Cooley Strengthens M&A Practice in UK
London – February 1, 2018 – Cooley is strengthening its award-winning UK office with the hire of M&A partner Michal Berkner. She arrives from Skadden, where she had been practicing for more than 20 years.
“Michal is an exceptional M&A lawyer whose high-profile client base will pair perfectly with the firm,” said Justin Stock, Cooley’s UK managing partner. “She has proven herself a pioneer for female leadership in the legal field, and, as we continue to deepen our London-based corporate strengths, her addition is sure to augment this powerful platform. We are thrilled to welcome Michal.”
Dual-qualified in the US and England and Wales, Berkner is a leader in cross-border deals, both public and private. Berkner’s practice strength resides in its variety. She represents large corporations, private equity houses, investment banks and high-net-worth individuals in all manner of transactions. In 2017, she was included in the Financial Times’ HERoes list as one of the top 50 female champions of women in business in the UK and Ireland. As one of London’s trailblazing female corporate partners, Berkner founded the Skadden Women Attorneys Network in 2008, which organizes regular educational and networking events with senior women executives and counsel throughout Europe.
“Michal is a proven leader in complex, high-value M&A transactions,” said Barbara Borden, co-chair of Cooley’s global M&A group. “I’m excited that she is joining our team.”
“Michal is top-tier talent on our ever-expanding bench,” added Jamie Leigh, co-chair of Cooley’s global M&A group. “We look forward to growing our worldwide platform.”
“The culture and momentum of Cooley were two of my primary draws, coupled of course with its high-end corporate client base,” Berkner said. “The firm’s commitment to the long-term success of its London office is also most appealing, and I’m happy to be part of a team dedicated to delivering on growth opportunities around the world for our clients.
Cooley’s London team has led a variety of major deals, including representing the shareholders of SwiftKey on the company’s acquisition by Microsoft, RZC Investments on acquiring control of British upmarket cycling brand Rapha, and the Vistria Group and Apollo Global Management on the $1.1 billion acquisition of Apollo Education Group. In less than three years, the UK office has grown by more than 50% in headcount. In 2017, the judges at Legal Week magazine named Cooley London Office of the Year at the annual British Legal Awards, the second time in three years the firm has received the honor. Cooley is a Financial Times Most Innovative Law Firm and is the #1 law firm on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.
About Cooley LLP
Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation, where innovation meets the law.
Cooley has 900+ lawyers across 13 offices in the United States, China and Europe.
This content is provided for general informational purposes only, and your access or use of the content does not create an attorney-client relationship between you or your organization and Cooley LLP, Cooley (UK) LLP, or any other affiliated practice or entity (collectively referred to as “Cooley”). By accessing this content, you agree that the information provided does not constitute legal or other professional advice. This content is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction and you should not act or refrain from acting based on this content. This content may be changed without notice. It is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up to date, and it may not reflect the most current legal developments. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Do not send any confidential information to Cooley, as we do not have any duty to keep any information you provide to us confidential. This content may be considered Attorney Advertising and is subject to our legal notices.