Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has won three first prizes in The American Lawyer’s fourth annual Global Legal Awards program. The firm was honored for Global M&A Deal of the Year: Canada; Global Dispute of the Year: U.S. Litigation (Finance); and Global Pro Bono Deal of the Year. The awards recognize firms that played a substantial role in the most distinguished international work performed between January 1, 2015 and April 15, 2016.
Debevoise won for Global M&A Deal of the Year: Canada for its representation of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPPIB”) in the acquisition of GE Capital’s sponsor lending business, including Antares Capital, for $12 billion. The Debevoise team was led by partners Jeffrey J. Rosen and Kevin M. Schmidt, and included partners William B. Beekman, Paul D. Brusiloff, Jeffrey P. Cunard, Margaret Andrews Davenport, Jonathan F. Lewis, Gregory J. Lyons, David L. Portilla and Peter F.G. Schuur, counsel Lee A. Schneider and Charles E. Wachsstock and associates Christopher Anthony, Andrew M. Hirsch, Michael Layfield, Molly F. Stockley and Mark D. Wasco. Mr. Rosen and Mr. Schmidt were previously honored as “Dealmakers of the Week” by The American Lawyer for their work on the transaction.
In addition, Debevoise won for Global Dispute of the Year: U.S. Litigation (Finance) for obtaining payment in full for EM Ltd. – over $849 million – against Argentina in the long-running litigation over the country’s 2001 default. The Debevoise team was led by partners David W. Rivkin and William H. Taft V and included counsel Carl Micarelli, of counsel John B. Missing and Michael B. Mukasey, associates Susan Reagan Gittes, Julianne J. Marley and Nathan S. Richards, former counsel Suzy Grosso and former associate Marissa Taney.
Debevoise also won for Global Pro Bono Deal of the Year for its representation of Opportunity International in its sale of a majority stake in Kinshasa, a microfinance institution operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to VisionFund International. Opportunity International remains a 20% shareholder. Opportunity International is a next-generation microfinance organization that invests philanthropic and social impact capital to spark and scale innovative solutions to global poverty. The Debevoise team advising Opportunity International was led by London partner Geoffrey P. Burgess, and included associate Sayo Ogundele. London associates Ellie Mends and Ceinwen Rees provided tax advice.
Each winning firm will be recognized at the Global Legal Awards dinner in New York on September 26, where The American Lawyer will also announce four Grand Prize winners.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.