Ms. Faiza J. Saeed, Presiding Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Ms. Faiza J. Saeed leads Cravath, Swaine & Moore, one of the United States’ most prestigious law firms. As a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, Ms. Saeed is well-known in the business world. She has advised on many transformative deals from the media sector and pharmaceuticals to biotechnology and the energy industry.
When she was elected presiding partner of Cravath in 2016, she became the 16th person to hold that title in the firm's 200-year history. Ms. Saeed was born and raised in Northern California after her parents moved to the United States from Pakistan. Her interest in the sciences and medicine led her to pursue a double major in Molecular Biology and Economics at the University of California at Berkeley, from where she graduated with Highest Distinction and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
She went on to Harvard Law School, graduating magna cum laude, before joining Cravath as an associate lawyer. She became a partner of the firm in 1998, and has become known as a trusted advisor to chief executives and entrepreneurs.
Ms. Saeed is a recipient of countless awards and honours, including being designated a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and a Game Changer by the Asia Society.