Four Decades for Justice
Cravath is one of the preeminent law firms for mergers and acquisitions. Our lawyers are renowned for their outstanding capabilities in complex U.S. and cross‑border deals. Over the past decade, Cravath has represented clients in more than 800 M&A transactions with an aggregate value of over $4.2 trillion, reflecting the high‑value, high‑impact transactions that we are regularly called upon to execute.
Cravath advises companies in their most critical needs across the full spectrum of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin‑offs and joint ventures. In addition to—and often alongside—the mergers and acquisitions that we handle, Cravath is a leading advisor for companies and boards in high‑stakes corporate situations, including hostile takeovers and shareholder activism defense.
Both U.S. and non-U.S. clients rely on our leadership and expertise in their most transformative corporate matters, many of which involve multiple jurisdictions across diverse industries. Our lawyers navigate novel legal and business issues in the areas of consumer products, energy, fintech, healthcare, media and entertainment, pharmaceuticals, retail, technology and telecommunications.
Cravath has been consistently ranked a top‑tier firm for M&A by numerous third‑party publications and is an 11‑time recipient of the M&A Practice Group of the Year award by Law360. Our lawyers regularly earn plaudits from their clients and peers in the market:
Cravath advises companies in their most critical needs across the full spectrum of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin‑offs and joint ventures. In addition to—and often alongside—the mergers and acquisitions that we handle, Cravath is a leading advisor for companies and boards in high‑stakes corporate situations, including hostile takeovers and shareholder activism defense.
Both U.S. and non-U.S. clients rely on our leadership and expertise in their most transformative corporate matters, many of which involve multiple jurisdictions across diverse industries. Our lawyers navigate novel legal and business issues in the areas of consumer products, energy, fintech, healthcare, media and entertainment, pharmaceuticals, retail, technology and telecommunications.
Cravath has been consistently ranked a top‑tier firm for M&A by numerous third‑party publications and is an 11‑time recipient of the M&A Practice Group of the Year award by Law360. Our lawyers regularly earn plaudits from their clients and peers in the market:
Deals & Cases
February 28, 2024
On February 28, 2024, Viatris Inc. (“Viatris”), a global healthcare company, and Idorsia Ltd (“Idorsia”) announced they have entered into agreements for a significant global research and development collaboration under which Viatris will receive exclusive global development and commercialization rights to two Phase 3 assets as well as the potential to add additional innovative assets in the future.
Deals & Cases
February 12, 2024
On February 12, 2024, CymaBay Therapeutics (“CymaBay”) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (“Gilead”) announced a definitive agreement under which Gilead will acquire CymaBay for $32.50 per share in cash or a total equity value of $4.3 billion. The addition of CymaBay’s investigational lead product candidate, seladelpar for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis, complements Gilead’s existing liver portfolio and aligns with its longstanding commitment to bringing transformational medicines to patients. Cravath is representing CymaBay in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
February 12, 2024
On February 12, 2024, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (“Martin Marietta”) announced that on February 11, 2024, it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 20 active aggregates operations in Alabama, South Carolina, South Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia from affiliates of Blue Water Industries LLC (“BWI Southeast”) for $2.05 billion in cash. Additionally, on February 9, 2024, Martin Marietta completed its previously announced divestiture of its South Texas cement and related concrete operations to CRH Americas Materials, Inc., a subsidiary of CRH plc, for $2.1 billion in cash. Cravath is representing Martin Marietta in connection with the transactions.
Deals & Cases
February 06, 2024
On February 6, 2024, altafiber, provider of integrated communications solutions over its fiber‑optic network to residential and business customers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and TowerBrook Capital Partners (“TowerBrook”), the New York and London‑based international investment firm, announced that TowerBrook has agreed to acquire CBTS, a leading North American provider of IT solutions and services, from altafiber. Cravath is representing altafiber in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
February 01, 2024
On February 1, 2024, DRI Healthcare Trust (“the Trust”), a global leader in providing financing to advance innovation in the life sciences industry, announced it has expanded its interest in royalties on the U.S. net sales of Omidria® by amending its existing agreement with Omeros Corporation ("Omeros") for $115 million on closing and up to $55 million in potential sales‑based milestone payments. As a result, the Trust will now receive 100% of Omeros’s royalties on the U.S. net sales of Omidria® through December 31, 2031. Cravath is representing DRI Healthcare Trust in connection with the transaction.
Activities & Publications
March 15, 2024
On March 13, 2024, Cravath partner Daniel J. Cerqueira participated in the International Bar Association’s 2024 Mergers and Acquisitions in Latin America conference, which was jointly presented by the IBA Latin American Regional Forum and the IBA Corporate and M&A Law Committee, and held in Miami, FL. Dan spoke on a panel entitled “Artificial Intelligence in the M&A Process: Contracts Preparation, Due Diligence and Responsibility for Lawyers Using AI,” which reviewed AI’s impact on the M&A process, including how AI can potentially streamline and enhance the contract drafting and review process, and may raise ethical and professional considerations for lawyers leveraging this advanced technology.
Activities & Publications
March 08, 2024
On March 8, 2024, Cravath partner Richard Hall spoke at the 36th Corporate Law Institute, which was hosted by Tulane University Law School from March 7‑8, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and featured judges and leading professionals to discuss the latest developments in M&A, corporate and securities law. Richard spoke on a panel entitled “Regulatory Merger Control Regimes – Developments in Antitrust and Foreign Direct Investments.”
Activities & Publications
February 29, 2024
On February 28, 2024, Cravath partner Ting S. Chen participated in “Doing Deals 2024: The Art of M&A Transactional Practice,” a program presented by the Practising Law Institute in New York, which focused on the latest trends and developments in the M&A market and featured outside and in‑house lawyers and investment bankers. Ting spoke on a panel entitled “Negotiating the M&A Agreement in the Time of Covid and Beyond,” which reviewed how to mitigate risk in a purchase agreement, the evolution of the Material Adverse Effect clause and interim operating covenants, and Con Ed provisions.
Activities & Publications
February 14, 2024
Cravath partners G.J. Ligelis Jr., Alyssa K. Caples, Christopher K. Fargo and Margaret T. Segall co‑authored the U.S. Law & Practice chapter of the fourth edition of Chambers “Investing In… 2024” Guide, which was published in January 2024. The guide, which is part of the publisher’s Global Practice Guides series, examines country‑specific legal issues that arise from foreign direct investment (“FDI”) and cross‑border transactions in the more than 30 jurisdictions covered. The U.S. Law & Practice chapter surveys the legal system and regulatory framework for FDI in the country, analyzing the economic climate, as well as considerations related to mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, capital markets, antitrust, national security, tax, employment and intellectual property.
Accolades
February 14, 2024
On February 12, 2024, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group of the Year,” receiving the distinction for the eleventh time in thirteen years. The profile highlighted the Firm’s role representing the Snyder Family in its sale of the Washington Commanders to Josh Harris and partners, WestRock in its $20 billion combination with Smurfit Kappa, Brookfield Renewable in its and Cameco’s $7.875 billion acquisition of Westinghouse and Biogen in its $7.3 billion acquisition of Reata Pharmaceuticals.
Deals & Cases
February 28, 2024
On February 28, 2024, Viatris Inc. (“Viatris”), a global healthcare company, and Idorsia Ltd (“Idorsia”) announced they have entered into agreements for a significant global research and development collaboration under which Viatris will receive exclusive global development and commercialization rights to two Phase 3 assets as well as the potential to add additional innovative assets in the future.
Deals & Cases
February 12, 2024
On February 12, 2024, CymaBay Therapeutics (“CymaBay”) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (“Gilead”) announced a definitive agreement under which Gilead will acquire CymaBay for $32.50 per share in cash or a total equity value of $4.3 billion. The addition of CymaBay’s investigational lead product candidate, seladelpar for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis, complements Gilead’s existing liver portfolio and aligns with its longstanding commitment to bringing transformational medicines to patients. Cravath is representing CymaBay in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
February 12, 2024
On February 12, 2024, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (“Martin Marietta”) announced that on February 11, 2024, it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 20 active aggregates operations in Alabama, South Carolina, South Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia from affiliates of Blue Water Industries LLC (“BWI Southeast”) for $2.05 billion in cash. Additionally, on February 9, 2024, Martin Marietta completed its previously announced divestiture of its South Texas cement and related concrete operations to CRH Americas Materials, Inc., a subsidiary of CRH plc, for $2.1 billion in cash. Cravath is representing Martin Marietta in connection with the transactions.
Deals & Cases
February 06, 2024
On February 6, 2024, altafiber, provider of integrated communications solutions over its fiber‑optic network to residential and business customers in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, and TowerBrook Capital Partners (“TowerBrook”), the New York and London‑based international investment firm, announced that TowerBrook has agreed to acquire CBTS, a leading North American provider of IT solutions and services, from altafiber. Cravath is representing altafiber in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
February 01, 2024
On February 1, 2024, DRI Healthcare Trust (“the Trust”), a global leader in providing financing to advance innovation in the life sciences industry, announced it has expanded its interest in royalties on the U.S. net sales of Omidria® by amending its existing agreement with Omeros Corporation ("Omeros") for $115 million on closing and up to $55 million in potential sales‑based milestone payments. As a result, the Trust will now receive 100% of Omeros’s royalties on the U.S. net sales of Omidria® through December 31, 2031. Cravath is representing DRI Healthcare Trust in connection with the transaction.
Activities & Publications
March 15, 2024
On March 13, 2024, Cravath partner Daniel J. Cerqueira participated in the International Bar Association’s 2024 Mergers and Acquisitions in Latin America conference, which was jointly presented by the IBA Latin American Regional Forum and the IBA Corporate and M&A Law Committee, and held in Miami, FL. Dan spoke on a panel entitled “Artificial Intelligence in the M&A Process: Contracts Preparation, Due Diligence and Responsibility for Lawyers Using AI,” which reviewed AI’s impact on the M&A process, including how AI can potentially streamline and enhance the contract drafting and review process, and may raise ethical and professional considerations for lawyers leveraging this advanced technology.
Activities & Publications
March 08, 2024
On March 8, 2024, Cravath partner Richard Hall spoke at the 36th Corporate Law Institute, which was hosted by Tulane University Law School from March 7‑8, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and featured judges and leading professionals to discuss the latest developments in M&A, corporate and securities law. Richard spoke on a panel entitled “Regulatory Merger Control Regimes – Developments in Antitrust and Foreign Direct Investments.”
Activities & Publications
February 29, 2024
On February 28, 2024, Cravath partner Ting S. Chen participated in “Doing Deals 2024: The Art of M&A Transactional Practice,” a program presented by the Practising Law Institute in New York, which focused on the latest trends and developments in the M&A market and featured outside and in‑house lawyers and investment bankers. Ting spoke on a panel entitled “Negotiating the M&A Agreement in the Time of Covid and Beyond,” which reviewed how to mitigate risk in a purchase agreement, the evolution of the Material Adverse Effect clause and interim operating covenants, and Con Ed provisions.
Activities & Publications
February 14, 2024
Cravath partners G.J. Ligelis Jr., Alyssa K. Caples, Christopher K. Fargo and Margaret T. Segall co‑authored the U.S. Law & Practice chapter of the fourth edition of Chambers “Investing In… 2024” Guide, which was published in January 2024. The guide, which is part of the publisher’s Global Practice Guides series, examines country‑specific legal issues that arise from foreign direct investment (“FDI”) and cross‑border transactions in the more than 30 jurisdictions covered. The U.S. Law & Practice chapter surveys the legal system and regulatory framework for FDI in the country, analyzing the economic climate, as well as considerations related to mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, capital markets, antitrust, national security, tax, employment and intellectual property.
Accolades
February 14, 2024
On February 12, 2024, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group of the Year,” receiving the distinction for the eleventh time in thirteen years. The profile highlighted the Firm’s role representing the Snyder Family in its sale of the Washington Commanders to Josh Harris and partners, WestRock in its $20 billion combination with Smurfit Kappa, Brookfield Renewable in its and Cameco’s $7.875 billion acquisition of Westinghouse and Biogen in its $7.3 billion acquisition of Reata Pharmaceuticals.
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