North America - United States • M&A/corporate and commercial

2

Private equity buyouts: large deals ($500m+)

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

More informationMore information

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP offers clients ‘significant experience in the full range of PE transactions’, including domestic and cross-border leveraged buyouts as well as PIPE deals, continuation fund transactions, and take-private acquisitions. Integrated cross-practice expertise in antitrust, tax, finance, and IP matters furthermore enables the team to guide clients through all stages of complexly structured acquisition, including joint governance matters as well as antitrust reviews. The New York-based team, which is particularly active across transactions in the healthcare and industrials sectors, is led by Kevin Schmidt, who stands out for his advice on cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic investments. Experienced partner Paul Bird is noted for his M&A experience as well as his ability to handle spin-offs and takeover defense matters, and Kevin Rinker is a key contact for private equity deals in the healthcare and life sciences space. Further key contacts include Uri Herzberg and Jennifer Chu, who are sought out by leading funds such as Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in connection with high-value acquisitions, as well as Christopher Anthony, who handles a wide range of public and private M&A.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Very strong practice. Collaborative. Experienced and knowledgeable. Represent our firm’s culture well.’

  • ‘Paul Bird - stature and communication ability. Spencer Gilbert - poise under pressure. Chris Anthony - knowledge of market. Kevin Schmidt - communication ability. Jennifer Chu - ability to take on complexity. ’

  • ‘The Debevoise team has significant experience in the full range of PE transactions. We have worked with them successfully on some of our most important situations and they have helped us on a number of very complex transactions. They bring a broad set of skills and judgment to each of these situations.’

Key clients

  • The Blackstone Group
  • Brookfield
  • Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
  • The Carlyle Group
  • Cerberus Capital Management
  • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
  • Elliott Investment Management
  • Kelso & Company
  • Morgan Stanley Capital Partners
  • Providence Equity Partners
  • Stone Point Capital
  • Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited
  • TPG

Work highlights

  • Advised Clayton Dubilier & Rice and TPG Capital on the acquisition of all outstanding shares of Covetrus at an enterprise value of approximately $4bn.
  • Advised TPG Capital on the acquisition, alongside Cencora, of OneOncology from General Atlantic in a transaction valued at $2.1bn.
  • Advised Prosperity Life Group, controlled by Elliott Management, in the take-private by Prosperity affiliate S.USA Life Insurance Company, Inc. of National Western Life Group, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.9bn.

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.

Paul Bird

Paul Bird

Hall of fameDebevoise & Plimpton LLP

His practice focuses on advising private equity firms, public companies, boards of directors and special committees in connection with mergers & acquisitions and other significant corporate matters, including cross-border transactions, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs and takeover defense. He also regularly counsels corporations and their directors on corporate governance and fiduciary duty matters. A former member of the firm’s Management Committee, Mr. Bird was Co-Chair of the firm’s Corporate Department from 2010 to 2016 and Co-Head of the firms’ Mergers & Acquisitions Practice from 2001 to 2010.

Leading lawyers

Uri Herzberg

Uri Herzberg

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Mr. Herzberg has a broad-based transactional practice with extensive experience advising private equity firms and multinational corporations in structuring and negotiating mergers, acquisitions, investments, divestitures, joint ventures and other corporate transactions.

Kevin Schmidt

Kevin Schmidt

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

He has worked extensively on acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic investments, including cross-border transactions for both private equity and corporate clients.

Next Generation Partners

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Kevin Schmidt

Other key lawyers

Paul Bird, Kevin Rinker, Jennifer Chu, Uri Herzberg, Christopher Anthony, Spencer Gilbert

© 2024 Legalease Ltd. All rights reserved

Registered company in England & Wales No. 2423756 VAT 324572722

Registered address: 188 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2AG