Best Lawyers in California, United States for Mergers and Acquisitions Law
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Peter Wardle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Peter, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Candice Choh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Candice, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Candice is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael O’Bryan is a partner in the firm’s Corporate Department. His practice focuses on U.S. and international mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions, including “going private” and other related party transactions. He has been involved in more than 350 M&A transactions, advising companies, boards, and special committees, as well as investment banks, in both negotiated and contested transactions. Mr. O’Bryan has worked extensive...
Andrew Apfelberg, a Partner at Greenberg Glusker LLP, is a corporate and finance attorney for middle-market companies throughout the United States. Andrew often acts as outside general counsel to his clients, providing advice on a business’ significant transactions whether it’s a merger or acquisition, private equity or other financing, joint venture or licensing deal. He has a considerable depth of experience in the branded consumer products and manufacturing & distribution i...
Deyan P. Spiridonov is a member of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice. He is a member of the California State Bar Association. Deyan practices in the area of mergers and acquisitions and has represented public and private companies in the telecommunications, semiconductor, software, technology-related defense contracting, biotechnology and financial industries. Mr. Spiridonov has experience in structuring and negotiating all aspects of acquisition transactions, including sto...
Christina Pearson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Christina, who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christina is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ed Wes is a partner in the firm's Business practice, who focuses his practice on emerging growth companies. Ed's practice includes capital formation (including private financings of debt and equity securities, as well as public offerings), mergers and acquisitions and business transactions including joint ventures and technology transfer transactions. In his position as general counsel for many of his clients Ed also oversees the work of litigation and IP law specialists. Ed particularly valu...
In a capital markets environment characterized by rapid change and necessitating innovation, Gregg A. Noel is highly sought after by U.S. and international issuers, investment banks and financial institutions on a wide range of public and private debt and equity financings. A leader in the West Coast Corporate Group, Mr. Noel focuses his practice on a variety of corporate transactions, including public offerings, private placements, dispositions, acquisitions and corporate restructurings. He ...
Ari Lanin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Ari, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ari is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Allison M. Leopold Tilley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Allison M. Leopold, who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Allison M. Leopold is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ken Kohler's practice involves a broad range of corporate and capital markets work, including public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities, mergers and acquisitions of public and private companies, and disclosure and reporting matters under the federal securities laws. Mr. Kohler also has extensive experience representing banks, REITs, mortgage bankers and others in corporate finance, structured finance and securitization transactions. He is experienced in cross-borde...
Gordon Bava is a senior partner of the firm after serving for a decade as its Chief Executive and Managing Partner. Gordon’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, special committee representation, private and underwritten securities offerings and general corporate representation of clients in a variety of industries. Gordon has conducted these services for public entertainment, utility and healthcare companies, local, regional and multinational financial institutions and holding...
Larry Chu is a partner in Goodwin’s Technology and M&A/Corporate Governance practices, and serves as the Co-Chair of the firm’s Technology M&A practice. He represents domestic and non-U.S. public and private companies in mergers and acquisitions, dispositions and corporate finance transactions in the technology, Internet, digital media and marketing, artificial intelligence, financial technology, e-commerce and hardware and software industries, and also represents clients ...
Michelle Hallsten is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Venture Capital Law. Michelle, who practices law in Sacramento, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michelle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kenneth M. Doran is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Kenneth M., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kenneth M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.