Disney calls in Wachtell for takeover battle

Disney has shown that it is up for the challenge of fighting Comcast’s $66bn hostile takeover bid by appointing defence specialist Martin Lipton of Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz.

Disney chairman Michael Eisner turned to Lipton to add some muscle to its defence after initially appointing regular adviser Dewey Ballantine, whose co-chairman Morton Pierce and corporate partner Michael Aiello are working on the deal.

Wachtell’s appointment means the firm has now scooped a role on two of the biggest deals in the US worth a combined $124bn. Wachtell partners Edward Herlihy, Larry Makow and Craig Wasserman are working on the $58bn JP Morgan-Bank One merger.

Davis Polk & Wardwell is advising Comcast.