Cravath Publishes Winter 2026 Issue of Alumni Journal
Ryan J. Wichtowski advises the Firm’s clients on a broad range of complex intellectual property and M&A‑related issues, including those that arise in the context of corporate and financing transactions. His transactional experience includes counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions, spin‑offs and separations, complex licensing arrangements, partnerships, joint ventures and collaborations.
Mr. Wichtowski has represented clients across a diverse range of industry sectors, with significant depth in healthcare and life sciences. Notable matters include representing:
Healthcare and Life Sciences
- Thermo Fisher Scientific in its $20.9 billion acquisition of PPD
- Johnson & Johnson in its $16.6 billion acquisition of Abiomed and its $6.5 billion acquisition of Momenta
- Biogen in its $5.6 billion acquisition of Apellis and the expansion of its existing agreement with Eisai to jointly develop and commercialize investigational Alzheimer’s disease treatments
- Roivant Sciences in its $3 billion Strategic Alliance with Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma
- Tabula Rasa in its $570 million take‑private acquisition by Nautic
- RedHill Biopharma in its acquisition of Movantik from AstraZeneca and in its agreement with HealthCare Royalty to extinguish its debt obligations in exchange for Movantik
- Siegfried in its acquisition of Noramco, Purisys and Extractas Bioscience from SK Capital
- Viatris in its global research and development collaboration with Idorsia Pharmaceuticals
Technology
- altafiber in the $670 million sale of CBTS to TowerBrook
- WiseTech Global in its $414 million acquisition of Blume Global from funds managed by Apollo and EQT and its $230 million acquisition of Envase Technologies from Firmament
- IBM in connection with the launch by Technip Energies of Reju, a company that will leverage technology IBM co‑developed in a joint venture with Under Armour and Technip Energies
- RELX in its acquisition of Shadow Health
Media and Entertainment
- Disney in its $85 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the $3.47 billion sale of its interest in the YES Network to an investor group including the Yankees and Sinclair, the combination of its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo and ESPN’s proposed joint venture with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery to launch Venu Sports
- OUTFRONT Media in the C$410 million divestiture of its Canadian business to Bell Media
Financial Services and Insurance
- Cowen in its $1.9 billion acquisition by TD
- Atalaya Capital Management in its $800 million sale to Blue Owl Capital
- Future Standard in its acquisition of the Digital Infrastructure platform of Post Road Group
- CardWorks in its acquisition of Ally’s credit card business
Consumer and Retail
- Valvoline in the $2.65 billion sale of its Global Products business to Aramco
- Vista Outdoor in the $2.225 billion sale of The Kinetic Group to Czechoslovak Group and the $1.125 billion sale of Revelyst to SVP
Energy, Infrastructure and Industrials
- Axalta in its pending $25 billion merger of equals with AkzoNobel
- Olin in its over $10 billion pending merger of equals with Huntsman, creating OlinHuntsman
- Forward Air in its combination with Omni Logistics, creating a $3.7 billion company
- Brookfield Renewable in its $2.8 billion acquisition of Duke Energy Renewables
- INEOS in its $404 million acquisition of a 50% membership interest in Gemini HDPE from Sasol
- Cable One in the formation of Clearwave Fiber, a joint venture with GTCR, Stephens Capital Partners and The Pritzker Organization
Mr. Wichtowski has also advised on intellectual property litigation matters, including securing victories for Alarm.com in patent infringement litigation brought by Vivint and securing a settlement for Biogen relating to litigation concerning its introduction of a biosimilar to Genentech’s rheumatoid arthritis drug.
Mr. Wichtowski has been recognized by The Legal 500 US for his transactional work in the technology industry. He has also been recognized by Lawdragon as among the “500 Leading Global IP Lawyers” and “500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers.”
Mr. Wichtowski is a registered patent attorney, a member of the inaugural International Trademark Association Patents Committee and a member of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA).
Mr. Wichtowski comes from Deep River, Connecticut. He received a B.S. summa cum laude from Fordham University in 2015 and a J.D. cum laude from Duke Law School in 2018, where he was an editor of the Law Journal and a staff editor of the Law & Technology Review.
Mr. Wichtowski joined Cravath in 2018 and was elected a partner in 2025.
Mr. Wichtowski has represented clients across a diverse range of industry sectors, with significant depth in healthcare and life sciences. Notable matters include representing:
Healthcare and Life Sciences
- Thermo Fisher Scientific in its $20.9 billion acquisition of PPD
- Johnson & Johnson in its $16.6 billion acquisition of Abiomed and its $6.5 billion acquisition of Momenta
- Biogen in its $5.6 billion acquisition of Apellis and the expansion of its existing agreement with Eisai to jointly develop and commercialize investigational Alzheimer’s disease treatments
- Roivant Sciences in its $3 billion Strategic Alliance with Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma
- Tabula Rasa in its $570 million take‑private acquisition by Nautic
- RedHill Biopharma in its acquisition of Movantik from AstraZeneca and in its agreement with HealthCare Royalty to extinguish its debt obligations in exchange for Movantik
- Siegfried in its acquisition of Noramco, Purisys and Extractas Bioscience from SK Capital
- Viatris in its global research and development collaboration with Idorsia Pharmaceuticals
Technology
- altafiber in the $670 million sale of CBTS to TowerBrook
- WiseTech Global in its $414 million acquisition of Blume Global from funds managed by Apollo and EQT and its $230 million acquisition of Envase Technologies from Firmament
- IBM in connection with the launch by Technip Energies of Reju, a company that will leverage technology IBM co‑developed in a joint venture with Under Armour and Technip Energies
- RELX in its acquisition of Shadow Health
Media and Entertainment
- Disney in its $85 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the $3.47 billion sale of its interest in the YES Network to an investor group including the Yankees and Sinclair, the combination of its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo and ESPN’s proposed joint venture with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery to launch Venu Sports
- OUTFRONT Media in the C$410 million divestiture of its Canadian business to Bell Media
Financial Services and Insurance
- Cowen in its $1.9 billion acquisition by TD
- Atalaya Capital Management in its $800 million sale to Blue Owl Capital
- Future Standard in its acquisition of the Digital Infrastructure platform of Post Road Group
- CardWorks in its acquisition of Ally’s credit card business
Consumer and Retail
- Valvoline in the $2.65 billion sale of its Global Products business to Aramco
- Vista Outdoor in the $2.225 billion sale of The Kinetic Group to Czechoslovak Group and the $1.125 billion sale of Revelyst to SVP
Energy, Infrastructure and Industrials
- Axalta in its pending $25 billion merger of equals with AkzoNobel
- Olin in its over $10 billion pending merger of equals with Huntsman, creating OlinHuntsman
- Forward Air in its combination with Omni Logistics, creating a $3.7 billion company
- Brookfield Renewable in its $2.8 billion acquisition of Duke Energy Renewables
- INEOS in its $404 million acquisition of a 50% membership interest in Gemini HDPE from Sasol
- Cable One in the formation of Clearwave Fiber, a joint venture with GTCR, Stephens Capital Partners and The Pritzker Organization
Mr. Wichtowski has also advised on intellectual property litigation matters, including securing victories for Alarm.com in patent infringement litigation brought by Vivint and securing a settlement for Biogen relating to litigation concerning its introduction of a biosimilar to Genentech’s rheumatoid arthritis drug.
Mr. Wichtowski has been recognized by The Legal 500 US for his transactional work in the technology industry. He has also been recognized by Lawdragon as among the “500 Leading Global IP Lawyers” and “500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers.”
Mr. Wichtowski is a registered patent attorney, a member of the inaugural International Trademark Association Patents Committee and a member of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA).
Mr. Wichtowski comes from Deep River, Connecticut. He received a B.S. summa cum laude from Fordham University in 2015 and a J.D. cum laude from Duke Law School in 2018, where he was an editor of the Law Journal and a staff editor of the Law & Technology Review.
Mr. Wichtowski joined Cravath in 2018 and was elected a partner in 2025.
Education
-
J.D., 2018, Duke Law Schoolcum laude
-
B.S., 2015, Fordham Universitysumma cum laude
Admitted In
- New York
Rankings
Lawdragon
- 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers (2026)
- 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers (2026)
The Legal 500 US
- Technology Transaction (2026)
Deals & Cases
June 16, 2026
Olin Corporation’s Merger of Equals with Huntsman Corporation
On June 16, 2026, Olin Corporation and Huntsman Corporation announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock merger of equals to create a $12+ billion North American chemicals leader. Under the terms of the agreement, Huntsman shareholders will receive 0.5476 shares in Olin for every one share of Huntsman. Upon completion of the transaction, Olin shareholders will own approximately 54.5% and Huntsman shareholders will own approximately 45.5% of the combined company, which will be renamed OlinHuntsman Corporation. Upon closing of the transaction, current Olin President and Chief Executive Officer, Ken Lane, will serve as Chief Executive Officer of OlinHuntsman. Current Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Huntsman, Peter Huntsman, will serve as non-executive Chairman of OlinHuntsman’s Board of Directors. OlinHuntsman’s Board of Directors will consist of ten members, with equal representation from Olin and Huntsman. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and the approval of Olin’s shareholders and Huntsman’s shareholders. Cravath is representing Olin Corporation 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.
Deals & Cases
January 27, 2026
Siegfried’s Acquisition of Noramco, Purisys and Extractas
On January 27, 2026, Siegfried, a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization for the pharmaceutical industry, announced it has signed binding agreements with an affiliate of SK Capital Partners to acquire the drug substance business of the Noramco Group and Extractas Bioscience (“Extractas”). The acquired businesses include Noramco, Purisys and Extractas, three high-quality small molecules drug substances sites. Cravath is representing Siegfried in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
November 18, 2025
Axalta’s $25 Billion Merger of Equals with AkzoNobel
On November 18, 2025, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (“Axalta”) and Akzo Nobel N.V. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all‑stock merger of equals, creating a premier global coatings company with an enterprise value of approximately $25 billion. Cravath is representing Axalta in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
September 30, 2025
Future Standard’s Acquisition of Post Road Group’s Digital Infrastructure Platform
On September 30, 2025, Future Standard, a global alternative asset manager, announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Digital Infrastructure platform of Post Road Group, an alternative investment advisory firm. The platform specializes in credit and structured equity investments across digital infrastructure assets, including data centers, fiber networks and cloud connectivity. Cravath is representing Future Standard in connection with the transaction.
Firm News
November 20, 2025
Cravath Announces New Partners and Of Counsels
Cravath has elected the following new partners, who will become members of the Firm on January 1, 2026:
Ryan J. Wichtowski advises the Firm’s clients on a broad range of complex intellectual property and M&A‑related issues, including those that arise in the context of corporate and financing transactions. His transactional experience includes counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions, spin‑offs and separations, complex licensing arrangements, partnerships, joint ventures and collaborations.
Mr. Wichtowski has represented clients across a diverse range of industry sectors, with significant depth in healthcare and life sciences. Notable matters include representing:
Healthcare and Life Sciences
- Thermo Fisher Scientific in its $20.9 billion acquisition of PPD
- Johnson & Johnson in its $16.6 billion acquisition of Abiomed and its $6.5 billion acquisition of Momenta
- Biogen in its $5.6 billion acquisition of Apellis and the expansion of its existing agreement with Eisai to jointly develop and commercialize investigational Alzheimer’s disease treatments
- Roivant Sciences in its $3 billion Strategic Alliance with Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma
- Tabula Rasa in its $570 million take‑private acquisition by Nautic
- RedHill Biopharma in its acquisition of Movantik from AstraZeneca and in its agreement with HealthCare Royalty to extinguish its debt obligations in exchange for Movantik
- Siegfried in its acquisition of Noramco, Purisys and Extractas Bioscience from SK Capital
- Viatris in its global research and development collaboration with Idorsia Pharmaceuticals
Technology
- altafiber in the $670 million sale of CBTS to TowerBrook
- WiseTech Global in its $414 million acquisition of Blume Global from funds managed by Apollo and EQT and its $230 million acquisition of Envase Technologies from Firmament
- IBM in connection with the launch by Technip Energies of Reju, a company that will leverage technology IBM co‑developed in a joint venture with Under Armour and Technip Energies
- RELX in its acquisition of Shadow Health
Media and Entertainment
- Disney in its $85 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the $3.47 billion sale of its interest in the YES Network to an investor group including the Yankees and Sinclair, the combination of its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo and ESPN’s proposed joint venture with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery to launch Venu Sports
- OUTFRONT Media in the C$410 million divestiture of its Canadian business to Bell Media
Financial Services and Insurance
- Cowen in its $1.9 billion acquisition by TD
- Atalaya Capital Management in its $800 million sale to Blue Owl Capital
- Future Standard in its acquisition of the Digital Infrastructure platform of Post Road Group
- CardWorks in its acquisition of Ally’s credit card business
Consumer and Retail
- Valvoline in the $2.65 billion sale of its Global Products business to Aramco
- Vista Outdoor in the $2.225 billion sale of The Kinetic Group to Czechoslovak Group and the $1.125 billion sale of Revelyst to SVP
Energy, Infrastructure and Industrials
- Axalta in its pending $25 billion merger of equals with AkzoNobel
- Olin in its over $10 billion pending merger of equals with Huntsman, creating OlinHuntsman
- Forward Air in its combination with Omni Logistics, creating a $3.7 billion company
- Brookfield Renewable in its $2.8 billion acquisition of Duke Energy Renewables
- INEOS in its $404 million acquisition of a 50% membership interest in Gemini HDPE from Sasol
- Cable One in the formation of Clearwave Fiber, a joint venture with GTCR, Stephens Capital Partners and The Pritzker Organization
Mr. Wichtowski has also advised on intellectual property litigation matters, including securing victories for Alarm.com in patent infringement litigation brought by Vivint and securing a settlement for Biogen relating to litigation concerning its introduction of a biosimilar to Genentech’s rheumatoid arthritis drug.
Mr. Wichtowski has been recognized by The Legal 500 US for his transactional work in the technology industry. He has also been recognized by Lawdragon as among the “500 Leading Global IP Lawyers” and “500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers.”
Mr. Wichtowski is a registered patent attorney, a member of the inaugural International Trademark Association Patents Committee and a member of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA).
Mr. Wichtowski comes from Deep River, Connecticut. He received a B.S. summa cum laude from Fordham University in 2015 and a J.D. cum laude from Duke Law School in 2018, where he was an editor of the Law Journal and a staff editor of the Law & Technology Review.
Mr. Wichtowski joined Cravath in 2018 and was elected a partner in 2025.
Mr. Wichtowski has represented clients across a diverse range of industry sectors, with significant depth in healthcare and life sciences. Notable matters include representing:
Healthcare and Life Sciences
- Thermo Fisher Scientific in its $20.9 billion acquisition of PPD
- Johnson & Johnson in its $16.6 billion acquisition of Abiomed and its $6.5 billion acquisition of Momenta
- Biogen in its $5.6 billion acquisition of Apellis and the expansion of its existing agreement with Eisai to jointly develop and commercialize investigational Alzheimer’s disease treatments
- Roivant Sciences in its $3 billion Strategic Alliance with Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma
- Tabula Rasa in its $570 million take‑private acquisition by Nautic
- RedHill Biopharma in its acquisition of Movantik from AstraZeneca and in its agreement with HealthCare Royalty to extinguish its debt obligations in exchange for Movantik
- Siegfried in its acquisition of Noramco, Purisys and Extractas Bioscience from SK Capital
- Viatris in its global research and development collaboration with Idorsia Pharmaceuticals
Technology
- altafiber in the $670 million sale of CBTS to TowerBrook
- WiseTech Global in its $414 million acquisition of Blume Global from funds managed by Apollo and EQT and its $230 million acquisition of Envase Technologies from Firmament
- IBM in connection with the launch by Technip Energies of Reju, a company that will leverage technology IBM co‑developed in a joint venture with Under Armour and Technip Energies
- RELX in its acquisition of Shadow Health
Media and Entertainment
- Disney in its $85 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the $3.47 billion sale of its interest in the YES Network to an investor group including the Yankees and Sinclair, the combination of its Hulu + Live TV business with Fubo and ESPN’s proposed joint venture with Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery to launch Venu Sports
- OUTFRONT Media in the C$410 million divestiture of its Canadian business to Bell Media
Financial Services and Insurance
- Cowen in its $1.9 billion acquisition by TD
- Atalaya Capital Management in its $800 million sale to Blue Owl Capital
- Future Standard in its acquisition of the Digital Infrastructure platform of Post Road Group
- CardWorks in its acquisition of Ally’s credit card business
Consumer and Retail
- Valvoline in the $2.65 billion sale of its Global Products business to Aramco
- Vista Outdoor in the $2.225 billion sale of The Kinetic Group to Czechoslovak Group and the $1.125 billion sale of Revelyst to SVP
Energy, Infrastructure and Industrials
- Axalta in its pending $25 billion merger of equals with AkzoNobel
- Olin in its over $10 billion pending merger of equals with Huntsman, creating OlinHuntsman
- Forward Air in its combination with Omni Logistics, creating a $3.7 billion company
- Brookfield Renewable in its $2.8 billion acquisition of Duke Energy Renewables
- INEOS in its $404 million acquisition of a 50% membership interest in Gemini HDPE from Sasol
- Cable One in the formation of Clearwave Fiber, a joint venture with GTCR, Stephens Capital Partners and The Pritzker Organization
Mr. Wichtowski has also advised on intellectual property litigation matters, including securing victories for Alarm.com in patent infringement litigation brought by Vivint and securing a settlement for Biogen relating to litigation concerning its introduction of a biosimilar to Genentech’s rheumatoid arthritis drug.
Mr. Wichtowski has been recognized by The Legal 500 US for his transactional work in the technology industry. He has also been recognized by Lawdragon as among the “500 Leading Global IP Lawyers” and “500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers.”
Mr. Wichtowski is a registered patent attorney, a member of the inaugural International Trademark Association Patents Committee and a member of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA).
Mr. Wichtowski comes from Deep River, Connecticut. He received a B.S. summa cum laude from Fordham University in 2015 and a J.D. cum laude from Duke Law School in 2018, where he was an editor of the Law Journal and a staff editor of the Law & Technology Review.
Mr. Wichtowski joined Cravath in 2018 and was elected a partner in 2025.
Education
-
J.D., 2018, Duke Law Schoolcum laude
-
B.S., 2015, Fordham Universitysumma cum laude
Admitted In
- New York
Rankings
Lawdragon
- 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers (2026)
- 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers (2026)
The Legal 500 US
- Technology Transaction (2026)
Deals & Cases
June 16, 2026
Olin Corporation’s Merger of Equals with Huntsman Corporation
On June 16, 2026, Olin Corporation and Huntsman Corporation announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock merger of equals to create a $12+ billion North American chemicals leader. Under the terms of the agreement, Huntsman shareholders will receive 0.5476 shares in Olin for every one share of Huntsman. Upon completion of the transaction, Olin shareholders will own approximately 54.5% and Huntsman shareholders will own approximately 45.5% of the combined company, which will be renamed OlinHuntsman Corporation. Upon closing of the transaction, current Olin President and Chief Executive Officer, Ken Lane, will serve as Chief Executive Officer of OlinHuntsman. Current Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Huntsman, Peter Huntsman, will serve as non-executive Chairman of OlinHuntsman’s Board of Directors. OlinHuntsman’s Board of Directors will consist of ten members, with equal representation from Olin and Huntsman. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and the approval of Olin’s shareholders and Huntsman’s shareholders. Cravath is representing Olin Corporation 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.
Deals & Cases
January 27, 2026
Siegfried’s Acquisition of Noramco, Purisys and Extractas
On January 27, 2026, Siegfried, a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization for the pharmaceutical industry, announced it has signed binding agreements with an affiliate of SK Capital Partners to acquire the drug substance business of the Noramco Group and Extractas Bioscience (“Extractas”). The acquired businesses include Noramco, Purisys and Extractas, three high-quality small molecules drug substances sites. Cravath is representing Siegfried in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
November 18, 2025
Axalta’s $25 Billion Merger of Equals with AkzoNobel
On November 18, 2025, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (“Axalta”) and Akzo Nobel N.V. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all‑stock merger of equals, creating a premier global coatings company with an enterprise value of approximately $25 billion. Cravath is representing Axalta in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
September 30, 2025
Future Standard’s Acquisition of Post Road Group’s Digital Infrastructure Platform
On September 30, 2025, Future Standard, a global alternative asset manager, announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Digital Infrastructure platform of Post Road Group, an alternative investment advisory firm. The platform specializes in credit and structured equity investments across digital infrastructure assets, including data centers, fiber networks and cloud connectivity. Cravath is representing Future Standard in connection with the transaction.
Firm News
November 20, 2025
Cravath Announces New Partners and Of Counsels
Cravath has elected the following new partners, who will become members of the Firm on January 1, 2026:
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