PetSmart
Riverbed LBOs

As 2014 drew to a close, activist investors prevailed in pushing through two large going-private transactions, including one of the year's biggest leveraged buyouts of a U.S. company, that yielded roles for seven Am Law 100 firms.

Phoenix-based pet food and supply retailer PetSmart Inc. has turned to Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to advise on a agreement announced Dec. 15 to sell itself for $8.7 billion to a consortium led by private equity firm BC Partners.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett corporate partner Ryerson Symons has taken the lead for the BC Partners-backed investment group. Other lawyers from the firm include antitrust senior counsel Michael Naughton, senior corporate counsel Michael Isby and real estate counsel Krista McManus.