Distinguished by its popularity with leading multinational clients, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP continues to advise on high value M&A in the oil and gas, food and beverage, and banking sectors. The New York-based group is collectively led by William Aaronson, who handles public and private M&A and activist defense situations, Louis Goldberg, a go-to for board-level concerns and corporate matters, and industry veteran George Bason, who executes industry-changing mergers, joint ventures, and restructurings. Daniel Brass focuses on collaborations and spinoffs, and Cheryl Chan advises local and international clients on corporate governance and shareholder activism, in addition to representing private equity firms on various transactions. Oliver Smith is regularly involved in industry-changing deals, Marc Williams assists multinational corporations with critical business initiatives, and Brian Wolfe is well-versed in sports industry M&A.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction

Key clients

  • Airbus
  • Alcoa
  • Cambell’s Soup
  • Cleveland-Cliffs
  • Emera
  • Emerson
  • ExxonMobil
  • Ferrero
  • Gilead Sciences
  • GSK
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Novo Nordisk

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

George Bason

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

William Aaronson
Oliver Smith

Practice head

William Aaronson; Louis Goldberg; George Bason

Other key lawyers

Daniel Brass; Cheryl Chan; Oliver Smith; Marc Williams; Brian Wolfe