America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2004-2005: Private Equity - Fund Formation

Chambers & Partners has compiled their 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' 2004-2005 review of national legal talent in the area of "Private Equity - Fund Formation," our Firm and our lawyers are listed among the best in the country.

Chambers' comments:

New York

Ranking: 3

The Firm: Clients singled out the national operation as one of the top players in the market. Although "more aggressive" as advisers, clients also regard the team as a "smooth operator" able to seamlessly utilize cross-office resources. The sizable New York team focuses on the private equity arena, and can exploit the "lock on the Midwest" held by its Chicago office.

The Lawyers: Equally adept at fund formation and transactional matters, Kirk Radke is the standout practitioner here. Sources respect him as a "deal-getter and doer" with a "no-nonsense" approach.

The Clients: Vestar Capital Partners; CVC Capital Partners; Bain Capital Partners; Merrill Lynch; Citigroup; Morgan Stanley Capital Partners; Whitney Group; AEA Investors; Cornerstone Partners and Catterton Partners

Reprinted with permission from Chambers & Partners: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2004-2005