Crain's List: 2005's Big Deals
For its second annual law firm feature, Crain’s Chicago Business compiled a list of 25 of the biggest corporate transactions in which Chicago lawyers played a prominent role. The mergers and acquisitions deals were ranked by deal value and were either announced or closed in 2005. Kirkland & Ellis attorneys worked on six of the 25 deals.
#1 Bain Capital LLC, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Vornado Realty Trust -- $7,400,000,000
- Seller: Toys ‘R’ Us Inc.
- Firm: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Bain Capital)
- Lead Chicago Attorneys: Jeffrey C. Hammes, Matthew E. Steinmetz
#3 Adolph Coors Co. -- $4,000,000,000
- Seller: Molson Inc.
- Firm: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Adolph Coors)
- Lead Chicago Attorney: R. Scott Falk
#5 Bain Capital Partners, DLJ Merchant Banking, JP Morgan Partners LLC, Thomas H. Lee Partners -- $3,100,000,000
- Seller: Warner Chilcott PLC
- Firm: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Bain Capital)
- Lead Chicago Attorneys: Jeffrey C. Hammes, Matthew E. Steinmetz
#8 GTCR Golder Rauner LLC, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Hunters Glen Capital -- $2,200,000,000
- Seller: Ford Motor Credit (Triad Financial Corp.)
- Firm: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (GTCR)
- Lead Chicago Attorney: Kevin R. Evanich
#13 Yell Group PLC -- $1,580,000,000
- Seller: TransWestern Holdings LP
- Firm: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (TransWestern)
- Lead Chicago Attorney: Richard W. Porter
#23 IAC/InterActiveCorp -- $760,000,000
- Seller: Cornerstone Brands Inc.
- Firm: Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Cornerstone)
- Lead Chicago Attorneys: Edward T. Swan, Richard W. Porter
In addition, Kirkland was recognized for its work on a non-M&A deal: the agreement by General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) to sell up to $55 billion of retail automotive loan contracts to Bank of America. Kenneth P. Morrison led the Kirkland team that advised GMAC.
