Meet The Team
Michael Gilligan
Partner, Corporate
Michael Gilligan is a seasoned corporate partner and trusted business advisor with over 25 years of experience guiding private and public companies through their most complex transactions. Before joining Sterlington, Michael was a partner at WilmerHale, Schulte Roth & Zabel, Hogan Lovells, and Allen & Overy, now A&O Shearman. He began his career as an associate at Wachtell.
Michael is particularly known for his skill in structuring and executing domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, private placements, and restructurings, as well as advising on corporate governance, proxy contests, and joint ventures. Michael has led numerous buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions and regularly advises boards and senior executives on corporate finance, governance, and disclosure matters.
Michael holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.S. in Biomedical/Medical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
Our Team
Christopher S. Harrison
Partner, M&AChambers-ranked for M&A; leads Sterlington’s M&A practice. Former Schulte Roth Investment Management M&A Co-Head and former Cravath associate. Taught Negotiating M&A at NYU Law for 11 years and published a book on M&A with Bloomberg (#1 New Release on Amazon).
Jeremy L. Goldstein
Partner, Executive CompensationFormer Wachtell Lipton partner. Advised on M&A transactions totaling more than $3 trillion. Leading executive compensation lawyer in Chambers. J.D. from NYU. B.A. cum laude from Cornell.
Daniel Cooper
Partner and Head, Private WealthChambers-ranked private wealth lawyer. Former partner at Morgan Lewis. Advises UHNW individuals and families on estate and gift planning, and business succession among others. LL.M. from NYU, J.D. from Virginia.
Paul Jebely
Partner and Vice Chair, InternationalTop global private aviation attorney for UHNW individuals. Chambers “Private Aviation & Yachts Lawyer of the Year”, “Private Wealth Lawyer of the Year”, and a longstanding Band 1 ranking (HNW – Private Aircraft). Lead counsel on $24 billion in aircraft transactions. Founder and Chair of The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation.
Audry Casusol
Partner, Executive CompensationExecutive compensation and employee benefits partner with deep experience advising clients on M&A, IPOs, spinoffs, and restructurings. Most recently, former partner and global co-head of Exec Comp at Cleary Gottlieb, and former Cravath associate. J.D. from Duke University School of Law.
Kristy Fields
Partner, Executive CompensationExecutive compensation partner with deep experience in M&A and private equity. Previously a partner at Simpson Thacher. Recognized by Super Lawyers® (2020-2024).
Jake Ebers
Partner, Executive CompensationFormer Kirkland & Ellis partner. Extensive experience advising management teams, founders, and CEOs on complex transactions and executive compensation matters. J.D. from New York Law School. B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Emalee Welsh
Partner and Deputy Head, Private WealthPartner and trusted advisor to UHNW individuals, entrepreneurs, and family offices on sophisticated wealth transfer and tax planning. Formerly at Morgan Lewis and a federal law clerk. Recognized in Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch and a graduate of ACTEC’s Mid-Atlantic Fellows Institute.
Daniel Carmody
Partner, Tax and Private WealthLeading tax advisor on complex domestic and international matters. Former partner at Morgan Lewis and served in senior roles at PwC and the IRS Office of Chief Counsel. Recognized in Best Lawyers® and Legal 500; adjunct professor in Villanova’s Graduate Tax Program.
Alexandra Buckingham
Partner, Private WealthPartner advising UHNW individuals and families on wealth transfer, tax planning, and trust and estate administration. Formerly at Morgan Lewis.
Todd McClelland
Partner, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, AI, and LitigationPartner focusing on cybersecurity, data privacy, and technology law. Formerly Head of Global Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Group at McDermott, Will & Emery. Recognized by Legal 500 U.S. and Best Lawyers® in America for Privacy and Data Security and named “Lawyer of the Year” in IT Outsourcing Law.
Brian Slater
Partner and Co-Head, Intellectual PropertyLead trial lawyer in high-stakes IP disputes, including Hatch-Waxman patent litigations. Former Chair of Life Sciences at Kramer Levin and served on the management committee of IP boutique, Fitzpatrick Cella (now Venable LLP). Recognized in IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals. LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania (Thouron Scholar).
Lawrence Waks
Partner, CorporateLeading corporate lawyer representing A-list celebrities, high-profile individuals, and brands on major transactions. Counsel on notable deals including Casamigos Tequila’s $1b sale (representing George Clooney and others) and $600m sale of Aviation Gin (part-owned by Ryan Reynolds) and Davos Brands. Recognized in Best Lawyers® in America and Texas Super Lawyers®.
Yvette Teofan
Of Counsel, Investment ManagementInvestment management and M&A attorney with experience in fund formation and cross-border transactions. Former Cleary Gottlieb partner, in New York and Paris. J.D. from Yale (Yale Law Review editor), and B.A. from Stanford.
Robert Kantowitz
Partner, TaxOver 40 years of tax law expertise. Former MD at JP Morgan, Merrill/BofA, UBS, and SocGen, where he focused on deal structuring and new product development. J.D. from Harvard (executive editor of Harvard Law Review), tax LL.M. from NYU, and master’s degree in Physics.
Ken Lee
Partner, FinancePartner focused on asset trading and finance. Former counsel at Clifford Chance NY. J.D. from Cornell Law. B.A. in Business Administration and Management from Korea University.
Gregory Sephton
Partner and Co-Head, Intellectual PropertyIP and Life Sciences Partner and Co-Head of Sterlington’s IP practice. Extensive experience in high-stakes patent litigation for pharmaceutical and biotech innovators. Former partner at Kramer Levin and at Fitzpatrick Cella (now Venable LLP). Ph.D. in biochemistry from Brandeis University and J.D. from Suffolk University.
Evan Coren
Partner, CorporatePartner focused on finance and corporate transactions, and bankruptcy matters. Former clerk for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of CT, and associate at Stevens & Lee. J.D. from Duke University School of Law. B.A. in PoliSci from the University of Chicago (Phi Beta Kappa Honors).
Stuart Daroca
Partner, CorporateFormer Associate GC at AIG, GC/Chief Legal Officer at B2B real estate firms, senior legal counsel at Citigroup. Former associate at Skadden. J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center (senior editor of Law and Policy in Int’l Business Journal). B.A. from UC Berkeley.
Klas Holm
Partner, TaxTax partner with more than 30 years of experience advising corporations, investment funds, and HNWIs on cross-border transactions and tax controversy. Former Global Tax Co-Chair at Curtis and partner at Baker McKenzie.
John Birkmire
Chief Estate & Fiduciary AccountantCertified public accountant working in Sterlington’s private wealth practice. Previously at Morgan Lewis, Glenmede, and Mellon Bank. MS from Philadelphia University and B.S. from Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science.
Ivy Dodes
Of Counsel, Investment ManagementCorporate and investment management lawyer. Former COO, GC, and MD of a PE division of Credit Suisse Asset Management. Former associate at what is now Norton Rose Fulbright.
Mary Messihi
Partner, Trusts & EstatesTrusts & estates lawyer. Ran a multi-billion-dollar single-family office serving more than 200 family members across six generations. LL.M. from NYU Law.
Jamie Sklar
Of Counsel, CorporateCorporate attorney. 25 years’ experience managing complex transactions/corporate matters. Emphasis on PE, M&A, JVs, and fund formation matters. Former In-House at Credit Suisse Asset Management. Worked at White & Case and Sidley Austin. LL.B., B.C.L., and M.B.A. from McGill University.
Geoffrey Raicht
Of CounselOf counsel in Sterlington’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice. Former partner at Sidley, McDermott, Proskauer, and Haynes and Boone. Recognized by Legal 500 as a leading lawyer. Earned J.D. from CUNY Law School, and MPA and B.A. from NYU.
Yan Yuan
Partner, CorporatePartner in cross-border Corporate practice, focusing on M&A, private capital, joint ventures, investment, and cross-border transactions. Previously a partner at Ashurst and counsel at Clifford Chance. Recognized by Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a Next Generation Partner and Rising Star. J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Cody Wamsley, CISSP
Of CounselHeld senior in-house roles at Coinbase, Oracle, American Express, and 3M. Previously senior associate in Dorsey & Whitney’s Cybersecurity & Privacy practice. LL.M. in IP Law from George Washington. J.D. from the University of Kansas.
Tina Lee Jebely
CounselCounsel in Corporate practice, with a focus on capital markets. Previously at Latham & Watkins and White & Case.
Dexter X. Heeter
CounselCounsel in Finance practice, with a focus on asset trading and asset finance. Previously with Clifford Chance in its NY office. J.D. from Columbia Law School. B.A. magna cum laude in Political Science and History from Clark University (Phi Alpha Theta and Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society member).
Lauren Cotilletta
AssociateAssociate focusing on private funds and corporate and ECVC matters. Previously at Schulte and Perkins Coie. J.D. from UChicago and B.A. (hons) from NYU.
Cordelia Ochis
AssociateAssociate focusing on individual and family wealth planning. Previously at Morgan Lewis. J.D. from Penn Carey Law School.
Cody Witmer
AssociateAssociate focusing on individual and family wealth planning. Previously at Morgan Lewis. J.D. (hons) from Drexel Kline School of Law.
Melissa Bressler
AssociateAssociate focusing on individual and family wealth planning. Previously at Morgan Lewis. J.D. from Northwestern Law.
Roberta Bombaci
AssociatePrivate wealth associate advising clients on estate planning, trusts and estates, and family business succession. Former associate at Troutman Pepper Locke.
Kelvin Yang
AssociateAssociate focused on aviation law and corporate and securities law matters. Previously an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell. J.D. from Stanford Law School; M.A. from Stanford University.
Kaley Sokolowski
AssociateAssociate in Corporate practice focusing on M&A. Previously at Sullivan & Cromwell and Gunderson Dettmer. Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Corporate Law and Entertainment & Sports Law. J.D. (cum laude) from Northwestern.
Jing Zhang
AssociateAssociate focused on corporate transactional work. Previously at Clifford Chance. LL.M. with honors from Stanford Law.
Camilo López Campagnoli
AssociateAssociate focusing on transactional and contract matters. Former senior associate at a mid-sized law firm. LL.M. in Economic Law and Global Governance Studies from Sciences Po in France. Law degree from Rosario University.
Juan Diego Jiménez
AssociateAssociate in corporate practice. LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania. Wharton Business and Law Certificate. Worked at E&Y’s Corporate Practice, KPMG’s Legal Counsel Dept., and a mid-sized law firm.
Stefania Olmos
AssociateAssociate in Corporate practice. Previously led the International Affairs team at the Colombian Ministry of Interior. Former associate at Baker McKenzie. LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania.
María Cristina Coffey
AssociateAssociate in Corporate practice. 13+ years of experience at mid-sized law firms. Master’s degree in business law from the University of San Andrés.
Rebeca Silveria
AssociateAssociate focusing on corporate and executive compensation matters. LL.M. from Duke University School of Law.
Allison Tyler
Estate Specialist, Private WealthEstate Specialist supporting executors, trustees, and families with estate and trust administration. Formerly at Morgan Lewis.
Robert M. Maxwell
Estate & Fiduciary AccountantEstate and fiduciary accountant with extensive experience in estate administration, tax planning, and fiduciary accounting. Former Senior Estate Accountant at Morgan Lewis and Director of Estate & Trust Settlement at The Glenmede Trust Company.
Colleen Flynn
ParalegalParalegal in Private Wealth practice. Formerly at Morgan Lewis and Fox Rothschild. B.A. from Rosemont College.
Kirill Vinokurov
Vice President of AnalyticsVP of Analytics with 12+ years of experience in corporate finance. Former quant analyst at hedge fund, municipal bond insurer, and investment banks/PE funds. B.A. in Economics from National Research University – Higher School of Economics (4th in class). Studied at the London School of Economics. Holds a master’s in finance with honors.
Dave Brichler
ParalegalParalegal in Corporate practice with +30 years’ experience. Previously at Reed Smith, Foley and Wilson Elser. B.A. from the University of Texas.
Thomas A. Russo
Strategic AdvisorFormer GC of AIG. Named most innovative GC in North America by the FT. Former management committee member of Cadwalader. Authored several books and articles on financial market regulation. Former member of the Board of Governors of FINRA and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York International Advisory Committee.