The Firm: Proskauer Rose's Los Angeles office has an extensive corporate practice, encompassing securities as well as M&A expertise. On the M&A side, the firm represents  general corporate clients and private funds such as Apollo, Ares, and Merrill Lynch Private Equity. It also has good relationships with a number of investment banks such as UBS and Credit Suisse.

Key Individuals:"Big hitter" Michael Woronoff is a multitalented corporate lawyer with experience of capital markets, M&A, corporate governance and private equity matters. He is rated highly by market observers, who say he is "a first-rate private equity lawyer." He was involved in Ares' $1 billion acquisition of Allied Capital, alongside Monica Shilling. She is respected by peers as a strong, up-and-coming securities and M&A lawyer.