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Cravath Publishes Summer 2026 Issue of Alumni Journal

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Aaron S.
Cha

Of Counsel, Executive Compensation and Benefits

acha@cravath.com
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Aaron S. Cha focuses his practice on executive compensation and employee benefit matters, principally in connection with mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings and other corporate transactions.

Mr. Cha received a B.S. from the University of California, San Diego in 2004, a J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2012 and an LL.M. from New York University School of Law in 2013.

Mr. Cha joined Cravath in 2021 and was named of counsel in 2026. Prior to joining Cravath, he was counsel at a law firm in California.

Mr. Cha received a B.S. from the University of California, San Diego in 2004, a J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2012 and an LL.M. from New York University School of Law in 2013.

Mr. Cha joined Cravath in 2021 and was named of counsel in 2026. Prior to joining Cravath, he was counsel at a law firm in California.

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

Deals & Cases

October 29, 2026

Instacart’s $17 Billion Acquisition by DoorDash

On October 29, 2026, DoorDash, Inc. (“DoorDash”) and Maplebear Inc. (d.b.a. Instacart) (“Instacart”) announced a definitive agreement under which DoorDash will acquire Instacart for a total value of $65.00 for each Instacart share, or an equity value of approximately $17 billion. The aggregate transaction consideration will be at least 75% cash, with Instacart stockholders able to elect cash, DoorDash stock, or a combination of both, subject to proration so that DoorDash stock does not exceed 25% of the aggregate consideration. Instacart's board of directors has unanimously approved the agreement. Cravath is representing Instacart in connection with the transaction.

Deals & Cases

October 20, 2026

Neurotech’s Acquisition by Alcon

On October 20, 2026, Alcon, a global leader in eye care, announced it has acquired Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Neurotech”), a company focused on developing innovative cell therapies for chronic and neurodegenerative eye diseases, for $550 million. Alcon may be required to make additional contingent payments, including upon the achievement of commercial milestones. This acquisition expands Alcon's retina portfolio with ENCELTO™, the first and only U.S. FDA-approved treatment for adults with idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (“MacTel”), a rare, progressive retinal disease that leads to irreversible central vision loss that has historically had no approved treatment options. Cravath represented Neurotech in connection with the transaction.

Deals & Cases

August 31, 2026

Aon’s $17 Billion Acquisition of USI

On August 31, 2026, Aon, a leading global professional services firm, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire USI, a leading provider of property & casualty, employee benefit, personal risk and retirement solutions for the middle market and the tenth largest U.S. insurance broker, from KKR and other shareholders for a total purchase price of $17 billion. Aon expects to fund the transaction, as well as related transaction expenses and other costs, with new debt raised across a range of maturities, subject to market conditions. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Aon and the Board of Directors of USI. Cravath is representing Aon in connection with the transaction.

Deals & Cases

April 27, 2026

Thermo Fisher’s $1.075 Billion Sale of its Microbiology Business to Astorg

On April 27, 2026, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (“Thermo Fisher”), the world leader in serving science, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its microbiology business, which provides antimicrobial susceptibility testing and culture media solutions for clinical, pharmaceutical and food safety testing, to Astorg, a leading pan‑European private equity firm, for consideration of approximately $1.075 billion, consisting of cash and a $50 million seller note. Cravath is representing Thermo Fisher in connection with the transaction.

Deals & Cases

March 31, 2026

Biogen’s $5.6 Billion Acquisition of Apellis

On March 31, 2026, Biogen Inc. and Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Biogen has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Apellis for $41.00 per share in cash at closing, or approximately $5.6 billion. Apellis stockholders will also receive a nontransferable CVR for each Apellis share held, entitling the holder to receive two payments of $2 per share each, contingent on certain annual global net sales thresholds being met for SYFOVRE®. Cravath is representing Biogen in connection with the transaction.

Firm News

June 11, 2026

Cravath Announces New Of Counsels

Cravath named Aaron S. Cha and Joshua Kameel of counsels of the Firm, effective July 1, 2026. 

Aaron S. Cha focuses his practice on executive compensation and employee benefit matters, principally in connection with mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings and other corporate transactions.

Mr. Cha received a B.S. from the University of California, San Diego in 2004, a J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2012 and an LL.M. from New York University School of Law in 2013.

Mr. Cha joined Cravath in 2021 and was named of counsel in 2026. Prior to joining Cravath, he was counsel at a law firm in California.

Mr. Cha received a B.S. from the University of California, San Diego in 2004, a J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2012 and an LL.M. from New York University School of Law in 2013.

Mr. Cha joined Cravath in 2021 and was named of counsel in 2026. Prior to joining Cravath, he was counsel at a law firm in California.

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

Deals & Cases

October 29, 2026

Instacart’s $17 Billion Acquisition by DoorDash

On October 29, 2026, DoorDash, Inc. (“DoorDash”) and Maplebear Inc. (d.b.a. Instacart) (“Instacart”) announced a definitive agreement under which DoorDash will acquire Instacart for a total value of $65.00 for each Instacart share, or an equity value of approximately $17 billion. The aggregate transaction consideration will be at least 75% cash, with Instacart stockholders able to elect cash, DoorDash stock, or a combination of both, subject to proration so that DoorDash stock does not exceed 25% of the aggregate consideration. Instacart's board of directors has unanimously approved the agreement. Cravath is representing Instacart in connection with the transaction.

Deals & Cases

October 20, 2026

Neurotech’s Acquisition by Alcon

On October 20, 2026, Alcon, a global leader in eye care, announced it has acquired Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Neurotech”), a company focused on developing innovative cell therapies for chronic and neurodegenerative eye diseases, for $550 million. Alcon may be required to make additional contingent payments, including upon the achievement of commercial milestones. This acquisition expands Alcon's retina portfolio with ENCELTO™, the first and only U.S. FDA-approved treatment for adults with idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (“MacTel”), a rare, progressive retinal disease that leads to irreversible central vision loss that has historically had no approved treatment options. Cravath represented Neurotech in connection with the transaction.

Deals & Cases

August 31, 2026

Aon’s $17 Billion Acquisition of USI

On August 31, 2026, Aon, a leading global professional services firm, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire USI, a leading provider of property & casualty, employee benefit, personal risk and retirement solutions for the middle market and the tenth largest U.S. insurance broker, from KKR and other shareholders for a total purchase price of $17 billion. Aon expects to fund the transaction, as well as related transaction expenses and other costs, with new debt raised across a range of maturities, subject to market conditions. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Aon and the Board of Directors of USI. Cravath is representing Aon in connection with the transaction.

Deals & Cases

April 27, 2026

Thermo Fisher’s $1.075 Billion Sale of its Microbiology Business to Astorg

On April 27, 2026, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (“Thermo Fisher”), the world leader in serving science, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its microbiology business, which provides antimicrobial susceptibility testing and culture media solutions for clinical, pharmaceutical and food safety testing, to Astorg, a leading pan‑European private equity firm, for consideration of approximately $1.075 billion, consisting of cash and a $50 million seller note. Cravath is representing Thermo Fisher in connection with the transaction.

Deals & Cases

March 31, 2026

Biogen’s $5.6 Billion Acquisition of Apellis

On March 31, 2026, Biogen Inc. and Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Biogen has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Apellis for $41.00 per share in cash at closing, or approximately $5.6 billion. Apellis stockholders will also receive a nontransferable CVR for each Apellis share held, entitling the holder to receive two payments of $2 per share each, contingent on certain annual global net sales thresholds being met for SYFOVRE®. Cravath is representing Biogen in connection with the transaction.

Firm News

June 11, 2026

Cravath Announces New Of Counsels

Cravath named Aaron S. Cha and Joshua Kameel of counsels of the Firm, effective July 1, 2026. 

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