High-Profile M&A/Private Equity Team Joins Paul Hastings in San Francisco

July 05, 2016

San Francisco—Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that a team of three M&A/private equity partners and a senior M&A counsel have joined the firm. Mike Kennedy, Steve Camahort, and Dana Kromm have joined the firm as partners, and Jeffrey Wolf has joined the firm as senior counsel. These partners have an average of 25 years of experience working on high-profile M&A and private equity transactions.

“We’ve handled many innovative transactions from our San Francisco and Palo Alto offices. The addition of this leading M&A/Private Equity team reflects our shared understanding of the market and expands our ability to handle significant transactions that are driving growth here and around the country,” said John Phillips, chair of the San Francisco office. “This is a fantastic group of people who have an impressive track record of working on Private Equity-led and other M&A transactions, which will complement related investments we’ve made in our Intellectual Property, Finance, and M&A practices. As we look ahead to moving to a new San Francisco office early next year, our enhanced team will provide market-leading expertise to our corporate, private equity and investment banking clients, not only in the Bay Area but throughout our global network,” he added.

“This exciting addition reflects Paul Hastings’ well-established commitment to the technology and emerging-growth sectors,” said William Simpson, chair of the Private Equity practice at Paul Hastings. “The addition of this dynamic team represents another step in our efforts to expand our offerings in the Bay Area and to strengthen our leading M&A and private equity capabilities,” he added.

Mike Kennedy

Since 1984, Mr. Kennedy has concentrated on the corporate areas of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate partnering, joint ventures, and corporate governance, with an emphasis on the technology, emerging growth, healthcare, biotechnology, and media industries.

He has extensive experience in the private equity and leveraged buyout industries, as well as decades of experience handling transactions across a number of other industries, including automotive, defense, financial services, media, technology, healthcare, and building products. He also represents major investment banks in their advisory roles on M&A transactions. In addition, Mike has significant experience in the debt (bank and high-yield) and restructuring areas. He is frequently asked by boards to advise on hostile transactions, proxy fights, and other governance matters. Mr. Kennedy is consistently recognized as a leading M&A and Private Equity practitioner in publications such as Chambers USA, Northern California Super Lawyers, Who's Who Legal - California and The International Who's Who of Mergers & Acquisitions, and Licensing Lawyers, and has authored a number of articles regarding mergers and acquisitions.

Steve Camahort

Mr. Camahort has extensive experience in M&A and related corporate governance issues. He has worked for corporate clients, private equity funds, and financial advisors in negotiated and hostile transactions, with a particular emphasis in the technology and life sciences sectors. Mr. Camahort is consistently recognized as a leading M&A practitioner in publications such as Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Northern California Super Lawyers, and The International Who's Who of Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyers. He was previously a deputy leader of Shearman & Sterling’s global M&A practice.

Dana Kromm

Ms. Kromm represents both strategic and private equity buyers and sellers in public and private M&A, as well as corporate governance matters and special committee representations. Her experience includes significant cross-border transactions. Ms. Kromm also represents portfolio companies of private equity clients, handling day-to-day legal activities, add-on acquisitions, and other general corporate work. She has extensive experience in the technology and healthcare sectors. Ms. Kromm was named one of California's "Top Women Lawyers" by The Daily Journal in 2012. She was previously the global co-head of Shearman & Sterling's healthcare industry group.

Jeffrey Wolf

Mr. Wolf has extensive experience in public and private mergers & acquisitions and related corporate governance matters. He has represented strategic and financial buyers and sellers in a wide range of public and private business combination transactions, including mergers, stock and asset acquisitions and divestitures, tender and exchange offers, minority investments, joint ventures and corporate partnering transactions. He also has significant experience in cross-border transactions.

At Paul Hastings, our purpose is clear — to help our clients and people navigate new paths to growth. With a strong presence throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the U.S., Paul Hastings is recognized as one of the world’s most innovative global law firms.