Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Logo
  • Practices
  • People
  • Careers
  • News & Insights
  • Practices
  • People
  • Careers
  • News & Insights
  • Our Story
  • The Cravath System
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Pro Bono
  • Alumni Journal
  • 200.Cravath

Cravath Publishes Winter 2026 Issue of Alumni Journal

Read More

News & Insights

Frontier’s $20 Billion Acquisition by Verizon

September 05, 2024

On September 5, 2024, Verizon Communications Inc. and Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. (“Frontier”), the largest pure‑play fiber provider in the U.S., announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Verizon to acquire Frontier in an all‑cash transaction valued at $20 billion. Cravath is representing Frontier in connection with the transaction.

The Cravath team is led by partners Robert I. Townsend III, George F. Schoen and Matthew G. Jones and includes associates Edward O. Minturn, Maria Ricaurte, Harold C. King, Elisabeth Lopez, Nigle B. Barrow III, T. Henley Hopkinson and Priya Patel on M&A matters; partners Joseph D. Zavaglia and Stephen M. Kessing and associate Kathryn Kennedy Bleday on financing matters; partner J. Leonard Teti II and associates Carlos Nicholas Obando, Christopher M. Winters and Michael Pelle on tax matters; associate Nicholas J. Celli on executive compensation and benefits matters; partner Sasha Rosenthal‑Larrea, of counsel Kathryn‑Ann Stamm and associates Joanne Dynak and Leslie Liu on intellectual property matters; partners Noah Joshua Phillips and Jesse M. Weiss, of counsel Michael B. Singer and associate Lavinia M. Borzi on antitrust matters; partner Matthew Morreale and associate Star S. Gulant on environmental matters; and senior attorney Joyce Law and practice area attorney Brian M. Budnick on real estate matters. Oscar Porter also worked on executive compensation and benefits matters.

Related Practices & Industries

  • Corporate
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Banking and Credit
  • Capital Markets
  • Tax
  • Executive Compensation and Benefits
  • IP and Strategic Tech Transactions
  • Antitrust
  • Environmental
  • Telecommunications

People

Photo
Name
Robert I. Townsend III
Title
Corporate
Title
Partner
Email
rtownsend@cravath.com
Phone
+1-212-474-1964
vCard
Download vCard

    Education

    • J.D., 1990, Harvard Law School
      magna cum laude
    • A.B., 1987, Harvard College
      magna cum laude

    Admitted In

    • New York
    Photo
    Name
    Matthew G. Jones
    Title
    Corporate
    Title
    Partner
    Email
    mjones@cravath.com
    Phone
    +1-212-474-1298
    vCard
    Download vCard

      Education

      • J.D., 2013, Columbia Law School
        Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar; James Kent Scholar
      • B.A., 2010, Cornell University
        with distinction

      Admitted In

      • New York
      Photo
      Name
      Joseph D. Zavaglia
      Title
      Corporate
      Title
      Partner
      Email
      jzavaglia@cravath.com
      Phone
      +1-212-474-1724
      vCard
      Download vCard

        Education

        • J.D., 2004, Brooklyn Law School
          Valedictorian, summa cum laude
        • B.B.A., 2001, College of Insurance
          cum laude

        Admitted In

        • New York
        Photo
        Name
        Stephen M. Kessing
        Title
        Corporate
        Title
        Partner
        Email
        skessing@cravath.com
        Phone
        +1-212-474-1152
        vCard
        Download vCard

          Education

          • J.D., 2005, Duke Law School
            Order of the Coif, magna cum laude
          • M.B.A., 2001, University of Southern California
          • B.S., 1995, Miami University of Ohio

          Admitted In

          • New York
          Photo
          Name
          J. Leonard Teti II
          Title
          Tax
          Title
          Partner
          Email
          lteti@cravath.com
          Phone
          +1-212-474-1896
          vCard
          Download vCard

            Education

            • J.D., 2005, University of Virginia School of Law
              Order of the Coif
            • A.B., 1999, Princeton University
              with Honors

            Admitted In

            • New York
            Photo
            Name
            Sasha Rosenthal-Larrea
            Title
            Corporate
            Title
            Partner
            Email
            srosenthal-larrea@cravath.com
            Phone
            +1-212-474-1967
            vCard
            Download vCard

              Education

              • J.D., 2010, Columbia Law School
                Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
              • A.B., 2007, Brown University

              Admitted In

              • New York
              Photo
              Name
              Noah Joshua Phillips
              Title
              Litigation
              Title
              Partner
              Email
              nphillips@cravath.com
              Phone
              +1-202-869-7740
              vCard
              Download vCard

                Education

                • J.D., 2005, Stanford Law School
                  Winner, 2005 Marion Rice Kirkwood Moot Court
                • A.B., 2000, Dartmouth College
                  Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude

                Admitted In

                • New York
                • District of Columbia
                Photo
                Name
                Jesse M. Weiss
                Title
                Litigation
                Title
                Partner
                Email
                jweiss@cravath.com
                Phone
                +1-212-474-1421
                vCard
                Download vCard

                  Education

                  • J.D., 2008, Georgetown University Law Center
                    magna cum laude
                  • B.A., 2003, University of Maryland

                  Admitted In

                  • New York
                  Photo
                  Name
                  Matthew Morreale
                  Title
                  Corporate
                  Title
                  Partner
                  Email
                  mmorreale@cravath.com
                  Phone
                  +1-212-474-1534
                  vCard
                  Download vCard

                    Education

                    • J.D., 1997, Columbia Law School
                      Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
                    • M.S., 1994, University of Pennsylvania
                    • B.A., 1990, University of Pennsylvania
                    • B.A.S., 1990, University of Pennsylvania

                    Admitted In

                    • New York
                    Photo
                    Name
                    Edward O. Minturn
                    Title
                    Corporate
                    Title
                    Partner
                    Email
                    eminturn@cravath.com
                    Phone
                    +1-212-474-1630
                    vCard
                    Download vCard

                      Education

                      • J.D., 2016, New York University School of Law
                        cum laude
                      • B.A., 2013, Duke University
                        with Distinction

                      Admitted In

                      • New York
                      Photo
                      Name
                      Maria Ricaurte
                      Title
                      Corporate
                      Title
                      Partner
                      Email
                      mricaurte@cravath.com
                      Phone
                      +1-212-474-1416
                      vCard
                      Download vCard

                        Education

                        • J.D., 2018, University of Michigan Law School
                          cum laude
                        • B.B.A., 2013, University of Notre Dame
                          cum laude

                        Admitted In

                        • New York
                        Photo
                        Name
                        Kathryn-Ann Stamm
                        Title
                        Corporate
                        Title
                        Of Counsel
                        Email
                        kstamm@cravath.com
                        Phone
                        +1-212-474-1979
                        vCard
                        Download vCard

                          Education

                          • J.D., 2016, Cornell Law School
                          • LL.M., 2016, City University of Hong Kong
                          • Master II, 2016, University Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne
                          • Master I, 2013, University Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne
                          • LL.B., 2013, University Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne
                          • LL.B., 2013, King's College London
                            First Class Honors.

                          Admitted In

                          • New York
                          Photo
                          Name
                          Michael B. Singer
                          Title
                          Litigation
                          Title
                          Of Counsel
                          Email
                          msinger@cravath.com
                          Phone
                          +1-212-474-1974
                          vCard
                          Download vCard

                            Education

                            • J.D., 2014, Fordham University School of Law
                              Order of the Coif; Mary Daly Scholar, magna cum laude
                            • B.A., 2009, Hamilton College
                              Emerson Scholar

                            Admitted In

                            • New York
                            Photo
                            Name
                            Joyce Law
                            Title
                            Corporate
                            Title
                            Of Counsel
                            Email
                            jlaw@cravath.com
                            Phone
                            +1-212-474-1066
                            vCard
                            Download vCard

                              Education

                              • J.D., 1997, Boston University School of Law
                              • B.Comm., 1994, University of Alberta
                                Distinction

                              Admitted In

                              • New York
                              Photo
                              Name
                              Brian M. Budnick
                              Title
                              Corporate
                              Title
                              Of Counsel
                              Email
                              bbudnick@cravath.com
                              Phone
                              +1-212-474-1914
                              vCard
                              Download vCard

                                Education

                                • J.D., 2011, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
                                  cum laude
                                • B.A., 2006, University of Virginia

                                Admitted In

                                • New York

                                Related News & Insights

                                Deals & Cases

                                February 18, 2026

                                Tenax’s Merger with Air

                                On February 17, 2026, Tenax Aerospace Acquisition, LLC (“Tenax”) and Air Industries Group (“Air”) jointly announced that they have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger to combine Tenax’s special mission aviation business with Air’s precision aerospace manufacturing business. At the time of the merger, Air will issue shares of its common stock to holders of Tenax membership units. After the closing, Tenax shareholders are expected to own approximately 95% of Air’s outstanding shares while existing Air shareholders are expected to own approximately 5%, and the combined company expects to remain listed on the NYSE American under the symbol AIRI. Cravath is representing Tenax in connection with the transaction.

                                Deals & Cases

                                February 17, 2026

                                Kennedy Wilson’s Acquisition by Consortium Led by William McMorrow and Fairfax

                                On February 17, 2026, Kennedy‑Wilson Holdings, Inc. (“Kennedy Wilson”) and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax”) jointly announced that Kennedy Wilson has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired, in an all cash‑transaction, by an entity affiliated with a consortium led by William McMorrow, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kennedy Wilson, and certain other senior executives of Kennedy Wilson (collectively, the “KW Management Group”), together with Fairfax (collectively, the “Consortium”).

                                Deals & Cases

                                February 17, 2026

                                MTN’s Proposed $6.2 Billion Acquisition of IHS

                                On February 17, 2026, MTN Group Limited (“MTN”), Africa’s largest mobile network operator, announced that it has entered into an agreement with IHS Holding Limited (“IHS”), one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world, to acquire the remaining shares of IHS not already owned by MTN in an all‑cash transaction at an offer price of $8.50 per IHS share, which implies an enterprise value of $6.2 billion. The structure of the transaction is intended such that, upon completion of IHS’ announced disposals of its Latin American businesses, MTN will acquire 100% of IHS’ African tower portfolio. Following the completion of the transaction, IHS will be de‑listed from the New York Stock Exchange. Cravath is representing MTN in connection with the transaction.

                                Deals & Cases

                                February 16, 2026

                                Hapag-Lloyd’s Over $4 Billion Acquisition of ZIM

                                On February 16, 2026, Hapag‑Lloyd signed an agreement with ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (“ZIM”), the world’s 10th largest container shipping line, under which Hapag‑Lloyd will acquire 100% of ZIM’s shares for a consideration of $35 per share in cash. The total transaction value amounts to over $4 billion. As part of the transaction, FIMI Opportunity Funds will take ownership of a carved‑out Israeli container liner business. Cravath is representing Hapag‑Lloyd in connection with the transaction.

                                Cravath Bicentennial

                                Celebrating 200 years of partnership. In 2019, we celebrated our bicentennial. Our history mirrors that of our nation. Integral to our story is our culture.

                                Explore

                                Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Logo
                                • CONTACT US
                                • OUR STORY
                                • ALUMNI PORTAL
                                • DISCLAIMERS & NOTICES

                                Attorney Advertising. ©2026 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.