Joseph D. Zavaglia is a generalist corporate lawyer with more than 20 years of experience advising public and private companies and financial institutions across multiple disciplines, including IPOs and other capital markets transactions; leveraged loans (broadly syndicated and direct) and other complex financing arrangements; activism defense (shareholder and debtholder) and other liability management transactions; corporate governance and other Board of Director matters; public company reporting and other SEC matters; and joint ventures, acquisitions and other M&A transactions.
Diversity is a hallmark of Mr. Zavaglia’s practice. Bucking the industry trend towards specialization, Mr. Zavaglia instead maintains a broad‑based corporate practice and advises his clients on their most significant matters—regardless of industry or manner of transaction.
Mr. Zavaglia has been repeatedly recognized for his work by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000 and Super Lawyers. According to clients, Mr. Zavaglia is “amazing and very business‑oriented” and “provides extremely informed, diligent and thoughtful advice on complex situations.” Clients also have described him as “among the leading names in the market” with an “excellent reputation.” Mr. Zavaglia has been named by IFLR1000 as a Market Leader and recognized as both a Leading Lawyer and a Rising Star. He has also been named one of the “500 Leading Dealmakers in America” by Lawdragon and a Metro New York Rising Star by Super Lawyers.
Mr. Zavaglia was born in Brooklyn, New York. He received a B.B.A. cum laude from the College of Insurance in 2001, and a J.D. summa cum laude from Brooklyn Law School in 2004. At Brooklyn Law School, Mr. Zavaglia was the valedictorian of his graduating class and a member of the Brooklyn Law Review. He joined Cravath in 2004 and was elected a partner in 2011. At Cravath, Mr. Zavaglia is Head of Leveraged Finance North America.
Representative capital markets transactions include representing:
Altra in $1.64 billion of senior secured credit facilities and its issuance of $400 million of high‑yield senior notes, and in committed debt financing for the $3 billion Reverse Morris Trust transaction combining Altra with Fortive’s Automation & Specialty platform business;
Mr. Zavaglia has also represented private and public companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions matters, takeover defense and unsolicited change in control transactions.
Representative M&A transactions include representing (among others):
Diversity is a hallmark of Mr. Zavaglia’s practice. Bucking the industry trend towards specialization, Mr. Zavaglia instead maintains a broad‑based corporate practice and advises his clients on their most significant matters—regardless of industry or manner of transaction.
Mr. Zavaglia has been repeatedly recognized for his work by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000 and Super Lawyers. According to clients, Mr. Zavaglia is “amazing and very business‑oriented” and “provides extremely informed, diligent and thoughtful advice on complex situations.” Clients also have described him as “among the leading names in the market” with an “excellent reputation.” Mr. Zavaglia has been named by IFLR1000 as a Market Leader and recognized as both a Leading Lawyer and a Rising Star. He has also been named one of the “500 Leading Dealmakers in America” by Lawdragon and a Metro New York Rising Star by Super Lawyers.
Mr. Zavaglia was born in Brooklyn, New York. He received a B.B.A. cum laude from the College of Insurance in 2001, and a J.D. summa cum laude from Brooklyn Law School in 2004. At Brooklyn Law School, Mr. Zavaglia was the valedictorian of his graduating class and a member of the Brooklyn Law Review. He joined Cravath in 2004 and was elected a partner in 2011. At Cravath, Mr. Zavaglia is Head of Leveraged Finance North America.
Representative capital markets transactions include representing:
Altra in $1.64 billion of senior secured credit facilities and its issuance of $400 million of high‑yield senior notes, and in committed debt financing for the $3 billion Reverse Morris Trust transaction combining Altra with Fortive’s Automation & Specialty platform business;
Mr. Zavaglia has also represented private and public companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions matters, takeover defense and unsolicited change in control transactions.
Representative M&A transactions include representing (among others):
Chambers Global
Chambers USA
IFLR1000
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 US
Super Lawyers
Deals & Cases
April 04, 2025
On April 4, 2025, Rogers Communications Inc. (“Rogers”) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with funds managed by Blackstone, backed by leading Canadian institutional investors, for a CDN$7 billion equity investment. Under the terms of the transaction, Blackstone will acquire a non-controlling interest in a new Canadian subsidiary of Rogers that will own a minor part of the Rogers wireless network. Following the transaction, Blackstone will hold a 49.9% equity interest (with a 20% voting interest) in the new subsidiary. Rogers will maintain full operational control of its network and will include the financial results of the new subsidiary in its consolidated financial statements. At any time between the eighth and twelfth anniversaries of closing, Rogers will have the right to purchase Blackstone’s interest in the new subsidiary. Rogers intends to use the net proceeds from the transaction to repay debt. Cravath is representing Rogers as U.S. counsel in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
April 02, 2025
Cravath represented Element Fleet Management Corp. in connection with its $650 million 144A/Reg. S senior notes offering. Element Fleet Management Corp. is the largest publicly traded pure‑play automotive fleet manager in the world. The transaction closed on March 25, 2025.
Deals & Cases
March 10, 2025
Cravath represented the administrative agent, joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners in connection with a $600 million inaugural term loan B facility made available to DraftKings, Inc. for general corporate purposes. DraftKings is a digital sports entertainment and gaming company created to be the Ultimate Host and fuel the competitive spirit of sports fans with products that range across daily fantasy, regulated gaming, and digital media. The transaction closed on March 4, 2025.
Deals & Cases
March 10, 2025
Cravath represented the administrative agent, joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners in connection with a $1.6 billion term loan B facility made available to Reynolds Consumer Products, a leading provider of household products that simplify daily life so consumers can enjoy what matters most. With a presence in 95% of households across the United States, Reynolds Consumer Products manufactures and sells products that people use in their homes for cooking, serving, cleanup and storage. The transaction closed on March 4, 2025.
Deals & Cases
February 25, 2025
Cravath represented Rogers Communications Inc. in connection with its $2.1 billion registered fixed‑to‑fixed rate subordinated notes. Rogers Communications is one of Canada's largest providers of wireless communication services, including cable television, high‑speed internet and telephony services. The transaction closed on February 12, 2025.
Joseph D. Zavaglia is a generalist corporate lawyer with more than 20 years of experience advising public and private companies and financial institutions across multiple disciplines, including IPOs and other capital markets transactions; leveraged loans (broadly syndicated and direct) and other complex financing arrangements; activism defense (shareholder and debtholder) and other liability management transactions; corporate governance and other Board of Director matters; public company reporting and other SEC matters; and joint ventures, acquisitions and other M&A transactions.
Diversity is a hallmark of Mr. Zavaglia’s practice. Bucking the industry trend towards specialization, Mr. Zavaglia instead maintains a broad‑based corporate practice and advises his clients on their most significant matters—regardless of industry or manner of transaction.
Mr. Zavaglia has been repeatedly recognized for his work by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000 and Super Lawyers. According to clients, Mr. Zavaglia is “amazing and very business‑oriented” and “provides extremely informed, diligent and thoughtful advice on complex situations.” Clients also have described him as “among the leading names in the market” with an “excellent reputation.” Mr. Zavaglia has been named by IFLR1000 as a Market Leader and recognized as both a Leading Lawyer and a Rising Star. He has also been named one of the “500 Leading Dealmakers in America” by Lawdragon and a Metro New York Rising Star by Super Lawyers.
Mr. Zavaglia was born in Brooklyn, New York. He received a B.B.A. cum laude from the College of Insurance in 2001, and a J.D. summa cum laude from Brooklyn Law School in 2004. At Brooklyn Law School, Mr. Zavaglia was the valedictorian of his graduating class and a member of the Brooklyn Law Review. He joined Cravath in 2004 and was elected a partner in 2011. At Cravath, Mr. Zavaglia is Head of Leveraged Finance North America.
Representative capital markets transactions include representing:
Altra in $1.64 billion of senior secured credit facilities and its issuance of $400 million of high‑yield senior notes, and in committed debt financing for the $3 billion Reverse Morris Trust transaction combining Altra with Fortive’s Automation & Specialty platform business;
Mr. Zavaglia has also represented private and public companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions matters, takeover defense and unsolicited change in control transactions.
Representative M&A transactions include representing (among others):
Diversity is a hallmark of Mr. Zavaglia’s practice. Bucking the industry trend towards specialization, Mr. Zavaglia instead maintains a broad‑based corporate practice and advises his clients on their most significant matters—regardless of industry or manner of transaction.
Mr. Zavaglia has been repeatedly recognized for his work by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000 and Super Lawyers. According to clients, Mr. Zavaglia is “amazing and very business‑oriented” and “provides extremely informed, diligent and thoughtful advice on complex situations.” Clients also have described him as “among the leading names in the market” with an “excellent reputation.” Mr. Zavaglia has been named by IFLR1000 as a Market Leader and recognized as both a Leading Lawyer and a Rising Star. He has also been named one of the “500 Leading Dealmakers in America” by Lawdragon and a Metro New York Rising Star by Super Lawyers.
Mr. Zavaglia was born in Brooklyn, New York. He received a B.B.A. cum laude from the College of Insurance in 2001, and a J.D. summa cum laude from Brooklyn Law School in 2004. At Brooklyn Law School, Mr. Zavaglia was the valedictorian of his graduating class and a member of the Brooklyn Law Review. He joined Cravath in 2004 and was elected a partner in 2011. At Cravath, Mr. Zavaglia is Head of Leveraged Finance North America.
Representative capital markets transactions include representing:
Altra in $1.64 billion of senior secured credit facilities and its issuance of $400 million of high‑yield senior notes, and in committed debt financing for the $3 billion Reverse Morris Trust transaction combining Altra with Fortive’s Automation & Specialty platform business;
Mr. Zavaglia has also represented private and public companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions matters, takeover defense and unsolicited change in control transactions.
Representative M&A transactions include representing (among others):
Chambers Global
Chambers USA
IFLR1000
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 US
Super Lawyers
Deals & Cases
April 04, 2025
On April 4, 2025, Rogers Communications Inc. (“Rogers”) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with funds managed by Blackstone, backed by leading Canadian institutional investors, for a CDN$7 billion equity investment. Under the terms of the transaction, Blackstone will acquire a non-controlling interest in a new Canadian subsidiary of Rogers that will own a minor part of the Rogers wireless network. Following the transaction, Blackstone will hold a 49.9% equity interest (with a 20% voting interest) in the new subsidiary. Rogers will maintain full operational control of its network and will include the financial results of the new subsidiary in its consolidated financial statements. At any time between the eighth and twelfth anniversaries of closing, Rogers will have the right to purchase Blackstone’s interest in the new subsidiary. Rogers intends to use the net proceeds from the transaction to repay debt. Cravath is representing Rogers as U.S. counsel in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
April 02, 2025
Cravath represented Element Fleet Management Corp. in connection with its $650 million 144A/Reg. S senior notes offering. Element Fleet Management Corp. is the largest publicly traded pure‑play automotive fleet manager in the world. The transaction closed on March 25, 2025.
Deals & Cases
March 10, 2025
Cravath represented the administrative agent, joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners in connection with a $600 million inaugural term loan B facility made available to DraftKings, Inc. for general corporate purposes. DraftKings is a digital sports entertainment and gaming company created to be the Ultimate Host and fuel the competitive spirit of sports fans with products that range across daily fantasy, regulated gaming, and digital media. The transaction closed on March 4, 2025.
Deals & Cases
March 10, 2025
Cravath represented the administrative agent, joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners in connection with a $1.6 billion term loan B facility made available to Reynolds Consumer Products, a leading provider of household products that simplify daily life so consumers can enjoy what matters most. With a presence in 95% of households across the United States, Reynolds Consumer Products manufactures and sells products that people use in their homes for cooking, serving, cleanup and storage. The transaction closed on March 4, 2025.
Deals & Cases
February 25, 2025
Cravath represented Rogers Communications Inc. in connection with its $2.1 billion registered fixed‑to‑fixed rate subordinated notes. Rogers Communications is one of Canada's largest providers of wireless communication services, including cable television, high‑speed internet and telephony services. The transaction closed on February 12, 2025.
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