Cravath’s New York Office Moves to Two Manhattan West
Cravath is one of the preeminent law firms for mergers and acquisitions. Our lawyers are renowned for their outstanding capabilities in complex U.S. and cross‑border deals. Over the past decade, Cravath has represented clients in more than 800 M&A transactions with an aggregate value of over $4.3 trillion, reflecting the high‑value, high‑impact transactions that we are regularly called upon to execute.
Cravath advises companies in their most critical needs across the full spectrum of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin‑offs and joint ventures. In addition to—and often alongside—the mergers and acquisitions that we handle, Cravath is a leading advisor for companies and boards in high‑stakes corporate situations, including hostile takeovers and shareholder activism defense.
Both U.S. and non-U.S. clients rely on our leadership and expertise in their most transformative corporate matters, many of which involve multiple jurisdictions across diverse industries. Our lawyers navigate novel legal and business issues in the areas of consumer products, energy, fintech, healthcare, media and entertainment, pharmaceuticals, retail, technology and telecommunications.
Cravath has been consistently ranked a top‑tier firm for M&A by numerous third‑party publications and is an 11‑time recipient of the M&A Practice Group of the Year award by Law360. Our lawyers regularly earn plaudits from their clients and peers in the market:
Cravath advises companies in their most critical needs across the full spectrum of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin‑offs and joint ventures. In addition to—and often alongside—the mergers and acquisitions that we handle, Cravath is a leading advisor for companies and boards in high‑stakes corporate situations, including hostile takeovers and shareholder activism defense.
Both U.S. and non-U.S. clients rely on our leadership and expertise in their most transformative corporate matters, many of which involve multiple jurisdictions across diverse industries. Our lawyers navigate novel legal and business issues in the areas of consumer products, energy, fintech, healthcare, media and entertainment, pharmaceuticals, retail, technology and telecommunications.
Cravath has been consistently ranked a top‑tier firm for M&A by numerous third‑party publications and is an 11‑time recipient of the M&A Practice Group of the Year award by Law360. Our lawyers regularly earn plaudits from their clients and peers in the market:
Deals & Cases
October 18, 2024
On October 18, 2024, United States Cellular Corporation (“UScellular”) announced that it has entered into an agreement with Verizon Communications Inc. to sell a portion of the company's retained spectrum licenses for total consideration of $1 billion. Additionally, UScellular has entered into agreements with two other mobile network operators for the sale of other selected spectrum licenses. The transactions are part of the objective UScellular announced on May 28, 2024, to monetize the spectrum that was not included in the proposed sale to T-Mobile. Cravath is representing the independent directors of UScellular in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
October 07, 2024
On October 7, 2024, Iris Financial, a Euronext Amsterdam-listed company focused on the financial services sector, and Younited S.A. (“Younited”), a leading European consumer credit business, announced they have signed a business combination agreement. Iris Financial will inject between €150 and €200 million of capital into Younited in consideration for newly-issued shares of Younited. At completion of the Combination (prior to the share capital increase), Iris Financial will own at least 95% of Younited, with any remaining Younited shares to be acquired by Iris after completion pursuant to drag-along provisions contained in Younited’s existing shareholder agreement and upon the exercise of put-call rights by Iris or certain historical Younited shareholders. Iris Financial will be renamed “Younited Financial” and will remain listed on Euronext Amsterdam while applying for an additional listing on Euronext Paris. Cravath is representing Iris Financial as U.S. counsel in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
October 07, 2024
On October 4, 2024, Vista Outdoor Inc. (“Vista Outdoor”), the parent company of more than three dozen renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with funds managed by Strategic Value Partners, LLC, and its affiliates (“SVP”), a global alternative investment firm with approximately $19 billion of assets under management, to sell Revelyst in an all‑cash transaction based on an enterprise value of $1.125 billion. In connection with the SVP Transaction, Vista Outdoor also entered into an amendment to the merger agreement with Czechoslovak Group a.s. (“CSG”) to acquire The Kinetic Group, increasing the purchase price for The Kinetic Group to $2.225 billion. Together, the CSG Transaction and the SVP Transaction represent an enterprise value of $3.35 billion for Vista Outdoor and will deliver an estimated $45 per share in cash to Vista Outdoor stockholders. Cravath is representing Vista Outdoor in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
October 04, 2024
On October 3, 2024, DRI Healthcare Trust, a global leader in providing financing to advance innovation in the life sciences industry, announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries acquired a portion of Editas Medicine, Inc.'s payment rights under a non‑exclusive license of Editas' Cas9 gene‑editing technology for CASGEVY®, the only approved gene‑edited cell therapy for sickle cell disease and transfusion‑dependent beta thalassemia, for an upfront purchase price of $57 million. The transaction entitles DRI Healthcare to specific payments based on a sublicensing agreement between Editas and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. The payments include a share of the annual license fees that Vertex pays to Editas, which can range from $5 million to $40 million, including certain sales‑based annual license fee increases, and a portion of a $50 million contingent payment to which Editas is eligible under the Vertex sublicensing agreement. Cravath is representing DRI Healthcare in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
September 10, 2024
On September 9, 2024, IBM announced its intent to acquire Accelalpha, a global Oracle services provider with deep expertise helping clients digitize core business operations and accelerate adoption of Oracle Cloud Applications. This acquisition expands IBM's Oracle consulting expertise in supply chain and logistics, finance, enterprise performance management and customer transformation. Cravath is representing IBM in connection with the transaction.
Accolades
October 18, 2024
On October 18, 2024, Lawdragon announced the inclusion of 42 Cravath partners in its annual list of the “500 Leading Dealmakers in America.” The list recognizes lawyers in the areas of M&A, capital markets, corporate governance, finance, private equity and tax for their “can-do hustle and ability to move the needle with clients and firms themselves.”
Activities & Publications
September 23, 2024
Cravath partners Alyssa K. Caples, Margaret T. Segall, Nicholas A. Dorsey, C. Daniel Haaren and Bethany A. Pfalzgraf spoke at the International Bar Association’s 2024 Annual Conference, which was held September 15‑20 in Mexico City and convened legal professionals from across the globe.
Activities & Publications
August 07, 2024
On July 29, 2024, Cravath partner G.J. Ligelis Jr. was featured in Bloomberg Law’s “They’ve Got Next: 40 Under 40” series, which recognizes “the accomplishments of stellar young lawyers nationwide,” based on their work on key client matters, assumption of leadership roles, pro bono commitments and more. In a Q&A, G.J. described his work on transformative deals, including for client AerCap in its $30 billion acquisition of GE Capital Aviation Services, the largest M&A deal in the history of the aircraft leasing industry. G.J. also highlighted Just Eat Takeaway.com’s $7.3 billion combination with Grubhub as a matter in which he was “particularly proud of” his role, having led the Cravath team representing Just Eat Takeaway.com on M&A matters during his third year as partner. G.J. emphasized the importance of teamwork in providing clients with seamless legal advice and praised the quality of the Firm’s attorneys across practice groups: “Nothing is more rewarding than introducing an M&A client to one of my litigation or investigations partners, capital markets partners or antitrust/regulatory partners and watching my client’s reaction as they realize they get the exact same level of quality, dedication, and personal touch across every area of Cravath.”
Activities & Publications
August 06, 2024
On August 1, 2024, Cravath published the latest edition of its Cravath Emerging Company and Venture Capital Insights newsletter, entitled “2024 Mid‑Year Market Update,” which provides an overview of global venture capital and related activity during the first half of 2024. The newsletter also examines key exit trends, including strengthening IPO and secondaries markets, with M&A still providing stronger exit opportunities, and offers insights on artificial intelligence investment and updates on regulatory developments.
Activities & Publications
August 06, 2024
On August 1, 2024, Cravath published the latest edition of its Quarterly Review, which examines the Q2 2024 M&A, activism and corporate governance landscape. The Review provides an overview of activity in those areas, highlights notable cases in the M&A space, shares trends in activism activity and notes key developments in corporate governance over the first half of 2024. This edition also examines recent antitrust enforcement actions and updated IRS guidelines for tax‑free spin- and split‑off transactions, alongside recent amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law related to corporate governance matters.
Deals & Cases
October 18, 2024
On October 18, 2024, United States Cellular Corporation (“UScellular”) announced that it has entered into an agreement with Verizon Communications Inc. to sell a portion of the company's retained spectrum licenses for total consideration of $1 billion. Additionally, UScellular has entered into agreements with two other mobile network operators for the sale of other selected spectrum licenses. The transactions are part of the objective UScellular announced on May 28, 2024, to monetize the spectrum that was not included in the proposed sale to T-Mobile. Cravath is representing the independent directors of UScellular in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
October 07, 2024
On October 7, 2024, Iris Financial, a Euronext Amsterdam-listed company focused on the financial services sector, and Younited S.A. (“Younited”), a leading European consumer credit business, announced they have signed a business combination agreement. Iris Financial will inject between €150 and €200 million of capital into Younited in consideration for newly-issued shares of Younited. At completion of the Combination (prior to the share capital increase), Iris Financial will own at least 95% of Younited, with any remaining Younited shares to be acquired by Iris after completion pursuant to drag-along provisions contained in Younited’s existing shareholder agreement and upon the exercise of put-call rights by Iris or certain historical Younited shareholders. Iris Financial will be renamed “Younited Financial” and will remain listed on Euronext Amsterdam while applying for an additional listing on Euronext Paris. Cravath is representing Iris Financial as U.S. counsel in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
October 07, 2024
On October 4, 2024, Vista Outdoor Inc. (“Vista Outdoor”), the parent company of more than three dozen renowned brands that design, manufacture and market sporting and outdoor products, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with funds managed by Strategic Value Partners, LLC, and its affiliates (“SVP”), a global alternative investment firm with approximately $19 billion of assets under management, to sell Revelyst in an all‑cash transaction based on an enterprise value of $1.125 billion. In connection with the SVP Transaction, Vista Outdoor also entered into an amendment to the merger agreement with Czechoslovak Group a.s. (“CSG”) to acquire The Kinetic Group, increasing the purchase price for The Kinetic Group to $2.225 billion. Together, the CSG Transaction and the SVP Transaction represent an enterprise value of $3.35 billion for Vista Outdoor and will deliver an estimated $45 per share in cash to Vista Outdoor stockholders. Cravath is representing Vista Outdoor in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
October 04, 2024
On October 3, 2024, DRI Healthcare Trust, a global leader in providing financing to advance innovation in the life sciences industry, announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries acquired a portion of Editas Medicine, Inc.'s payment rights under a non‑exclusive license of Editas' Cas9 gene‑editing technology for CASGEVY®, the only approved gene‑edited cell therapy for sickle cell disease and transfusion‑dependent beta thalassemia, for an upfront purchase price of $57 million. The transaction entitles DRI Healthcare to specific payments based on a sublicensing agreement between Editas and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. The payments include a share of the annual license fees that Vertex pays to Editas, which can range from $5 million to $40 million, including certain sales‑based annual license fee increases, and a portion of a $50 million contingent payment to which Editas is eligible under the Vertex sublicensing agreement. Cravath is representing DRI Healthcare in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
September 10, 2024
On September 9, 2024, IBM announced its intent to acquire Accelalpha, a global Oracle services provider with deep expertise helping clients digitize core business operations and accelerate adoption of Oracle Cloud Applications. This acquisition expands IBM's Oracle consulting expertise in supply chain and logistics, finance, enterprise performance management and customer transformation. Cravath is representing IBM in connection with the transaction.
Accolades
October 18, 2024
On October 18, 2024, Lawdragon announced the inclusion of 42 Cravath partners in its annual list of the “500 Leading Dealmakers in America.” The list recognizes lawyers in the areas of M&A, capital markets, corporate governance, finance, private equity and tax for their “can-do hustle and ability to move the needle with clients and firms themselves.”
Activities & Publications
September 23, 2024
Cravath partners Alyssa K. Caples, Margaret T. Segall, Nicholas A. Dorsey, C. Daniel Haaren and Bethany A. Pfalzgraf spoke at the International Bar Association’s 2024 Annual Conference, which was held September 15‑20 in Mexico City and convened legal professionals from across the globe.
Activities & Publications
August 07, 2024
On July 29, 2024, Cravath partner G.J. Ligelis Jr. was featured in Bloomberg Law’s “They’ve Got Next: 40 Under 40” series, which recognizes “the accomplishments of stellar young lawyers nationwide,” based on their work on key client matters, assumption of leadership roles, pro bono commitments and more. In a Q&A, G.J. described his work on transformative deals, including for client AerCap in its $30 billion acquisition of GE Capital Aviation Services, the largest M&A deal in the history of the aircraft leasing industry. G.J. also highlighted Just Eat Takeaway.com’s $7.3 billion combination with Grubhub as a matter in which he was “particularly proud of” his role, having led the Cravath team representing Just Eat Takeaway.com on M&A matters during his third year as partner. G.J. emphasized the importance of teamwork in providing clients with seamless legal advice and praised the quality of the Firm’s attorneys across practice groups: “Nothing is more rewarding than introducing an M&A client to one of my litigation or investigations partners, capital markets partners or antitrust/regulatory partners and watching my client’s reaction as they realize they get the exact same level of quality, dedication, and personal touch across every area of Cravath.”
Activities & Publications
August 06, 2024
On August 1, 2024, Cravath published the latest edition of its Cravath Emerging Company and Venture Capital Insights newsletter, entitled “2024 Mid‑Year Market Update,” which provides an overview of global venture capital and related activity during the first half of 2024. The newsletter also examines key exit trends, including strengthening IPO and secondaries markets, with M&A still providing stronger exit opportunities, and offers insights on artificial intelligence investment and updates on regulatory developments.
Activities & Publications
August 06, 2024
On August 1, 2024, Cravath published the latest edition of its Quarterly Review, which examines the Q2 2024 M&A, activism and corporate governance landscape. The Review provides an overview of activity in those areas, highlights notable cases in the M&A space, shares trends in activism activity and notes key developments in corporate governance over the first half of 2024. This edition also examines recent antitrust enforcement actions and updated IRS guidelines for tax‑free spin- and split‑off transactions, alongside recent amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law related to corporate governance matters.
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