Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz enjoys a global reputation as one of the world’s leading business law firms. The firm regularly handles many of the largest, most complex and demanding transactions, investigations and litigations in the US and around the world. Wachtell Lipton has contributed to major evolutions in corporate law in order to advance the interests of its clients. Wachtell Lipton originated the ‘poison pill’, structured the first cross-border ’Morris Trust’ transaction between SmithKline Beckman and Beecham, and has been involved in – and litigated – transactions giving rise to most of the landmark takeover and corporate governance decisions in Delaware. Wachtell Lipton approaches its clients’ legal issues within the larger framework of each client’s strategic, business and financial goals. The firm focuses on matters that require the attention, extensive experience, expertise and reputation of its partners. The firm does not handle routine matters, limits the number and type of matters it undertakes, and operates with a ratio of partners to associates far higher than its major competitors.

Main areas of practice
Corporate: Wachtell Lipton counsels both public and private acquirers and targets, advising on a wide range of corporate matters, including: US, cross-border and international mergers and acquisitions; private equity and strategic investments; spin-offs, split-ups, securities offerings and other capital raising transactions; and is recognized for its leadership in takeover defense, shareholder activism and corporate governance.

Litigation: Wachtell Lipton’s litigation practice is consistently at the cutting edge of the leading commercial and corporate litigation battles dominating headlines. The firm makes appearances in state and federal courts throughout the country at both trial and appellate levels, as well as in arbitrations and mediations. It also has a leading practice representing companies and individuals in state and federal regulatory and criminal investigations. The firm’s litigators advise on a range of corporate governance matters and handle derivative demands and other litigation challenging the actions of boards of directors. The firm consistently handles some of the nation’s leading commercial disputes covering diverse industries and subject matters. The firm has a leading white-collar and regulatory enforcement practice. It has represented major financial institutions and multinational corporations, as well as their boards of directors and senior executives, in a range of complex and high-profile white-collar criminal and regulatory enforcement matters nationally and internationally.

Restructuring and finance: Wachtell Lipton has one of the leading restructuring practices, principally representing creditors in national and multinational bankruptcy cases and out-of-court restructurings. Attorneys in the restructuring and finance group regularly handle the financing of complicated acquisitions or divestitures of businesses in financial distress or bankruptcy, highly leveraged transactions and other major transactions involving significant debtor/creditor issues.

Antitrust: Wachtell Lipton’s leading antitrust practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and government investigations, including international antitrust and banking antitrust issues.

Tax: Wachtell Lipton has a leading tax practice advising clients on tax aspects of corporate reorganisations, acquisitions, spin-offs and other dispositions, financings, restructurings and joint ventures.

Real estate M&A: Wachtell Lipton has a leading real estate M&A practice focusing on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, corporate governance, restructurings and joint ventures across the REIT, real estate, hospitality and gaming sectors. The firm consistently plays an active role in major transactions in these sectors, with an emphasis on large-scale public company M&A and strategic transactions.

Executive compensation and benefits: Wachtell Lipton has a leading executive compensation and benefits practice addressing the most sensitive issues facing public and private companies, both in the deal and non-deal contexts.