Two Accomplished Litigators Join Paul, Weiss in New York

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP announced today that Robert Y. Sperling and Staci Yablon have joined the firm as partners in the Litigation Department, resident in New York. Mr. Sperling is an accomplished trial lawyer with over four decades of experience defending clients in complex securities, antitrust and commercial litigation and advising the world’s leading financial institutions. Ms. Yablon is an experienced litigator who leads international financial institutions and global corporations through complex commercial disputes, white collar and regulatory matters and government and internal investigations.

“I am thrilled that Bob and Staci have decided to join Paul, Weiss,” said Paul, Weiss Chairman Brad S. Karp. “They are both incredibly impressive lawyers who have successfully defended global financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies in some of their most significant, complex litigations, and they will be invaluable assets to our clients and our firm.”

“Bob and Staci are versatile and talented litigators who are trusted to handle their clients’ most sensitive, business-critical matters,” said Paul, Weiss Litigation Department Co-Chair Jessica S. Carey. “With their broad and deep relationships in the financial services industry and their remarkable track records of success, Bob and Staci will be wonderful additions to our market-leading Litigation Department.”

With more than four decades in practice, Mr. Sperling is among the elite litigators nationally representing major Wall Street banks and Fortune 500 companies in their most sensitive and highest-stakes trials and other matters. He has won favorable outcomes in dozens of significant shareholder and antitrust class actions and major trial victories in several matters on behalf of the leading financial institutions, including a complete defense verdict in a rare antitrust multidistrict litigation in which he was lead trial counsel, and the reversal of class certification in a major commodities case. He has also advised clients on derivative shareholders actions and ERISA actions relating to securities claims. Mr. Sperling has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a “Local Litigation Star” and “National Practice Area Star” for Antitrust, General Commercial Litigation and Securities. He has also been honored in Super Lawyers and Leading Lawyers Network.

“I am excited to join Paul, Weiss, which offers an unparalleled platform for my practice,” said Mr. Sperling. “Over the years, I have come to know and admire many members of the Paul, Weiss Litigation Department, and I greatly look forward to practicing together in the coming days and to further enhancing the firm’s renowned litigation capabilities.”

Mr. Sperling earned an A.B. from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from DePaul University. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law and Litigation sections; the Illinois State Bar Association’s Civil Practice and Procedure Section; and the Chicago Bar Association. He frequently lectures on complex civil litigation before various bar associations and business groups.

Ms. Yablon, who previously co-chaired the financial services litigation practice for a leading firm, represents global financial institutions, public and private companies, corporate executives and other individuals in high-value, complex commercial, antitrust, securities and derivative litigation; white collar criminal and regulatory matters; and government and internal investigations. She frequently represents major financial institutions in government investigations, including by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control. She also advises a range of clients on compliance-related matters, and on economic sanctions and anti-corruption matters in connection with potential mergers and acquisitions.

“I have long admired Paul, Weiss and its premier Litigation Department and am delighted to now be joining the firm,” said Ms. Yablon. “I look forward to working together with my colleagues to advise clients on their most complex regulatory matters and multifaceted commercial litigation.”

Ms. Yablon earned a B.S. from Cornell University and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. She regularly writes and publishes thought leadership content on topics including compliance programs.