Established 1978 · New York · London · Singapore
Vance & Mercer is a white-shoe litigation and advisory firm representing corporations, institutions, and high-net-worth individuals in matters of consequence.
Practice Areas
High-stakes courtroom advocacy in federal and state courts. Securities fraud, class actions, and bet-the-company disputes.
Mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings. We counsel boards and management teams through transformative transactions.
Criminal and civil investigations. Government enforcement, regulatory proceedings, and internal investigations handled with discretion.
ICC, LCIA, and AAA proceedings. Cross-border disputes resolved through world-class advocacy in every major arbitral seat.
Commercial property transactions, REIT formation, and development disputes. From acquisition to disposition, we protect your assets.
Patent litigation, trademark prosecution, and trade secret disputes. We defend and monetize your most valuable intangible assets.
The Firm
"We do not measure success in hours billed. We measure it in outcomes achieved."
Founded in lower Manhattan in 1978 by Charles Vance and Eleanor Mercer, the firm has spent four decades earning its reputation not through marketing, but through results. Our adversaries know us. Our clients trust us. The record speaks for itself.
With offices in New York, London, and Singapore, we handle matters of genuine consequence — the kind where the right legal strategy determines whether institutions survive, individuals preserve their freedom, and transactions close on the right terms.
Our Team
How We Work
A confidential consultation with a senior partner to assess your matter, outline potential strategies, and determine the right team.
We build a bespoke legal strategy around your objectives — not a template. Every engagement is treated as novel.
Our teams execute with precision, anticipating the opposition, controlling the narrative, and protecting your position at every turn.
Favorable outcomes and lasting relationships. Many of our clients have been with us for decades, returning at every critical juncture.
Client Voices
Vance & Mercer stood between our company and a $400 million claim. Their command of the courtroom and mastery of securities law was unlike anything I had witnessed in thirty years of business.
When the DOJ came calling, we needed counsel who could operate at the highest levels without flinching. Catherine Mercer-Walsh negotiated an outcome we didn't think possible.
The $1.2 billion cross-border arbitration we faced had existential implications. Rafael Okonkwo led the most technically brilliant arbitration strategy I have seen in my legal career.
After three other firms told us the IP case was unwinnable, Sophia Chen found the angle no one else saw. We recovered $87 million and protected our core patent portfolio.
Engagement Models
We offer several engagement structures to align our interests with yours. All matters begin with a complimentary senior partner consultation.
Common Questions
We handle matters of genuine consequence — typically disputes or transactions with significant financial, reputational, or liberty interests at stake. If you're uncertain, a complimentary 30-minute consultation with a senior partner will give you a clear-eyed assessment of whether we are the right fit.
We maintain 24/7 partner-level availability for active clients and urgent new matters. In genuine emergencies — regulatory raids, sudden arrest, or time-sensitive injunctions — a senior partner is reachable within the hour. Our dedicated crisis line is provided to all retainer clients.
Yes. Our attorneys are admitted in federal courts across the United States, and our London and Singapore offices handle matters across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. We regularly appear in major arbitral seats including Geneva, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Paris.
Attorney-client privilege is sacred to us. We utilize encrypted communication platforms, air-gapped document storage, and strict internal conflict-screening protocols. In sensitive matters, we routinely agree to enhanced confidentiality protocols at the client's request.
Selectively. We evaluate contingency arrangements for commercial litigation and class actions where we assess strong merit and significant potential recovery. Our contingency practice committee meets monthly to review submissions — contact us with a matter summary to begin that process.
Begin Your Matter
Every engagement begins with a confidential conversation. No commitment required. A senior partner will personally review your inquiry within one business day.