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

TaskUs’s Take‑Private Acquisition by its Co‑Founders and Blackstone

May 09, 2025

On May 9, 2025, TaskUs, Inc. (“TaskUs”), a leading provider of outsourced digital services and next‑generation customer experience to companies, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to become a privately held company. Under the terms of the agreement, an affiliate of Blackstone, TaskUs Co‑Founder and Chief Executive Officer Bryce Maddock and TaskUs Co‑Founder and President Jaspar Weir (collectively the “Buyer Group”) will acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock they do not already own for $16.50 per share in an all-cash transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, the Company’s Class A common stock will no longer be listed on any public market. The TaskUs Board of Directors has approved the transaction upon the unanimous recommendation of a special committee of independent directors (the “Special Committee”), which was formed on March 20, 2025, in response to interest expressed by the Buyer Group in exploring a possible transaction. Cravath is representing the Special Committee in connection with the transaction.

The Cravath team is led by partners Faiza J. Saeed and Claudia J. Ricciardi and includes of counsel Saagar Kaul and associates Mary Jean Perzik, Mitchell S. Siegel and Y. Grace Lin on M&A matters; partner Stephen M. Kessing and associate Abhilasha Gokulan on financing matters; partner Eric W. Hilfers, senior attorney Aaron S. Cha, associate Brendon J. Rivard and foreign associate attorney Andreas Kaletsch on executive compensation and benefits matters; partner Lauren Angelilli and associate Carolyn Liziewski on tax matters; partner Jesse M. Weiss and associate Lavinia M. Hecht on antitrust matters; and partners Kevin J. Orsini and Helam Gebremariam on litigation matters.

Related Practices & Industries

  • Corporate
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Emerging and Founder-Led Companies
  • Private Equity
  • Banking and Credit
  • Executive Compensation and Benefits
  • Tax
  • Antitrust
  • Litigation
  • Professional Services
  • Media and Entertainment
  • Technology

People

Photo
Name
Faiza J. Saeed
Title
Corporate
Title
Partner
Email
fsaeed@cravath.com
Phone
+1-212-474-1454
vCard
Download vCard

    Education

    • J.D., 1991, Harvard Law School
      magna cum laude
    • B.A., 1987, University of California, Berkeley
      with Highest Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa

    Admitted In

    • New York
    • California (Inactive)
    • District of Columbia (Inactive)
    Photo
    Name
    Claudia J. Ricciardi
    Title
    Corporate
    Title
    Partner
    Email
    cricciardi@cravath.com
    Phone
    +1-212-474-1035
    vCard
    Download vCard

      Education

      • J.D., 2015, Harvard Law School
        cum laude
      • B.A., 2012, University of Pennsylvania
        Phi Beta Kappa, summa 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
        Eric W. Hilfers
        Title
        Executive Compensation and Benefits
        Title
        Partner
        Email
        ehilfers@cravath.com
        Phone
        +1-212-474-1352
        vCard
        Download vCard

          Education

          • J.D., 1998, University of Chicago Law School
            with Honors
          • A.B., 1995, Princeton University

          Admitted In

          • New York
          Name
          Lauren Angelilli
          Title
          Tax
          Title
          Partner
          Email
          langelilli@cravath.com
          Phone
          +1-212-474-1016
          vCard
          Download vCard

            Education

            • J.D., 2000, Harvard Law School
              cum laude
            • B.S., 1996, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
              magna cum laude

            Admitted In

            • New York
            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
              Kevin J. Orsini
              Title
              Litigation
              Title
              Partner
              Email
              korsini@cravath.com
              Phone
              +1-212-474-1596
              vCard
              Download vCard

                Education

                • J.D., 2003, New York University School of Law
                  cum laude
                • B.A., 2000, The George Washington University
                  Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude

                Admitted In

                • New York
                Photo
                Name
                Helam Gebremariam
                Title
                Litigation
                Title
                Partner
                Email
                hgebremariam@cravath.com
                Phone
                +1-212-474-1180
                vCard
                Download vCard

                  Education

                  • J.D., 2010, New York University School of Law
                    AnBryce Scholar
                  • B.A., 2007, Columbia College

                  Admitted In

                  • New York
                  Photo
                  Name
                  Aaron S. Cha
                  Title
                  Executive Compensation and Benefits
                  Title
                  Senior Attorney
                  Email
                  acha@cravath.com
                  Phone
                  +1-212-474-1944
                  vCard
                  Download vCard

                    Education

                    • LL.M., 2013, New York University School of Law
                    • J.D., 2012, Loyola Law School Los Angeles
                    • B.S., 2004, University of California, San Diego

                    Admitted In

                    • New York
                    • California

                    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.