About Us

Michael Blair is the firm’s Presiding Partner. Mr. Blair has served as lead counsel in a host of major M&A transactions, advised senior executives and boards of directors on governance matters and handled securities transactions for clients across a range of industries. Mr. Blair joined Debevoise in 1981 and became a partner in 1989. He received his B.A. from Yale University in 1977 and his J.D. from the University of Chicago in 1981. Mr. Blair is a Director of The Partnership for New Yor...

Michael S. Goldberg is a senior trial partner at Baker Botts, with extensive trial experience in complex commercial, governmental and international arbitration matters. He is co-chair of the firm’s international dispute resolution section (international arbitration and litigation). His experience extends to a broad array of international matters involving clients, adversaries, and/or issues in Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the ...

Cristian Mitrani is an expert in international business law, with particular emphasis on M&A, joint ventures, various types of business transactions, corporate governance, international arbitration, competition law and white collar crime. He has acted as lead counsel in record-setting privatizations, acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances in various countries. He assists clients on corporate investigations, on the implementation of procedures for the prevention of white coll...

Robert Waldman, Chair of the firm's Business Division, leads the firm's national representation of tax-exempt organizations. His practice includes general representation of numerous foundations, hospitals, educational institutions, trade associations and other charitable entities. He also practices extensively in the areas of philanthropic and estate planning, employee benefits and taxation. Mr. Waldman is the Vice President of the Venable Foundation.

Steve Kestner is the Chairman of BakerHostetler and chair of the firm's Policy Committee, its governing body. During his 10-year tenure as Executive Partner and Chairman, BakerHostetler has grown by more than 50 percent and experienced significant expansions. Steve concentrates his practice on mergers and acquisitions, transactions and securities law. He advises and represents clients in the areas of domestic and foreign mergers and acquisitions, and works with public and private companies, p...

Michael was Chief Executive Partner of Allens from July 2007 to December 2015. He joined KPMG as a Special Adviser in 2017. He provides the firm’s leadership teams with insights supporting a range of growth initiatives including social responsibility, particularly Indigenous businesses and communities; government and infrastructure, with a focus on transport and smart cities; and legal advisory. In addition he will coach and mentor top talented partners and directors. Previously, Michael was ...

As founding Partner of the firm, Mr. Morales represents principals in major corporate finance transactions, mergers and acquisitions; equity capital markets transactions, international corporate debt restructurings and public and private securities issuances.

Chris Ewing is a consultant in the Corporate and Commercial practice.Chris is also Chairman of the Board of DLA Piper Africa.

Maura Abeln Smith is the founder of Maura A. Smith Law Offices LLC, a boutique law firm that opened in 2016. Offices are located in New Canaan, CT, and New York City, NY. Previously, Ms. Smith was Executive Vice President, General Counsel and General Secretary of Delhaize Group before she left the firm in 2013 to start her own practice.

He was Managing Partner of Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados from 1998 to 2000 and is currently a member of the firm's Management Committee. He is Head of the firm's Corporate Practice and is a specialist in Banking Law, Securities Market Law, Collective Investment Institutions, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Family and Private Equity Businesses.

Glenn Hendrix is the Chair of Arnall Golden Gregory LLP. He is litigator, with a practice focused on False Claims Act defense and commercial litigation and arbitration, including international arbitration. Glenn is active in the American Bar Association, serving as a member of the ABA’s House of Delegates. He is a past Chair of the ABA’s 24,000-member Section of International Law and continues to serve on the Section’s Council. He has served since 2010 as the ABA’s representative to the U.S. ...

As Managing Partner, Steven Sonberg is the chief executive officer of the firm, overseeing the strategic growth and direction of the firm and the management of all aspects of the firm's operations. With more than 30 years of experience, Mr. Sonberg is a corporate lawyer whose practices have focused on the areas of securities law and mergers and acquisitions. His practice has included the representation of domestic and international businesses in public and private offerings of debt and equity...