Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Simpson Thacher successfully secured asylum in the United States for 14 Afghan citizens who had been evacuated from Kabul under harrowing conditions in 2021 when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. As part of two coalitions of law firms representing Afghan citizens, Simpson Thacher lawyers took on the representation of a reporter covering Afghanistan for?The New York Times?and seven of his adult family members, in addition to six female students from the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Bangladesh who were studying in Kabul, all of whom feared targeted persecution from the Taliban. Filing several asylum applications and with a number of lawyers from the Firm working to obtain legal status in the United States for the 14 individuals, the Firm has successfully obtained asylum status for the entire group – obtaining legal status for the six Afghan women in October 2023 and securing asylum more recently for the Afghan journalist and his family in October 2024. The Simpson Thacher team who assisted the New York Times family included John Ericson, Mark Brod, Beate Krieger, Harlene Katzman, Kristy Fields, Nicholas Cunha, Lena Dennington, Andrew Mandelbaum, Suzannah Ranzo, Albert Tagliaferri and Clark Vaughn. The Simpson Thacher team who assisted the AUW students included Vanessa Burrows, Alan Turner, Harlene Katzman, Shuhao Fan, Yonah Goldschmidt, Iram Huq, Anna Jarman, Jacob Kornman, Belinda Li, Albert Murzakhanov, Michael Palizkar, Emily Rosenthal, Jessica Shieh, Robert Vogel, Natalie Wembolua and Megan Whitman.

Litigation Partner Craig Waldman was profiled by Law360 as a 2024 Securities “MVP.” Craig was recognized for his work securing successful outcomes for clients including Bumble and Bausch Health, among others. Read more: https://lnkd.in/efQJ4_5m

Litigation Partner Linton Mann III was named one of?Crain’s New York Business’?“Notable Black Leaders” for 2024, a special feature recognizing the achievements of 100 Black New Yorkers across a variety of industries. ? Read more: https://lnkd.in/ee-4DHfA

This U.S. Pro Bono Week, the Firm asked Partner Michael Osnato about how pro bono work can contribute to the professional development of young attorneys. Michael routinely works with associates on pro bono cases, such as a class action lawsuit that was filed together with Mobilization for Justice on behalf of a group of New York City students with disabilities and their families aiming to remedy the NYCDOE’s failure to provide timely special education evaluations. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eX6hshBJ

Simpson Thacher Partners Jonathan Youngwood, Barrie Covit, Andy Frankel, Naveed Anwar and Craig Waldman have been named 2024 “MVPs” by Law360. Click here: https://lnkd.in/eSpkqydh

In honor of U.S. Pro Bono Week, the Firm asked Laura Lin and Sara Razi, Co-Chairs of the Pro Bono Committee, about the significance of pro bono work at Simpson Thacher and the impact that participating in these initiatives can have. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eX6hshBJ

Congratulations to Wheatly MacNamara, who took up her post as London Managing Partner earlier this month. Having joined the Firm in 2005, Wheatly is a leading private equity real estate lawyer who has played a vital role in building Simpson Thacher’s European corporate real estate capabilities, focussing on acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures, particularly for private capital sponsors. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e7fhnKj6

On October 16, the New York office hosted 28 ninth grade students from New Visions Marble Hill School for International Studies as part of the Firm’s Urban Education Initiative. The students learned about different jobs within a law firm and participated in a moot court activity. Twenty-three Simpson Thacher attorneys and staff participated in the program that was organized by Kristin Glaudel, Urban Education Initiative Program Manager and Leila Dastgheib-Beheshti, DEI Coordinator. Litigation Partner Rachel Sparks Bradley gave welcome remarks.

Simpson Thacher was profiled by The Recorder as a finalist for “Tech Industry Advisory Team of the Year” as part of the 2024 California Legal Awards.? ? Read more: https://lnkd.in/ewYmh4m9

Simpson Thacher represented the initial purchasers, led by Citigroup Global Markets Inc., in connection with the private offering by LATAM Airlines Group S.A. of $1,400 million aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2030 pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S. The net proceeds of the offering, together with cash on hand, were used to repay LATAM’s existing term loan facility and to redeem in full LATAM’s 13.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2027. LATAM is the largest airline group in South America and one of the ten largest airline groups in the world, as measured by the number of flights operated. It is also the largest air cargo carrier in South America, as measured by cargo fleet. LATAM provides passenger transport services to 146 destinations in 26 countries and cargo services to 160 destinations in 32 countries, with an operating fleet of 340 aircraft. The Simpson Thacher team included John Ericson, Juan Francisco Mendez, Adriana Estor-Restrepo, Christopher Flynn and Sebastian Edin (Capital Markets); Jessica Tuchinsky, Soogy Lee, Mari Zaldivar and Jason Tsudik (Banking & Credit/Collateral); Jacob Durkin (Banking & Credit – London); Michael Mann and Preston Irace (Tax); Paige Brinton and Christian Bond (Intellectual Property); Jeanne Annarumma (ERISA); Pasco Struhs (ECEB); and Jennie Getsin (Blue Sky).