Cravath Publishes Summer 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
Technology
Media and Entertainment
Financial Services and Insurance
Consumer and Retail
Energy, Infrastructure and Industrials
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
Technology
Media and Entertainment
Financial Services and Insurance
Consumer and Retail
Energy, Infrastructure and Industrials
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.
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 US
Deals & Cases
September 21, 2026
On September 21, 2026, DRI Healthcare Trust (“DRI Healthcare”), a pioneer in global pharmaceutical royalty monetization, announced that it has entered into purchase agreements to acquire certain royalty participation rights in U.S. net sales of tavapadon, an investigational Parkinson’s disease drug candidate, from funds managed by Bain Capital and NovaQuest Capital Management. Under the terms of the purchase agreements, DRI Healthcare will pay an aggregate purchase price of $316 million at closing. Following closing, DRI Healthcare will be entitled to receive tiered royalty payments on annual U.S. net sales of tavapadon, at combined tiered, mid‑single digit to low‑double digit royalty rates. DRI Healthcare will also be entitled to receive certain sales milestone payments upon first reaching certain cumulative U.S. net sales thresholds and four annual fixed payments of $23.4 million on the first four anniversaries of FDA approval of tavapadon. Aggregate receipts are subject to a contractual hard cap of $437.5 million. Cravath is representing DRI Healthcare in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
June 16, 2026
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
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
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
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.
Firm News
November 20, 2025
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
Technology
Media and Entertainment
Financial Services and Insurance
Consumer and Retail
Energy, Infrastructure and Industrials
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
Technology
Media and Entertainment
Financial Services and Insurance
Consumer and Retail
Energy, Infrastructure and Industrials
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.
Lawdragon
The Legal 500 US
Deals & Cases
September 21, 2026
On September 21, 2026, DRI Healthcare Trust (“DRI Healthcare”), a pioneer in global pharmaceutical royalty monetization, announced that it has entered into purchase agreements to acquire certain royalty participation rights in U.S. net sales of tavapadon, an investigational Parkinson’s disease drug candidate, from funds managed by Bain Capital and NovaQuest Capital Management. Under the terms of the purchase agreements, DRI Healthcare will pay an aggregate purchase price of $316 million at closing. Following closing, DRI Healthcare will be entitled to receive tiered royalty payments on annual U.S. net sales of tavapadon, at combined tiered, mid‑single digit to low‑double digit royalty rates. DRI Healthcare will also be entitled to receive certain sales milestone payments upon first reaching certain cumulative U.S. net sales thresholds and four annual fixed payments of $23.4 million on the first four anniversaries of FDA approval of tavapadon. Aggregate receipts are subject to a contractual hard cap of $437.5 million. Cravath is representing DRI Healthcare in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
June 16, 2026
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
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
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
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.
Firm News
November 20, 2025
Cravath has elected the following new partners, who will become members of the Firm on January 1, 2026:
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.
Attorney Advertising. ©2026 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.