Joseph H. Flom, a leading M&A lawyer who helped build Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom into one of the nation’s leading law firms, died Wednesday morning in Manhattan at the age of 87.  We refer to this retrospective, provided by NYT Dealbook. 

Mr. Flom rose to prominence in the 1960s as an adviser in proxy battles over control of public companies, became one of the pre-eminent lawyers involved in the costly and risky business of corporate M&A.  Other companies often hired his firm simply to ensure that Mr. Flom and his team could not oppose them. 

In 1985 alone, Mr. Flom orchestrated Ron Perelman’s $2.7 billion takeover of Revlon and ABC’s $3.5 billion sale to Capital Cities.  In 2008, he represented Anheuser-Busch in a $52 billion takeover by InBev.  He counseled aggressive buyers, among them the corporate raider James Goldsmith in his run at Crown Zellerbach and T. Boone Pickens in his bid for Unocal.  And Mr. Flom erected defenses against hostile takeovers for Federated Department Stores and Chemical Bank.

As Skadden’s power grew, Mr. Flom also helped shaped the mega-firm model that now dominates corporate law:  a high-powered collection of specialists, spread out in offices across the country and around the globe.

"It is an understatement to say Joe was an individual without equal.  He was a most trusted adviser, beloved and respected partner and mentor, faithful friend and formidable adversary."  -- Eric Friedman, Skadden’s executive partner.

To continue reading, go to:   [NYT Dealbook, 2/23, "Joseph H. Flom, ..."]