M&A, Bankruptcy & First Amendment Practices Honored by "Legal 500"
Congratulations to Baker's Mergers and Acquisitions, Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors' Rights, and First Amendment practices for being recognized by the Legal 500 Series in its 2009 edition.
The firm's Mergers and Acquisitions team, with 110 lawyers concentrated in offices in Cleveland, Houston, New York, and Washington D.C., was lauded for its long relationships with the media and publishing industries, which has translated into expertise in new media. The publication notes that 60% of the practice's M&A work comes from strategic corporate transactions, with the remainder middle-market private equity deals. According to the publication, clients summarize the team as providing "excellent service at a reasonable cost." Highlighting the work of John Gherlein, firmwide Chair of the firm's Business Group, and New York partner Steven Goldberg, the publication notes that Gherlein is regarded by clients as "an excellent substantive lawyer with a feel for business and practicalities" and is "highly effective with both principals and opposing counsel," and Goldberg is commended as "an excellent M&A lawyer" by his clients.
The publication credits the Bankruptcy practice for having instructed numerous industrial Chapter 11 bankruptcies and restructurings in Ohio and the surrounding region, and singles out Cleveland partners Joe Hutchinson, National Chair of the practice, and Matthew Goldman for their work. According to the Legal 500, Hutchinson "keeps his client's goals in mind and has the knack of finding win-win solutions when dealing with diverse groups," while Goldman "skillfully negotiated a nine-figure settlement on behalf of a company—one of the largest settlements in the region that year."
Baker's First Amendment team, led by Media Practice Leader, Bruce Sanford, a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C., office, and including D.C. partners Bruce Brown and Frederick "Fritz" Chockley, was rated by clients as "totally responsive, and of uniform high quality." The practice has a history of representations in cases involving alleged defamation of the judiciary, which to some extent is a specialty. According to the publication, Brown received rave reviews from clients: "He is the most thorough attorney I've ever worked with, and his personal judgment and insight are invaluable." Sanford was lauded for his "in-depth knowledge of the intricate nuances of defamation law" and Chockley was honored for his "excellent grasp of the substantive law, good strategic and practical sense of what can work."
Published for over twenty years, the Legal 500 Series provides the most comprehensive worldwide coverage currently available on legal services providers, in over 100 countries. The Legal 500 editorial team analysis is backed up by industry research and client and reference interviews. Used by commercial and private clients, corporate counsel, CEOs, FDs and professional adviser—as well as by other referrers of work both nationally and internationally—the series is widely regarded as offering the definitive judgment of law firm capabilities.