Corporate/M&A: Indiana

THE FIRM This 70-strong group offers experience and expertise across a wide range of corporate matters. The team's activity includes asset and stock purchases, joint ventures, recapitalizations and tender offers. It also acts for both buyers and sellers on M&A. Recently, the team represented Klipsch Group, a leader in high performance audio solutions, in its $166 million sale to Audiovox.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Catherine Bridge earns praise from peers for being a "fine lawyer with a strong public company client base." She focuses on corporate securities and M&A, and recently represented Tomkins in its $25 million disposition of Plews to a consortium of financial partners.

Claudia Swhier is described as "one of Indiana's top banking lawyers." She has extensive experience in representing financial institutions on M&A, financings and company formations.

Corporate group head David Millard has wide-ranging expertise in representing both large and emerging companies. He has recently acted for longstanding client J. D. Byrider on its acquisition by private equity house Altamount Capital Partners.

Eric Moy impresses clients with his "first-rate mind and good grasp both of the business and commercial aspects of law." He is experienced in complex transactions, M&A, corporate finance and corporate governance issues.

THE FIRM The large, adept team at this newly merged firm has five offices across Indiana and offers a first-rate corporate practice to both national and international clients. The group handles public and private financing transactions, M&A and investment management, as well as advising companies on compliance and corporate governance. In the past year the team handled the $1.9 billion sale and transfer of City of Indianapolis water and wastewater utilities to Citizens Energy Group.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Experienced partner Daniel Boeglin splits his time between the firm's corporate and life sciences groups, and represents leading pharmaceutical, medical device and biotech companies in a number of transactions. He recently acted for Marcadia Biotech on its $500 million sale to Roche Holdings.

Jeffrey Brown leads the firm's private capital and venture group, earning solid praise for his practice. Recent highlights include a complicated transaction which involved moving Bell Industries from a publicly traded California company to a private company in Delaware.

The "well respected and hard-working" Patrick Cross advises the firm's life sciences, healthcare and technology clients on M&A transactions and joint ventures.

Robert Wynne handles a range of financial transactions for public and private companies and financial institutions across the state.

David Worrell is "an excellent attorney and one to watch," according to peers. He recently acted for major real estate company Simon Property Group on a public offering of senior notes and a tender offering to buy senior notes totaling $3.2 billion.

THE FIRM The robust team at Ice Miller supports its corporate and M&A work with strategic alliances from other practice areas within the firm. The lawyers are fully equipped to deal with all types of funds and complex litigation, as well as related securities transactions. The team is active in the private equity industry and has extensive experience of representing both sides in private equity cases.  

Sources say: "One of the top corporate law firms in town."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Stephen Hackman is described as a "rock-solid" lawyer. He is highly experienced in both federal and state securities law, and recently worked on a high-value registered public offering of units case for Bioanalytical Systems.

Steven Humke founded the firm's emerging companies practice. He specializes in the area of business growth through capital raising strategies and M&A. He recently worked on a leveraged recapitalization for Lineage Capital. 

John Thornburgh receives praise for his private equity practice. He recently handled a private equity fund formation for Indie Diversified Asset Fund.

Richard Thrapp does "excellent work" and is particularly noted for his representation of midmarket companies, including private family-owned businesses. He has a strong reputation for corporate transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and financings. 

Kristine Camron Danz is particularly recommended for her work on entrepreneurial legal issues and has lately worked on a private equity raising for Angie's List.

THE FIRM This Indianapolis firm provides strong support across the board for large and small-scale strategic and financial M&A transactions. The team also represents clients in a variety of corporate governance matters and litigation, and enjoys an excellent reputation in the state for business transaction work. The practice continues to attract major new clients, such as Kanuf Installation. 

Sources say: "The quality of work is outstanding and the timeliness of response is very good."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Hicks is described as a "fantastic business lawyer" and demonstrates his impressive experience when representing large corporate clients such as Hammond, Kennedy and Whitney & Company on numerous M&A transactions.

James Strain receives accolades from clients for his "highly analytical manner" and for "presenting technical legal issues in a practical way."

Donald Densborn has recently been involved in a complex matter involving multiple minority and control stake investments. He has deep expertise in corporate law and "has a knack for being very practical."

"Major league player" Ralph Caruso handles major M&A deals and is admired by clients for his commitment to their needs: "He will do whatever is needed to meet the client's objectives."

THE FIRM This practice is known for providing clients with assured and consistent advice on a variety of business matters. The firm's attorneys are able to act for clients on business planning, negotiating and drafting contracts. They are also well versed in state and federal regulatory procedures, and have supported clients through numerous complex M&A transactions.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jeremy Hill has a strong profile in M&A transactions and recently worked as lead counsel on an asset sale with Indiana Heart Physicians.

David Prechtel is known to have developed a strong reputation in the corporate field. He focuses on M&A and securities transactions. 

THE FIRM This 25-member corporate team earns praise for its client-focused approach. The broad practice covers M&A, securities offerings and bank financings for a range of clients, including Franciscan Alliance, SMC Corporation of America and Indianapolis Downs.

Sources say: "The firm houses top-quality individuals across the ranks. The attorneys, associates and assistants put in 100% effort, and are able to deliver on the shortest of deadlines to provide the best possible results for clients."

KEY INDIVIDUALS David Butcher has a recognized practice in business services, and represents a mix of banks and public and private companies in transactional and corporate securities matters.

The "hard-working and detail-oriented" Roberts Inveiss chairs the business services group and handles corporate finance and transactions, M&A, and a wide range of business agreements. He recently represented Maple Leaf Farms in its joint venture into China.

THE FIRM This firm has five offices across Indiana and its corporate team has the capacity to represent a wide range of small and large-scale clients, from emerging growth companies to multinational corporations. The firm's attorneys have deep experience in working on both sides of M&A deals, and are known for completing such transactions with efficiency and skill.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Business practice group chair Robert Greising acts on a diverse range of transactions both as lead counsel and in an advisory capacity. He focuses his expertise upon entrepreneurial and family-owned businesses.