• Represented a private equity sponsor in connection with a special situations financing

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• Global Restructuring Review GRR 30, Recommended, 2024-2025
• Mergerlinks Rising Stars, Top 30 Financing Lawyers in EMEA, 2023
• Global Restructuring Review GRR 100, Recommended, 2023
• Global Restructuring Review, 40 Under 40, 2022
• Financial News, Most Influential Lawyer, 2026

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During Law School, Richard was a Notes Editor for the New York University Law Review.

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• Representing a large national insurance company in a class action retiree medical benefits lawsuit alleging that the company reneged on its promise to count employees’ years of service with an acquired company in calculating retirement benefits.
• Representing a large health insurance company in putative class actions alleging ERISA violations regarding a large health insurance company’s payment practices for out-of-network benefits.

• Representing a large health insurance company as national litigation advisory counsel for health insurance benefits lawsuits alleging improper denials of benefits and violations of mental health parity laws.
• Represented a private equity firm against allegations of control person liability in putative class actions based on Securities Act claims.*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm.

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• Defended major pharmaceutical company in an arbitration for an alleged breach of a joint venture agreement. Achieved a complete victory with no damages awarded*
• Drafted appellate briefing defending financial advisor in shareholder derivative suit. Achieved a complete victory with the case dismissed*
• Defended a translation services company against trade secret misappropriation claims stemming for failed transaction*
• Represented a medical device manufacturer in M&A purchase price adjustment arbitration*
• Represented a multinational financial services firm in responding to regulatory inquiries and exams, with a focus on futures and swaps trading*
• Conducted an internal investigation into potentially fraudulent medical claims related to a professional sports settlement*
• Defended a medical record management company against class action suit*
• Represented companies in the energy, paper and printing, and technology sectors through their Chapter 11 proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Courts*

* Matter handled prior to joining the firm

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• Represented a major health insurer in lawsuit against large for-profit health system for the health systems’ misrepresentations and breach of contract; after four-week arbitration and post-hearing briefing, case settled favorably in a global resolution of other disputes and open business issues.
• Represented a home textile manufacturer in defense of putative class actions alleging product mislabeling, including successful defense to challenges in multiple courts to class-wide settlement.*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm

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In addition to his healthcare practice, Richard also represents clients in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, private equity, food distribution, securities, manufacturing, real estate and telecommunication sectors.

During law school, Richard was Senior Articles Editor for Fordham Law Review, and received The Parchomovsky-Siegelman Student Graduation Prize for Best Student Note.

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• Represented leading fast-casual restaurant chain in securities class action alleging fraud after series of food-borne illness outbreaks; prevailed on motion to dismiss*
• Represented a major pharmaceutical company in products liability class action following recall of over 480,000 bottles of generic atorvastatin; defeated plaintiffs’ motion for class certification*
• Represented investment fund in dispute over exercise of warrants for growing technology company; won motion for summary judgment on liability*
• Represented a major natural foods distributor in breach of contract dispute before AAA tribunal as part of expedited arbitration proceeding; prevailed after eight-day arbitration hearing*
• Represented private equity fund and metal component manufacturer facing competing New York and Delaware shareholder breach of fiduciary duty class actions; prevailed at class certification in New York, and settled favorably in Delaware*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm

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Among other areas of law, John has handled disputes involving breach of contract, ERISA, securities fraud, consumer class action litigation, antitrust and litigation over M&A and corporate control matters. John has experience advising private equity and other corporate clients on transactional matters, including counsel on litigation diligence and regulatory issues.

John also maintains an active pro bono practice. He was a member of both the trial and appellate teams for plaintiffs challenging North Carolina’s voter photo identification requirements under the Voting Rights Act and the US Constitution, invalidating the law after obtaining a total victory in the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and successfully opposing certiorari in the US Supreme Court. In addition, he served as trial counsel for an incarcerated client unjustly held in solitary confinement for well over two decades, ultimately negotiating a favorable monetary settlement and a pathway out of solitary for the client on the eve of an anticipated weeklong federal jury trial. He also represents victims of domestic violence in the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division and Queens Family Court.

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• Representing a leading health insurer against hospitals alleging improper reimbursement of certain out-of-network emergency claims implicating both Affordable Care Act and ERISA plans in Tennessee federal court
• Represented major health insurer in a number of arbitration disputes brought by one of the largest for-profit hospital systems in the nation alleging underpayment of contracted healthcare claims; after multiple multi-week arbitration hearings and post-hearing briefing, leveraged favorable results to ultimately drive a global resolution of pending arbitrations
• Represented a leading health insurer in lawsuit against large for-profit health system for the health systems’ misrepresentations and breach of contract; after a four-week arbitration and post-hearing briefing, case settled favorably in a global resolution of other disputes and open business issues
• Represented a home textile manufacturer in defense of putative class actions alleging product mislabeling, including successful defense to challenges in multiple courts to class-wide settlement*
• Obtained dismissal on behalf of a foreign mobile gaming company in a securities class action case alleging claims under both the Securities Act and Exchange Act*
• Represented a global bank in lawsuit against hedge fund securing more than $1 billion judgment for fraud and breach of contract claims relating to collateralized debt obligations*
• Represented the directors of a mobile hydraulics manufacturer in stockholder class action arising out of acquisition by controlling stockholder. Case settled on eve of trial for 1.4% of the deal price*
• Represented a technology company and directors in litigation with activist shareholder regarding alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and violation of standstill agreement.  After discovery, briefing and trial, and briefing at the appellate level, fiduciary duty claims against directors were dismissed and an ultimate sale of the company proceeded without delay*
• Represented a sports entertainment and hospitality services company against competitor for breach of non-disclosure agreement, and tortious interference with contract. After expedited discovery and on eve of preliminary injunction hearing, case settled favorably on confidential basis*
• Represented a private equity fund and its managing director against claims brought by a disgruntled investor*

*Matter handled prior to joining the firm

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Clients turn to Abigail for her practical recommendations and simple yet elegant solutions. Abigail holds a master’s in public health, and her decades of working alongside healthcare leaders make her particularly attuned to the unique challenges facing healthcare employers.

Abigail is a member of McDermott Will & Schulte’s Pro Bono Committee and the Gender Diversity Committee.

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• • Its acquisition of EmpiRx Health, a clinically-driven, value-based pharmacy benefit manager (PBM)
  • Its acquisition of Aurora Material Solutions, a leading manufacturer and supplier of advanced polymer and custom thermoplastic compounds, from Wind Point Partners and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
  • Its acquisition of Vallen, an industry leader in flexible supply chain solutions and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) needs, from Sonepar
  • Its portfolio company, LindFast Solutions Group, in its acquisition of Star Stainless, a master distributor of stainless-steel and exotic fasteners
  • Its acquisition of SurfacePrep, a leading international distributor of surface enhancement solutions, from CenterOak Partners
  • Its portfolio company, Vallen, in its $350 million acquisition of Wesco Integrated Supply, from Wesco International (NYSE: WCC)
  • Its portfolio company, Vallen, in its acquisition of Eastland Engineering Supply, from MML Growth Capital Partners
  • Its $540 million acquisition of Vybond, a leading provider of pressure-sensitive tapes and adhesives, from Amcor (formally Berry Global) (NYSE: AMCR)
  • Its portfolio company, LindFast Solutions Group, in its acquisition of Big Bolt, a leading manufacturer of high-quality, specialty fasteners
  • Its portfolio company, Aurora Material Solutions, in its acquisition of American Vinyl Company, a leading manufacturer of custom vinyl extrusions
  • Its acquisition of Ideal Tridon, a global leader in engineered components, clamps, brackets, fittings and hoses, from TruArc Partners
  • Its acquisition of Cenavera, the largest, independent provider of outsourced foodservice to public, private and charter K-12 schools, from Harkness Capital Partners
  • Its portfolio company, LindFast Solutions Group, in its acquisition of AZ Wire & Cable, a premier master distributor of industrial, commercial and specialty wire and cable, from MFG Partners
  • In connection with a representation & warranty insurance (RWI) policy claim resulting in an eight-figure recovery

• Represented OpenGate Capital in numerous transactions, including:
  • Its acquisition of the European and Middle Eastern (EMEA) division of Total Safety, a leading provider of integrated industrial safety and compliance services, from Littlejohn & Co.
  • Its acquisition of Maersk Training, a leading global provider of essential safety services, from Maersk
• Represented Revelar Capital (f/k/a Wellspring Capital Management) in numerous transactions, including:
  • Its sale of Help at Home, a provider of homecare services to elderly and disabled people, to The Vistria Group and Centerbridge Partners
  • Its portfolio company, Rayus Radiology, in its acquisition of U.S. MRI, a leading provider of imaging services in the Mountain West
• Represented Harvest Partners in its acquisition of Alumni Staffing, a national provider of locum tenens staffing solutions
• Represented The Sterling Group and Capitol Meridian Partners in their acquisition of PrimeFlight Aviation Services, a global provider of essential aircraft, passenger, and security-related services, from Carlyle
• Represented H.I.G. Capital in its acquisition of Hibu, a leading provider of digital marketing solutions to small and medium businesses (SMBs), from Yell
• Represented Castle Harlan in its sale of Colyar Technology Solutions, the largest provider of software facilitating the management of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition and Food Distribution Programs, to Banneker Partners

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