Find Lawyers in America for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Practice Area Overview
A merger or large acquisition is a significant event in the life of a company and its numerous constituencies. It can affect everyone from shareholders, directors and managers to employees, customers and communities.
Mergers and acquisitions lawyers play critical roles in how M&As are evaluated, structured and implemented. Also called business acquisition lawyers and acquisition attorneys, these legal professionals provide useful guidance throughout this complex process.
- M&As in the United States are governed by a dual regulatory regime, consisting of state corporation laws (e.g., the Delaware General Corporation Law) and the Federal securities laws (primarily, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
There are three primary types of M&A transactions:
- A merger, which is the legal combination of two separate entities under state law.
- “Stock deals,” which are the purchase of a business through the purchase of the owner or an interest in the owner of the business.
- “Asset deals,” which are the purchase of a business through the purchase of assets. Transactions can involve public or private companies. They may be on a hostile or friendly basis and may entail acquisition of 100% ownership, a controlling interest or a minority stake.
The legal environment for the public company merger and acquisition activity in the United States has changed dramatically over the last several years. This process of change continues apace.
M&A lawyers advise their clients to ensure the transaction is in compliance with federal and state laws. We work with our clients to evaluate the strategy and tactical advantage of a friendly versus hostile transaction.
M&A law firms represent their clients in negotiations on the structure of the deal, perform due diligence and assist with the terms of the contract. An M&A attorney has responsibilities that extend beyond merely negotiating the terms of the agreements. They play a key role across the entire process by which board decisions are made.
This includes board and management counseling throughout the process on legal obligations, evolving corporate governance standards and shareholder relations.
Understanding Mergers and Acquisitions
The mergers and acquisitions M&A practice area relates to two distinct processes that ultimately produce similar results. Namely, the consolidation of two organizations into a single entity.
Mergers refer to the coming together of two previously separate organizations. These combined companies establish a single business name and legal entity that represents their new structure.
Acquisitions involve one business purchasing another. The purchased business may eventually cease to exist as a distinct entity. It is absorbed by the organization that acquired it.
A hostile takeover is an example of an acquisition. However, acquisitions are not always adversarial.
There are a number of reasons why M&As occur. Businesses may want to gain access to innovative technology or intellectual property, among many other objectives.
Acquisitions are more common than mergers. However, the term merger is often used to refer to both processes in casual settings. Acquisitions are sometimes thought of as an aggressive or negative process.
Regardless of which definition applies to your company’s situation, an M&A lawyer can share their knowledge and provide support throughout the process.
The Potential Complexity of Mergers and Acquisitions
M&As involve due diligence, contract preparation and many other often complex processes. Negotiation can also require a significant investment of time and effort.
For very large businesses, the agreement may need to be reviewed by state or federal agencies. On the federal level, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice regulate this activity.
Similarly, international M&As can add additional layers of complexity to the process.
M&As are not common events for many business owners or decision-makers. However, these activities have very important stakes. They often involve significant financial transactions and substantially change the companies involved.
The best M&A law firms provide guidance throughout this complex workflow. They can offer support and guidance, from reviewing the initial letter of intent to assisting with the post-closing process.
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
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More than 20 years of deal experience handling bet-the-company transactions. Six years serving as managing partner and CEO of an AmLaw 200 firm. Strategic advisor to business executives. Adam Agron possesses the powerful combination of first-hand experience running a business and a noteworthy track record advising C-level executives and boards of directors. He leads private equity firms, public and private companies and entrepreneurs through mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, leveraged...
Eric Amstutz concentrates his practice in advising businesses; the negotiation, drafting and analysis of complex agreements, including business mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and spin-offs; board governance, issues, including for public companies; insolvency-related matters; equity and debt securities offerings; government-private sector transactions; and business practice assistance in litigation.
Martha Anderson is Managing Partner of Nixon Peabody’s Buffalo, New York, office. She is a finance and corporate lawyer with over 25 years of experience representing financial institutions and businesses of all types in connection with leveraged and project finance transactions and mergers, acquisitions and dispositions. She also has extensive experience in professional sports matters involving NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL teams and their stadiums and arenas. What do you focus on? I help finan...
Andrew Apfelberg, a Partner at Greenberg Glusker LLP, is a corporate and finance attorney for middle-market companies throughout the United States. Andrew often acts as outside general counsel to his clients, providing advice on a business’ significant transactions whether it’s a merger or acquisition, private equity or other financing, joint venture or licensing deal. He has a considerable depth of experience in the branded consumer products and manufacturing & distribution i...
Betty leverages extensive corporate finance and M&A transactional experience to guide companies through the entire corporate lifecycle, from formation through growth and planned exit. Her clients include established and emerging growth companies as well as venture capital and other private equity funds. She works with clients in a variety of industries, including software, technology, telecommunications, analytics, medical devices, healthcare, fintech and manufacturing. Betty regularly ac...
Peter Allan Atkins is an internationally recognized leading attorney involved in the firm’s corporate and securities practice areas, with extensive experience in the mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance fields. He has represented acquirors (both U.S. and non-U.S.), targets and investment banks in a large number of mergers, acquisitions, takeovers (negotiated and contested), leveraged buyouts, spin-offs and joint ventures. He also counsels clients on a broad range of corpor...
Adam J. August is a partner in Holland & Knight's Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group. Mr. August counsels public and private company clients in a variety of industries including information technology, government contracting, software and telecommunications. He has been actively involved in merger, acquisition and disposition transactions with a combined value more than $1 billion, and financing/investment transactions and securities offerings worth more than $600 million...
Mr. August is a shareholder in the firm. Mr. August has been with the firm since 1994. He is a certified specialist in the fields of both Taxation Law, and Estate Planning and Probate by The Supreme Court of South Carolina. He is listed in the book The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Bursiness Organizations, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree, magna cum laude ...
David Austin is the President of Eaton Peabody. He concentrates his practice on a variety of corporate matters on behalf of the firm's private and publicly held clients. He represents a variety of business clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions, general corporate counsel, commercial contracts, debt and equity financings, and stockholder relations. Representative projects: Represented a major timberlands client in its acquisition of a hardwood flooring manufacturer; represented cl...
Jonathan Awner serves as Co-Chair of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group. Ranked by Best Lawyers in America , Chambers USA , and The Legal 500 as a preeminent corporate lawyer, Jonathan Awner advises clients in automotive retail, aviation, distribution, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, services, technology, waste management and other industries. Described by a client quoted in Chambers USA as a “top-notch” lawyer who is “smart, hard-working and practical,” J...
John Babcock has extensive experience in corporate and tax law matters, mergers and acquisitions and general business transactions, as well as commercial loan transactions where he represents both borrowers and lenders. John represents clients regarding all aspects of entity formation, debt and private equity financing, corporate governance, shareholder disputes, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and commercial business and loan transactions. He also devotes a significant portion of h...
Chester E. Bacheller is a transactional lawyer practicing in the areas of securities, mergers and acquisitions and finance including, venture capital financing. The majority of Mr. Bacheller's practice has centered on representing companies and investors in various corporate and financial transactions. He has substantial experience in a wide range of corporate, securities and banking matters, including: public offerings of securities registered under the federal and state securities laws; cor...
Nate Balint represents private equity funds, strategic acquirers, and entrepreneurs on the purchase and sale sides of merger, acquisition, and leveraged buyout transactions, including associated equity and debt arrangements. His experience spans sectors such as business services, retail, restaurants, technology, consumer products, education, and energy. Nate also works with venture capital and growth equity funds, advising on the completion of early and growth stage investments. Related to hi...
Jon Ballis is Chairman of the Executive Committee of Kirkland & Ellis, one of the world’s leading law firms with 6,500 professionals (including more than 3,000 attorneys) around the world committed to the highest quality legal advice and unparalleled client service. In his role, Jon is responsible for establishing and executing upon Kirkland’s strategic priorities, including advancing business initiatives and promoting a culture of performance, collaboration and collegiality. ...
Rick Bange is a member of Moore & Van Allen’s Corporate group. The focus of Rick’s practice is representing private equity sponsors and public and private companies in evaluating, structuring and negotiating mergers and acquisitions and investment transactions, including leveraged buyouts, growth equity investments, mergers, stock and asset acquisitions and sales, mezzanine investments and recapitalizations. In addition to his work in the areas of private equity, venture capit...
Ben Barkley advises public and private clients in a broad range of corporate finance transactions and securities regulatory matters, including: mergers and acquisitions public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities venture capital and private equity investments compliance with securities disclosure obligations corporate governance corporate restructurings, recapitalizations and distressed situations joint ventures and strategic alliances special committee, board and in...
David A. Barkus focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions and private equity. David's industry experience includes aviation and aerospace, computer software and information technology, construction, consumer products, education, energy, food and beverage, franchising, gaming, health care, and restaurants.
Maxwell N. Barnes is a Member in the firm’s business section and has been practicing law since 1997. He concentrates his practice on advising clients in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general business matters. General Business/Transactional Experience Mr. Barnes assists businesses of all sizes and their owners in addressing their day-to-day legal needs. This involves counseling clients on organizing and structuring new entities, employment issues, equity i...
Albert J. Bart is a general corporate and commercial transactions attorney with over 25 years of law firm and in-house experience. At Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, Albert represents businesses, private equity firms, and individual investors in a wide-array of corporate and transactional matters, including providing counsel on business and operational matters, mergers and acquisitions, and equity and debt financings. He works in a variety of industries with both buyers and sellers, borrow...
Tony Barwick regularly assists clients in successfully structuring, negotiating and completing a wide variety of complex transactional matters. His experience includes advising financial institutions and corporate clients in multiple industries related to their financings, joint ventures and complex real estate acquisitions and dispositions. He works with clients to structure, negotiate and close complex commercial transactions including representing clients through strategic asset acquisitio...
Chris Baugher advises on deals involving payment systems participants and the financial technology industry. In particular, Chris regularly represents payment processors, sophisticated merchants and financial institutions in the following matters: Payment Processors Mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of operating companies, payment technology assets and credit card portfolios. International expansion initiatives, joint ventures and strategic alliances in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Merchan...
Gordon Bava is a senior partner of the firm after serving for a decade as its Chief Executive and Managing Partner. Gordon’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, special committee representation, private and underwritten securities offerings and general corporate representation of clients in a variety of industries. Gordon has conducted these services for public entertainment, utility and healthcare companies, local, regional and multinational financial institutions and holding...
Mr. Beck, a transactional lawyer, has represented both domestic and foreign clients in the purchase, sale or syndication of bloodstock valued at more than $700 million. Mr. Beck also regularly provides corporate and financing legal counsel to equine industry participants, including banks, horse farms, trainers, and organizers of multiple ownership arrangements for racing and breeding syndicates. In addition to his transaction practice, Mr. Beck is a mediator and arbitrator concentrating on tr...
John Beltz represents foreign and domestic, public and private business entities, majority and minority equity holders, financial sponsors, founders, and governing boards. With over two decades of experience, John’s clients trust his extensive legal experience, business acumen, sophistication, calm demeanor, and creativity to achieve positive outcomes. John advises corporations and other business entities on a broad array of transactions, including cross-border transactions, mergers, ac...
Vincent J. Beres is a shareholder in the firm's Business Law, Tax and Tax-Exempt Organizations Practices. While Vince's clientele consists of businesses, ranging from partnerships and LLCs, S corporations, closely held businesses and large national manufacturing and service corporations, he also has deep experience as a trusted business and family advisor to individual business owners. Representative Matters and Experience Helping a food manufacturing client in the acquisition, development an...
Brian D. Bergstrom is a corporate attorney with Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, president of the firm, and chair of the firm’s mergers and acquisitions practice group. Brian is listed in the Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law and Venture Capital Law and is listed as a Great Plains Super Lawyer in 2009 and 2011 for Securities & Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions. Brian serves as a member of t...
Mark Berman has approximately 30 years of varied corporate, securities and mergers and acquisitions experience, both as inside counsel and in private practice. At Conner & Winters, Mr. Berman represents a wide variety of public and private companies operating primarily in the energy and construction sectors. He has served as issuer’s counsel in numerous public offerings and PIPEs transactions underwritten by national investment banking firms and involving the sale of common equity, ...
Bryan focuses his practice on advising privately-held business and their owners with respect to mergers and acquisitions, entity formation and operation, sales, purchases and leasing of real estate, commercial real estate, private placements of securities, and wills, trusts and business succession planning. Bryan is a past member of the Board of Governors of the Colorado Bar Association.
David Birke serves as co-chair of Akerman’s M&A and Private Equity Practice Group. David’s practice focuses on representing private equity funds, family offices and their portfolio companies in complex acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, restructurings, growth capital investments, and debt and equity financings. David’s wide ranging practice also encompasses representing other private and public companies with corporate governance, joint ventures, executive co...
Marc Bishop focuses his practice on general business representation and transactional work, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and finance of companies. A trusted advisor, Marc works closely with clients to find reasonable, effective solutions to legal problems. Marc serves as the general corporate counsel to a variety of companies, providing and coordinating legal services meeting the needs of operating businesses, including services relating to organizational structure, con...
Will Bishop represents clients in a broad range of transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, capital market transactions, restructurings and joint ventures. He also advises public and private companies on securities compliance and anti-trust matters. Will has led transactions across a variety of industries, including energy, solar, telecommunications, online retail, maritime and financial services. Over Will's career, he has developed a particular emphasis on representing eme...
Christopher S.W. Blake focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, and financings for a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, gaming, and real estate. As co-chair of Hahn Loeser’s International Practice Group and Corporate Transactions Group, Chris’ practice spans domestic and international transactional matters. Chris has worked with clients in countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, Central and South America, and Southeast Asi...
Brian Blaney concentrates his practice on corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity investments. Brian has extensive experience in capital markets transactions including public and private offerings of equity and debt securities. Brian regularly advises public companies on mergers and acquisitions as well as on compliance with SEC reporting requirements, stock exchange listing rules, and general corporate matters. In addition to advising companies in a broad r...
Dennis J. Block is the Senior Chairman of the firm’s Global Corporate M&A Practice. He has handled numerous mergers and acquisitions transactions - both hostile and friendly - on behalf of acquirers, targets, and investment banks. The range of transactions handled by Dennis includes mergers, acquisitions, proxy contests, joint ventures, third-party tender offers, self-tender offers, and spin offs, and other forms of corporate restructurings and financings. As a corporate counselor, ...
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