Sidley partners Thomas Califano, Kai Liekefett, and Mary Niehaus have been selected to serve on Law360’s 2021 Editorial Advisory Boards in the areas of Bankruptcy, M&A, and Benefits, respectively. As recognized industry leaders, they will provide feedback on Law360’s coverage and share their insights on market trends to help shape future content.
Tom Califano represents large private and public companies in distress in and out of court; buyers of distressed companies and significant creditor constituencies. His practice has a particular emphasis on company- and buyer-side representation, working with a variety of industries including healthcare, energy, and financial services. Tom has repeatedly been recognized by The Legal 500 US, Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, and Super Lawyers for his work in Bankruptcy and Restructuring. Financial Times also commended him for his restructuring work in its 2010 US Innovative Lawyers report.
Kai Liekefett has 20 years of experience in corporate law in New York, London, Germany, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. He spends 100% of his time on activism campaigns, proxy fights, and hostile takeovers. In the last five years, Kai has been involved in over 80 proxy contests, more than any other defense attorney in the world, and 25% of all U.S. proxy fights that went all the way. Under Kai’s leadership, Sidley rose to the top of the activism defense league tables, including the No. 1 ranking by Bloomberg, FactSet, Thomson Reuters (Refinitiv), and Activist Insight for 2020. He has been recognized by Chambers USA every year from 2017 to 2020 as one of the leading lawyers for “Takeover Defense.”
Mary Niehaus represents and advises a global clientele in all matters relating to employee benefits, ERISA, and executive compensation. She primarily represents large multinational corporations, private equity firms, international consulting and accounting firms, internet start-ups, manufacturing companies, and other employers on issues that arise in corporate transactions and in the design, implementation, and administration of qualified and nonqualified retirement, welfare, and fringe benefit plans. Mary has been honored as a “BTI Client Service All-Star,” is Chambers-ranked, and has been listed in Best Lawyers of America under employee benefits and ERISA law, and in Super Lawyers in the area of employee benefits.