Retail

On May 28, 2025, rhode, a fast‑growing, multi‑category lifestyle beauty brand founded by Hailey Bieber, and e.l.f. Beauty announced they have signed a definitive agreement for e.l.f. Beauty to acquire rhode. The $1 billion deal is comprised of $800 million of consideration payable at closing in a combination of cash and stock, subject to customary adjustments, and an additional potential earnout consideration of $200 million based on the future growth of the brand over a three‑year timeframe. Hailey Bieber will continue her role as Founder and additionally serve as rhode’s Chief Creative Officer and Head of Innovation, overseeing creative, product innovation and marketing. She will also act as a Strategic Advisor to the combined companies. Cravath is representing Hailey Bieber in connection with the transaction.

Cravath represented the administrative agent, joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner in connection with $7 billion of credit facilities made available to The Home Depot, Inc., the world’s largest home improvement retailer. The transaction closed on May 6, 2025.

Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $1 billion registered senior notes offering of Expedia Group, Inc., an online travel company. The transaction closed on February 21, 2025.

Cravath represented Booking Holdings Inc. in connection with its €1.8 billion registered senior notes offering. Booking Holdings Inc. is a leading provider of online travel and travel‑related reservation and search services. The transaction closed on November 21, 2024.

Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $850 million registered senior notes offering of The Sherwin‑Williams Company, a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers. The transaction closed on August 9, 2024.

On July 29, 2024, Cravath partner G.J. Ligelis Jr. was featured in Bloomberg Law’s “They’ve Got Next: 40 Under 40” series, which recognizes “the accomplishments of stellar young lawyers nationwide,” based on their work on key client matters, assumption of leadership roles, pro bono commitments and more. In a Q&A, G.J. described his work on transformative deals, including for client AerCap in its $30 billion acquisition of GE Capital Aviation Services, the largest M&A deal in the history of the aircraft leasing industry. G.J. also highlighted Just Eat Takeaway.com’s $7.3 billion combination with Grubhub as a matter in which he was “particularly proud of” his role, having led the Cravath team representing Just Eat Takeaway.com on M&A matters during his third year as partner. G.J. emphasized the importance of teamwork in providing clients with seamless legal advice and praised the quality of the Firm’s attorneys across practice groups: “Nothing is more rewarding than introducing an M&A client to one of my litigation or investigations partners, capital markets partners or antitrust/regulatory partners and watching my client’s reaction as they realize they get the exact same level of quality, dedication, and personal touch across every area of Cravath.”

On May 31, 2024, Cravath partner Paul H. Zumbro participated in Continuing Legal Education Weekend 2024, a conference hosted by The Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys from May 31‑June 2, 2024, in Manchester, VT. Paul spoke on a panel entitled “Annual Bankruptcy Update,” which reviewed recent developments in bankruptcy law of interest to lenders. Paul spoke about restructuring support agreements and “lockup” agreements; avoidance action as collateral; Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code; third party releases; and valuation considerations for secured lenders in retail bankruptcy cases.

Between July 28 and August 11, 2023, Cravath advised on nine announced deals, including seven deals in a span of three business days. Cravath is representing: