Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP announced today that leading securities litigator and trusted board advisor Caroline Hickey Zalka has joined the firm in New York as a partner in the Litigation Department. Zalka defends companies, boards and senior executives in a wide range of shareholder litigation and complex business disputes, with a particular focus on shareholder class actions and private equity disputes.
“Caroline’s arrival underlines the continued growth of our Litigation Department,” said Jessica S. Carey, co-head of the Paul, Weiss Litigation Department. “Caroline is a leading securities litigator for clients facing complex litigation, regulatory scrutiny and reputational risk.”
Zalka has represented public companies, their officers and directors, and leading financial institutions in securities class actions, shareholder derivative proceedings, deal-related litigation and investment management disputes. She has successfully defended merger parties in securities class actions and deal disputes arising from some of the largest mergers of the past decade. In addition to her public company clients, Zalka has significant experience helping private equity clients navigate legal challenges, including acquisition-related disputes as well as LP/GP and fund-level litigation matters.
“Caroline is a trusted adviser to private equity sponsors and public companies in their most consequential litigation, making her a perfect fit for our firm, and we are thrilled to welcome her as a Paul, Weiss partner,” said Audra Soloway, head of the Securities Litigation practice group.
Zalka’s cases have involved the media, consumer products, life sciences, financial services and digital assets industries, among others. She also advises boards of directors, board committees and senior management on securities law, corporate governance, disclosure and regulatory matters.
“I am excited to join Paul, Weiss, a firm with an unmatched litigation reputation for winning in the courtroom,” Zalka said. “The strength and depth of its litigation and corporate practices make it the ideal platform to continue representing clients in their most important disputes.”
Zalka has been widely recognized for her work. In 2026, Forbes named her one of America’s Top Lawyers and America’s Top Women Lawyers, and Euromoney named her North America Securities Lawyer of the Year at its Women in Business Law Americas Awards. She was also selected for three 2026 Lawdragon 500 lists: “Leading Lawyers in America,” “Leading Litigators in America” and “Leading Global Litigators.” Chambers USA ranks her as a leading securities litigator in New York, Benchmark Litigation names her a “Local Litigation Star” for securities litigation in New York, and The Legal 500 recognizes her as a “Leading Partner” for Securities Litigation: Defense.
Zalka received an LL.B., with honors, from University College, Durham.
The Paul, Weiss Litigation Department regularly handles significant, high-stakes and complex litigations and enforcement actions for clients that include Fortune 50 corporations and other prominent companies in the financial services, investment, medical device, pharmaceutical, sports, technology, energy, media and insurance industries. The firm’s litigators have a long history of strength and success as trial lawyers, credibility with government officials and regulators, and a track record of courtroom wins and creative out-of-court resolutions.
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