The Legal 500

Within Structured finance , tier 5

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP’s Chicago office houses Kevin Foley and Kenneth Rosenzweig, who ‘make the firm clear leaders in the futures space’, and offer deep expertise in the exchange-traded and over-the-counter markets. The New York office was joined by a strong asset-backed team in November 2010 when Chris DiAngelo, four other partners including auto-loan expert Joseph Topolski, and several associates defected from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP.

Within Alternative/hedge funds, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is a second tier firm,

‘An excellent mid-size hedge fund firm with strong regulatory capabilities’, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP has the breadth across its investment fund and structured products practices to handle a high volume and variety of representations for clients such as PineBridge Investments and Capital Fund Management. Spread across the firm’s New York, Chicago and Washington DC offices, 16 partners make alternative hedge funds and structured products their primary focus, with six partner appointments in 2010 alone showing the firm’s commitment to providing a ‘high-class, business-oriented service’. 2010 saw the team acting for Renaissance Institutional Equities Funds and Renaissance Institutional Futures Funds on restructuring of both funds. Additional highlights include advising Vermillion Asset Management and Viridian Partners in connection with an agreement to sell equity in the GP to Purchaser, a newly formed investment management firm. The $30m transaction was part of a roll-up of six separate transactions by Purchaser, which bought controlling interests in the general partners or managing members of hedge funds. Fred Santo heads the practice from New York, and is ably supported by Henry Bregstein, global chair of financial services and New York co-managing partner, whose expertise in domestic and offshore securities and commodities-focused hedge funds is valued by clients.

Within M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m), tier 5

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP handles complex domestic and international transactions for publicly and privately held companies, financial institutions, and private equity and investment funds and their portfolio companies. New York-based co-M&A chair David Landau represented a special committee of independent directors of Covansys Corporation in connection with the company’s acquisition by Computer Sciences Corporation, advised Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation in its acquisition of the assets of Superba, and acted for Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation in its acquisition of Calvin Klein. From Chicago, Jefftrey Patt also co-chairs the M&A practice. Patt has represented several financial and strategic buyers in transactions that have involved varying forms of consideration and tax structures, and has served as special committee counsel in connection with a number of going-private transactions.

Within Real estate, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is a second tier firm,

At Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, David Bryant chairs the 56-partner national real estate team that is located in the firm’s Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, New York and Charlotte offices. The team has represented many high-profile clients on high-value deals during 2010, including California National Bank on a $2bn transaction involving loan modifications, workouts and foreclosures on hospitality, condominium and land development projects. Gregory Pierce and Kenneth Jacobson represented iStar Financial on the $1.35bn sale of 32 properties to various subsidiaries of Dividend Capital Total Realty Trust, and also advised on $105.6m mezzanine loans as part of the financing. Daniel Huffenus represented JPMorgan Chase Bank with respect to $600m CMBS loans; and Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust on the recapitalization of its portfolio, which involved a significant equity raise and a $550m CMBS debt offering. Other key clients include Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corporation, Eurohypo AG and ST Residential. Recent arrivals to the team include Christina Hassan from Hogan Lovells US LLP and Alvin Katz from Mayer Brown.

Within Domestic tax: Central, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is a third tier firm,

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP’s 16 fee-earner US tax transaction and planning practice remains centered in Chicago, although generation change and recruitment in New York is beginning to shift the balance. However, Chicago origins still resonate and the firm has deep roots in the regional business sector. The tax practice offers expertise in corporate transactions, banking and finance, real estate, private equity and hedge fund investment. Recommended lawyers in Chicago include practice chair Saul Rudo, Valentina Famparska, and of counsel Reid Mandel. Practice clients include Greenfield Partners, Diversified Realty, Sterling Capital Partners and Trizec Properties.