Melissa Sawyer and Rita-Anne O’Neill spoke at Tulane University Law School’s Corporate Law Institute on March 17-18, and Rita is a chair of the Institute. The conference brings together leading mergers and acquisitions and securities practitioners, Delaware Supreme Court and Court of Chancery judges, corporate counsel and investment bankers to discuss key issues in M&A, corporate and securities law. The event was held both virtually and in-person in New Orleans.
Panel: Hot Topics in M&A (March 17)
Melissa and Rita joined a panel discussion of “Hot Topics in M&A Practice” at 9:15 a.m. CST. The panel offered insights into dealmaking in 2021 and trends for 2022, including macro factors affecting M&A and the impact of developments in SEC rulemaking on activism and spinoffs.
S&C’s Mergers & Acquisitions Practice
S&C’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group brings a rare combination of creativity and commercial sensitivity to every representation. The world’s most influential companies repeatedly turn to us for their most significant matters, drawn to our dedication to client service, attention to detail and commercial pragmatism. Our partners routinely participate in and lead industry events, contribute to influential industry publications, and produce insightful industry resources.
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Melissa Sawyer
Melissa Sawyer is Global Head of Sullivan & Cromwell’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group and is co-head of the Firm’s Corporate Governance & Activism Practice. In addition to advising clients on public and private M&A transactions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, she regularly advises clients on corporate governance, activism and takeover defense matters. Melissa’s experience spans multiple industries, including consumer and retail, TMT, technology, industrials and life sciences.
Widely recognized as a leading M&A adviser, Melissa is ranked by Chambers USA in Corporate/M&A and was named among The Deal’s “Top Women in Dealmaking” for her “ability to navigate complex transactions, maintain strong client relationships and lead in and out of the boardroom.” She has been named a “Dealmaker of the Year” by The American Lawyer and one of Crain’s “Leading Women Lawyers in New York City.”
Rita-Anne O’Neill
Recognized in 2021 by Chambers USA for her work in M&A and Private Equity, Rita-Anne O’Neill is a partner in Sullivan & Cromwell’s Los Angeles office and serves as co-head of the Global Private Equity Group. Her broad-based practice includes advising prominent corporate clients on mergers and acquisitions and securities offerings, and providing general corporate advice on disclosure and governance. She has advised clients in a wide range of industries, including consumer and retail, financial institutions, healthcare and life sciences, industrials, telecommunications and transportation.
Rita has twice been named a Top Women Lawyer by the Daily Journal, which described her as “an influential figure in the M&A field … advancing women in the legal profession, but specifically in M&A.” She serves as co-chair of the Tulane Corporate Law Institute, vice chair of the ABA M&A Committee and co-chair of the ABA’s Acquisition of Public Companies Subcommittee. She is also a member of S&C’s Women’s Initiative Committee and is the co-founder and co-chair of a national Women in M&A Network (WiMA).