Fusion Acquisition Legal 500
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP continues to strengthen its private equity offering, attracting a number of new mid-market clients and continuing its active work for relationship clients such as Stone Point Capital and Atlantic Street Partners. In addition to an increase in transactional work, the company has also seen an increase in the value of its transactions by moving from the lower middle market to the upper middle market, managing large-cap buyouts in addition to minority stakes, exits and portfolio company mergers and acquisitions. The New York-based team is led by Howard Spilko and Ernest Wechsler, both experienced transaction advisors, while Colin Bumby and Adi Herman are increasingly influential interpreters within the team, undertaking a wide range of transactional work for funds and holding companies in various industries. Jonathan D. Goodman is another emerging name and regularly works with Stone Point and its Trident funds on acquisitions and investments. Praised for her “knowledge” and “leadership” in the private equity market, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP regularly advises many of the largest and most active funds in the market, overseeing range and volume mandates for Blackstone, Apollo and Warburg Pincus, among others. The firm advises on significant buyouts and portfolio transactions, including some of the largest transactions on the market, and is able to handle complex deals such as carve-outs, privatization agreements and syndicate agreements such as Blackstone, Carlyle and Hellman & Friedman`s majority stake in Medline Industries. Inc. regularly handles high-profile deals such as KKR`s $4.7 billion acquisition of Global Atlantic, which also played a key role for Katie Sudol. Co-CEO Elizabeth Cooper is known for her active work for Blackstone, including the $5 billion acquisition of Chamberlain de Duchossois Group alongside Anthony Vernace, who continues to establish himself as a benchmark for large private equity transactions. Highly experienced Gary Horowitz is a senior executive on the team that provides strategic advice to the fund`s clients, while Palo Alto-based Atif Azher is a key figure in the West Coast company and is particularly strong on transactions in the technology sector.
Michael Holick has a growing profile in the market and increasingly works for many of the company`s Bulge Bracket clients and holding companies. The lawyers are in New York unless otherwise stated. “Gavin Weir provided excellent legal support in a very complex transaction. His in-depth understanding of the issues, his business-oriented approach and his exceptional attitude to problem solving were critical to the success of the transaction. The New York-based Clifford Chance team leverages its global private equity footprint to advise key sponsors such as Apollo, Carlyle, CVC and their portfolio companies on acquisitions, divestitures and equity investments, with particular strength in insurance mergers and acquisitions for bulge bracket funds. The firm has extensive expertise in financial services through Practice Leader Gary Boss and regularly advises on cross-border transactions, including advising European portfolio companies on their expansion into the U.S. and vice versa. Neil Barlow, qualified in the UK, is known for his “outstanding” work on strategic takeovers, with CVC and Carlyle being known as relationship clients. Lily Phan, partner, joined the team in January 2021 and focuses on transactional work for large financial investors. “Goodwin Procter`s experts not only provide us with excellent legal advice, but are also an integral part of the team and true business partners. They really care about the relationship and our success. “James Abbott has excellent strategic consulting skills that go beyond legal matters and make important business decisions.
Milbank has expertise in a number of complex merger approval processes with remarkable strength in managing distressed restructurings and acquisitions. A recent highlight in this area was the representation of Eldorado Resorts in its $17.3 billion merger with Caesar`s. The antitrust team also works closely with the company`s growing corporate division on a variety of other types of transactions. The group is led by Fiona Schaeffer, an experienced antitrust lawyer specializing in litigation, merger filings and litigation, and merger defense, with particular strengths in healthcare, financial services, media and communications. Joe Rafferty is recommended for advice on Hart Scott Rodino`s submissions. “Grant Thornton is a very good law firm very close to the partner in charge of the acquisition file and the partners (very flexible and collaborative). A very notable adaptability, especially for remote work with sometimes very short processing times. A very remarkable simplicity in the management of the tasks to be accomplished. “Claude Serra is fully available and attentive to the needs of clients in strategic and purely legal advice Romain Ferla very efficient and responsive to specific and targeted issues. ” The Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP team continues to manage transactions for major market players such as Platinum Equity, Ares and Apollo and maintains its active offering of mid-market transactions.
The firm also works with portfolio companies and has a strong management practice, in addition to regularly working with industry-specific funds and distressed investors who manage buyouts, investments, exits and turnaround opportunities. The team has expertise in retail, technology, energy, life sciences and financial services and is also very active in PSPC transactions globally, working on PSPC`s formation, structuring and mergers and acquisitions with its international offices. The team is co-led by New York-based Christina Melendi, who advises a number of funds and holding companies with a particular focus on retail and e-commerce, as well as Todd Hentges, who has expertise in technology, healthcare, sports and entertainment. advising on PE and SPAC transactions for major clients such as Platinum Equity. and Kevin Schmelzer of Philadelphia, who advises on acquisitions, exclusions and distressed acquisitions. Allison Gargano of New York has an emerging practice advising funds and portfolio companies on transactions, primarily in the retail, healthcare, life sciences, fintech and financial services sectors. “Armand Grumberg is an exceptional lawyer, negotiator and advisor. It is not accompanied by legal or technical answers, but by real practical solutions and recommendations that can be implemented. He and his team are a pleasure to work with. “The team is always available to provide advice and ideas on purely legal issues, but also on the strategy of the transaction process. Ropes & Gray LLP leverages its extensive US and international platform with coverage in the UK, Europe and Asia and is engaged in mid-market and bulge bracket transactions for a number of large funds, both in the US and Europe.
The firm manages buyouts, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions of holding companies, including cross-border transactions, and is able to manage complex transactions with integrated tax, financing and regulatory expertise. The team is led by David Blittner in New York, a seasoned practitioner with expertise in a variety of transactions, including innovative SPAC structures, including representing CCMP and Hillman Group holding company in connection with the $2.6 billion merger with Lancadia Holdings III. In Boston, co-director Amanda Morrison has a strong background in global buyouts and sales, working for international clients such as Cinven. Carolyn Vardi of New York continues to be a key name in complex international transactions, including strategic acquisitions, privatizations and investments. Based between New York and Boston, Alfred Rose is a senior team member and private equity authority, while San Francisco-based Minh-Chau Le has a growing reputation for managing complex spin-offs and portfolio transactions for companies such as Vista and TPG. Neill Jakobe is another key name in complex transactions and advised Baring Asia on the $1.2 billion acquisition of HGS Healthcare. “Josh Dubofsky is really a consultant and someone I ask not only legal questions, but also business questions.” The American firm Latham & Watkins is a key player in the international operations segment. The firm has recently been involved in several peer-to-peer mergers and spin-offs. The head of the practice, Pierre-Louis Cléro handles a wide range of transactions: listed and unlisted deals, joint ventures, disposals and restructurings. He is surrounded by Olivier du Mottay who assists companies and managers in all types of transactions, and Alexander Crosthwaite whose expertise in mergers and acquisitions is complemented by expertise in private equity and stock market law. Vinson & Elkins LLP`s global merger control practice, based in Washington DC, is extremely active in Hart-Scott-Rodino filings with the DOJ and FTC, as well as merger approval procedures for transactions in various sectors, particularly technology and energy, with a focus on cross-border transactions. Highlights in 2020 include Google`s representation in the $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit and representation of Noble Energy in its acquisition by Chevron.
Darren leads the team and has extensive experience in obtaining merger approval, handling FTC and DOJ investigations, and advocating mergers in litigation. Former Department of Justice lawyer Hill Wellford leads the investigation team and leads the HSR practice, while attorney David Smith also regularly represents clients in merger investigations and control proceedings.