Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP boasts an impressive corporate practice, frequently handling M&A matters for both public and privately held companies, with clients from the financial services and media and entertainment sectors making up the majority of the firm’s clientele. The team frequently collaborates with the tax team to advise on the tax aspects of transactions. Head of the team William Mills operates out of New York, offering a wealth of experience in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures, also handling mandates from clients with distressed assets. Stephen Fraidin is a name to note for large SPAC transactions, private equity and hostile M&A transactions. Gregory Patti regularly handles both domestic and cross-border transactions alongside work in the securities sector for clients in the tech and life sciences. Nick Ramphal advises both private equity clients, public and private companies and investment funds in transactional matters. Daniel Raglan is another key name, advising HNWI in the firms sport and celebrity endorsement practice. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

DLA Piper LLP (US) remains a longstanding reference for domestic and international middle-market M&A deals with the team regularly recieving mandates from clients across an array of industries, ranging from highly scrutinized sectors such as tech and life sciences to automotive and telecoms. The firm recently benefited from the arrival of Viktor Sapezhnikov  from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, chairing the firm’s public company, M&A and activism department. The practice is under the leadership of New York-based Christopher Giordano , who covers all aspects of high-value and cross-border deals. John Gilluly is active in the Austin office, handling capital market and private equity-backed transactions. Another name to note from the New York office is Jon Venick and from Chicago Andrew Weil .

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP remain a longstanding reference for middle-market transactions, praised by clients for ‘high-quality lawyers, approachable and down-to-earth style’. The team regularly receives mandates from clients in various industries with notable proficiency in the media, tech and entertainment sectors. With the team located in New York, Chuck Samuelson chairs the M&A practice, handling both private and public transactions, joint ventures and debt and equity financings, alongside deputy chair of the firm, Kenneth Lefkowitz, who is adept at handling hostile transactions, de-SPAC transactions with a ‘highly commercially-aware approach’.  Regarded by clients as ‘super-responsive and pragmatic’, Gerold Niggemann is a reference for cross-border, strategic transactions with a focus on start-ups whilst also working with the likes of Mercedes-Benz and OYO, and Scott Naturman offers a wealth of experience in industries including healthcare, life sciences and tech. Other key names from the firm include Javad Husain who offers expertise on SPAC and de-SPAC transactions and debt and equity financings, and Michael Traube, who handles a full range of public and private M&A including mergers, joint ventures, and strategic investments.

King & Spalding is a reference in the M&A market for clients, both across the US and cross-border, with the firm boasting an impressive energy, infrastructure and tech practice. The team is under the joint leadership of New York-based Jonathan Melmed  , who co-chairs the firm’s global private equity practice, offering clients proficiency in SPAC M&A transactions. From the Atlanta-based team, Rahul Patel leads the teams on high-value acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures, Keith M. Townsend offers expertise with public companies in both private and public transactions and Justin King provides the firm with a niche expertise in noteworthy sports-related transactional matters. From the Silicon Valley office, Joseph Halloum leads the M&A and private equity practice and is a go-to for complex tech deals. Houston’s own Jonathan Newton is a key point of call for deals in the energy, oil and gas and renewable spaces. Jason Osborn recently joined the firm from Winston Taylor .

With clients praising the team at McDermott Will & Schulte for their ‘excellent work managing complex cross-border multi-jurisdictional transactions’, the group remains a key point of contact within the middle market handling transactions on both the buy-side and sell-side and asset acquisitions. The practice is under joint leadership of New York’s Todd Finger, who is adept in handling transactions in the entertainment and media sectors, and Atlanta’s Sam Snider, whose cross-border transactional abilities are highlighted in the representation of the Coca-Cola Company in a $3.675bn enterprise-value sale.  New York-based, Frank Steinherr advises clients through all stages of private equity investments, leading on some of the firm’s prominent deals.

With ‘deep industry expertise, experienced and seasoned lawyers’, Norton Rose Fulbright is a longstanding reference for middle-market M&A transactions, typically receiving mandates from clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors, as well as acting on behalf of financial institutions. The team frequently handle multi-jurisdictional transactions, typically on the buy-side. New-York based Kessar Nashat co-heads the corporate, M&A and securities team, offering experience in both the public and private sectors and expertise in the energy sector. Dallas-based Scarlet McNellie also co-heads the team handling cross-border matters, including advising Alcon Inc. in its agreement to acquire LENSAR, Inc. Also active in the Dallas’ office, Paul Conneely offers a wealth of expertise for clients in the energy, healthcare and consumer products services, leading on the firms most prominent transactions and Bryn Sappington focuses on M&A, securities with a practice focus on energy, financial institutions and transport. Blake Redwine is another key name, active in the Dallas office for general corporate, transactional matters and a practice focus on securities matters. ‘Distinguished attorney’ Roy L Goldman  is a key contact for corporate governance and compliance.

 

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe retains a strong position in the M&A market, with the team boasting a particularly active  tech practice, praised by clients for ‘deep technology company expertise’ and ‘top-tier sell-side experience’ as well as an impressive life sciences and energy practice where the team frequently collaborates with the energy and infrastructure practice.  At the helm of the practice, New York-based David Ruff is a longstanding reference in the market. Also active in the New York office ‘efficient and practical’ David Schwartz . The group is equipped to handle both cross-border and domestic transactions, often handled by Silicon Valley’s own Ramy Shweiky and Mark Seneca . Matthew Gemello is another key name, advising on the firms most prominent deals. The firm recently benfitted from the arrivals of ‘engaged, highly communicative, and thoughtful’ Ken Wiggs and Santiago Assalini.

 

The corporate and M&A team at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP  is well-suited to handle middle-market transactions, offering services across various industries, often handling mandates from highly scrutinized industries including transport, energy and financial services, leveraging collaboration with the firm’s tax, IP and litigation teams to provide clients with the full service of transaction assistance. From the Silicon Valley office; Stanley Pierson is a longstanding reference in the middle-market for tech companies working on the buy-side with proficiency in handling exit strategies, Christina Pearson handles multi-billion dollar M&A, and is well-versed in all venture capital and growth equity deals. Los Angeles’ Chris Patay is a key contact for cross-border M&A, often advising Japanese and UK businesses with entry into the US. New York's, Jonathan Russo retains his position in the market, advising life sciences, hospitality and media companies in mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Stephen Amdur has left the firm.

Winston Taylor is home to a team of experienced dealmakers, offering both cross-border and domestic clients a range of services, including private and public acquisitions, de-SPAC transactions and private equity-backed M&A deals. With a broad industry scope covered, the team is particularly active across the healthcare, food and beverage and energy sector. From the Chicago office, Matt Stevens heads the M&A practice, offering proficiency in international deals whilst Brian Schafer co-chairs the private equity practice and Timothy Kincaid is a key contact for clients in the life science and financial service sectors. From the Dallas office, Matt Stockstill co-chairs the private equity practice and Brad Vaiana, from the New York practice is a contact for all-round transactional knowledge.

BakerHostetler remains a key contact across the US for domestic middle-market M&A clients, including PE firms and family-owned businesses, as well as handling cross-border inbound transactions, often collaborating with teams in the tax, employment and real estate sectors to offer full-service assistance for transactions. Steven H. Goldberg,  located in New York, chairs the firm’s business group and co-leads the firm’s M&A team, handling the firm’s  most prominent transactions involving joint ventures, PE and strategic deals alongside Los Angeles-based Will Chuchawat, who handles a variety of M&A matters for companies in the tech, healthcare and life sciences sectors. In Cleveland, John Allotta regularly advises PE firms in the manufacturing and healthcare space. Another key name from the New York practice, Matthew Gases is a key contact for both publicly and privately traded companies.

Bracewell LLP is equipped to handle an array of middle-market transactions, with work in the energy sector at the heart of the practice, where the team frequently advises publicly traded energy companies and private equity funds. Houston’s own, Will Anderson leads the corporate and securities practice, offering expertise in M&A, SEC compliance and capital markets. Also operating out of the Houston office, key names from the team include Jason Jean who is adept in handling joint ventures, restructurings and mergers with proficiency in handling upstream and midstream energy transactions, Benjamin Martin , who advises companies in the full life-cycle, including incorporation, joint ventures and exit strategies and Lytch Gutmann is a contact for public and private companies, for deals involving stock and assest purchases and sales.

K&L Gates is a contact in the middle-market for clients typically in the manufacturing, healthcare and tech sectors, where the team handle strategic acquisitions, equity investments and private equity transactions, whilst being praised by clients for an ‘excellent client core team that provided the right advice’. Charlotte-based Kevin Stichter co-leads the firm’s global corporate and M&A practice and is a key reference in the team for cross-border deals, often with a multi-jurisdictional aspect. Also from the Charlotte office, Leah Baucom advises both public and private companies. From the New York office, Calvina Bostick offers expertise in the healthcare, financial services and media sectors with proficiency in pharma product acquisitions and licensing. Goody Agahi is active in the Los Angeles office, often involved with deals in the food and beverage space. Robert Zinn has left the firm.

WilmerHale remains highly regarded by clients for its ‘broad expertise across a range of areas’, often advising on M&A for both public and private companies, investment banks and venture capital firms. The team foster effective collaboration with the regulatory, securities, and financial teams to provide clients with all-round assistance. From the New York team, Chris Barnstable-Brown co-heads the team, offering expertise in the tech and life sciences sectors alongside Andrew Bonnes who offers a wealth of experience in strategic transactions. Active from the Boston office, Hal Leibowitz predominantly advises on corporate and securities matters and Mark Nylen is a key contact for both emerging and larger companies in various sectors. DC-based, Stephanie Evans is equipped to handle both cross-border and domestic transactions.

Fenwick & West LLP broad M&A practice encompasses acquisitions, mergers, and joint ventures for clients spanning multiple industries, including biotech, financial services, and consumer services, in which the team’s impressive client list includes the likes of DoorDash, Etsy and Squarespace. From the San Francisco office, Bomi Lee co-heads the team and remains a key contact for high-profile clients, and from the New York office, Ken Myers co-heads the team with individual strengths, including advising large tech companies in a host of transactional matters. Ethan Skerry is active from the New York office and is highly regarded for advice for tech companies.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is praised for remaining ‘committed to the client and the success of the transactions’. The team receives mandates from clients across an array of industries, with a particular focus on the energy, finance and professional services sectors. The practice is co-led by Richmond-based Kevin Georgerian and Washington DC-based Steve Patterson, who is adept in handling transactions within the retail and consumer products space. Miami’s Fernando Alonso is a key contact for cross-border deals, often working with clients across Latin America and the US, and Richmond’s Michael Goldman leads on high-value deals, often representing publicly traded companies and REIT’s.

Proskauer Rose LLP is home to an impressive mergers and acquisitions team, with clients praising the group for its ‘excellent and broad expertise in mid-market deals’. The team leverages collaboration with the tax, data privacy and employee benefits team to provide full-service offerings to clients in both publicly and privately traded companies. From the New York office, Michael Ellis and Daniel Ganitsky co-lead the team, benefitting from the recent arrival of Sarah Stasny from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP who acts as the firm’s head of US private equity transactions.

Reed Smith LLP is a reference for middle-market M&A transactions, with clients praising the team for its ‘combination of business savvy’ and a ‘very commercial mindset’. From the Chicago office, the team is under the lead of  ‘great financing attorney’ David Hayes alongside attorneys Robert McCann, who handles M&A and equity financing and Bradley Schmarak  who comfortably handles corporate governance and transactional matters. Active from the New York office, Christopher Sheaffer leads the firm on its most prominent and highest value transactions, Jennifer Cheng advises Fortune 500 clients with emphasis on take private transactions and de-SPACs and Mark Pedretti is another key name from the New York office. In Pittsburgh, Matthew Mohn co-chairs the global corporate group handling strategic mergers, divestitures and acquisitions.