Ranked in 2 Practice Areas
1

Band 1

Corporate/M&A

New York

12 Years Ranked

3

Band 3

Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense

New York

3 Years Ranked

Ranked in Guides

About

Provided by Melissa Sawyer

USA

Practice Areas

General Practice, Artificial Intelligence, Consumer & Retail, Corporate Governance, Cybersecurity, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Healthcare & Life Sciences, Infrastructure, Latin America M&A and Joint Ventures, M&A Financial Advisory and Valuation, Media & Telecommunications, Mergers & Acquisitions, Privacy, Private Equity, Technology

Career

Melissa Sawyer is Global Head of S&C’s M&A Group and is Co-Head of the Corporate Governance Practice. In addition to advising clients on public and private M&A transactions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, she also regularly advises clients on corporate governance, activism and takeover defense matters. Melissa’s experience spans multiple industries, including consumer and retail, TMT, industrials and life sciences.

Melissa has been repeatedly recognized as a leading M&A adviser. She is a three-time winner of The American Lawyer’s “Dealmaker of the Year,” was recognized as one of America's Top 200 Lawyers by Forbes and was named a Client Service All-Star by BTI. She was also named to The Deal’s “Women in M&A: The Powerhouse 20” for shaping the industry and has been recognized as a Law360 MVP, one of Crain’s “Leading Women Lawyers in New York City,” “Dealmaker of the Week” by The American Lawyer and one of Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Dealmakers in America.” Recently she has advised American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, AT&T, Baxter International, Benefitfocus, Boeing, Cornerstone Building Brands, Diageo, Kering, Neiman Marcus Group, Seagen, Subway, Tiffany & Co. and UnitedHealth.

Melissa serves on the boards of several organizations, regularly participates in numerous legal panels and writes for leading legal publications.

Personal

University of Virginia Law School (J.D. 2000); Washington and Lee University (B.A. 1997)

Professional Memberships

Melissa is currently a member of the American Law Institute, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Corporate/M&A - New York

1
Band 1
Individual Editorial
Melissa Sawyer concentrates her high-quality practice on the representation of clients in M&A, joint ventures and other corporate matters across a variety of industries. She is also adept at advising on complex corporate governance mandates and activist defence campaigns.

Corporate/M&A: Takeover Defense - New York

3
Band 3
Individual Editorial
Melissa Sawyer concentrates her high-quality practice on the representation of clients in M&A, joint ventures and other corporate matters across a variety of industries. She is also adept at advising on complex corporate governance mandates and activist defence campaigns.

Contributions

Latest contributions provided by Melissa Sawyer

Global Practice Guide
Melissa Sawyer
Matt Hurd
Scott Crofton
Authored by
Melissa Sawyer, Matt Hurd, Scott Crofton
Article • May 2025
Global Practice Guide
Melissa Sawyer
Matt Hurd
Scott Crofton
Authored by
Melissa Sawyer, Matt Hurd, Scott Crofton
Article • May 2025

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