THE FIRM This dominant corporate practice represents a desirable list of household names including Kraft, Johnson & Johnson and IBM. With superb M&A expertise spanning sectors including retail, manufacturing, aviation, telecom and a variety of others, Cravath remains almost unrivaled in its depth, industry expertise and commercial acumen. The New York team also offers specialist advice for boards of directors and special committees to help them through complex transactions and conflicts of interest. Recent deals for the group include advising Unilever on its $3.7 billion acquisition of Alberto-Culver and acting for Massey Energy on its $8.1 billion acquisition by Alpha Natural Resources.

Sources say: "Cravath guys are very smart; they really know their stuff and work very hard. You know what you're going to get. They represent their clients very well and have one of the deepest benches in the whole city."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Richard Hall is leader of the firm's M&A practice. He is highly respected in the industry and sources describe him as a "good practitioner, very thoughtful, thorough and very knowledgeable." He recently advised private equity firm Rosetta during its $575 million sale to Publicis Groupe.

Faiza Saeed is an active and highly esteemed partner who is currently advising The Williams Companies on its pending $8.7 billion share acquisition of Southern Union. Sources say she is "a superstar and deserves every accolade."

Scott Barshay is a well-known face on the M&A scene and revered for his legal prowess and high-profile client list. He has represented IBM in 11 separate matters since 2010 and also recently assisted Deutsche Börse and Barnes & Noble. Sources say: "His clients come to him because of his real way with covering salient points. He also has a very strong business orientation and brings all parties together."

Philip Gelston is currently representing Kraft on the creation of two public companies both of which are worth billions of dollars. Clients like his "practice-oriented advice, huge knowledge base and experience, calmness under pressure and can-do attitude."

Mark Greene represented Novartis in its $470 million acquisition of Genoptix. Sources say he is a "terrific lawyer" with specialist cross-border expertise.

Robert Townsend is currently assisting on two pending acquisitions - one for Johnson & Johnson and one for Arch Chemicals. One source states: "I have tremendous respect for him. He is an extremely smart lawyer and clients think incredibly highly of him."

George Schoen recently represented Deutsche Börse in connection with its $9.53 billion merger of equals with NYSE Euronext and has also assisted Nalco Holding Company and IBM.

THE FIRM This noted M&A department has a substantial 86-member team. The group is known for its illustrious work and string of high-profile clients including Microsoft, Petrohawk Energy and AIG. Recent headline-grabbing deals include advising Petrohawk on its $15.1 billion acquisition by BHP Billiton, and acting for Microsoft during its $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype Global. The team has a comprehensive approach to M&A which enables it to advise on private equity, M&A, capital markets and financial services work. The group is also universally appreciated for its first-rate cross-border and international M&A work.

Sources say: "Top-notch in terms of the quality of people - they have very smart individuals. They're also extremely responsive, work efficiently and the quality of their work is impeccable. They're good advisers who know how to be commercial."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Richard Beattie is chairman of the firm. His main focus is advising boards of directors and non-management directors on governance issues. One client enthuses: "He's a true businessman's lawyer - an adviser with enormous experience and common sense. Someone we've grown to trust and respect."

Casey Cogut is a "very talented" and experienced attorney who recently advised Sealed Air on its $4.3 billion acquisition of Diversey Holdings.

Lee Meyerson is head of the firm’s M&A group and one of the nation's preeminent financial services M&A lawyers. He was also the lead partner on the Petrohawk/BHP deal. Clients say he is "very straightforward and very effective."

Gary Horowitz is described as a "phenomenal lawyer, smart guy, hard worker and a pleasure to work with." His recent work includes representing Varian Semiconductor in its $4.9 billion acquisition by Applied Materials.

Robert Spatt specializes in commercial and corporate governance advice to public and private company boards of directors. Sources particularly note his impressive understanding of Delaware corporate law.

M&A specialist William Curbow's recent highlights include working on L-3 Communications’ spinoff of a new government services company. 

Mario Ponce is hailed by clients as being "knowledgeable and understandable." He recently advised PPL on its $7.625 billion acquisition of E.ON US, and Arch Coal on its $3.4 billion purchase of International Coal Group's outstanding shares. "He is very good at communication and advice in complicated situations." All in all, clients agree he is "a very commercial M&A lawyer."

Philip Ruegger recently advised TD Bank Financial Group on its $6.3 billion purchase of Chrysler Financial. Sources say he is "an eminent figure in M&A and he's excellent." 

THE FIRM  Skadden's New York office sets the benchmark for international breadth of M&A expertise, for which it is universally acclaimed. Working on some of the largest corporate deals in the world and with a superior work force, this team remains one of the market's most dominant and successful. The deal-making group produces consistent, innovative solutions for its clients on some of the most complex corporate deals around. It has developed strong relationships with many large clients, thus amassing an enviable list that includes names such as Burger King, Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart. The team is currently advising Express Scripts on its $29.1 billion acquisition of Medco Health Solutions.

Sources say: "There's nothing like Team Skadden when you have a real, significant transaction that just has to be done and has to be done right."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Peter Atkins is celebrated by his clients as being "a very thoughtful guy. When I've had complicated governance corporate matters, he's the best." Peers say he is "fabulous" and "exceptionally talented." He has an incredibly impressive profile in the tech space and recently advised L-1 Identity Solutions on its $1.6 billion acquisition by Safran.

Lou Kling recently advised leading client DuPont on its purchase of Danisco, a cross-border deal worth $6.3 billion. Clients say he is "excellent, we use him all the time."

Eileen Nugent is a superb M&A partner who recently advised Cephalon on defending a hostile takeover bid from Valeant Pharmaceuticals, and then acted for the company on its subsequent $6.8 billion sale to Teva. Sources offer rave reviews, with one commenting: "She's fantastic, I can't say enough great things about her," and another saying that she is "an absolute pleasure to work with; a good lawyer and a good person."

Paul Schnell is described as "very experienced and a very good negotiator who represents his clients well." His principal client is Pfizer, which he has represented on a number of advisory and transactional matters, including its $2.4 billion sale of Capsugel to KKR.

Stephen Arcano leads the New York M&A team. He represented Validus Holdings in its $3.5 billion unsolicited bid to merge with Transatlantic Holdings. In addition to praising Arcano's technical skills, sources "like him a lot, he's a pleasure to work across from."

Howard Ellin is global co-head of the corporate transactions and M&A practices. He recently acted for the target company in Toshiba's $2.3 billion acquisition of Landis+Gyr. Sources say he is a "terrific practitioner."

Thomas Kennedy was lead partner advising Genesis HealthCare on the $2.4 billion sale of most of its real estate assets to Health Care REIT. He also assisted on GTCR's approximately $390 million acquisition of Fundtech.

Martha McGarry has been described as a "very skilled and tough negotiator with a strong command of the issues and facts." She recently represented key client Wal-Mart in its approximately $2.4 billion acquisition of a 51% stake in Massmart Holdings.

The "excellent" Eric Cochran's recent highlights include representing L-1 on several matters, including the $303 million sale of its intelligence services businesses to BAE Systems.

Joseph Coco advised HCP on its $6.1 billion purchase of HCR ManorCare's senior living facilities. Clients declare: "I would use him for all difficult issues and he's always my first phone call." Coco also works efficiently with Skadden's other offices and gives clients "a seamless perspective and transition between all these different components." He is renowned for being "among the best, in terms of responsiveness and achieving results." 

Patricia Moran is a seasoned expert in all aspects of M&A deals and advises global corporations on a wide variety of transactional and advisory work.

Todd Freed is described as "very motivated and he's someone who jumps on opportunities." He focuses on M&A, corporate finance and private equity, mainly in the financial services industry.

The firm recently mourned the passing of Roger Aaron. He was universally acclaimed as one of New York's most successful, talented and respected lawyers.

Skadden has also recently suffered the tragic loss of Morris Kramer, who was known to be one of the foremost transactional lawyers in the country.

THE FIRM This leading global M&A practice is one of New York's heavyweights. The team regularly handles billions of dollars in transactions, including some of the most complex and technical deals in the world. The group is composed of experts in domestic, cross-border and international work and represents clients in both a transactional capacity and financial advisory role. Current clients include AIG, Fiat, AT&T and Goldman Sachs. Highlights for the team include advising BHP Billiton on its $15.1 billion purchase of Petrohawk Energy and Bucyrus International on its $8.6 billion acquisition by Caterpillar.

Sources say: "I think the customer service at SullCrom is outstanding. They understand that the relationship between a corporate client and a law firm is one of a partnership, so that if the client is successful, the law firm is successful." "Extreme expertise, excellent client service - they have these."

KEY INDIVIDUALS One client nicely sums up market sentiment toward Rodgin Cohen, describing him as "the best lawyer in the world." His impressive workload has included advising ING Groep on the recently completed $9 billion sale of the ING Direct USA online banking operations to Capital One Financial.

Joseph Frumkin is managing partner of the M&A group. He is described as being "very impressive and able to grasp difficult concepts very quickly and focus on core issues with precision." He advised the special committee of the board of directors of Southern Union on Energy Transfer Equity's proposed purchase of Southern Union for $9.4 billion.

Francis Aquila's peers say he "has a results-oriented approach. He is very, very good." Clients are similarly enthusiastic, lauding his outstanding team management skills: "We have had superb support from Frank and the entire S&C team. He also has a very good sense of the business principles in our industry and understands how to structure deals."

James Morphy is an "outstanding negotiator and able to look at the big issues and come up with solutions that will reflect his clients' needs, but simultaneously be acceptable without giving up anything that he or his clients want. He has the highest ethical standards." He represented Barrick in its purchase of Equinox Minerals for $7.7 billion.  

Stephen Kotran is highly regarded and respected by his clients, who remark that "he is one of our go-to counsel in the M&A space, we rely on him and trust him. He knows the industry, he knows the market practice, he is very thoughtful in his response, clearly very intelligent and up to speed on all of the current issues. That's what makes him stand out." 

Mitchell Eitel is a specialist in financial services M&A, securities transactions and private equity investments. He recently acted for the purchaser in Bank of Montreal's acquisition of Marshall & Ilsley. That $4.1 billion deal significantly expanded the bank's presence in the Midwest. 

THE FIRM This eminent corporate firm is internationally renowned for its legal and technical prowess in both domestic and cross-border work in M&A, private equity and corporate restructuring. Leading deals for this stellar team includes representing NYSE Euronext in the blocked $10 billion Deutsche Börse merger and acting for Deutsche Telekom in AT&T's aborted $39 billion bid to acquire T-Mobile from the German cellular carrier. Wachtell represents clients across a broad swath of industries, including telecom, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and financial services, on all types of M&A matters.

Sources say: "Highly acclaimed."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Andrew Brownstein has been described as a "very practical, smart and results-oriented attorney." "He really does his clients a great service by focusing on what matters." He recently worked on the high-profile $20 billion sale of Genzyme to Sanofi.

Edward Herlihy handles some of the firm's most impressive M&A mandates, a recent highlight including advising Capital One Financial on its $9 billion acquisition of ING Direct USA's online banking operations.  

David Katz is lauded by peers and clients as an "impressive practitioner who is very smart and thoughtful." He possesses the skills to handle some of the country's most high-value and sensitive M&A deals. 

Adam Emmerich is a "terrific practitioner" who led for AMB Property on its merger with ProLogis, which is one of the market's largest real estate deals to date.

Daniel Neff is a "very experienced transactional lawyer" who successfully advised Airgas on defending a hostile takeover bid from Air Products and Chemicals. After a year's effort, the team secured a victory for Airgas in Delaware's chancery court.

Andrew Nussbaum is well known for his cross-border expertise. Sources respect him for being "a very, very good lawyer. He has grown up at Wachtell and landed some huge clients."

Steven Rosenblum serves as cochair of the firm���s corporate group and is currently advising Duke Energy on its pending multibillion-dollar acquisition of Progress Energy.

Trevor Norwitz is known for being "a great attorney" and a fierce but widely admired opponent. He primarily focuses on M&A, corporate governance and securities law.

Martin Lipton is a founding partner of the firm and specializes in advising major corporations on M&A, corporate policy and strategy. He is universally known and acclaimed in the market.

David Shapiro has been lauded by his clients for being "tremendously professional, bright and practical - a real pleasure to deal with." 

THE FIRM This potent group can handle all manner of complicated corporate transactions and has a special niche in technology deals. One of Cleary's best-known clients is the technology giant Google, which the group has advised on numerous acquisitions, including its purchase of Motorola Mobility, a $12.5 billion deal. The team also has M&A expertise within the energy, life sciences and financial services sectors.

Sources say: "Brilliant and impressive, really know their stuff. They have the people, the smarts and the technical skills."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Victor Lewkow has represented Alpha Natural Resources as purchaser on an $8.5 billion acquisition of Massey Energy. He also represents Citi on a regular basis. He is acclaimed as an "excellent, terrific" attorney.

Paul Shim is regarded as being "very well grounded, very disciplined and well versed in the law. He is focused on his clients and their business." He acted for Nortel Networks on the Section 363 bankruptcy sale of $4.5 billion in patent assets to a consortium including Apple, Ericsson, Microsoft and Sony.

Daniel Sternberg led as US counsel to the target company in Johnson & Johnson's acquisition of Crucell for $2.4 billion. His practice deals with public and private M&A transactions.

Michael Ryan's practice focuses on financial and corporate matters, in particular M&A deals and securities offerings. His private equity work draws wide acclaim from the market.

Christopher Austin's recent work includes advising Muzak Holdings and Silver Point Capital on Muzak's purchase by Mood Media. Clients applaud his "practical expertise and coordination skills." 

Robert Davis's practice spans domestic and cross-border M&A, divestitures, joint ventures and securities offerings.

Ethan Klingsberg has worked on some of the team's largest deals, including Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility and Kindred Healthcare's $1.3 billion purchase of RehabCare.

THE FIRM This dynamic corporate team has worked on a number of complex, wide-reaching M&A deals and other challenging matters. One of the team's most impressive mandates was advising the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the US Treasury on AIG's recapitalization, which was worth tens of billions of dollars. Davis Polk also represented PepsiCo in its acquisition of a 95% stake in Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods for $5.8 billion. Other key clients include an impressive list of leading market players such as NBCUniversal, PwC and Polo Ralph Lauren.

Sources say: "They're a good match for our company - aggressive, creative, understanding of our business, loyal, fast-moving. They respect our contribution, can work with in-house counsel and know our business."

KEY INDIVIDUALS The "impressive" George Bason is the global co-head of Davis Polk’s M&A group. He recently advised VF Corporation on its acquisition of fellow apparel company Timberland for $2 billion, in additional to several other high-profile deals.

David Caplan is the other practice co-head; he comes highly recommended by sources for possessing "excellent judgment on client skills, client relationships and on difficult questions." He often advises Aetna on its nationwide M&A work.

Phillip Mills works on a broad spectrum of M&A matters covering cross-border transactions, private equity and joint venture work.

John Bick is head of the firm's corporate group and is an "impressive" attorney. He recently advised CVS Caremark on the $1.25 billion acquisition of Universal American's Medicare Part D business.

Client favorite Louis Goldberg also advised CVS on its recent Universal American deal. Sources say he is "a terrific deal lawyer. He is good counselor who can look at complex transactions and problems strategically." 

THE FIRM This substantial department has had a remarkable year. The group has worked on a range of sophisticated public and private M&A deals for high-profile clients such as Amazon.com, The Carlyle Group and Verizon Wireless. A couple of prominent buy-side deals of late were International Paper's $4.3 billion purchase of Temple-Inland and the cross-border $4.5 billion acquisition by Reynolds Group of Graham Packaging. The team has a deep bench of attorneys who demonstrate their breadth of work and legal experience through complex leveraged acquisitions and cross-border transactions.

Sources say:  "What we really like about Debevoise is that all the lawyers tend to be very commercial. They drive the corporate transaction by shaping the question and the dialogue."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jeffrey Rosen is chair of the corporate department and is, according to one impressed client, "the best M&A practitioner I've ever dealt with. He has a thorough command of everything. He's a complete practitioner."

Paul Bird is cochair of the corporate department and M&A group. Clients are delighted with Bird's "very commercial, levelheaded and constructive" approach. He is also lauded for his "analytical head in tense situations, which makes him a top-notch M&A lawyer."  

William Regner is cochair of the M&A group and "is incredibly hard-working with a really good ability to advise clients with a view toward advice that makes commercial sense." He represented Access Industries in its $3.3 billion all-cash purchase of Warner Music Group.

THE FIRM Weil boasts an established private equity and M&A practice that has built up a strong and dynamic range of work over the years. The breadth of corporate experience covers both domestic and international deals and the firm's far-reaching global footprint helps make such deals happen. The firm's highly sophisticated clients include Eli Lilly, Verizon and AIG. The team also represented Citadel in its $2.4 billion cash-and-stock acquisition by Cumulus Media.

Sources say:  "For reputation, skills and ability, they are the go-to guys. They just know how we do business - they understand our DNA and can navigate how we work."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Michael Aiello is co-head of the private equity and M&A department. He is known as a "deal-maker" and "great personality." He acted on behalf of pharmaceutical company Sanofi in its $20.1 billion takeover of Genzyme, which closed in April 2011.

Howard Chatzinoff represented GE and NBCUniversal during GE's high-profile $37.25 billion joint venture with Comcast. 

Thomas Roberts's practice focuses on domestic and cross-border M&A deals, divestitures and contested takeovers. He is currently advising Kinder Morgan on its pending $38 billion acquisition of El Paso.

Frederick Green is cochair of the transactions practice and was a key attorney on Verizon's $1.4 billion acquisition of Terremark Worldwide. Clients say: "Fred does an excellent job of coordinating and managing the work and he provides us with good insights on critical transactions."

Raymond Gietz is a seasoned M&A expert and advised Eli Lilly on its $800 million acquisition of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals and deals with a range of M&A work. Clients have particularly singled out his excellent deal management skills.

Michael Lubowitz is co-head of the firm's private equity and M&A department; he was involved in the Verizon/Terremark deal. Sources say that Lubowitz is "a bright, practical and laid-back guy who knows the business really well." 

THE FIRM This sizable team benefits greatly from the firm's excellent private equity practice and continues to excel in other areas of M&A work. The group is able to offer well-coordinated, full-service advice to clients like Constellation Energy, which it recently advised on its $7.9 billion merger with Exelon Energy. K&E also represented Teva in its $6.8 billion purchase of Cephalon.

Sources say: "The attorneys we work with demonstrate strong relationship skills and a keen sense of how the legal issues interact with commercial realities." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS David Fox is regarded as "an exceptionally good lawyer." He led for Teva in its acquisition of Cephalon. He is roundly praised by peers and clients for the outstanding transactional expertise he has built up over decades in the market.

Stephen Fraidin is an M&A expert in representing both major companies and investment groups. He recently advised Pershing Square on the corporate ramifications of its investment in JC Penney.

Daniel Wolf is described as "very smart and pragmatic. He knows how to get deals done." He is currently advising Tronox on its pending $3.4 billion acquisition of Exxaro Resources' mineral sands operations, demonstrating his impressive cross-border practice.

Since publication, Sarkis Jebejian has joined the firm from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. He is widely tipped to be among the next generation of market leading corporate lawyers, with sources describing him as: "very pragmatic. We communicate very well both formally and informally. Being able to talk through issues sets him apart."

THE FIRM  This dedicated team undertakes complex M&A work for a range of corporate clients, advising buyers, sellers, stockholders and financial advisers. There are few industries that the firm does not advise and its recent work has covered technology, pharmaceuticals, projects, financial services and others. Latham advised Global Crossing on its $3 billion acquisition by Level 3 Communications and acted for Eli Lilly on its purchase of Johnson & Johnson's animal health business. 

Sources say:  "Superior, full-service firm with attorneys with whom you actually enjoy spending time." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Adel Aslani-Far is global cochair of the M&A practice group. Clients are impressed with his ability to "combine superior legal knowledge with great negotiating skills and a singular focus on protecting his clients' interests in all circumstances." His client service skills set him apart, thanks to "around-the-clock responsiveness and his do-anything-necessary attitude." He recently acted for Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods on PepsiCp's multibillion-dollar share purchase in the food company.

Barry Bryer represented National Semiconductor during its $6.5 billion acquisition by Texas Instruments. He is experienced in public M&A and takeover defense, an area in which he is particularly well known.

THE FIRM This rapidly developing practice has had an outstanding year working for a string of highly sophisticated clients on their M&A needs. Recent hires have allowed the firm to parlay its work in private equity into an increased transactional showing. Current clients include Warner Music and Virtu Financial. A high-profile deal for the team was advising Centerview Capital Partners in its $5.3 billion leveraged acquisition of Del Monte Foods.

Sources say: "Tremendous depth in many, many areas and intellectual capacities at the highest levels."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Schumer is chair of the corporate department and "a good lawyer and business person." Clients say he is "very smart and understands our business in great detail." He represented Warner Music Group in its $3.3 billion sale to Access Industries.  

Toby Myerson is co-head of the firm's M&A group. Clients remark that he is "incredibly knowledgeable and has mastered his craft very well." He recently acted on behalf of Sumitomo Metal Industries and Sumitomo Corporation on the $340 million acquisition of Standard Steel.

Jeffrey Marell is appreciated by his clients for "understanding how various parts of complex deals fit together. He is able to nail everything together to reach a successful outcome." He recently advised Virtu Financial in its $1.5 billion merger with Madison Tyler Holdings.

THE FIRM This practice has a truly multidisciplinary and global approach to M&A. The team works for a variety of illustrious clients such as BAE Systems, Cadbury and Dow Chemical and is widely recognized for its work for financial institutions and life science companies. The group recently acted for Anglo American in its cross-border sale of Moly-Cop and AltaSteel to OneSteel, showcasing the firm's strong projects and Latin America practices. Shearman is also representing Synthes in its pending $21.3 billion acquisition by Johnson & Johnson.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Clare O'Brien is a highly experienced attorney who focuses on public and private M&A and restructurings. She is known for being "a solid attorney" and a "deal-maker." She recently led on Boston Scientific's $1.5 billion sale of its neurovascular business to Stryker.

Peter Lyons is a seasoned M&A attorney with a special focus on joint ventures and asset acquisition and disposal. He acted for Gambro on its $2.6 billion agreement to sell CaridianBCT to Terumo, a deal which reflects his presence in the healthcare space.

John Marzulli dedicates his time to international corporate finance with an emphasis on cross-border M&A. He counts some of the world's leading financial institutions among his clients.

Stephen Besen is an all-around corporate attorney who has experience in M&A, joint ventures and advisory work. Sources have praised his strong deal management skills.

THE FIRM This dynamic corporate team is fully committed to M&A and has a strong focus on private equity work. The group represents the likes of AEA and Goldman Sachs in private equity matters and recently advised DaVita on its $690 million acquisition of DSI Renal and also assisted Merck in its $500 million purchase of SmartCells.

Sources say: "A terrific corporate team." "Very efficient."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Arthur Fleischer is the firm's senior partner and has been practicing law for over 40 years. He represented Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse in their capacity as financial advisers to Genzyme during its sale to Sanofi.

Philip Richter is cochair of the firm’s M&A group. He advised on the Genzyme deal and also represented the financial advisers, Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch, on Teva's acquisition of Cephalon. One client said Richter "has been fantastic - we have used him on a large number of large M&A transactions." 

David Shine is the other M&A group cochair. "He's a partner who very much rolls up his sleeves, gets down and understand the issues. He has a great wealth of experience." He has acted for Merck on several recent deals, including its $430 million purchase of Inspire Pharmaceuticals.

John Sorkin is focused on domestic and cross-border M&A and LBOs. He recently advised Deutsche Bank in its role as financial adviser to Ensco on that company's $7.3 billion merger agreement with Pride International.

THE FIRM This 80-strong group covers a broad spectrum of M&A and also works closely with its business reorganization and restructuring department. The team provides superior legal advice for a range of public and private companies. The group recently acted for Allied World Assurance Company Holdings on its $8.5 billion stock-for-stock merger with Transatlantic Holdings.

Sources say: "The team reflects on the business aspect and not just the legal."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Cerabino is cochair of the firm’s corporate and financial services team. He led for Zurich Financial Services on its acquisition of a majority stake in the Central and South American insurance operations of Santander. One client says he is "terrific, easy to work with, knowledgeable and a brilliant deal lawyer."

M&A cochair Steven Seidman acted on behalf of Centerview Partners as financial adviser to the buyer in Ventas’s $7.4 billion purchase of Nationwide Health Properties. Clients describe him as "commercial, practical and very solutions-oriented."

David Boston is cochair of the M&A practice. Clients say he is an "effective negotiator and is able to bring a lot of perspective and talent to each project." He was the key adviser to Level 3 Communications in its complex purchase of Global Crossing.

Jack Nusbaum is a senior partner in the M&A group. He brings a wealth of experience to the table on deals and advisory matters. One source refers to him as "a super-duper lawyer." 

THE FIRM This robust team offers strong and varied M&A experience which is demonstrated by its deal sheet over recent years. The group recently advised Hewlett-Packard on its $10 billion acquisition of Autonomy Corporation and acted for Northrop Grumman in spinning off its shipbuilding business to its stockholders. Clients are quick to highlight not only the transactional capabilities of the team, but also its skills in handling advisory work.

Sources say: "I found them to be very high-quality individuals in terms of their technical knowledge and capability. They have the ability to put legal issues in a helpful context for businesspeople." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Barbara Becker is lauded by her clients for having "a very good sense of what's important and helping a lot on the business perspective. She helps frame the risks and presents them in a way we were able to address in an effective manner." One of her long-standing clients is Kraft. She has also acted on behalf of Citi and Bank of America.

Steven Shoemate is an experienced M&A attorney with a concentrated private equity focus. His clients include GE and Oak Hill Capital.

Dennis Friedman is cochair of the group and "outstanding in every respect." He has both domestic and cross-border commercial expertise and recently advised Baldor Electric in its $4.2 billion sale to ABB.

THE FIRM This leading practice is a significant player in the M&A industry, covering a wide variety of corporate transactional matters including leveraged finance and fund formation work. The team is domestically and internationally active in sectors including healthcare, media and financial services. The practice group represents a string of sophisticated clients including Monster Worldwide, Griffon Corporation and Quilvest. Recently the corporate team advised on the $980 million sale of several of Connors Bros Holdings' operating subsidiaries. Showing off its private equity expertise, the firm represented One Equity Partners in its $470 million acquisition of APAC Customer Services.

Sources say: "Practical, responsive and focused on getting deals done."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Martin Nussbaum is highly sought out by leading corporate clients for his sage advisory skills. In addition to providing ongoing corporate advice, Nussbaum has an active transactional practice and recently acted for Monster Worldwide on its $225 million purchase of HotJobs from Yahoo!.

Mark Thierfelder "understands the business issues as well as the legal issues." Clients are extremely impressed with the fact that "he is a very business-savvy corporate lawyer and protects the client." He recently represented DSI Renal in its $690 million sale to DaVita.

THE FIRM Jones Day's broad corporate and M&A practice has built strong reputations in several niches, including healthcare and energy, and has been increasingly active in the private equity space. The group has an impressive list of sophisticated clients including Procter & Gamble and International Coal. A key highlight for the team was representing Cliffs Natural Resources in its US-Canadian cross-border $4.9 billion acquisition of Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines.

Sources say: "The firm is hard-working, practical and hands-on." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Profusek is head of the firm's global M&A practice. Sources say he is a "real shining star." He was the recent adviser to International Coal in the $3.4 billion tender offer by Arch Coal for all of International Coal's outstanding shares.

THE FIRM This premier midmarket corporate group deals with M&A transactions across many sectors, with expertise in energy, retail, financial services and others. One hundred lawyers make up this substantial New York team which represents the likes of Apollo Management, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley. A recent high-profile deal for the team was advising BHP Billiton on its $12.1 billion acquisition of Petrohawk Energy. 

Sources say: "They impress me an awful lot, a tremendous group in New York."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alec Dawson has acted on several deals for Apollo Management, including its acquisition of a majority stake in Sprouts Farmers Market. Sources say he is a "knowledgeable public markets attorney." 

Charles Engros has been described as "outstanding in the media space." He has a reputation of being "very well known because he's a smart and efficient lawyer." He has advised the Daily Mail & General Trust in its $173 million sale of George Little Management to Providence Equity Partners.

THE FIRM This dynamic firm has dealt with a high volume of M&A transactions in the past year, particularly with an international dimension. The group offers clients spectacular expertise in the funds space and it is also a leader in activist investing. The team's clients include Cerberus Capital Management, Credit Suisse and Veritas Capital. The deal team recently represented ConvergEx Holdings in its $1.9 billion sale to CVC Capital Partners.

Sources say: "Extremely hard-working, professional and incredibly commercial. We rely on them quite a bit to protect us. I think they are extraordinary in what they do." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Marc Weingarten "is a terrific lawyer and someone you can get a transaction done with. He always gets the needs of his clients." He is chair of the business transactions group and was the lead partner in assisting Veritas Capital in its $960 million sale of Vangent to General Dynamics.

THE FIRM With a wealth of M&A, joint venture, restructuring and financing experience, the corporate team at Sidley is well equipped with knowledge and skill to represent a range of market-leading financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley and BNP Paribas. The team excels in this space and recently assisted Barclays Capital Real Estate in the $586 million sale of a real estate assets portfolio to CreXus Investment.

Sources say: "Extremely professional, very client-focused and they do exceptionally high-quality work." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Irving Rotter's "ability to see the issues and get to the heart of them is amazing," his clients state. He has acted for the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation on numerous acquisitions, including its recent purchase of a 24.95% interest in Star West.

THE FIRM This reputable M&A and private equity-focused group continues to be a leader in the international transactional scene. The team advises a range of corporations, investment banks, investment funds and their portfolio companies including Pfizer, Pegasus Capital, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs. The team advised GMR Group on selling its stake in InterGen to China Huaneng Group. At its closing, the $1.2 billion deal was the largest ever between a Chinese and Indian entity.

Sources say: "The firm has a group of people that are top-flight and deal with any and all of our issues. They have what we need."

KEY INDIVIDUALS John Reiss receives enthusiastic feedback from clients, one of whom states: "I have never found anyone more committed or better at this. He is the top of the field." He acted for the purchaser on the $140 million acquisition of an 80% interest in The Bank of East Asia by the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China. This is the first China-based acquisition of a US bank.

Morton Pierce's arrival from Dewey & LeBoeuf is a major boost to the practice here. He is described by sources as an "extremely effective M&A attorney." 

Since publication, Daniel Dufner has joined the team from Linklaters. Dufner is described by clients as "a dedicated adviser who is highly regarded not just by our in-house legal department, but by our business teams as well."   

THE FIRM  Allen & Overy has boosted its US presence by representing a range of big-name corporate clients including GlaxoSmithKline, Shell and Thomson Reuters. The team's robust transactional presence is demonstrated through its work on deals in the software, energy, financial institutions and media and telecom sectors. A notable recent highlight for the team was advising GE Energy on its $2.8 billion acquisition of the well support division of Wood Group.

Sources say: "Good expertise, very professional service and always well versed in our issues."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Eric Shube is head of the firm's US M&A practice. He recently led the corporate team in advising Computershare on its $550 million acquisition of The Bank of New York Mellon's shareholder services business. His technical prowess is complimented by clients: "He's great. His drafting style is very elegant and to the point and his negotiating approach is very pragmatic." Another source comments that "he covers the essentials in a very effective way."

Mark Wojciechowski recently represented Balfour Beatty in purchasing Fru-Con from Bilfinger-Berger. Sources say Wojciechowski "has very good technical skills and sound commercial judgment."

Michael Gilligan has advised Shell on the $614 million sale of its downstream business in Chile to Quiñenco. Clients say he is "commercial and good at getting to the point." 

THE FIRM After a series of high-profile hires, Greenberg has strengthened its corporate profile by taking on a number of billion-dollar deals. The team represents a diverse range of corporate clients such as the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino and financial advisers including Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch. A deal highlight for the group has been advising Terremark Worldwide on its sale to Verizon for $1.4 billion.

Sources say: "Diligent and professional." "Very good service."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Dennis Block is senior chairman of the firm and sources say: "He is a terrific corporate counselor with excellent judgment and a broad grasp of different areas of law."

Alan Annex is cochair of the firm's corporate and securities practice. He recently represented APR Energy on its sale to Horizon Acquisition Company for $855 million. Clients say: "He's very, very well versed on legal technical matters and is a very sound thinker on business perspectives. He's very timely, extremely thorough, seasoned and experienced." 

David Schwartzbaum is global M&A cochair and recently represented Deutsche Bank Securities as financial adviser to Bucyrus International on its $8.6 billion acquisition by Caterpillar.

THE FIRM Covering a full range of corporate matters, Hughes Hubbard has had a strong year in terms of deals and clients. The enthusiastic team carries its M&A expertise into the pharmaceutical, media and financial services industries. Active clients for the team range from the government of Jamaica to Daimler. The group currently represents the joint administrators of Nortel Networks in billions of dollars of transactions arising from Nortel's bankruptcy filing.

Sources say: "High-caliber, collegial people." "They work well for smaller, medium and big clients."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Ken Lefkowitz is deputy chair of the department and recently represented Wipro in purchasing the oil and gas IT group from the commercial business services division of Science Applications International. Sources say: "He is a terrific person and good lawyer." 

Charles Samuelson is a "tenacious, practical, responsive lawyer who is quick to analyze things and recommend a course of action." He recently acted as the securities and finance counsel on private equity firm Kenner & Company’s $590 million purchase of Melrose's Dynacast business.

Candace Krugman Beinecke is chair of the firm and lauded by her clients as having an "excellent reputation and being renowned in the industry for corporate matters."

James Modlin "is super knowledgeable, super responsive and a good character." He has advised Cadmin Services in selling Clearstone Central Laboratories to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings. 

THE FIRM Milbank has a prominent presence in M&A and is particularly noted for its specialist knowledge in power and energy. The group is enhancing its reputation as a strong corporate team through its sophisticated, cross-border M&A transactions involving Latin America and China. Highlights include advising Arrow Electronics on its $350 million purchase of Richardson Electronics' radio frequency, wireless and power assets and operations. The team is also representing the likes of Mitsubishi and Citigroup Venture Capital International.

Sources say: "Top legal skills and knowledge. It is a unique M&A group with people who all really mesh well. They're all likable."

KEY INDIVIDUALS John Franchini recently advised Mitsubishi on its joint venture with CAP to establish the first water desalination project in Chile. Clients praise Franchini as "direct and pragmatic, with a strong understanding of all aspects of the business." 

THE FIRM This growing corporate department has amassed a number of financial institutions, private equity firms and corporations as clients recently, including Ares Management and Morgan Stanley. The team is carving out a strong niche for itself within the private equity sphere and in international deals, with a particular focus on Latin America. A recent deal is the $4.5 billion cross-border acquisition of Talecris Biotherapeutics by Grifols, in which Proskauer represented the purchaser.

Sources say: "The team just does above and beyond what would be required in a transaction. They really do everything!" 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Ronald Papa co-heads both the global corporate group and M&A practice. He recently represented the H.W. Wilson Company in its purchase by EBSCO Publishing.

THE FIRM This firm offers an effective practice in the M&A and securities space and has an especially good reputation for private equity work. A recent high-profile matter for the group was advising TPG Growth on the $1.8 billion acquisition of J. Crew, just one of the deals undertaken for TPG Capital in the past few years. The team also represented 3i in its $40 million investment in TouchTunes.

Sources say: "The team is very active and did a terrific job." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Othon Prounis is regarded as being "very good in the private equity and venture capital space." He has led on a number of corporate deals for the group including representing Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in its sale of AGA Medical Holdings to St. Jude Medical for $1.3 billion.

THE FIRM This 44-strong team advises on a range of M&A issues including private equity, hedge funds, joint ventures and hostile takeovers. Akin Gump recently acted as the primary deal counsel to VimpelCom on its $6.5 billion merger with Weather Investments. The corporate team also represents Cerberus Capital Management and FirstEnergy.

Sources say: "The group does substantial M&A work with a private equity focus." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Kerry Berchem is co-head of the corporate department.

THE FIRM Renowned and highly respected for its strength and expertise in the energy sector, this corporate team continues to excel there and also assists on a range of solid M&A matters in the media, technology and real estate spaces. The team advises its domestic and foreign clients on their regulatory needs and on nationwide and cross-border deals. Key clients for the team include Liberty Global, QVC and Ascent Capital Group. The team recently represented Liberty Media in the $204 million purchase of newly issued convertible preferred stock of Barnes & Noble.

Sources say: "First-class representation with a great deal of sensitivity to client needs." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Murray is head of the firm's corporate group.

THE FIRM This M&A group has extensive experience with handling corporate, transactional and reorganization matters. The team is known for its exceptional client service and high level of partner involvement in transactions. The firm recently advised Resurgence Asset Management on the $100 million merger between Sterling Chemicals, in which Resurgence had a controlling stake, and Eastman Chemical.

Sources say: "The quality of their work is always top-notch." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robb Tretter is leader of the firm’s private investments funds practice.

THE FIRM This team's corporate and M&A advisory role includes advising public and private companies in LBOs, M&A, joint ventures and general corporate matters. The group has unique experience in assisting clients with corporate takeover defense and takeover preparedness. Current clients range from Société Générale to Macquarie Energy. A recent deal highlight for the group is in representing Metals USA in its purchase of Richardson Trident.

Sources say:  "They are a very high-level firm in terms of quality of work and people."

KEY INDIVIDUAL Louis Bevilacqua is cochair of the corporate group. He was lead attorney on the recent sale of Wind Up Entertainment and on Lehman Re's sale of domestic and international hospitality companies. Clients call him "a very, very commercial lawyer and a great partner." 

THE FIRM The UK giant has had a solid year in the New York corporate market, working on numerous billion-dollar deals for a string of international clients. A recent deal for the M&A group was representing AEI in $4.8 billion worth of business and asset sales, including Iberdrola's $2.4 billion purchase of Eletro. The New York team also worked seamlessly with Clifford Chance's Sydney office on acting for FLY Leasing's $1.4 billion acquisition of a portfolio of 49 Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

Sources say: "A great go-to firm for us." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Brian Hoffman is co-head of the corporate practice.

THE FIRM This vibrant M&A team leverages easily off of the firm's excellent life sciences practice, assisting a range of established and emerging-growth companies, plus investors like banks and private equity firms. The firm advises numerous other industries as well, recently acting for the Associated Press on its spinoff of its news registry division, News Licensing Group. The group represented UBS Securities as financial adviser to International Coal Group in Arch Coal's $3.4 billion acquisition of International.

Sources say: "They do a remarkable job, they are very mindful of client service and are available to work on short notice."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Scott Smith is head of the practice and recently acted for SandRidge Energy on its $1.6 billion purchase of Arena Resources. Sources say he is a "great guy and a great lawyer."

J D Weinberg led for UBS Securities on its role in the International Coal/Arch Coal deal. Sources say: "He's got an excellent reputation and is a smart guy." 

THE FIRM This midmarket firm has a compact team of attorneys in New York, but still offers a fully-fledged corporate service to its clients, with a growing specialist focus on venture capital work. The group recently assisted Quidsi on its $545 million sale to Amazon.com and advises other sizable domestic and global corporate clients, including US Bank, MasterCard and UnitedHealth Group. The department has a truly global approach and is continually developing its expertise in Israel, India and Latin America.

Sources say: "They are constantly driven by the concept of maximizing the potential of the arrangement."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Steven Khadavi "is a fantastic attorney and our go-to guy." Clients excitedly say about the practice co-head: "When we found Steve, we felt like we discovered a little gem. He has an understanding from the legal perspective and does a nice job of balancing business issues." 

THE FIRM The Goodwin corporate department has worked on a range of impressive deals and has broad experience in tender offers, LBOs and hostile takeovers. The team can readily capitalize on the firm's investment funds expertise to provide seasoned transactional counsel to its client and has been particularly ramping up in the IT space. A notable deal for the group was representing Blinkx in its purchase of Burst Media.

Sources say: "From a service standpoint, they put their clients first and are very responsive. If the lead attorney isn't there, the others are quick to answer."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Andrew Weidhaas is lauded by his clients as being "a businessman's lawyer." He recently advised BGC Partners on its acquisition of Newmark and advised Behrman Capital on acquiring Atherotech. Clients remark: "He finds the right balance between the legal details and the business understanding. He is incredibly bright and his ability to integrate that into the business deal and to move it further is remarkable." 

THE FIRM This flourishing midmarket group has growing expertise in both M&A and private equity deals within the media, telecommunications and healthcare sectors. The team has also been advising clients on significant financial and strategic transactions. The New York group recently worked in tandem with the firm's DC and Baltimore offices in advising American Commercial Lines on its $777 million acquisition by Platinum Equity. It also advised Fox Interactive Media on the sale of MySpace to Specific Media.

Sources say: "They are tactful, mindful and go the extra mile for us."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Stuart Stein is the global co-head of the corporate practice group.

THE FIRM This department's transactional presence is shown through the breadth and depth of deals on which it advises. One recent highlight was representing J.W. Childs Associates, BAML Capital Partners and Advantage Sales & Marketing (ASM) in Apax Partners' purchase of ASM for $1.8 billion. The team also advised frequent client American Securities on the $155 million sale of Weasler Engineering to Actuant.

Sources say: "An amazingly professional firm that seems to be able to recruit the best candidates for the different practices it has. Overarching their competence is a bunch of people who will build a relationship and do what they need to suit the business you are."

KEY INDIVIDUAL Joel Greenberg is cochair of the firm’s Canada group and specializes in cross-border and international M&A transactions. Sources say: "He is a great guy and great lawyer." He acted for Onex Corporation on a $871 million investment in JELD-WEN Holding.

Nancy Fuchs is an expert in national security work. Her clients say: "She's the fastest gun in the West! She has an astonishing breadth of knowledge and I've yet to come across anyone who compares." Her legal prowess makes her clients feel an "immense relief to have her on our side."  

THE FIRM This team is a midmarket favorite thanks to the firm's ability to advise on a range of transactional work, including distressed M&A and private equity investment. Recent highlights for the team were advising Ocwen Financial on a number of acquisitions and investments worth billions of dollars, as well as Thomson Reuters's acquisition of Pangea3; Kramer Levin advised Pangea3 on that multijurisdictional deal. 

Sources say: "Terrific firm, great people there."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Howard Spilko is an accomplished attorney who advised RiskMetrics Group on its $1.6 billion purchase by MSCI.

Ernest Wechsler works on a variety of corporate and M&A matters. He frequently advises on bankruptcy-related transactions, and is very active in the Israeli M&A market.

THE FIRM This team has built up a breadth of experience dealing with M&A, increasingly with cross-border elements. A recent coup for the team was advising Fila Korea and Mirae Asset Private Equity on the $1.2 billion cash acquisition of golfing equipment company Acushnet from Fortune Brands. It also acted for Thompson Creek on its purchase of Terrane Metals for $650 million.

Sources say: "The group is a classy and professional outfit who also work as part of a team, which is a great strength."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Tim Alvino is a seasoned M&A attorney with experience in the technology and energy sectors. Clients describe his demeanor as "calm and deliberate with exceptional service levels." He is currently advising Irving Oil group on ongoing corporate matters. Sources say: "He always has a long-term view, brings different skills on different service lines and always puts a client's interests at the very front of things." 

Thomas Sauermilch represented United Initiators, a chemical company with a presence in the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia, in selling a strategic majority interest to UK private equity firm Vision Capital.

THE FIRM This corporate team has a focus on both domestic and international M&A work and is especially noted for its technology work. Paul Hastings offers its clients a full range of transactional advice on M&A, joint ventures and disposals. The team recently represented MXenergy Holdings in its $400 million sale to Constellation Energy, and Rural/Metro when it was taken private by Warburg Pincus for $670 million.

Sources say: "It's a terrific firm with great people."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Kruger is a key corporate/M&A contact in New York.

THE FIRM This corporate team is an active player in both M&A and private equity work, particularly in the rapidly growing energy space. The New York team has seen increasing cross-border activity, advising EQT Infrastructure of Sweden on its acquisition of a 70% stake in Texas-based Peregrine Midstream Partners. The group also recently advised Buckeye Partners on its $1.7 billion acquisition of Bahamas Oil Refining Company International from First Reserve and Vopak Bahamas.

Sources say: "Responsive, commercial and good at identifying key issues for us. They have a small but high-caliber New York presence." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Caroline Blitzer and David Cohen are two M&A contacts in New York.

THE FIRM WilmerHale is world-renowned for its depth and expertise in technology and life sciences M&A matters and the team is specifically highlighted for its strong Asia corporate and transactional work. The team represents numerous emerging and established companies on financing, M&A and governance. A recent noteworthy transaction for the team was its involvement in representing Merck KGaA on its acquisition of Amnis.

Sources say: "Very high quality." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Andrew Nagel is chair of the corporate group.

THE FIRM With expertise in technology, financial services and the media industry, this growing and talented team has worked on a range of domestic and cross-border transactions. The group continues to work on numerous acquisitions for E. W. Scripps, which is a frequent client. Other active clients for the firm include Triton Pacific Capital Partners and Matrix Financial Solutions.

Sources say: "Outstanding service." "Very responsive with lots of talented people." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Steven Goldberg is cochair of the nationwide M&A group.

THE FIRM The DLA team is one of the city's most active in international M&A and private equity deals, which comes from the firm's truly expansive international footprint. Clients include Pfizer and Constellation Venture Capital. The group recently advised Abengoa on selling its 40% stake in Telvent GIT to Schneider Electric for $675 million. The firm also boasts an impressive niche in sports law and has recently advised on several high-value deals in that space.

Sources say: "Their client service and commercial awareness are excellent." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jonathan Klein is chair of the M&A group and of the New York corporate and finance group.

THE FIRM This corporate and securities boutique has offices in DC and New York, from which it offers a respected national practice. The team is especially highly regarded for its SPAC work, including its recent representation of Azteca Acquisition in its $100 million SPAC IPO. The $420 million Capital Gold merger with Gammon Gold is another recent high point for the team, which advised Capital Gold on the deal.

Sources say: "Great in the SPAC space, a rising firm."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Douglas Ellenoff is managing partner of the firm.

THE FIRM This group has been noted for its growing strength in New York, thanks in large part to its strong performance on several sizable cross-border M&A deals. A notable recent deal for the team was advising Travelex on the $964 million sale of Travelex Global Business Payments to Western Union. The team also plays a significant role in some of the firm's largest and most impressive deals, such as the $13.7 billion sale of privately held Nycomed to Takeda.

Sources say: "Freshfields is generally comprised of smart people that can deal well across borders. They have the ability to handle the difficulties of cross-border transactions. The lawyers are always professional." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Matthew Herman is head of the US corporate practice.

THE FIRM This compact and practical team has solid experience with public and private M&A and private equity deals, both domestically and internationally. The team's work has touched heavily on the life science and technology arenas and Jenner recently advised clients such as Obagi Medical Products and Enzon Pharmaceuticals on corporate and regulatory issues. The team also represented Lonza Group in its $1.2 billion purchase of Arch Chemicals.

Sources say: "Responsive, timely and provide sound advice."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Tobias Knapp has worked on a range of high-profile deals for clients such as GM, Island Def Jam Music and GM Asset Management. Clients laud him for being a "responsive and business-oriented attorney."

THE FIRM This dynamic team has worked on a number of transactions and makes a particularly impressive showing on cross-border work involving Asian clients. A key M&A deal for the team was advising Japan-based Terumo on its $2.6 billion purchase of CaridianBCT. The team continues to represent Astellas Pharma, recently on exercising its option to buy all of the equity interests in Perseid Therapeutics from Maxygen, Astellas's joint venture partner in Perseid.

Sources say: "They have a good sense of hospitality toward their clients." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Michael Braun and Spencer Klein head the New York office.

THE FIRM This firm's transactional presence particularly shows in sectors like environment and media, where the firm has a nationwide reputation. The group advises an array of international clients on M&A and advisory matters, and is very active on behalf of Asian entities. The deal team also complements the firm's fund formation practice.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Frederick Bachman is a key contact in New York.

THE FIRM This M&A team works closely with complementary teams in New York and around the country to provide its clients with a seamless, comprehensive service. It recently advised Ernst & Young on purchasing all of the outstanding interest in ISA Consulting. The team also advised China Security & Surveillance Technology on a $442 million take-private deal.

Sources say: "The most responsive, value-added lawyers I have ever come in contact with. The way they staff and handle transactions is always appropriate to the size of transaction. They don't waste any time or money and are the most pleasant people on the face of the earth."

KEY INDIVIDUALS James Kelly is an expert in private equity and M&A deals. Sources say: "He always has time and is patient and thorough. He explains in detail and gives good analysis. He is always cost-effective and customizes his work depending on our business needs." 

THE FIRM Nixon Peabody joins the rankings this year in recognition of the team's respected representation of midmarket clients in a broad spectrum of domestic and cross-border M&A work. The team has a deep bench of experience particularly in life sciences, technology and healthcare industries. The team acted for North American Partners in Anesthesia on the recapitalization of its practice management company. It also advised Constellation Brands on selling its Australian and UK businesses to Australian private equity firm CHAMP Private Equity.

Sources say: "They are client-focused and bring an appreciation for and understanding of the business and legal issues."

KEY INDIVIDUALS John Koeppel is chair of Nixon Peabody’s private equity and investment funds group. One client states: "He is very much involved, understands our business and is fundamental in giving us good advice. He's good at focusing on issues that are important. John takes things in his stride." 

THE FIRM This midmarket practices offers its clients broad experience in public and private offerings, joint venture and traditional M&A work. Recent clients include The Bank of New York Mellon and China Green Agriculture. The team has completed deals for the likes of Lady Gaga, having represented her on an investment in the new website platform developers, The Backplane. The firm also advised Brite Media Group in its subsidiary's purchase of the New Jersey and Los Angeles experiential marketing divisions of Alloy Media + Marketing.

Sources say: "Their breadth of capability is superb and they deliver everything on time and appropriately balance the situation." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS The New York practice head is Eric Hellige.

THE FIRM Sutherland's corporate team in New York is frequently seen advising on deals within financial services and other regulated industries, where it represents leading names in investment banking, insurance and reinsurance. The New York team regularly works with its DC and Atlanta offices on high-value deals and advisory work.

Sources say: "Very keyed in to current issues." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Bert Adams recently advised several leading clients on hundreds of millions of dollars in letter of credit facilities.