M&A partners Alison Ressler and Melissa Sawyer have been recognized as two of the “Top Women in Dealmaking” by The Deal. Women named to the list were nominated by their peers and recognized for their “ability to navigate complex transactions, maintain strong client relationships and lead in and out of the boardroom.”
Alison, co-head of S&C’s Global Private Equity Group, is a leading authority on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and capital markets, whose 30-year career includes iconic deals. In the last year, Alison has advised on over 20 completed transactions, including representing Ladenburg Thalmann in its sale to Advisor Group, Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing in its sale to Stanley Black & Decker and Juniper Networks in its acquisitions of 128 Technology and Apstra. She is currently advising clients on several pending acquisitions, including Rent-A-Center in its acquisition of Acima Holdings and Ares Management and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board in their pending acquisition of a majority interest in TricorBraun.
Alison is frequently recognized by leading publications, having been named to: Daily Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers list for over a decade; The American Lawyer’s“ Dealmaker of the Year” and “Dealmaker of the Week” on multiple occasions; Financial Times’ 10 most innovative lawyers in North America; the Lawdragon 500 list for 15 consecutive years; and the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Business Hall of Fame.”
Melissa, co-head of the Firm’s Corporate Governance & Activism Practice, was named a 2020 “Dealmaker of the Year” by The American Lawyer for her representation of Tiffany & Co. in its approximately $16 billion acquisition by LVMH, which closed earlier this month. She regularly advises well-known brands on public and private M&A transactions, joint ventures and strategic alliances. She recently represented longtime S&C client Diageo in its acquisition of Aviation American Gin, and is currently representing UnitedHealth in connection with Optum’s $13 billion pending combination with Change Healthcare.
Melissa has repeatedly been recognized as a leading M&A adviser. She was named to The Deal’s “Women in M&A: The Powerhouse 20” for shaping the industry with her novel approach to transactions, and has been recognized as a Law360 “MVP” in Food & Beverage, one of Crain’s “Leading Women Lawyers in New York City,” and a BTI “Client Service All-Star.”
Learn more about S&C’s global Mergers & Acquisitions practice here.