The Firm: Proskauer's practice advises both private equity sponsor and company clients, but historically public company representation has been at its core. The team regularly represents strategic investors across sectors ranging from financial services to heavy industry, pharmaceuticals and chemicals. International entities, particularly those that are French in origin, feature prominently in its clientele. Germany and the UK are also major sources of inbound work for the New York office. Key highlights from the past year saw the firm representing an employee-led buyout group on its purchase of Neuberger Berman Group from Lehman Brothers Holdings, and advising the founder, chairman and largest stockholder of Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), Darwin Deason, in connection with Xerox's $6.4 billion acquisition of ACS.

Sources Say:“They provide us with plenty of partner contact, and they really understand our goals.”

Key Individuals: Steven Kirshenbaum is praised as "a leading light" and for "his excellent negotiation skills." Among his mostly strategic investor client base, he acts domestically for retailer Dress Barn, recently advising it on its $412.7 million acquisition of specialty retailer Tween Brands. Ronald Papa focuses on the specialty chemicals, energy and manufacturing industries. He took the lead acting for Arkema on its agreement with Dow Chemical to buy a plant and specialty latex businesses for $50 million.