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Cadwalader Litigation Team Joins Mintz
Five partners, including co-leaders Nicholas Gravante and Phil Iovieno, depart Cadwalader to join Mintz Levin.
Published on Feb. 9, 2026
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Five partners from Cadwalader's litigation practice, including co-leaders Nicholas Gravante and Phil Iovieno, have joined the law firm Mintz. The group is described as "one of the most formidable litigation teams in New York" and has represented clients in high-profile antitrust cases.
Why it matters
The departure of this prominent litigation team from Cadwalader is notable, as it comes amid an upcoming merger that the partners sought to avoid conflicts of interest. Their move to Mintz strengthens the firm's litigation capabilities, particularly in areas like antitrust.
The details
Nicholas Gravante and Phil Iovieno co-led the litigation practice at Cadwalader until they resigned on February 6th to avoid conflicts of interest in an upcoming merger. Along with Gravante and Iovieno, three other Cadwalader partners - Sean O'Shea, Michael Petrella, and Matthew Karlan - also joined Mintz Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo.
- Gravante and Iovieno resigned from Cadwalader on February 6, 2026.
- The five partners joined Mintz on February 9, 2026.
The players
Nicholas Gravante
Co-leader of the litigation practice at Cadwalader who resigned to join Mintz.
Phil Iovieno
Co-leader of the litigation practice at Cadwalader who resigned to join Mintz.
Sean O'Shea
Cadwalader partner who joined Mintz.
Michael Petrella
Cadwalader partner who joined Mintz.
Matthew Karlan
Cadwalader partner who joined Mintz.
What they’re saying
“This group is widely recognized as one of the most formidable litigation teams in New York.”
— Seth Goldman, Chair of Mintz's antitrust, employment, and litigation division (Bloomberg Law)
The takeaway
The departure of this prominent litigation team from Cadwalader highlights the competitive nature of the legal industry, as top talent is highly sought after, particularly in high-profile practice areas like antitrust. Mintz's ability to attract this group underscores its growing litigation capabilities.
