Quinn Emanuel partners Stephen Neuwirth and Susheel Kirpalani were named legal “MVPs” of 2012 by Law360 in the areas of competition and bankruptcy, respectively. Law360 recognized attorneys whose legal successes “set a new standard for accomplishment.” Mr. Neuwirth, one of only eight antitrust MVPs nationwide, and Mr. Kirpalani, one of only five bankruptcy MVPs nationwide, were selected from a pool of nearly 500 nominees.
Stephen Neuwirth, Chair of the firm’s Antitrust and Competition Law practice, was recognized for his successes on the “front line of high-stakes antitrust litigation” representing an “impressive roster of clients.” Law360 commended Mr. Neuwirth not only for his class action successes against “corporate giants,” but also for his work defending major corporations against antitrust suits. Law360 noted, among other things, Mr. Neuwirth’s role in securing certification of a nationwide class of rail freight shippers in In re Rail Freight Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Litigation; his representation of The Home Depot as an objector to the settlement of class action antitrust claims concerning interchange fees charged to merchants by Visa and MasterCard; and his success in achieving voluntary dismissal of all claims against client Rabobank in the antitrust class action litigation concerning bid rigging in the market for municipal derivatives.
Susheel Kirpalani, Chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group, was praised for his “remarkable” role as examiner in Dynegy’s controversial Chapter 11, in which he exemplified “thorough examination and deft mediation.” Overall, Law360 lauded Mr. Kirpalani for his “impressive case file of large bankruptcy cases” in 2012 and named him one of the “bankruptcy world’s most formidable players.”