Olshan Wins “Deal of the Year” and “Middle Market Activist Campaign of the Year” at The Deal Awards

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP today announced that the firm has been honored at The Deal Middle Market Awards in Chicago for its work in representing George Feldenkreis, founder and former Executive Chairman of Perry Ellis International, in his deal to take Perry Ellis private, which was honored as the “Deal of the Year” and “Middle Market Activist Campaign of the Year.”  The team of Olshan lawyers that represented Feldenkreis includes partners Steve Wolosky and Michael Neidell. Olshan quarterbacked the entire transaction and led the Activist, M&A and complex tax restructuring work.

“The entire team at Olshan who represented George Feldenkreis is honored that our client’s deal has been selected for top accolades in two key categories by The Deal,” said Steve Wolosky, co-chair of both the Shareholder Activist Practice and Corporate/Securities Law Practices.  “The team worked together seamlessly from the much publicized unsolicited proposal to acquire Perry Ellis through the successful completion of the acquisition.  The end result is why great clients like George Feldenkreis come to Olshan for their most sensitive matters.”

Olshan’s Shareholder Activism Practice has consistently received top rankings across the board in every league table and publication that covers shareholder activism, most recently in the Refinitiv Global Shareholder Activism Scorecard for the full year 2018.  According to Refinitiv Global Shareholder Activism Scorecard, Olshan’s Shareholder Activism practice has represented shareholder activists in 101 activist campaigns, which accounts for 35% of all activist campaigns advised on by the Top 12 legal advisors in the space in 2018 and 65 campaigns more than its next closest competitor.  In fact, over the past three years Olshan has advised on more than 273 shareholder activism campaigns, according to Refinitiv statistics.  Additional top rankings include the FactSet SharkRepellent League Table, Activist Insight Monthly, and Thomson Reuters’ Global Shareholder Activism Scorecard.

Olshan’s Merger and Acquisition attorneys handle transactions that are among the most complex and heated of business arrangements. Olshan has extensive experience in negotiating and completing these transactions, including negotiated and contested mergers, stock and asset purchases, tender and exchange offers, spin-offs, restructurings and acquisitions out of bankruptcy, leveraged buyouts, private equity investments and joint ventures.  Working closely with our other practice areas, Olshan’s Tax & Personal Planning Group advise clients on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, corporate and partnership restructurings, controlling and minority equity investments, investments in joint ventures, partnerships and limited liability companies.

The full Olshan team that represented the Mr. Feldenkreis included Corporate associate Claudia Dubón, Intellectual Property partners Steven Gursky and Mary Grieco; Employment partner Michael Passarella; Employee Benefits partner Stephen Ferszt; and Litigation partner Lori Marks-Esterman. 

Olshan has been consistently recognized as one of the premier mid-sized law firms in the country, including “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News-Best Lawyers® for Securities/Capital Markets, Real Estate, Advertising, Trusts & Estates and Employee Benefits, selection of 37 lawyers for Super Lawyers® 2018 New York Metro, selection of six attorneys to The Best Lawyers in America 2019; recognition by The Legal 500 US 2018 as a recommended Leading Firm in M&A/ Corporate and Commercial: Corporate Governance and Media, Technology and Telecoms: Advertising and Marketing, and individual recognition of five lawyers; recognition by Chambers 2018 USA Guide as a leading law firm in Advertising: Transactional & Regulatory Nationwide and individual recognition of four attorneys; and honored as a top 20 midsize law firm in The National Law Journal’s "2016 Midsize Hot List” and inclusion in the National Law Journal’s “NLJ 500” list.

The inaugural The Deal Middle Market awards recognizes the leading lawyers, bankers, investors and advisers in transactions up to $500 million in value.

About Olshan

Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, a law firm based in New York, represents major businesses and entrepreneurs in their most significant transactions, problems and opportunities.  Olshan’s clients range from public companies, hedge, venture capital, private equity and other investment funds to entrepreneurs and private companies worldwide.  Clients choose Olshan for innovative strategies and sophisticated, game-changing advice in corporate, securities law, equity investment and shareholder activism, complex commercial, corporate and securities litigation, real estate, intellectual property, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, and advertising. Since its founding, Olshan has offered an alternative to the AmLaw 50 law firm business model with responsive, independent and client-focused legal counsel provided by the firm’s lawyers.