Calfee’s broad M&A practice includes a wealth of experience advising public companies and their boards in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions. In addition to representing public company buyers and sellers, we also have extensive experience advising boards on shareholder activism, takeover preparedness, fiduciary duties, and SEC and stock exchange requirements.
Our lawyers have been involved in counseling all of the various parties involved in takeover proposals (bidders, targets, special committees, lenders, intervening bidders, financial advisors, etc.), so we understand the perspectives of all of the players involved. Traditional counseling in this area is carefully balanced against the various fiduciary duty, corporate governance, and investor relations perspectives, including for example the impact and likely response by institutional shareholder groups (including ISS) to certain strategies or protective measures.
Our experience representing public company buyers and sellers, as well as their financial advisors, has provided us with the expertise needed to help clients successfully navigate the complexities of public company mergers and acquisitions. We have represented public companies in M&A transactions ranging in size from less than $5 million to more than $3 billion.
We also are well equipped to provide assistance in preparing for shareholder activism and responding to activist campaigns (including proxy contests), fashioning appropriate responses to unsolicited proposals, and helping prepare for a wide range of potential outcomes in the event that the client ultimately determines to pursue a strategic transaction.
For more than a decade, Calfee has been recognized as a Leading Law Firm for Corporate/M&A by Chambers USA, most recently in Band 2 in Ohio: North and Band 3 in Ohio: South and Central and in Band 2 in Banking & Finance in Ohio (2024).
Clients provided feedback to Chambers USA researchers, "Calfee consistently generates exceptional outcomes for their clients. They are extremely responsive and meet tight deadlines. Their lawyers represent the client's best interests while also conducting themselves in a collegial and professional manner. They offer exceptional service levels. The firm has done an excellent job with some of our most difficult transactions and brings a business sensibility while protecting and mitigating our risk."
Calfee was selected for inclusion in the 2025 "Best Law Firms" rankings in the following areas:
Calfee was selected for inclusion in IFLR1000 – Guide to the World's Leading Financial and Corporate Law Firms in 2024:
Clients responding to the IFLR1000 survey reported the following regarding Calfee's M&A and Capital Markets team:
Calfee's Corporate and Finance practice "draws from an impressive statewide team with a strong track record across a broad range of corporate and transactional matters. Areas of excellence include M&A, securities offerings, and private equity and venture capital fund formation...financing corporate transactions, capital markets work, bankruptcy and workout matters and counseling on regulatory compliance."
Researcher comments, Chambers USA
