Department profile

Corporate/M&A

USA Guide 2026 : New York

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Rankings

Ranked Individuals

About

Provided by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

A Preeminent Corporate Practice

Wachtell Lipton enjoys a global reputation as one of the world’s leading business law firms. Our deep experience means we regularly handle many of the largest, most complex and demanding transactions in the United States and around the world. We counsel both public and private acquirors and targets, advising on a wide range of corporate matters, including:

U.S., Cross-Border and International Mergers and Acquisitions
Private Equity and Strategic Investments
Spin-offs and Split-ups
Securities Offerings and Other Capital-Raising Transactions

In addition, we are recognized as a leading firm for:

Takeover Defense
Shareholder Activism
Corporate Governance

What We Have Done

Wachtell Lipton consistently ranks near the very top of legal advisors by transaction dollar volume, notwithstanding that we are significantly smaller than all of our major competitors. Over the past five years, we have been a legal advisor on eight of the ten largest transactions in the United States and seven of the ten largest transactions globally, as well as numerous other acquisition and restructuring transactions across many industries and of every description.

Representative major U.S. M&A matters can be found here.

Representative major cross-border or non-U.S. M&A matters can be found here.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Corporate/M&A - New York

What the Team is Known For

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz remains a standout practice for transactional work, including high-profile domestic and cross-border M&A. The firm counts leading companies across numerous sectors as key clients, including those in the financial services and pharmaceutical industries. The group's deep understanding of corporate governance issues underpins its sterling transactional work. Wachtell also offers top-flight counsel to clients in matters of takeover defense.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

Wachtell advised Palo Alto Networks on its $25 billion acquisition of CyberArk Software.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Wachtell brings a level of expertise and experience that is unmatched. They've seen it all, instinctively know the law and the business considerations and provide expert advice in a calm manner.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
They are one of the leading firms in the world and when I call them up I am their highest priority. They make complicated things very simple and give executive-friendly advice.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
Wachtell has a strong bench and each partner is extremely knowledgeable, with vast amount of experience and first-hand knowledge to call upon for complex matters.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
Wachtell provides the absolute highest level of advice, expertise and client service. Their experience is unparalleled.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
They are always able to meet demands, no matter the timetable or requirements.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Senior Statespeople
Senior Statespeople
Andrew R Brownstein
Andrew Brownstein is a leading practitioner, who provides first-rate counsel to clients in major M&A and corporate governance matters. He is active across a great many industries.
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Senior Statespeople
Senior Statespeople
Martin Lipton
Martin Lipton is one of the firm's founding partners and a long-standing expert practicing at the pinnacle of the corporate market. He is well-versed in M&A and the provision of strategic corporate advice.
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Band 1
Band 1
Adam O Emmerich
Adam Emmerich exhibits considerable expertise in M&A, securities offerings and governance matters, and represents heavyweight public and private corporations. His broad industry capabilities include experience in pharmaceuticals, energy and technology.
He brings to bear incredible experience from the sector.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
Adam is one of those rare people who have seen it all. He has been involved in extremely complex situations and is really the great sage of transactional work.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 1
Band 1
Andrew J Nussbaum
Andrew Nussbaum operates a highly respected corporate practice that is leant upon by clients in significant domestic and international deals. He deploys his expertise in M&A, spinoffs, divestitures and joint ventures, among other transactions.
He is spectacular.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
His level of service, sophistication and commercial awareness are easily at the top.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 1
Band 1
Daniel A Neff
Daniel Neff garners acclaim for his leading practice, which incorporates significant corporate and securities expertise and is utilized by a stable of public and private companies and private equity firms.
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Band 1
Band 1
David A Katz
David Katz enjoys a sterling reputation thanks to his years of top-flight representation in corporate transactions and takeover defense matters.
He is practical, service-oriented and brings another level of sophistication to each discussion.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
David has seen so much and has seen almost every permutation of legal issues. He is truly an expert.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 1
Band 1
Edward D Herlihy
Edward Herlihy has a wealth of experience in significant corporate transactions, including pronounced expertise in those involving banks and other financial institutions. He demonstrates further experience in recapitalizations.
Edward is a giant in the legal profession.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Elina Tetelbaum
Elina Tetelbaum is the firm's head of shareholder engagement and activism defense. She advises clients on proxy fights, corporate governance and takeover defense.
Lina has great listening skills and takes complex situations and makes them simple to understand and help the board understand what the right plan of action should be.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
She is very sophisticated and understands the business needs.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
I am particularly impressed with Lina's practical and strategic advice and her ability to communicate complex legal matters in plain English.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
She is a force of nature and has phenomenal energy.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
She is not only absolutely brilliant, but she also has an EQ just as high as her IQ, allowing her to give practical advice to general counsel clients.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Igor Kirman
Igor Kirman receives praise for his handling of M&A, joint ventures and governance matters on behalf of public and private companies. He is active domestically and internationally, and maintains additional strength in private equity matters.
Tenure and experience give Igor an ability to speak with authority on a wide variety of corporate topics. He does so thoughtfully and in a way that inspires confidence.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
He is knowledgeable on the matters that are most important to us.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Steven A Rosenblum
Steven Rosenblum enjoys a solid reputation for his work in M&A, governance and securities issues. His industry focus includes handling deals in the technology space.
His deep knowledge and calm presence are invaluable when communicating with C-suite executives and boards.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 4
Band 4
David Lam
David Lam is recognized for his sophisticated transactional practice. He routinely advises top flight corporates on bet-the-company M&A matters.
He has seen so much in his career and advised so many companies.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
David is brilliant. He is strategic, responsive and wonderful to work with.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 5
Band 5
Karessa Cain
Karessa Cain is recognized for her adept representation of major corporations in transactional matters. She has experience advising on domestic and cross-border deals.
She is an impressive lawyer.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 6
Band 6
Jacob A. Kling
Jacob Kling is cochair of the firm's M&A practice and advises clients on a wide range of complex corporate transactions.
Jacob has an incredible degree of business acumen and a phenomenal ability to distil the most complex issues into the most salient recommendation.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 6
Band 6
Jenna E. Levine
Jenna Levine is the subject of much praise from sources, owing to her high quality corporate practice. She advises clients in foremost M&A and corporate governance matters.
Jenna brings deep knowledge and experience of M&A.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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Band 6
Band 6
Victor Goldfeld
Victor Goldfeld focuses his practice on sophisticated domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures and securities issues.
He is super smart.
Corporate/M&A respondentUSA
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