Willkie is consistently ranked among the nation’s leading mergers and acquisitions firms, representing buyers, sellers, special committees, debt and equity investors and financial advisors in some of the most significant acquisition transactions. 

We provide advice in all areas of M&A transactions.  We regularly represent buyers and sellers in all types of transactions (including change of control transactions) as well as financial advisors, key stockholders and financing sources involved in M&A transactions.  The firm also frequently represents special committees of the boards of directors of target companies and acquirors on critical business judgment issues and on standards and requirements for director action.  Our attorneys provide expertise not only on significant domestic matters, but also on complex, cross-border transactions.  Our U.S. attorneys work in close cooperation with our European offices, which are also recognized industry leaders in their local markets.

Our mergers and acquisitions practice includes comprehensive representation for contested takeovers, strategic industrial alliances, management buyouts, and leveraged recaps and acquisitions from reorganization proceedings, where we access the skills and experience of our nationally renowned bankruptcy department.  We regularly participate in corporate auctions, representing both bidders and sellers.  These transactions often involve simultaneous negotiations with multiple bidders, requiring extensive coordination and planning across the entire deal team. 

Our practice involves both public and private companies in a broad range of industries.  Our specialists are also skilled in all types of private equity transactions, ranging from complex leveraged buyouts that have multi tiered capital structures to minority investments that must effectively address difficult governance and liquidity issues.  We also regularly advise clients on relevant regulatory and judicial developments in areas such as tax, ERISA, corporate governance and securities laws as they affect the M&A environment.

As needed, the firm staffs each transaction with specialists in the relevant fields of expertise.  This expertise may involve the participation of our corporate, bankruptcy and business reorganization, antitrust, tax, real estate, environmental and employee benefits practitioners as is necessary.  These attorneys are familiar with the pace and nature of M&A transactions.  They evaluate specific risks and provide clients with crucial options with regard to their respective areas of expertise.  Other specialists in practice areas such as intellectual property, litigation and international trade are also called upon as needed. 

Additionally, our attorneys have specific industry expertise that enables our M&A teams to better understand and respond to our clients’ unique requirements.  This multidisciplinary approach enables us to provide comprehensive legal counsel throughout the duration of a  transaction.