Calfee’s team of more than 25 dedicated mergers and acquisitions attorneys provide practical legal guidance to clients to assist them in navigating through a purchase, sale or other business transaction.
With a strong foothold in the regional middle market, we represent both privately held and publicly traded companies, private equity funds, family owned businesses, and private entrepreneurs, among other types of clients.
Calfee handles transactions of all sizes – with completed transactions ranging in value from $500,000 to more than $3 billion. We know how to staff transactions and use resources in a cost-effective manner and how to add value with our competitive rates. Whether a deal involves a relatively straightforward asset purchase of a single facility business, or a multi-entity, multi-jurisdictional transaction for a publicly held conglomerate, we have the necessary experience to get it done.
We understand that each transaction is unique. We have the resources to staff each deal with appropriate attorneys from other practice groups who have experience in areas such as Securities and Capital Markets, Tax, Commercial Business, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Real Estate, Environmental and Antitrust, to name just a few. Collaboration with these team members ensures that each transaction is efficiently managed, while adequately covering the myriad issues raised by any transaction.
Our M&A attorneys focus on understanding the business motivations underlying each transaction. We help our clients identify the best transaction structure, devise strategies to mitigate risk and overcome obstacles, and negotiate reasonable protections in light of the size and complexity of the deal.
Chambers USA Ranking
For more than a decade, Calfee's Corporate/M&A group has been ranked by Chambers USA.
Calfee’s M&A practice group is recognized for being an "Impressive team with a strong track record across a broad range of corporate and transactional matters, acting on behalf of public and private businesses and financial institutions. Areas of excellence include M&A, securities offerings and private equity and venture capital fund formation."
In survey responses and interviews with Chambers researchers, Calfee clients noted the following about our M&A group:
U.S.News "Best Law Firm" Rankings
Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2019 "Best Law Firms" rankings by U.S.News –Best Lawyers in America in the following areas relating to transactional work:
Elite DealMakers Rankings
Calfee was ranked in the IFLR1000 United States Guide to USA's Leading Financial & Corporate Law Firms "Elite Dealmakers" 2018 in the areas of Corporate and M&A and Capital Markets.
Clients responding to the IFLR1000 survey reported the following about Calfee's M&A and Capital Markets team:
"Second to none. We have used every major law firm in the market and no one has the depth of expertise and high level of service."
"Calfee solves problems. They have a deep bench with complete understanding of clients' needs. They are focused, hardworking and get the job done. They are competitively priced."
"Calfee, Halter & Griswold consistently goes above and beyond on providing sound counsel to our company. They are extremely responsive and even work on the weekends when an acquisition is ready to close. They anticipate our needs and will suggest alternative methods for solving legal issues. We are lucky to have them represent us."
"Calfee is a sophisticated law firm with good depth across many practice areas. The lawyers have a strong sense of client service and are responsive to our needs."
"They are excellent. I would recommend them. They have been an impressive law firm to work with."
Partnering with Clients
Our M&A attorneys guide clients through the process of structuring, documenting, negotiating and closing acquisitions and sales of assets and stock, mergers, strategic alliances, and joint ventures. After closing, we advise clients on post-transaction integration matters. In the case of acquisitions, after a closing we often function as outside “general counsel” to the acquired business on day-to-day legal matters.
Meeting Clients' Business Objectives
We work with our clients to negotiate a reasonable allocation between the transaction parties of liabilities and risks. We help our clients to make practical decisions that further their business goals.
We also counsel our clients on potential tax savings or deferral opportunities in structuring transactions.
Dedication to Client Service
Calfee’s M&A professionals are committed to delivering superior client service and partnering with our clients. We live by these five “golden rules” of client service:
Many of our M&A attorneys have previously served as in-house counsel, corporate board members, or advisory board members for companies. This collective experience has shaped our M&A attorneys’ perspective and provided valuable insight into the mindset of our clients.
Collaborative Teamwork
Our M&A attorneys approach engagements with a sense of teamwork – working together internally across multiple disciplines and working closely with our clients’ management and other internal and external advisors – to efficiently coordinate transactions and achieve optimal outcomes. Whether guidance is needed in environmental, employment, intellectual property, real estate, employee benefits, data security, tax planning and compliance, or any other legal area, we bring to the table the necessary expertise.
Calfee's M&A attorneys have significant experience representing clients in a wide range of sectors, including the following:
Chambers USA reported that Calfee’s M&A group “boasts a large team with a strong private equity, corporate and public company client base... [and is] recognized for its growing oil and gas focus and notable activity in the manufacturing and healthcare sectors.”
Chambers USA
