Corporate/M&A: Connecticut

THE FIRM This Connecticut firm services clients from its Stamford and New Haven branches. The group is recommended for its unparalleled depth and broad expertise in the transactional arena, particularly in private equity. It houses a superb number of preeminent experts, and sources agree its local prowess is underscored by its presence at the national level also. Highlight matters include advising health plan administration company PayFlex Holdings on its $200 million sale to Aetna.

Sources say: "An outstanding firm." "A great stable of private equity clients."

KEY INDIVIDUALS David Albin's profile continues to rise in this field. According to one enthusiastic source, he has developed "a great national profile" and a very "successful practice." His key clients include Warwick Group and Return Path.

Name partner Harold Finn is one of the longest serving lawyers here. He is an excellent choice of counsel on account of his "good judgment" and "very strong background in securities," according to admiring interviewees. Much of his work involves trust company matters.

Fellow founding partner Michael Herling is known for his work involving substantial M&A private equity matters. He is widely lauded as "an outstanding lawyer" who maintains a "very high quality" practice, sources say. His clients include Capital Partners and Catterton Growth Partners.

Charles Downey is admired for using his skill set to further client aims across a broad variety of corporate and M&A work. He is admitted to the Bar of New York as well as Connecticut, enabling him to offer seamless service across jurisdictions. His clients include notable hedge funds and private equity entities.

THE FIRM Day Pitney is known for its substantial presence in key East Coast transactional centers, as well as having five offices in Connecticut alone. It has proven strength and depth of resources to handle larger regional and national matters, and its client list includes entities from the hi-tech, engineering, manufacturing and private equity sectors.

Sources say: "A fine law firm."

KEY INDIVIDUALS David Swerdloff is based in the Stamford office and is a former chair of the business law section of the Connecticut Bar Association. He now serves as lead partner of the firm's corporate and business law practice. Sources praise him as "a very good, smart corporate lawyer," who understands the importance of maintaining "a good sense of humor" to expedite successful deals.

R Scott Beach cochairs the firm's private equity and investment funds department. He courts increasing market esteem as "a good lawyer" and "a rising star" in this field, particularly in work relating to funds. Key clients include a number of private equity funds.

THE FIRM This firm is an established name in transactional matters, and boasts offices in several East Coast deal centers including New York and Boston, as well as three in Connecticut itself. Its marquee clients include The Nielsen Company and Affinion Group as well as a number of banking entities. In recent highlights, the group represented First New England Capital in connection with a debt financing transaction with a locally-based energy reseller.

Sources say: "One of the leading local firms." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Eric Dale heads up the firm's emerging companies and private equity practice from the Stamford office, and is the chief draw there. His highlights for the year include advising The Nielsen Company in acquiring a stake in Neurofocus. Sources "think highly of him" as "a good man and a good lawyer."

Hartford-based John Lynch serves as managing partner for the entire firm. Sources agree he does "a good job" in negotiating and constructing deals and undertaking associated finance matters. His major clients include Reflexite Corporation.

Richard Krantz is described by one client as "responsive; he is very careful and I have been pleased with the work." His practice is recognized for its emphasis on securities matters, including public securities, as well as more conventional corporate and M&A matters. His key clients include Unimin Corporation.

THE FIRM Clients seek out this firm for a number of areas including debt facilities and M&A, as well as private equity work associated with emerging companies. It is known for its extensive representation of healthcare-related interests, such as Meda and Orphazyme. Clients outside the healthcare area include Loomis Armored.

Sources say: "A very good aggressive firm." "An old line name in Connecticut." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS New Haven-based "quality corporate lawyer" Frank Marco is admitted in New York as well as Connecticut. He is the lead partner of the firm's private equity and emerging companies group. Sources speak highly of his "strong reputation in the state, especially in portfolio companies for private equity funds." Recent work includes advising a pharmaceutical client on its $120 million acquisition by a third party.

William Perrone operates out of the Stamford office, where he continues to impress sources with his "very pragmatic and efficient" work style. He is particularly visible in representations of technology entities with substantial IP matters.

THE FIRM This firm continues to consolidate its position in the Connecticut market and advises across the spectrum of corporate and commercial issues for its local and regional clients. It acts for a host of clients including private equity and mezzanine financing entities.

Sources say:  "A good group of lawyers." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Freed is a principal name in the group. He enjoys a sound reputation in the state for his transactional and private equity expertise. Key clients include entities from the business solutions and broadcast media sectors.

Martin Clarke enjoys a good reputation in the private equity and corporate areas. Being qualified in both New York and Connecticut enables him to offer seamless integrated service across these two jurisdictions.

John Flaherty has a broad practice including asset-based lending issues. According to admiring sources, he "shows good judgment and is reasonable."

Chris Cerrito is one of the younger members of the team, but sources agree he already exhibits the right traits to take him far in this market. According to one client, "he just understands my business, and is able to apply business sense to the legal issues."

THE FIRM The practice group maintains a solid reputation in the sector, particularly around insurance-connected work. Its client list includes the likes of QBE Holdings, Hingham Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Utica National Insurance Group.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sources have high regard for key lawyer and former Connecticut Bar Association business law chair James Lotstein. He is described as "very conscientious in looking out for client interests," and is also lauded for his easy yet effective negotiation style.

THE FIRM This compact Connecticut firm operates out of a single office in Westport. Its 13-attorney corporate and M&A group acts for a variety of highly satisfied clients. The team frequently advises a number of impressive names, including Bolt Technology Corporation, DataViz and Holding Capital Group.

Sources say: "Down-to-earth approach, very thorough follow-up and follow-through."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Barbara Young is one of the principal lawyers here. Her recent highlights include advising software developer DataViz in the sale of a number of assets to Research in Motion. Her previous role as in-house counsel gives her great insight into the pressures that clients face on a daily basis. One impressed client said: "She takes time to understand my business goals and understands we bring her on board to achieve those goals."

Robert Barberi calls on his substantial experience on the client side as a former in-house general counsel for multinational corporations. Sources were quick to point to him as "a consummate professional and highly detail-oriented" in their dealings with him. His highlights include advising marketing agency Deep Focus on its sale to The Engine Group.

Cheryl Johnson wins rising market acclaim as "a strong, practical lawyer with good deal experience and knowledge." Her dual Connecticut and New York qualification makes for advantageous deal-making potential. Her client list includes ASYM Energy Investments.

Judy Rabkin's "expertise is invaluable," according to one enthusiastic source. Her broad practice includes real estate and insolvency as well as general business law.

THE FIRM This firm represents a superb roster of clients, and includes manufacturing and financial institutions such as Hitachi Capital America and Carpin Manufacturing. Interviewees speak of detail-oriented lawyers with in-depth local knowledge.

Sources say: "A great resource." "A strong understanding of what is needed and expected."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Don Borod is a former head of the middle market practice at the firm. He "combines the theoretical with the practical to provide the best solutions for the client," according to sources. Also of note is his "very polite manner with acquisition targets." His clients include Legrand North America.

THE FIRM This esteemed firm is a regular sight and a good name in transactional matters, according to interviewees. Its four Connecticut offices handle a variety of work involving banking, closely-held businesses and M&A consultancy.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Hartford partner Willard Pinney cochairs the private equity sub-practice at the firm. He wins market-leading acclaim for the quality of his corporate and securities practice. Sources speak of his "outstanding, very good judgment," and rate him as "very conscientious in looking out for client interests." 

Edward Whittemore is a younger partner based in Hartford. He continues to build on his profile as a successful transactional lawyer with a notable securities bent to his practice.

THE FIRM As one of the oldest groups in the state, this 11-strong transactional team enjoys a sound reputation for its deep local knowledge and its skills in managing its smaller, more entrepreneurial client base. Clients include public bodies, manufacturing and banking interests.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Nancy Hancock heads up the emerging companies sub-practice from the Bridgeport office. Sources laud her as a "consummate professional." One impressed client said: "She impressed us with her knowledge and ability to resolve our issues in a very professional manner." Her command of tax law is also highly recommended.

Andrew Glassman practices out of the Hartford office, where he chairs the firm's corporate and business practice. His broad skill set combines transactional work with contentious labor and employment matters.

Robert Morris is the firm's managing director and head of tax. Sources praise his "very good sense of that skill." Usefully, he is admitted to practice in Florida and New York as well as Connecticut.

THE FIRM Clients including Stanadyne Corporation and Open Solutions seek out this firm for its effective all-around ability in transactional matters. It also has a notable reputation for healthcare-related work, and clients include Tangoe and Open Solutions.

KEY INDIVIDUALS John Lawrence wins plaudits as "a smart guy," and sources praise his fluid interpersonal skills when at the negotiating table. He advises a number of healthcare, insurance energy and entities with their day-to-day corporate issues.