Brian Baxter

January 02, 2014 | The American Lawyer

Data shows that mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. accounted for 43 percent of last year's global deal volume and that the nation's technology industry was responsible for much of the activity. The sector continued its dealmaking run over the past week with a batch of transactions that totaled nearly $3 billion in value and yielded assignments for Am Law 200 stalwarts Fenwick & West, O'Melveny, Weil and Wilson Sonsini.

By Brian Baxter

9 minute read

January 02, 2014 | New York Law Journal

Pharmaceutical M&A got a late-year shot in the arm, with nearly $10 billion in deals being announced involving major industry players like AstraZeneca and Bayer as 2013 came to a close.

By Brian Baxter

5 minute read

December 24, 2013 | The American Lawyer

Pharmaceutical M&A got a late-year shot in the arm, with nearly $10 billion in deals involving major industry players like AstraZeneca and Bayer as 2013 came to a close. A bevy of Am Law 100 firms led by Covington, Kirkland, Sullivan & Cromwell, Skadden, and Weil have grabbed lead roles on the transactions.

By Brian Baxter

12 minute read

December 23, 2013 | The American Lawyer

Andrews Kurth, Bracewell & Giuliani and Vinson & Elkins are advising on two big energy industry deals announced Monday: Regency Energy Partners' nearly $1.3 billion buy of two Texas pipeline systems and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' roughly $1 billion acquisition of two tanker companies that transport crude oil.

By Brian Baxter

7 minute read

December 23, 2013 | The American Lawyer

Kramer Levin, Latham & Watkins, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz are advising on a battle between activist hedge funds and the management of Darden Restaurants, owner of the Red Lobster, Oliver Garden and Capital Grille brands. While Darden announced last week its plans to spin off the Red Lobster chain, some investors want a complete breakup of the company.

By Brian Baxter

4 minute read

December 23, 2013 | The American Lawyer

David McGee, a former federal prosecutor and current partner at Pensacola's Beggs & Lane, knew former FBI agent Robert Levinson was working for the Central Intelligence Agency when he went missing in 2007. He just had to prove it. McGee spoke with The Am Law Daily about his pro bono representation of Levinson's family, meetings with the mysterious character he dubbed "Trenchcoat Mike" and his ongoing quest to bring Levinson back home.

By Brian Baxter

11 minute read

December 23, 2013 | New York Law Journal

Patton Boggs and Locke Lord have ended their discussions under way since September, about joining forces.

By Brian Baxter

2 minute read

December 19, 2013 | Law.com

Former Allen & Overy and Bingham McCutchen partner Edward De Sear was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to federal child pornography and sex trafficking charges. De Sear, who admitted to sexually molesting a young boy in a Brussels hotel in June 2011 after arranging for the youth to travel there from Paris, was also ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution to the victims of his various crimes.

By Brian Baxter

5 minute read

December 19, 2013 | The American Lawyer

Patton Boggs and Locke Lord have ended discussions about joining forces, with leaders of the two Am Law 100 firms scheduled to inform their respective partnerships Thursday afternoon that the negotiations are over.

By Brian Baxter

4 minute read

December 18, 2013 | The American Lawyer

Hollywood talent agency William Morris Endeavor Entertainment and private equity backer Silver Lake Partners tapped Paul Weiss and Simpson Thacher, respectively, for counsel on their winning bid to acquire sports agency powerhouse IMG Worldwide from Forstmann Little & Co., which is being advised by Akin Gump and Kilpatrick Townsend as the private equity firm liquidates its portfolio.

By Brian Baxter

8 minute read