Hughes Hubbard Acquires Litigation Powerhouse in D.C. Power Play

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 12, 2026 – In a significant strategic move aimed at bolstering its litigation and arbitration capabilities in the nation's capital, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP has acquired Schulman Bhattacharya LLC, a highly regarded commercial litigation boutique. The deal, announced today, integrates a team known for its aggressive and successful handling of high-stakes disputes into Hughes Hubbard’s global platform.

The acquisition brings Schulman Bhattacharya’s entire team, including founding members Jeremy W. Schulman, Koushik Bhattacharya, and Jeffrey S. Gavenman as partners, into Hughes Hubbard’s Washington, D.C. office. The move is a clear signal of the New York-based firm’s ambition to deepen its footprint in one of the world’s most competitive legal markets.

A Strategic Move in a Competitive Arena

The acquisition is the latest step in a deliberate growth strategy for Hughes Hubbard, which has been methodically strengthening key practice areas. This move specifically targets the firm's litigation and arbitration practices, complementing an already strong finance team in its D.C. office.

"We're thrilled to welcome the Schulman Bhattacharya team, experienced litigators with track records of excellence and the well-earned trust of their clients," said Neil J. Oxford, chair of Hughes Hubbard. "This acquisition continues our positive momentum from last year as we strategically invest in the growth of the firm, adding strength to our leading litigation, arbitration and investigations practices."

Washington, D.C. is a critical battleground for complex commercial litigation, international arbitration, and government-facing investigations. By absorbing a firm with deep roots and a formidable reputation in this environment, Hughes Hubbard immediately enhances its competitive posture. The move follows a series of strategic partner hires over the past year in project finance, finance, and international arbitration in its D.C., New York, and Paris offices, underscoring a broader, concerted expansion effort.

As part of the integration, Jeremy W. Schulman, a founding member of the acquired boutique, will take on a significant leadership role as the head of Hughes Hubbard's litigation practice in Washington. This appointment is a strong indicator that the acquisition is designed not just to absorb talent, but to integrate its leadership and proven approach into the firm's core strategy.

Acquiring a Proven Litigation Force

Schulman Bhattacharya brings more than just a roster of attorneys; it brings a portfolio of significant, hard-fought victories. The boutique carved out a reputation for taking on complex, high-value cases and seeing them through to decisive, favorable outcomes for clients ranging from Fortune 100 corporations and financial institutions to foreign governments.

Their track record includes several landmark successes that have been affirmed at the highest levels. For instance, while serving as national litigation counsel to a pharmaceutical company, the Schulman team secured an $18 million jury verdict and a permanent injunction. They successfully defended this victory through two separate appeals at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which also affirmed the dismissal of a related $160 million countersuit against their client.

In another notable case, the team represented a private equity firm in a dispute over the $480 million sale of a petroleum company. The litigation resulted in a complete victory, with the court granting summary judgment on all their client’s claims, dismissing all eleven counterclaims, and making a rare finding that the adversary had litigated in bad faith. The outcome was a recovery exceeding $65 million for their client, plus full reimbursement of attorneys' fees.

The firm’s expertise also extends to complex real estate disputes, having represented minority partners in litigation and arbitration concerning partnerships valued at over $500 million. Many of these intense legal battles concluded with confidential settlements, with two cases settling mid-trial after the Schulman team presented its case-in-chief, a testament to their trial prowess.

More recently, the firm's lawyers obtained a nearly $10.5 million judgment in New York for commercial lenders and secured a key ruling in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia establishing that a major bank had a contractual duty to protect against elder financial exploitation, showcasing the breadth of their commercial litigation practice.

The Boutique Advantage and Industry Trends

Hughes Hubbard’s acquisition of Schulman Bhattacharya is emblematic of a wider trend in the legal industry: large, established firms are increasingly turning to strategic acquisitions of specialized boutiques to accelerate growth and acquire top-tier talent. This approach allows a larger firm to instantly plug in a team with a proven business model, deep niche expertise, and established client relationships that would take years to build organically.

Boutiques like Schulman Bhattacharya often thrive by offering a highly focused, partner-led service model that attracts clients seeking dedicated attention for their most critical legal challenges. By joining a larger platform, the boutique’s lawyers and their clients gain access to a global network, expanded resources, and a wider array of practice specialties, such as bankruptcy, tax, and corporate M&A.

This transaction allows Hughes Hubbard, already a finalist for New York Law Journal's Litigation Department of the Year, to add a battle-tested trial team without the risks and ramp-up time associated with lateral group hires. It represents a calculated investment in proven talent and a shortcut to greater market share in a highly contested practice area.

Integrating Talent and Expanding Client Service

For any law firm merger, the success of the integration is paramount. Leaders from both firms have expressed confidence in their cultural and professional alignment. "Hughes Hubbard's distinct culture of independence and excellence, and commitment to the highest level of service make it a superb fit for our firm and our clients," said Jeremy Schulman. This sentiment highlights a shared focus on high-quality legal work and client dedication.

Jeffrey S. Gavenman, another founding member joining as a partner, added, "I look forward to connecting with the impressive litigation talent across the firm and collaborating across practice areas to continue delivering outstanding results for our clients." This points to the anticipated synergies, where the incoming team can leverage Hughes Hubbard's existing strengths to enhance service offerings.

For Schulman Bhattacharya’s existing clients, the move promises continuity with the legal team they trust, now backed by the resources of an international firm with highly ranked practices across a dozen legal disciplines. For Hughes Hubbard's clients, the acquisition brings a new level of trial-ready firepower to the firm’s D.C. office, providing immediate access to some of the city's most effective commercial litigators for their most pressing disputes.