Clare O'Brien
A&O ShearmanDeploying a ‘commercial approach to negotiating transactions’, A&O Shearman has vast experience handling take-private acquisitions, complicated joint ventures, and cross-border M&A. Boasting an array of corporate specialists in the healthcare, tech, and finance sectors, the firm frequently acts on behalf of major domestic and international companies, with New York-based practice heads Scott Petepiece and Daniel Litowitz regularly providing ’consistent top-tier advice’ when managing spin-offs, consortium investments, and stock mergers. Also in New York, Clare O’Brien is an expert on public company restructurings, while Creighton Condon is knowledgeable on shareholder activism. From Menlo Park, Daniel Mitz concentrates on representing global tech corporations. Former Global Managing Partner George Casey left the firm in January 2024. Following the recent merger between A&O Shearman and Allen & Overy LLP, the ‘hardworking, approachable’ team now has added expertise across the finance, tech, and energy sectors, regularly handling multi-jurisdictional acquisitions as well as sales of equity interests. Based in New York, Bill Schwitter chairs the corporate team and brings extensive experience managing securities issues and financing arrangements to the practice, while Kfir Abutbul is an expert on restructurings and workouts. The ’very smart and experienced’ Stephen Besen focuses on joint ventures, Dario de Martino is knowledgeable on tender offers and divestitures, and Romain Dambre concentrates on carve-outs.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Shearman has significant experience advising on M&A transactions of all sizes. The team works with clients to understand the business issues and takes a commercial approach to negotiating transactions--they are not lawyers getting in the way of a deal or arguing a point to win it.’
‘The team takes a very commercial approach to negotiation and they often helpful, problem-solving solutions where issues arise in a transaction. They also understand the need to keep the transaction on schedule and do what it takes to get that done. There are many excellent partners at Shearman, but some that particularly stand out are Creighton Condon, Scott Petepiece, and Michael Dorf.’
‘Scott Petepiece -- superior judgement on the most complicated of issues. Dan Litowitz offers consistent top-tier advice and services..’
‘Highly professional, responsive team that is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in M&A law. Proficient in very complex transactions. Collaborates easily and promptly with the client.’
‘Understanding and respect for client's business and governance processes. Highly collaborative. Consistently available. Trusted and reliable counsel. Informed, expert approach to transactions.’
‘The team is adept at legal strategy and is impactful in difficult negotiations. In addition, I have found them to be extremely responsive and available around the clock on all matters.’
‘The team I work with is quite sophisticated and understands our business objectives and where the legal product fits into it.’
‘Daniel Mitz is a world-class corporate transactional attorney. Whether helping with M&A matters, VC financing or other strategic matters, he always provides phenomenal advice, and you always know you are getting his real opinion, not just a sanitized version of what he thinks you want to hear.’
Key clients
- Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
- Albemarle
- American Axle & Manufacturing
- American Water
- Anglo American
- ArcelorMittal
- Ardagh Group
- Altice
- Amyris, Inc.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
- BofA Securities, Inc.
- Boston Scientific Corporation
- Bunge Limited
- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
- Celanese Corporation
- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation
- CVS Health Corporation
- Cyclica
- Dell Financial Services
- Dow Chemical Company
- Dover Corporation
- Dycom Industries
- Fenway Sports Group
- General Electric Company
- Genmab A/S
- Glatfelter
- GlobalLogic Inc.
- Goldman Sachs
- Hitachi
- Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
- Investcorp
- invoX Pharma Limited
- Itaú Unibanco Holding S.A.
- JetBlue Airways Corporation
- J.F. Lehman & Company
- Kaseya US, LLC
- Lanxess Corporation
- Liberty Global Plc
- LyondellBasell Industries
- Mizuho
- Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
- Mubadala
- Nokia
- Omers Infrastructure Management Inc.
- Paramount Global
- PayPal
- Raytheon Technologies Corporation
- SAP SE
- SBI Cellular
- Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited
- Scotiabank
- TELUS International (Cda) Inc.
- Texas Instruments
- Textron
- The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.
- The Rohaytn Group Management L.P.
- Volta Inc.
- Yahoo
Work highlights
- Advised SAP SE on the sale of Qualtrics International Inc. to Silver Lake and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for approximately $12.5bn.
- Advised CVS Health on its acquisition of Oak Street Health for $39 per share in cash, a transaction valued at approximately $10.6bn.
- Advised Intercontinental Exchange on its $11.9bn acquisition of Black Knight, Inc.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Scott Petepiece, Daniel Litowitz