Brian Baxter

November 11, 2013 | The American Lawyer

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has lost corporate and M&A partner Sean Rodgers to Kirkland & Ellis, marking the latter firm's latest high-profile lateral hire in recent months. Rodgers, who has been a partner at Simpson for nearly a decade, has handled several major deals for private equity giant KKR. Nonetheless, Rodgers' former firm is once again advising KKR this week on its $1.6 billion buy of landscaping company the Brickman Group.

By Brian Baxter

7 minute read

November 07, 2013 | Law.com

In a deal that could have huge geopolitical implications, Chevron has signed a $10 billion shale gas exploration and production-sharing agreement with the Ukrainian government, which hopes to end its dependence on natural gas imported from Russia. Morgan Lewis and leading Ukrainian firm Asters have landed roles advising the country's government, while Clifford Chance is representing Chevron.

By Brian Baxter

7 minute read

November 07, 2013 | The American Lawyer

The Am Law 100 firms are advising on the proposed $2.6 billion sale of specialty pharmaceutical company Santarus and its portfolio of gastrointestinal drugs to Salix Pharmaceuticals.

By Brian Baxter

3 minute read

November 06, 2013 | Law.com

The French conglomerate has agreed to unload its 53 percent stake in Moroccan phone company Maroc Telecom to Emirates Telecommunications in a deal valued at $5.7 billion. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, which has been advising Vivendi in connection with a series of divestitures, and Magic Circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have grabbed lead roles on the transaction.

By Brian Baxter

4 minute read

November 06, 2013 | The American Lawyer

The two firms are advising private equity-owned U.S. health care data company Passport Health Communications on its $850 million sale to Experian, a credit information giant that along with some rivals has increasingly come under scrutiny by federal regulators.

By Brian Baxter

4 minute read

November 06, 2013 | The American Lawyer

Francisco Partners, a private equity firm focused on investments in the technology sector, has once again tapped Shearman & Sterling for transactional work. This time, the firm is advising on the proposed $1.17 billion sale of cloud-technology provider GXS Group to Canadian software company Open Text.

By Brian Baxter

3 minute read

November 05, 2013 | Law.com

Left behind after Cooley announced last month it would pick up 54 lawyers from Dow Lohnes, some partners from the soon-to-be-defunct firm are headed to new Am Law 100 firms in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Among them are Christopher Meazell, who has joined Covington & Burling as special counsel, and Peter Coffman, now a partner at Thompson Hine. The moves come as Dow Lohnes' lobbying unit has put itself up for auction and the remaining lawyers in the firm's Atlanta office evaluate opportunities elsewhere.

By Brian Baxter

7 minute read

November 04, 2013 | The American Lawyer

Brookfield Property Partners, an affiliate of commercial real estate giant Brookfield Asset Management, has agreed to pay $1.4 billion to increase its stake in mall owner General Growth Properties to 32 percent. Goodwin Procter, Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Canadian firm Torys are advising on the deal, while Weil, Gotshal & Manges is counseling the parent company on its closure of a $7 billion infrastructure fund.

By Brian Baxter

6 minute read

October 30, 2013 | The American Lawyer

Tallying up what Am Law 200 firms are making for their work on notable matters in the news, including the Penn State sex abuse scandal, Bill Ackman's bet against Herbalife, the coming Wikipedia reboot and Twitter's planned IPO.

By Brian Baxter

7 minute read

October 29, 2013 | The American Lawyer

The boards of Dentons and McKenna Long & Aldridge have given their respective blessings to a proposed union that would join the two, and partners on both sides will vote on the matter within the next two weeks, firm representatives confirmed late Tuesday.

By Sara Randazzo and Brian Baxter

3 minute read