Winston & Strawn Expands Corporate Practice

Mar 11, 2015 NEW YORK, NY — Winston & Strawn LLP is pleased to announce that six partners have joined the firm across two offices. This latest acquisition underscores Winston’s commitment to expand its corporate practice to meet the evolving needs of its diverse clientele.

“We are placing an emphasis on strategically expanding our corporate practice in key markets including New York, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C.,” said Tom Fitzgerald, Winston’s firmwide managing partner.

Chris Zochowski establishes Winston’s corporate presence in the Washington, D.C. office where he will serve as co-chair of the firm’s M&A and securities practice. M&A and private equity partner James Kelly also joins Winston’s corporate practice in New York.

Mr. Zochowski works extensively with both domestic and international clients with respect to M&A, public and private securities transactions, specialty finance transactions, cross-border and domestic project and structured finance transactions, and debt restructurings. Mr. Kelly focuses his practice on representing private equity funds in all aspects of their investments as well as public and private operating companies across a variety of industries, including the portfolio companies of his private equity fund clients, for which he handles a wide range of transactional and other corporate matters.

Finance partners Peter Alfano and Anthony Schouten, and corporate trust partner Bart Pisella also join Winston’s corporate practice in New York.

Mr. Alfano represents corporations, financial sponsors, and lenders in a  wide range of domestic and cross-border transactions; Mr. Schouten maintains a fully integrated corporate practice, focusing on structured finance, corporate restructurings, and derivatives; and Mr. Pisella focuses on advising diversified financial institutions in a wide variety of commercial financing, fiduciary, and securities matters. In particular, Mr. Pisella advises corporate trustees in all aspects of their trust, fiduciary, custodial, administrative, and agency business in traditional capital markets and global finance transactions.

“The addition of this talented group enhances our already strong M&A, private equity, finance, and corporate trust practices while augmenting our footprint in key markets,” said Dominick DeChiara, chair of Winston’s corporate department. “These partners will  integrate exceptionally well with our existing practice and client base.”

Also joining Winston’s New York office is employee benefits and executive compensation partner Scott Landau. Mr. Landau’s practice focuses on representing both private equity clients and public companies in acquisitions, divestitures, and restructurings in the U.S. and internationally.

All six partners join Winston from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.