Privacy Rights Act, and highlights notable legislative developments at the state level across the country. This edition also highlights the heightened focus on cybersecurity and privacy‑related enforcement at federal agencies including the Federal Trade Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission, and provides global enforcement updates from China, the European Union, Germany and Chile.
Activities & Publications
July 15, 2024
Following the July 12, 2024 announcement by the European Union of the forthcoming entry-into-force of the Artificial Intelligence Act, Cravath has collaborated with UK firm Slaughter and May to publish a memo for clients entitled “EU AI Act to Enter into Force.” The memo outlines the Act’s approach to reduce the risks posed by certain types of artificial intelligence by focusing on responsible innovation and fines for violations. It reviews the Act’s key provisions, including those providing extra-territorial reach, looks at practical steps organizations can take to comply, and compares the Act’s approach to AI regulation to the current approaches in the United States and United Kingdom. The EU AI Act will come into force on August 1, 2024, starting a two-year transition period during which its provisions will take effect.
Activities & Publications
June 27, 2024
On June 26, 2024, Cravath partner David J. Kappos delivered a keynote address at the 15th annual Anaqua Experience Conference, which was held from June 24‑27, 2024, in Boston, MA. During his keynote entitled “Unveiling the Future: Macro‑Level Trends Shaping Intellectual Property,” Dave discussed the macro‑level trends reshaping the intellectual property landscape as the world evolves in the digital age, including emerging technologies and global regulatory shifts.
Deals & Cases
September 05, 2024
On September 5, 2024, Verizon Communications Inc. and Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. (“Frontier”), the largest pure‑play fiber provider in the U.S., announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Verizon to acquire Frontier in an all‑cash transaction valued at $20 billion. Cravath is representing Frontier in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
August 08, 2024
On August 8, 2024, private investment firm Lindsay Goldberg and Golden State Foods, one of the largest diversified suppliers to the foodservice and retail industries, announced that they have entered into an agreement for Lindsay Goldberg to acquire a controlling interest in Golden State Foods. Cravath is representing Lindsay Goldberg in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
July 08, 2024
On July 7, 2024, Paramount Global (“Paramount”), a leading global media, streaming and entertainment company, and Skydance Media (“Skydance”), a diversified media company founded to create high-quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to form “New Paramount,” a next-generation media and technology leader, through a two-step transaction including the acquisition of National Amusements, Inc. (“NAI”), which holds the controlling share stake in Paramount, and subsequently a merger of Skydance and Paramount. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by the Paramount Board of Directors, acting on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee of independent directors, and by NAI, Skydance will merge with Paramount in a transaction valuing New Paramount at an enterprise value of approximately $28 billion. Existing Skydance investors will receive 317 million newly issued Class B shares in New Paramount valuing Skydance at $4.75 billion based on $15 per Paramount Class B share. The Skydance Investor Group will invest up to $6 billion in offers to Class A and Class B stockholders, and use the additional capital to paydown debt and re-capitalize the balance sheet of New Paramount. NAI and its owners have entered into a definitive agreement to sell NAI to Skydance IG for $2.4 billion on a cash-free, debt-free basis. Cravath is representing the Paramount Special Committee in connection with the agreement.
Deals & Cases
June 24, 2024
On June 24, 2024, Illumina, Inc. (“Illumina”), a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, announced the successful completion of the spin-off of GRAIL, a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early. This follows Illumina’s previously announced plans to divest GRAIL, and GRAIL is now a public and independent company. The separation was achieved through the distribution of 85.5% of the outstanding shares of GRAIL to holders of Illumina common stock on June 24, 2024. In addition to retaining their shares of Illumina common stock, Illumina shareholders received one share of GRAIL common stock for every six shares of Illumina stock held as of close of business on the record date of June 13, 2024. Illumina retained 14.5% of the outstanding shares of GRAIL common stock. Cravath represented Illumina in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
May 28, 2024
On May 28, 2024, United States Cellular Corporation (“UScellular”) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T‑Mobile for a purchase price of $4.4 billion, including a combination of cash and up to approximately $2 billion of assumed debt. Under the terms of the agreement, T‑Mobile will acquire UScellular’s wireless operations and approximately 30% of its spectrum assets across several spectrum bands. In addition, T‑Mobile will enter into a new master license agreement with UScellular on more than 2,000 towers. The agreement follows a thorough strategic review process announced in August 2023 and has been unanimously recommended by the independent directors of UScellular and unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of UScellular. Cravath is representing the independent directors of UScellular in connection with the transaction.
Activities & Publications
September 04, 2024
Cravath partners Benjamin Gruenstein, Sasha Rosenthal‑Larrea and Evan Norris and Variant deputy general counsel Daniel Barabander co‑authored an article entitled “Cybersecurity Liability for Web3 Platforms: Key Issues and Risk Mitigation Solutions,” which was published by Bloomberg Law on September 4, 2024. The article explores the liability landscape faced by web3 platforms in the wake of a cybersecurity incident, including potential for negligence, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims, as well as securities law shareholder derivative claims. The article also details how parties can mitigate their risk through the integration of proactive security solutions.
Activities & Publications
August 28, 2024
On August 28, 2024, Cravath partner David J. Kappos participated in the 2024 Global Forum on Intellectual Property, which was hosted by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore from August 27‑28, 2024, in Singapore. Dave spoke on a panel entitled “The Crossroads of IP: Man or Machine in the Age of AI?,” which reviewed the multifaceted issues confronting the IP system in the age of artificial intelligence, including whether it is tenable for the IP system to continue supporting AI innovation while holding on to the tenet that only human beings can be inventors, designers, authors and creators.
Activities & Publications
July 19, 2024
On July 16, 2024, Cravath published the third edition of its Cravath Data Privacy and Security Review newsletter, which provides an overview of U.S. state and federal legislative and regulatory developments, alongside U.S. and global enforcement trends and takeaways, in the data privacy and security field for the first six months of 2024. The Review provides an update on emerging and existing privacy and security legislation at the federal level, including the American Privacy Rights Act, and highlights notable legislative developments at the state level across the country. This edition also highlights the heightened focus on cybersecurity and privacy‑related enforcement at federal agencies including the Federal Trade Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission, and provides global enforcement updates from China, the European Union, Germany and Chile.
Activities & Publications
July 15, 2024
Following the July 12, 2024 announcement by the European Union of the forthcoming entry-into-force of the Artificial Intelligence Act, Cravath has collaborated with UK firm Slaughter and May to publish a memo for clients entitled “EU AI Act to Enter into Force.” The memo outlines the Act’s approach to reduce the risks posed by certain types of artificial intelligence by focusing on responsible innovation and fines for violations. It reviews the Act’s key provisions, including those providing extra-territorial reach, looks at practical steps organizations can take to comply, and compares the Act’s approach to AI regulation to the current approaches in the United States and United Kingdom. The EU AI Act will come into force on August 1, 2024, starting a two-year transition period during which its provisions will take effect.
Activities & Publications
June 27, 2024
On June 26, 2024, Cravath partner David J. Kappos delivered a keynote address at the 15th annual Anaqua Experience Conference, which was held from June 24‑27, 2024, in Boston, MA. During his keynote entitled “Unveiling the Future: Macro‑Level Trends Shaping Intellectual Property,” Dave discussed the macro‑level trends reshaping the intellectual property landscape as the world evolves in the digital age, including emerging technologies and global regulatory shifts.
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