John P. Mead joined Sullivan & Cromwell in 1977. He was a partner of the Firm from 1984 to 2019 and became Of Counsel in 2020. Mr. Mead has extensive experience in representing corporate clients in a wide variety of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, capital markets transactions and bank financings.
He serves as principal outside counsel to The Goldman Sachs Group Inc., one of the world’s premier investment banking firms. He represented Goldman Sachs in connection with its 1999 initial public offering and in a variety of matters since that time.
Mr. Mead has served as principal outside counsel to Cablevision Systems Corporation (one of the largest cable television operators in the United States) and its affiliates, including Rainbow Programming (a leading producer of cable television programming) since 1986.
He serves as lead outside counsel to Madison Square Garden Inc., owner of the Madison Square Garden sports and entertainment facility in New York City, the New York Knicks NBA franchise, the New York Rangers NHL franchise and Radio City Music Hall.
Other corporate engagements have covered various industries, including CIT Group Inc. (finance), Microsoft (computer software), Iridium LLC (satellite telephony), Intelsat (satellite telephony), AT&T Capital (lease finance), Kaiser Aluminum (integrated aluminum production), Commonwealth Industries (aluminum production), First Fidelity Bancorporation (commercial banking), Univision Communications Inc. (television and radio) and Cascade Investments (the private investment office of Bill Gates).
Mr. Mead was the managing partner of Sullivan & Cromwell’s General Practice Group from 1992 through 2000. This group includes the Firm’s securities, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, real estate and banking practice areas. He formerly served on the Firm’s management committee.