Legal Teams Behind the Battle
The legal standoff featured a roster of heavyweight law firms:
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U.S. Steel was represented by Milbank LLP, K&L Gates LLP, and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz.
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Nippon Steel was backed by attorneys from K&L Gates LLP, Reed Smith LLP, and Ropes & Gray LLP.
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Cleveland-Cliffs and Goncalves turned to Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP and Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti LLP.
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USW President David McCall was represented by Bredhoff & Kaiser PLLC, Healey Block LLC, and the union’s in-house counsel.
Focus Shifts Back to Steelmaking
In joint statements, both sides said they are ready to leave the courtroom behind. “The parties exchanged no financial consideration in connection with the termination of the litigation, and remain focused on steelmaking and collective bargaining,” U.S. Steel said.
For an industry where every deal can reshape global markets, the Nippon Cleveland suit dropping marks not just the end of a legal battle but a new chapter in one of steel’s most closely watched mergers.
