Cravath’s New York Office Moves to Two Manhattan West
Evan R. Chesler retired from Cravath’s Litigation Department in December 2023. Widely recognized as one of the country’s leading litigators, his broad experience extended to trial and appellate courts across the country. He was Cravath’s Presiding Partner from 2007 through 2012 and Chairman from 2013 through 2021, the first person to be given that title in the Firm’s history.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Chesler handled a wide variety of litigation, including antitrust, securities, shareholder derivative, intellectual property, general commercial, environmental, ERISA and contractual disputes. His practice also included the representation of clients in government and internal investigations. Mr. Chesler represented companies and their management in virtually every industry including technology, media, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and financial services.
Mr. Chesler received an A.B., with highest honors in History, from New York University, after which he earned an M.A. in Russian Area Studies at Hunter College. He received a J.D. cum laude from New York University School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif, was Topics Editor of the Law Review, served as a junior fellow at the Center for International Studies, twice received the John Norton Pomeroy Prize for academic excellence, and was awarded the Benjamin Butler Prize.
Following his graduation, Mr. Chesler served as a law clerk to Hon. Inzer B. Wyatt of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
As an invaluable member of the NYU community for several decades, Mr. Chesler is Chair of the Board of Trustees of NYU and a member of the Board’s Executive Committee, Chairman of NYU’s Board of Overseers of the Faculty of Arts and Science and founder and Chairman of LAMP (the Lawyer Alumni Mentoring Program), which provides mentoring and curriculum enrichment programs to prelaw students. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of NYU School of Law and of the Board’s Executive Committee, as well as a member of the Advisory Board of the Center on Civil Justice at NYU School of Law.
Mr. Chesler joined Cravath in 1976 and was elected a partner in 1982. He became Head of the Litigation Department in 1996. He was elected Deputy Presiding Partner in November 2005, and Presiding Partner effective January 2007. From January 2013 to December 2021, Mr. Chesler was Chairman of the Firm.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Chesler handled a wide variety of litigation, including antitrust, securities, shareholder derivative, intellectual property, general commercial, environmental, ERISA and contractual disputes. His practice also included the representation of clients in government and internal investigations. Mr. Chesler represented companies and their management in virtually every industry including technology, media, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and financial services.
Mr. Chesler received an A.B., with highest honors in History, from New York University, after which he earned an M.A. in Russian Area Studies at Hunter College. He received a J.D. cum laude from New York University School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif, was Topics Editor of the Law Review, served as a junior fellow at the Center for International Studies, twice received the John Norton Pomeroy Prize for academic excellence, and was awarded the Benjamin Butler Prize.
Following his graduation, Mr. Chesler served as a law clerk to Hon. Inzer B. Wyatt of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
As an invaluable member of the NYU community for several decades, Mr. Chesler is Chair of the Board of Trustees of NYU and a member of the Board’s Executive Committee, Chairman of NYU’s Board of Overseers of the Faculty of Arts and Science and founder and Chairman of LAMP (the Lawyer Alumni Mentoring Program), which provides mentoring and curriculum enrichment programs to prelaw students. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of NYU School of Law and of the Board’s Executive Committee, as well as a member of the Advisory Board of the Center on Civil Justice at NYU School of Law.
Mr. Chesler joined Cravath in 1976 and was elected a partner in 1982. He became Head of the Litigation Department in 1996. He was elected Deputy Presiding Partner in November 2005, and Presiding Partner effective January 2007. From January 2013 to December 2021, Mr. Chesler was Chairman of the Firm.
Education
-
J.D., 1975, New York University School of LawOrder of the Coif, John Norton Pomeroy Scholar, cum laude
-
M.A., 1973, Hunter Collegesumma cum laude
-
A.B., 1970, New York University
Clerkships
- Hon. Inzer B. Wyatt, U.S.D.C. for the Southern District of New York
Deals & Cases
June 09, 2023
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Wins Delaware Supreme Court Decision Affirming $13 Billion Trial Victory Over Tesla’s SolarCity Deal
On June 6, 2023, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Delaware Court of Chancery’s judgment in favor of Cravath client Elon Musk on all counts in a stockholder derivative suit related to Tesla, Inc.’s (“Tesla”) 2016 acquisition of SolarCity Corp. (“SolarCity”).
Activities
October 20, 2023
Evan Chesler, Dave Marriott and Helam Gebremariam Speak at PLI’s Trial by Jury 2023 Program
On October 18, 2023, Cravath partners Evan R. Chesler, David R. Marriott and Helam Gebremariam participated in “Trial by Jury 2023,” a program presented by the Practising Law Institute in New York, which convened state and federal judges, as well as many distinguished litigators, to give their perspectives on jury trials. Evan and Helam spoke on a panel entitled “What’s Your Story: Conducting an Effective Direct Examination,” which reviewed techniques to conduct an effective direct examination. Dave chaired the program and delivered the opening remarks.
Activities
October 12, 2023
Benchmark Litigation Ranks Five Cravath Partners Among the 2024 Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America
The 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation named Cravath partners Evan R. Chesler, Daniel Slifkin, David R. Marriott, Gary A. Bornstein and Kevin J. Orsini to its list of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America.” This is the tenth consecutive year in which Evan has been recognized, the fourth year in which Daniel and Kevin have been recognized, the third year in which Gary has been named to the list, and the first year in which David has been recognized.
Activities
August 21, 2023
Best Lawyers Names Evan Chesler, Dave Kappos and Faiza Saeed 2024 “Lawyers of the Year” Across Litigation, Patent Law and M&A Categories
On August 17, 2023, Cravath’s Evan R. Chesler, David J. Kappos and Faiza J. Saeed were each named 2024 “Lawyers of the Year” for New York City in their respective practice areas by The Best Lawyers in America. Evan was recognized for ERISA Litigation, Dave was recognized for Patent Law and Faiza was recognized for International Mergers and Acquisitions. The awards honor individuals with the highest overall peer feedback for a practice area and within a geographic market.
Activities
January 31, 2023
New York University Board of Trustees Announces Election of Evan Chesler as Chair‑Designate
On January 30, 2023, the New York University Board of Trustees announced the election of Cravath’s Evan R. Chesler as Chair‑Designate. A trustee since 2006, he is currently a vice‑chair and a co‑chair of the Board’s Development Committee. In announcing the news of his appointment, NYU noted that he “has been an involved and invaluable member of the NYU community for more than five decades,” and commended his “respected presence on the Board.” Evan’s term as Chair will begin on September 1, 2023.
Activities
January 09, 2023
GIR Names Cravath Among 2022 Leading Firms for Cross‑Border Investigations
On December 16, 2022, Global Investigations Review (“GIR”) published a profile of Cravath’s investigations practice in connection with the Firm’s inclusion in the “GIR 100”, a global guide to the world’s leading cross‑border investigations practices. The profile highlights the Firm’s experience with cross‑border cases, including recent representation of multi‑national pharmaceutical company Novartis and Swedish telecoms company Telia. GIR described Cravath partners Rachel G. Skaistis, John D. Buretta, Benjamin Gruenstein, David M. Stuart and Evan Norris as “top‑tier lawyers” in the space and noted the success of partners John W. White, Evan R. Chesler and Peter T. Barbur on client matters including FCPA, SEC and criminal investigations.
Evan R. Chesler retired from Cravath’s Litigation Department in December 2023. Widely recognized as one of the country’s leading litigators, his broad experience extended to trial and appellate courts across the country. He was Cravath’s Presiding Partner from 2007 through 2012 and Chairman from 2013 through 2021, the first person to be given that title in the Firm’s history.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Chesler handled a wide variety of litigation, including antitrust, securities, shareholder derivative, intellectual property, general commercial, environmental, ERISA and contractual disputes. His practice also included the representation of clients in government and internal investigations. Mr. Chesler represented companies and their management in virtually every industry including technology, media, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and financial services.
Mr. Chesler received an A.B., with highest honors in History, from New York University, after which he earned an M.A. in Russian Area Studies at Hunter College. He received a J.D. cum laude from New York University School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif, was Topics Editor of the Law Review, served as a junior fellow at the Center for International Studies, twice received the John Norton Pomeroy Prize for academic excellence, and was awarded the Benjamin Butler Prize.
Following his graduation, Mr. Chesler served as a law clerk to Hon. Inzer B. Wyatt of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
As an invaluable member of the NYU community for several decades, Mr. Chesler is Chair of the Board of Trustees of NYU and a member of the Board’s Executive Committee, Chairman of NYU’s Board of Overseers of the Faculty of Arts and Science and founder and Chairman of LAMP (the Lawyer Alumni Mentoring Program), which provides mentoring and curriculum enrichment programs to prelaw students. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of NYU School of Law and of the Board’s Executive Committee, as well as a member of the Advisory Board of the Center on Civil Justice at NYU School of Law.
Mr. Chesler joined Cravath in 1976 and was elected a partner in 1982. He became Head of the Litigation Department in 1996. He was elected Deputy Presiding Partner in November 2005, and Presiding Partner effective January 2007. From January 2013 to December 2021, Mr. Chesler was Chairman of the Firm.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Chesler handled a wide variety of litigation, including antitrust, securities, shareholder derivative, intellectual property, general commercial, environmental, ERISA and contractual disputes. His practice also included the representation of clients in government and internal investigations. Mr. Chesler represented companies and their management in virtually every industry including technology, media, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and financial services.
Mr. Chesler received an A.B., with highest honors in History, from New York University, after which he earned an M.A. in Russian Area Studies at Hunter College. He received a J.D. cum laude from New York University School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif, was Topics Editor of the Law Review, served as a junior fellow at the Center for International Studies, twice received the John Norton Pomeroy Prize for academic excellence, and was awarded the Benjamin Butler Prize.
Following his graduation, Mr. Chesler served as a law clerk to Hon. Inzer B. Wyatt of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
As an invaluable member of the NYU community for several decades, Mr. Chesler is Chair of the Board of Trustees of NYU and a member of the Board’s Executive Committee, Chairman of NYU’s Board of Overseers of the Faculty of Arts and Science and founder and Chairman of LAMP (the Lawyer Alumni Mentoring Program), which provides mentoring and curriculum enrichment programs to prelaw students. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of NYU School of Law and of the Board’s Executive Committee, as well as a member of the Advisory Board of the Center on Civil Justice at NYU School of Law.
Mr. Chesler joined Cravath in 1976 and was elected a partner in 1982. He became Head of the Litigation Department in 1996. He was elected Deputy Presiding Partner in November 2005, and Presiding Partner effective January 2007. From January 2013 to December 2021, Mr. Chesler was Chairman of the Firm.
Education
-
J.D., 1975, New York University School of LawOrder of the Coif, John Norton Pomeroy Scholar, cum laude
-
M.A., 1973, Hunter Collegesumma cum laude
-
A.B., 1970, New York University
Clerkships
- Hon. Inzer B. Wyatt, U.S.D.C. for the Southern District of New York
Deals & Cases
June 09, 2023
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Wins Delaware Supreme Court Decision Affirming $13 Billion Trial Victory Over Tesla’s SolarCity Deal
On June 6, 2023, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Delaware Court of Chancery’s judgment in favor of Cravath client Elon Musk on all counts in a stockholder derivative suit related to Tesla, Inc.’s (“Tesla”) 2016 acquisition of SolarCity Corp. (“SolarCity”).
Activities
October 20, 2023
Evan Chesler, Dave Marriott and Helam Gebremariam Speak at PLI’s Trial by Jury 2023 Program
On October 18, 2023, Cravath partners Evan R. Chesler, David R. Marriott and Helam Gebremariam participated in “Trial by Jury 2023,” a program presented by the Practising Law Institute in New York, which convened state and federal judges, as well as many distinguished litigators, to give their perspectives on jury trials. Evan and Helam spoke on a panel entitled “What’s Your Story: Conducting an Effective Direct Examination,” which reviewed techniques to conduct an effective direct examination. Dave chaired the program and delivered the opening remarks.
Activities
October 12, 2023
Benchmark Litigation Ranks Five Cravath Partners Among the 2024 Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America
The 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation named Cravath partners Evan R. Chesler, Daniel Slifkin, David R. Marriott, Gary A. Bornstein and Kevin J. Orsini to its list of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America.” This is the tenth consecutive year in which Evan has been recognized, the fourth year in which Daniel and Kevin have been recognized, the third year in which Gary has been named to the list, and the first year in which David has been recognized.
Activities
August 21, 2023
Best Lawyers Names Evan Chesler, Dave Kappos and Faiza Saeed 2024 “Lawyers of the Year” Across Litigation, Patent Law and M&A Categories
On August 17, 2023, Cravath’s Evan R. Chesler, David J. Kappos and Faiza J. Saeed were each named 2024 “Lawyers of the Year” for New York City in their respective practice areas by The Best Lawyers in America. Evan was recognized for ERISA Litigation, Dave was recognized for Patent Law and Faiza was recognized for International Mergers and Acquisitions. The awards honor individuals with the highest overall peer feedback for a practice area and within a geographic market.
Activities
January 31, 2023
New York University Board of Trustees Announces Election of Evan Chesler as Chair‑Designate
On January 30, 2023, the New York University Board of Trustees announced the election of Cravath’s Evan R. Chesler as Chair‑Designate. A trustee since 2006, he is currently a vice‑chair and a co‑chair of the Board’s Development Committee. In announcing the news of his appointment, NYU noted that he “has been an involved and invaluable member of the NYU community for more than five decades,” and commended his “respected presence on the Board.” Evan’s term as Chair will begin on September 1, 2023.
Activities
January 09, 2023
GIR Names Cravath Among 2022 Leading Firms for Cross‑Border Investigations
On December 16, 2022, Global Investigations Review (“GIR”) published a profile of Cravath’s investigations practice in connection with the Firm’s inclusion in the “GIR 100”, a global guide to the world’s leading cross‑border investigations practices. The profile highlights the Firm’s experience with cross‑border cases, including recent representation of multi‑national pharmaceutical company Novartis and Swedish telecoms company Telia. GIR described Cravath partners Rachel G. Skaistis, John D. Buretta, Benjamin Gruenstein, David M. Stuart and Evan Norris as “top‑tier lawyers” in the space and noted the success of partners John W. White, Evan R. Chesler and Peter T. Barbur on client matters including FCPA, SEC and criminal investigations.
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