Steven Seidman, Co-Chair of Willkie's Corporate & Financial Services Department, and partner Laura Delanoy were named among the 2024 "Dealmakers of the Year" by The American Lawyer. They are recognized for advising Metropolis Technologies, Inc. on its $1.5 billion acquisition of SP Plus Corporation, the biggest M&A transaction by a VC-backed company in 2023. The American Lawyer noted that, despite 2023 being another challenging year for dealmaking, this year's honorees "brought expertise, creativity and profoundly hard work to bear."
An accompanying feature article highlighted the unique challenges of this deal, a complicated transaction in which a private company sought to acquire a public company that was not in the process to sell itself, presenting novel issues and requiring careful negotiations. "It's unusual to have a VC-backed private company acquiring a public company. And so we really had to get SP Plus comfortable and ensure that it had confidence in our ability to raise the necessary financing to close the deal," Laura explained.
Steve and Laura have worked together on a number of deals over the last several years, including advising insurance company Alleghany in its acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway for $11.5 billion in 2022. In addition, Steve was selected as a "Dealmaker of the Year" in 2015 for his representation of Men's Wearhouse Inc. in its successful acquisition of Jos. A. Bank Inc. – a deal he also worked on alongside Laura. Steve highlighted the benefit of working alongside familiar colleagues: "It's always a good part of a deal when you're familiar with each other and can challenge each other."
In addition to Steve and Laura, partner Morgan McDevitt and associate Madison Wiles-Haffner were also part of the Willkie team.
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