America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2008: Corporate/M&A

Chambers & Partners has compiled its independent and objective list of America's Leading Lawyers for Business based on comments gathered from thousands of interviews with clients and lawyers from Maine to Hawaii. This guide — which is designed to reflect market opinion — contains a view of the firms and attorneys who are considered leaders in their field.

In Chambers' 2008 review of national legal talent in the area of "Corporate/M&A," our Firm and our lawyers are listed among the best in the country.

Chambers' comments:

National Ranking: Tier 3

The Firm: Based in Chicago, this firm has made an impact on the market, due largely to its close relationships with certain private equity funds. Indeed, with the likes of Bain Capital quickly expanding, the team has become more active than ever in M&A. Having already developed its midmarket public M&A practice, the group has made great strides in entering the high end of the market. "It is a strong team with real depth," and one of its prime figures is Carter Emerson, who has vast experience in transaction.

Corporate/M&A: The Elite
New York Ranking: Tier 4

The Firm: Chicago-based and with a dynamic private equity foundation, Kirkland & Ellis has settled with ease into the New York corporate landscape by way of its Manhattan office. Being "more than capable of holding its own in the global marketplace," the corporate team at this firm is riding a wave of success, representing an array of private equity funds and growing its share of the public companies market. Clients express particular admiration for the firm's capacity to correctly staff deals.

The Lawyers: Based in the New York outpost of this private equity specialist firm is the all-around corporate transactional talent of Stephen Fraidin. "His creative approach to problems and sophisticated advice" allow him to stand out from the crowd. One client remarked: "He is well connected all over the world and is a great attribute for the profession as a whole."

Reprinted with permission from Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2008 — www.chambersandpartners.com.