NEW YORK – Nov. 27, 2023 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, P.A. was recognized as Law Firm of the Year during the 22nd Annual M&A Advisor Awards. Additionally, Greenberg Traurig Senior Chairman Cesar L. Alvarez received the M&A Advisor’s 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the M&A Advisor Hall of Fame, along with Shareholder J. Gregory Milmoe.
Alvarez was honored for his contributions to the legal and M&A industry including his success in building Greenberg Traurig into a global law firm during his tenure as chief executive officer, and his work as a corporate and securities lawyer on behalf of many publicly-traded companies.
The M&A Advisor announced the award winners during the 2023 Future of Dealmaking Summit Awards Gala held at The New York Athletic Club. During the event, Greenberg Traurig also received the following transactional awards:
- Restructuring Deal of the Year: Represented the Sandy Creek Noteholders as an instrumental piece of the reorganization plan for Brazos Electric Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 cases. Resolution of operational and balance sheet issues in Chapter 11 were achieved in a multi-party complex negotiation with over 20 constituencies, which paved the way to a global compromise. Greenberg Traurig obtained $150 million in plan distributions as part of the negotiations, which was the foundation for confirmation of the plan after almost two years in bankruptcy and related litigation, where the debtors alleged that the Sandy Creek Noteholders were owed nothing. In the Chapter 7, Greenberg Traurig assisted the Sandy Creek Noteholders in acquiring the estate’s interest in the power plant in Texas. Greenberg Traurig’s team was led by Shari L. Heyen, co-chair of the firm’s Global Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice, New York Shareholders Oscar N. Pinkas, Brian E. Greer and Nathan A. Haynes, and Boston Shareholder Joseph P. Davis III.
- Cross-Border Deal of the Year ($10 million to $50 million): Representing Sanitas USA II, Inc., a leading global health groupand subsidiary of Keralty S.A.S, in its acquisition of Golden Max LLC d/b/a Optimal Healthcare Solutions in Texas, which offers alternate source vending, master distribution services and supply chain initiatives to medical supply partners and distributors. Greenberg Traurig’s team was led by Miami Shareholder Carol Barnhart and Miami Associate Anthony Fernandez with assistance from Miami Shareholders Frank Cordero, and Manuel R. Valcarcel IV, New York Shareholder August Huelle, Philadelphia Shareholder Kelly Dobbs Bunting, Tallahassee Shareholders Michael J. Cherniga and Sonya C. Penley, New York Associate Catalina Rodríguez-Trout, and Tallahassee Associate Christopher E. Gottfried.
- Private Equity Deal of the Year($75 million to $100 million): Advising Premier Plastic Surgery Partners, LLC on the company’s establishment as one of the first private equity-backed platforms for the investment in and management of plastic surgery practices. Greenberg Traurig attorneys acted as lead counsel to restructure three existing plastic surgery practices into the company and facilitate the investment of new capital into the company by Corbel Capital Partners. The team was led by Atlanta Shareholders Jordan S. Lewis and Theodore I. Blum, with assistance from Stephanie Ratcliffe and Stacey Orr Gallant, Atlanta Associates Will H. Grossenbacher, Joshua R. Spielman, and Kaitlyn Gilbert, Fort Lauderdale Shareholder David C. Peck, Miami Shareholder Frank Cordero, Houston Shareholder Charles C. Dunham, Houston Associate Timothy McGibboney, and Miami Associate Maria Walker.
The 22nd Annual M&A Advisor Awards Gala honored professionals whose activities set a high standard for dealmaking. This year, over 350 nominees, representing over 500 companies, were finalists for the awards, according to the M&A Advisor website.
“The award recipients represent the best in the mergers and acquisitions industry this past year and earned these honors by standing out in a group of extremely impressive finalists,” said Roger Aguinaldo, founder and CEO of The M&A Advisor.
Greenberg Traurig also hosted the 25th Anniversary “Silver Jubilee” cocktail party during the Future of Dealmaking Summit.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Corporate Practice: Greenberg Traurig’s Corporate Practice comprises more than 600 lawyers in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America who regularly advise public and privately held companies, entrepreneurs and investment funds on global mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, private equity and venture capital, underwritten and syndicated offerings, commercial finance and syndicated lending, cross-border transactions, and general corporate matters. The group’s industry experience includes transactions in a wide range of fields, from the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and life sciences fields, to representations involving clients in the aviation, banking, consumer products, energy, food and beverage, health care, manufacturing, media, technology, and telecommunications sectors.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice: Greenberg Traurig’s internationally recognized Restructuring & Bankruptcy Practice provides clients with deep insight and knowledge acquired over decades of advisory transaction and litigation experience. The team has a broad and diverse range of experience developing creative and effective solutions to the highly complex issues that arise in connection with in- and out-of-court reorganizations, restructurings, workouts, liquidations, and distressed acquisitions and sales. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the firm’s vast resources and invaluable business network, the team helps companies navigate challenging times and address the full range of issues that can arise in the course of their own restructurings or dealings with other companies in distress.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 47 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI “Highly Recommended Law Firm” for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 500. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com.