Executive Compensation and Benefits

On November 3, 2025, Kenvue Inc. (“Kenvue”), a global consumer health leader, and Kimberly‑Clark Corporation (“Kimberly‑Clark”), a global personal care leader, announced an agreement under which Kimberly‑Clark will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Kenvue common stock in a cash and stock transaction that values Kenvue at an enterprise value of approximately $48.7 billion, based on the closing price of Kimberly‑Clark common stock on October 31, 2025. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by each company’s Board of Directors, Kenvue shareholders will receive $3.50 per share in cash as well as 0.14625 Kimberly‑Clark shares for each Kenvue share held at closing. Upon closing of the transaction, current Kenvue shareholders are expected to own approximately 46% and current Kimberly‑Clark shareholders are expected to own approximately 54% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis. Cravath is representing Kenvue in connection with the transaction.

Cravath represented the administrative agent, joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner in connection with a $4 billion revolving credit facility made available to Valero Energy Corporation, a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum‑based and low‑carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products. The transaction closed on October 16, 2025.

Cravath represented Alliance Laundry Holdings Inc. in connection with its $950.29 million initial public offering of common stock. Alliance Laundry Holdings, an affiliate of BDT & MSD Partners, LLC, is the world’s largest designer and manufacturer of commercial laundry systems, serving a diverse range of global markets. The transaction closed on October 10, 2025.

Cravath represented the initial purchaser in connection with the $275 million 144A/Reg. S high‑yield senior guaranteed notes offering of Cleveland‑Cliffs Inc., a leading North America‑based steel producer. The transaction closed on October 10, 2025.

On October 15, 2025, Lee Equity Partners, LLC (“Lee Equity”), an investment firm specializing in investments in the financial and healthcare services sectors, announced the closing of a $1.6 billion recapitalization of McLarens Global Limited (“McLarens”), a global independent provider of insurance services, to extend Lee Equity’s long‑term partnership with McLarens. Cravath represented members of McLarens’ senior executive team in connection with the transaction.

On November 6, 2025, Cravath partner Jonathan J. Katz participated in the Center on Executive Compensation's 2025 Annual Meeting, which was presented by the Chief Human Resource Officer (“CHRO”) Association from November 5‑6 in Washington, D.C. Jon spoke on a panel entitled “Making Winners Without Losers: Pay Strategies to Support CEO Succession,” which discussed keeping internal candidates in the game, encouraging critical development moves and attracting external executives when the moment demands it.

Cravath released the Summer 2025 issue of its Alumni Journal, which highlights the Firm’s global alumni community. This issue features the career journey of Ed Weiss, Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and General Counsel at Fenway Sports Group, as well as a recent conversation with Margot Miller, the Global Vice President of Legal & Corporate Affairs at AB InBev and the company’s e‑commerce platform, BEES. This edition also spotlights the Firm’s antitrust practice and includes photos of the Firm’s new London office, which was recently relocated to 100 Cheapside. 

On August 11, 2025, Cravath published the latest edition of its Venture Capital & Growth Equity Insights newsletter, which has been redesigned to provide greater insight into global venture capital and related activity during the first half of 2025 and outlook for the rest of the year. Key takeaways from this edition include:

The 2025 edition of the Legal 500 United States ranked Cravath in the top tier nationally in 15 areas: Antitrust - Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense; Capital Markets: Debt Offerings (Advice to Issuers); Capital Markets: Debt Offerings (Advice to Underwriters); Capital Markets: Global Offerings (Advice to Issuers); Capital Markets: Global Offerings (Advice to Underwriters); Commercial Lending (Advice to Lenders); Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and Retirement Plans: Transactional; Environment: Transactional; Financial Services Litigation; General Commercial Disputes; International Tax; M&A: Large Deals ($1bn+); M&A Litigation: Defense; Securities Litigation: Defense; and U.S. Taxes: Non‑contentious. In addition, 79 Cravath attorneys were individually recognized by The Legal 500 United States this year.

On February 26, 2025, Cravath and Harvard Law School hosted a program to celebrate the work of the Cravath International Fellows, which was held in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 2006 by Cravath partners who are Harvard Law School alumni, under the leadership of the late Robert D. Joffe, the Cravath International Fellowships program provides financial assistance, including travel and living expenses, to students pursuing academic projects during their Winter Term with an international, transnational or comparative law focus. Approximately 12 Cravath International Fellowships are awarded annually.