Akin Gump announces that financial restructuring partner Abid Qureshi has been named partner in charge of the firm’s New York office.
Established in 1993, Akin Gump’s New York office has grown to become the firm’s largest. The Bryant Park-adjacent office hosts a number of the firm’s marquee practices, including financial restructuring; corporate and M&A; investment management; litigation; tax; and intellectual property.
Lawyers and practices in Akin Gump’s New York office have been the recipients of dozens of prestigious industry awards and recognitions over the last year alone. The office also stands out in the areas of workplace satisfaction and talent development, including a top ranking in the New York market in The American Lawyer’s 2020 U.S. Midlevel Associates Survey.
Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith, who is resident in New York, commented, “Abid has shown tremendous dedication to our clients and to the nurturing and development of junior lawyers in our firm. He has also led by example, with a demonstrated and steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, pro bono work and giving back to the broader New York community. I am excited to announce his move into this role and know that our New York office will be in very capable hands under his leadership.”
As a partner in the firm’s renowned financial restructuring practice, Mr. Qureshi has litigated the most complex, cutting-edge issues in the highest-profile chapter 11 cases. Recent matters on which he has advised include representing Franklin Advisers as investment manager in Chesapeake Energy’s successful emergence from chapter 11 and representing the ad hoc committee of senior unsecured noteholders of Pacific Gas and Electric Company in the company’s bankruptcy last year. Mr. Qureshi and the Akin Gump team’s work in that case was recognized as a standout matter in the 2020 Financial Times North American Innovative Lawyers report.
Mr. Qureshi has also devoted significant hours to pro bono efforts and is a past Partner of the Year honoree at Akin Gump’s firmwide pro bono awards for his leadership in fostering the firm’s relationship with Lawyers Without Borders. Mr. Qureshi has also been recognized with the New York office’s Partner of the Year award, as selected by the office’s associates’ committee. Outside of the office, Mr. Qureshi is an active member of the New York community, including serving as president of the United Nations Association of New York, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, inspiring and mobilizing the New York City community to support the principles and work of the United Nations.
Commenting on his new role, Mr. Qureshi stated, “It is a true honor for me to be able to lead Akin Gump’s New York office. We have a deep roster of diverse and tremendously talented lawyers and business services staff, are home to many of the firm’s top practices and are exceptionally well viewed by the market. I am excited to step into this new role and to further this positive momentum.”