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  4. 24 Freshfields Lawyers Selected to 2026 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation Guide
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24 Freshfields Lawyers Selected to 2026 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation Guide

Jun 9 2026

Twenty-four Freshfields lawyers have been selected to the Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation guide for 2026. The guide recognizes young lawyers who have proven themselves early in private practice, accruing credentials, deals and cases and who represent the future of global law practice.

The recognized lawyers are:

  • Ani Avagyan – Counsel, Silicon Valley (M&A, Emerging Growth)
  • Joshua Ayal – Partner, New York (M&A, Corporate)
  • Ivet Bell – Partner, New York (Private Capital, Fund Formation)
  • Nicholas A. Caselli – Partner, New York (Securities Litigation)
  • Catalina Ford – Partner, New York (Private Capital, Private Credit)
  • Santiago Gatica – Senior Associate, New York (International Arbitration/Global Litigation)
  • Sarah Ghulamhussain – Partner, Silicon Valley (Executive Compensation, Benefits)
  • Abigail Hathaway – Partner, New York (M&A)
  • Jeff Jay – Partner, New York (Life Sciences Transactions)
  • Sarah Katz – Partner, New York (Tax)
  • Megan M. Kayo – Partner, San Francisco (Cybersecurity & Privacy)
  • Daniel Law – Counsel, New York (Private Capital, Private Credit)
  • Steven Y. Li – Partner, New York (M&A)
  • Eva Y. Mak – Partner, Silicon Valley and San Francisco (Private Capital, Private Equity M&A)
  • Sanjay Murti – Partner, New York (Corporate, M&A)
  • Michael Palermo – Partner, Boston (Private Capital, Private Equity M&A)
  • Zizi Petkova – Partner, New York (M&A)
  • Diego Rueda – Senior Associate, New York (International Arbitration)
  • Jordan Salzman – Partner, New York (Employment, Incentives, Pensions)
  • Max Sanders – Partner, New York (M&A, Cross-Border)
  • Abhinaya Swaminathan – Special Counsel, New York (Securities Litigation)
  • Kevin A. Uhler – Counsel, New York (Private Capital, Private Equity M&A)
  • Marissa Yu – Partner, San Francisco (IP Transactions)
  • Jeff Zhang – Counsel, Silicon Valley (Cross-Border M&A, Divestitures)  

Our Team

Silicon Valley

Ani Avagyan

Counsel
New York

Joshua Ayal

Partner
New York

Ivet Bell

Partner
New York

Nicholas A. Caselli

Partner
New York

Catalina Ford

Partner
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