The international law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP announced the addition of M&A shareholder David M. Schwartzbaum to its New York Corporate and Securities Practice. Schwartzbaum joined the firm from Latham & Watkins LLP, where he was a senior corporate partner.
"We see this period of transformational change in the legal market as an opportunity to add key practitioners to benefit our clients," said Richard A. Rosenbaum, President of Greenberg Traurig. "In 2009, we made a number of strategic additions, including Bruce Zirinsky as Co-Chair of the Business Reorganization and Bankruptcy Practice, who joined with his team in New York, and Paul Maher, as Chair of our new London office (now with more than 25 lawyers), who is a senior leader of our global M&A practice. We have long enjoyed an exceptional M&A practice, with strong market leaders throughout our firm, and we are pleased to start the new decade by adding David to that team, a topnotch attorney who will help strengthen our corporate M&A practice worldwide."
Schwartzbaum's practice includes the representation of principals and financial advisors in public and private M&A transactions. Over the course of his career, Schwartzbaum has handled negotiated and unsolicited M&A transactions, cash and stock-for-stock mergers, tender offers, exchange offers, cross-border transactions, special committee representations, going-private transactions and takeover defense assignments.
Gary Epstein, the Chair of the firm's Corporate and Securities Practice, adds, "David is the kind of quality and cultural fit we have always sought when bringing aboard key practice leaders. We are taking the opportunity to form a Global M&A Steering Committee, consisting of key leaders throughout the firm, to elevate our entire M&A practice. I am pleased that David has agreed to serve as a Co-Chair of this group."
Paul Maher, Chair of the firm's London office and currently Co-Chair of its M&A Practice, and Patricia Menendez-Cambo, Chair of the firm's Global Practice, both expressed excitement about this addition and both will be involved in the M&A steering committee when it is formed.
Maher said, "David's superior ability and reputation for advising companies and financial advisors in complex M&A transactions, coupled with the existing talent at the firm, will provide greater value to clients as they evaluate and embark on future business opportunities. I look forward to partnering with him across continents."
"I look forward to working closely with David as we build the practice globally," added Menendez-Cambo.
"I am delighted to be joining Greenberg Traurig. I believe that my clients can benefit from its unique platform and its intense focus on both quality and client service," said Schwartzbaum. "The firm's strategic vision, its balanced model and its stability during uncertain times, combined with its uniquely empowering and nimble culture, make this the opportune time to help build its M&A practice and leverage its platform and competitive position in the marketplace."
Among Schwartzbaum's recent transactions are the representations of CVT Therapeutics in its $1.4 billion sale to Gilead and of Axcan Pharma in its $1.3 billion sale to an affiliate of TPG. As part of his M&A practice, Schwartzbaum represents many leading investment banking and advisory firms. His recent financial advisory transactions include the representations of the financial advisors to Stanley Works in its pending $4.5 billion merger with Black & Decker and one of the financial advisors to XTO Energy in its pending $41 billion merger with Exxon Mobil.
Schwartzbaum received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1987, and his M.A. and B.A., summa cum laude, from Yale University in 1984.
Comprised of more than 350 lawyers, Greenberg Traurig's Corporate and Securities Practice provides advice and services to companies and entrepreneurs throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Greenberg Traurig's practice groups and attorneys have been recognized as No. 1 in their respective geographic regions by The National Law Journal, Chambers & Partners, Corporate Board Member magazine, Latin Lawyer magazine and numerous regional and local professional publications.
About Greenberg Traurig LLP
Greenberg Traurig LLP is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1750 attorneys serving clients from more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. In the U.S., the firm has more offices than any other among the Top 20 on The National Law Journal's 2009 NLJ 250. In the U.K., the firm operates as Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP. Additionally, Greenberg Traurig has strategic alliances with the following independent law firms: Studio Santa Maria in Milan and Rome, TA Lawyers GKJ in Tokyo, and Weber Law Office in Zürich. The firm was Chambers and Partners' USA Law Firm of the Year in 2007 and among the Top 3 in the International Law Firm of the Year at the 2009 The Lawyer Awards. For additional information, please visit www.gtlaw.com.
Contacts:
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Joey Kaiser, 212-801-6983
kaiserj@gtlaw.com
or
Rubenstein
Public Relations
Katherine Ragsdale, 212-843-8298
kragsdale@rubenstein.com
