ByLiane Jackson,
Forbes Staff.
In the coming months, Forbes will debut its inaugural list of America’s Top M&A Lawyers—a recognition designed to spotlight the finest attorneys in the field of mergers and acquisitions. As with all such Forbes lists, the Top M&A Lawyers is based on a rigorous, multi-stage process of editorial research and analysis that identifies premier practitioners who have impressive track records and are leaders in the field.
Forbes’ methodology and assessment process was designed by an editorial team with broad experience in law practice and knowledge of the legal marketplace. The team identified a wide pool of eligible candidates through interviews with industry insiders, outside nominations, editorial research, and recommendations from an independent advisory board of experts, as well as outreach through law firms and local, state and national bar associations.
Candidates considered are superlative attorneys who have been part of blockbuster deals of over $1 billion, with impressive client lists and a track record of success. Researchers conduct in-depth evaluations of each candidate based on a variety of weighted criteria. Involvement in structuring joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, activist takeover and defense, financing arrangements, and similar matters are all considered.
