Four Decades for Justice
Jed Zobitz is Managing Partner of the Corporate Department and Co‑Head of the Finance Practice. He works in all areas of the Firm’s corporate practice. Currently, his practice focuses on complex syndicated loan and direct lending transactions, including acquisition and leveraged finance and asset‑based lending, as well as securities, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate representations.
Mr. Zobitz has represented JPMorgan Chase Bank and Credit Suisse in numerous financings. He has also represented many borrowers, including Viatris, WestRock, Ashland, Qualcomm, Crown Castle, Biogen, Valvoline and Brightline. In addition to financing transactions, Mr. Zobitz has worked on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters for companies such as UAL Corporation, Millipore, Alcon, Johnson & Johnson, Brink’s, Qualcomm, Dassault Systèmes and Amblin Partners.
Mr. Zobitz has been repeatedly recognized as one of the country’s leading practitioners in banking and finance by, among others, Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and PLC Which Lawyer? He has also been recognized for his work in bankruptcy law by The Best Lawyers in America and Lawdragon. Mr. Zobitz has been recognized by The Legal 500 US for his transactional work in the technology industry, for his transactional work in the telecoms and broadcast industry, for his work in municipal bankruptcy and for his work in trade secrets.
Mr. Zobitz was born in New York, New York. He received a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College in 1991 and a J.D. cum laude from New York University in 1995.
Mr. Zobitz joined Cravath in 1995 and was elected a partner in 2002.
Mr. Zobitz has represented JPMorgan Chase Bank and Credit Suisse in numerous financings. He has also represented many borrowers, including Viatris, WestRock, Ashland, Qualcomm, Crown Castle, Biogen, Valvoline and Brightline. In addition to financing transactions, Mr. Zobitz has worked on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters for companies such as UAL Corporation, Millipore, Alcon, Johnson & Johnson, Brink’s, Qualcomm, Dassault Systèmes and Amblin Partners.
Mr. Zobitz has been repeatedly recognized as one of the country’s leading practitioners in banking and finance by, among others, Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and PLC Which Lawyer? He has also been recognized for his work in bankruptcy law by The Best Lawyers in America and Lawdragon. Mr. Zobitz has been recognized by The Legal 500 US for his transactional work in the technology industry, for his transactional work in the telecoms and broadcast industry, for his work in municipal bankruptcy and for his work in trade secrets.
Mr. Zobitz was born in New York, New York. He received a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College in 1991 and a J.D. cum laude from New York University in 1995.
Mr. Zobitz joined Cravath in 1995 and was elected a partner in 2002.
Best Lawyers in America
Chambers Global
Chambers USA
Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides
IFLR1000
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 US
Super Lawyers
Deals & Cases
February 28, 2024
On February 28, 2024, Viatris Inc. (“Viatris”), a global healthcare company, and Idorsia Ltd (“Idorsia”) announced they have entered into agreements for a significant global research and development collaboration under which Viatris will receive exclusive global development and commercialization rights to two Phase 3 assets as well as the potential to add additional innovative assets in the future.
Deals & Cases
December 20, 2023
On December 20, 2023, Aon plc (“Aon”), a leading global professional services firm, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire NFP, a leading middle‑market property and casualty broker, benefits consultant, wealth manager and retirement plan advisor, from funds affiliated with NFP’s main capital sponsor, Madison Dearborn Partners, and funds affiliated with HPS Investment Partners. Under the terms of the transaction, Aon will acquire NFP for a total consideration estimated to be $13.4 billion at the time of close, which will be funded by $7 billion of cash and $6.4 billion of Aon stock. Cravath is representing Aon in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
December 12, 2023
On December 11, 2023, Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (“Star Bulk”), a global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, and Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (“Eagle”), one of the world’s largest owner-operators within the midsize dry bulk vessel segment, announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock merger on a Net Asset Value to Net Asset Value (“NAV”) basis with a pro forma market capitalization of approximately $2.1 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, which was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, Eagle shareholders will receive 2.6211 shares of Star Bulk common stock for each share of Eagle common stock owned. This represents a total consideration of approximately $52.60 per share, a 17% premium based on Eagle’s closing share price of $44.85 on December 8, 2023. Upon the close of the transaction, Star Bulk and Eagle shareholders will own approximately 71% and 29% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis, respectively. Cravath is representing Star Bulk in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
September 14, 2023
On September 11, 2023, Bacardi Limited (“Bacardi”), the largest privately held international spirits company in the world, announced the completion of a transaction that makes the family‑owned company the sole owner of ILEGAL Mezcal®, a leading super premium artisanal mezcal. Cravath is representing Bacardi in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
September 12, 2023
On September 12, 2023, the Boards of WestRock and Smurfit Kappa announced the signing of a definitive transaction agreement to create Smurfit WestRock, a global leader in sustainable packaging. Together, Smurfit Kappa and WestRock generated combined last twelve months’ adjusted annual revenue of approximately $34 billion as of June 30, 2023. Cravath is representing WestRock in connection with the transaction.
Accolades
February 06, 2024
On January 24, 2024, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Banking Practice Group of the Year.” The article highlights the breadth of the Firm’s work on banking matters across corporate, litigation and regulatory practice areas, including its role representing clients Silvergate in its voluntary self‑liquidation, Morgan Stanley in winning the dismissal of consolidated antitrust suits against it and other major banks and the administrative agent, joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner in connection with the arrangement of $1.33 billion of credit facilities made available to Concentrix Corporation.
Activities & Publications
January 26, 2024
On January 19, 2024, Cravath partners Karin A. DeMasi and George E. Zobitz were profiled in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight” series in connection with their roles as Managing Partners of the Firm’s Litigation and Corporate Departments, respectively. In the Q&A, Karin and Jed spoke about the Firm’s approach to developing talent, including how the associate rotation system ensures “a holistic focus on learning and development” and incentivizes a culture of collaboration among partners and associates. They also discussed what qualities they look for in bringing on new talent, formal and informal training systems, what the younger generation of associates are looking for in their experience and the ways in which they enjoy mentorship.
Accolades
June 23, 2023
On June 16, 2023, Cravath partners George E. Zobitz, Paul H. Zumbro, Lauren A. Moskowitz and Omid H. Nasab were named to Lawdragon’s list of “500 Leading Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers” in recognition of their work advising clients on financial restructuring and reorganization and related litigation matters. The list recognizes lawyers for their skills in financing, restructuring and litigating for or related to corporations in financial distress, ranging from “transactional lawyers whose ways with finance can transform a distressed company to financial litigators, both of the traditional bankruptcy court variety and, increasingly, those who challenge and defend financial restructuring moves that have become inherent to distressed deals.”
Activities & Publications
June 01, 2023
On May 31, 2023, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “Second Circuit Affirms Permissibility of Nonconsensual Third‑Party Releases in Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Case.” The memo examined the significance of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s recent opinion reversing the District Court and affirming the permissibility of nonconsensual third‑party releases in bankruptcy plans under appropriate circumstances. Along with allowing the Purdue Pharma debtors to confirm their bankruptcy plan and claimants to receive payments thereunder, the decision reestablishes bankruptcy courts within the Second Circuit as potential venues for future mass tort bankruptcy filings. The memo also outlined the seven factors the Court provided to guide future courts in evaluating the propriety of granting nonconsensual third‑party releases.
Activities & Publications
May 30, 2023
In May 2023, an article written by Cravath partners George E. Zobitz, Paul H. Zumbro and Eric W. Hilfers, entitled “Executive Compensation: Need for a Change to the Bankruptcy Code,” was featured in The American Bankruptcy Institute’s Best of ABI 2022: The Year in Business Bankruptcy, which recognizes the best American Bankruptcy Institute Journal business articles published in 2022. The Cravath partners’ article examines Section 503(c) of the Bankruptcy Code, a part of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (“BAPCPA”), and the adverse impact it has had on the ability of companies in bankruptcy to optimize executive compensation. The article provides three proposals to amend the Bankruptcy Code, which would give companies more flexibility in designing executive compensation plans during the bankruptcy process.
Jed Zobitz is Managing Partner of the Corporate Department and Co‑Head of the Finance Practice. He works in all areas of the Firm’s corporate practice. Currently, his practice focuses on complex syndicated loan and direct lending transactions, including acquisition and leveraged finance and asset‑based lending, as well as securities, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate representations.
Mr. Zobitz has represented JPMorgan Chase Bank and Credit Suisse in numerous financings. He has also represented many borrowers, including Viatris, WestRock, Ashland, Qualcomm, Crown Castle, Biogen, Valvoline and Brightline. In addition to financing transactions, Mr. Zobitz has worked on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters for companies such as UAL Corporation, Millipore, Alcon, Johnson & Johnson, Brink’s, Qualcomm, Dassault Systèmes and Amblin Partners.
Mr. Zobitz has been repeatedly recognized as one of the country’s leading practitioners in banking and finance by, among others, Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and PLC Which Lawyer? He has also been recognized for his work in bankruptcy law by The Best Lawyers in America and Lawdragon. Mr. Zobitz has been recognized by The Legal 500 US for his transactional work in the technology industry, for his transactional work in the telecoms and broadcast industry, for his work in municipal bankruptcy and for his work in trade secrets.
Mr. Zobitz was born in New York, New York. He received a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College in 1991 and a J.D. cum laude from New York University in 1995.
Mr. Zobitz joined Cravath in 1995 and was elected a partner in 2002.
Mr. Zobitz has represented JPMorgan Chase Bank and Credit Suisse in numerous financings. He has also represented many borrowers, including Viatris, WestRock, Ashland, Qualcomm, Crown Castle, Biogen, Valvoline and Brightline. In addition to financing transactions, Mr. Zobitz has worked on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters for companies such as UAL Corporation, Millipore, Alcon, Johnson & Johnson, Brink’s, Qualcomm, Dassault Systèmes and Amblin Partners.
Mr. Zobitz has been repeatedly recognized as one of the country’s leading practitioners in banking and finance by, among others, Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 US, IFLR1000, Lawdragon and PLC Which Lawyer? He has also been recognized for his work in bankruptcy law by The Best Lawyers in America and Lawdragon. Mr. Zobitz has been recognized by The Legal 500 US for his transactional work in the technology industry, for his transactional work in the telecoms and broadcast industry, for his work in municipal bankruptcy and for his work in trade secrets.
Mr. Zobitz was born in New York, New York. He received a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College in 1991 and a J.D. cum laude from New York University in 1995.
Mr. Zobitz joined Cravath in 1995 and was elected a partner in 2002.
Best Lawyers in America
Chambers Global
Chambers USA
Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides
IFLR1000
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 US
Super Lawyers
Deals & Cases
February 28, 2024
On February 28, 2024, Viatris Inc. (“Viatris”), a global healthcare company, and Idorsia Ltd (“Idorsia”) announced they have entered into agreements for a significant global research and development collaboration under which Viatris will receive exclusive global development and commercialization rights to two Phase 3 assets as well as the potential to add additional innovative assets in the future.
Deals & Cases
December 20, 2023
On December 20, 2023, Aon plc (“Aon”), a leading global professional services firm, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire NFP, a leading middle‑market property and casualty broker, benefits consultant, wealth manager and retirement plan advisor, from funds affiliated with NFP’s main capital sponsor, Madison Dearborn Partners, and funds affiliated with HPS Investment Partners. Under the terms of the transaction, Aon will acquire NFP for a total consideration estimated to be $13.4 billion at the time of close, which will be funded by $7 billion of cash and $6.4 billion of Aon stock. Cravath is representing Aon in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
December 12, 2023
On December 11, 2023, Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (“Star Bulk”), a global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, and Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (“Eagle”), one of the world’s largest owner-operators within the midsize dry bulk vessel segment, announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock merger on a Net Asset Value to Net Asset Value (“NAV”) basis with a pro forma market capitalization of approximately $2.1 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, which was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, Eagle shareholders will receive 2.6211 shares of Star Bulk common stock for each share of Eagle common stock owned. This represents a total consideration of approximately $52.60 per share, a 17% premium based on Eagle’s closing share price of $44.85 on December 8, 2023. Upon the close of the transaction, Star Bulk and Eagle shareholders will own approximately 71% and 29% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis, respectively. Cravath is representing Star Bulk in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
September 14, 2023
On September 11, 2023, Bacardi Limited (“Bacardi”), the largest privately held international spirits company in the world, announced the completion of a transaction that makes the family‑owned company the sole owner of ILEGAL Mezcal®, a leading super premium artisanal mezcal. Cravath is representing Bacardi in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
September 12, 2023
On September 12, 2023, the Boards of WestRock and Smurfit Kappa announced the signing of a definitive transaction agreement to create Smurfit WestRock, a global leader in sustainable packaging. Together, Smurfit Kappa and WestRock generated combined last twelve months’ adjusted annual revenue of approximately $34 billion as of June 30, 2023. Cravath is representing WestRock in connection with the transaction.
Accolades
February 06, 2024
On January 24, 2024, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Banking Practice Group of the Year.” The article highlights the breadth of the Firm’s work on banking matters across corporate, litigation and regulatory practice areas, including its role representing clients Silvergate in its voluntary self‑liquidation, Morgan Stanley in winning the dismissal of consolidated antitrust suits against it and other major banks and the administrative agent, joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner in connection with the arrangement of $1.33 billion of credit facilities made available to Concentrix Corporation.
Activities & Publications
January 26, 2024
On January 19, 2024, Cravath partners Karin A. DeMasi and George E. Zobitz were profiled in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight” series in connection with their roles as Managing Partners of the Firm’s Litigation and Corporate Departments, respectively. In the Q&A, Karin and Jed spoke about the Firm’s approach to developing talent, including how the associate rotation system ensures “a holistic focus on learning and development” and incentivizes a culture of collaboration among partners and associates. They also discussed what qualities they look for in bringing on new talent, formal and informal training systems, what the younger generation of associates are looking for in their experience and the ways in which they enjoy mentorship.
Accolades
June 23, 2023
On June 16, 2023, Cravath partners George E. Zobitz, Paul H. Zumbro, Lauren A. Moskowitz and Omid H. Nasab were named to Lawdragon’s list of “500 Leading Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers” in recognition of their work advising clients on financial restructuring and reorganization and related litigation matters. The list recognizes lawyers for their skills in financing, restructuring and litigating for or related to corporations in financial distress, ranging from “transactional lawyers whose ways with finance can transform a distressed company to financial litigators, both of the traditional bankruptcy court variety and, increasingly, those who challenge and defend financial restructuring moves that have become inherent to distressed deals.”
Activities & Publications
June 01, 2023
On May 31, 2023, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “Second Circuit Affirms Permissibility of Nonconsensual Third‑Party Releases in Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Case.” The memo examined the significance of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s recent opinion reversing the District Court and affirming the permissibility of nonconsensual third‑party releases in bankruptcy plans under appropriate circumstances. Along with allowing the Purdue Pharma debtors to confirm their bankruptcy plan and claimants to receive payments thereunder, the decision reestablishes bankruptcy courts within the Second Circuit as potential venues for future mass tort bankruptcy filings. The memo also outlined the seven factors the Court provided to guide future courts in evaluating the propriety of granting nonconsensual third‑party releases.
Activities & Publications
May 30, 2023
In May 2023, an article written by Cravath partners George E. Zobitz, Paul H. Zumbro and Eric W. Hilfers, entitled “Executive Compensation: Need for a Change to the Bankruptcy Code,” was featured in The American Bankruptcy Institute’s Best of ABI 2022: The Year in Business Bankruptcy, which recognizes the best American Bankruptcy Institute Journal business articles published in 2022. The Cravath partners’ article examines Section 503(c) of the Bankruptcy Code, a part of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (“BAPCPA”), and the adverse impact it has had on the ability of companies in bankruptcy to optimize executive compensation. The article provides three proposals to amend the Bankruptcy Code, which would give companies more flexibility in designing executive compensation plans during the bankruptcy process.
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