| Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s corporate partners
had a stonking 2006. But one partner who stood out
from the rest is Laurie McFadden.
The Canadian lawyer’s highlight was working
alongside fellow corporate partner Will Lawes on
the £12bn hostile takeover of BAA. The deal, which
resulted in victory for Freshfields’ client Gruppo
Ferrovial, lasted the best part of five months. The
race to take over the UK airports operator kicked off
on 8 February, after Ferrovial was forced to make an
announcement that it was considering making a bid
for BAA. After months of drama and a rival bid from
a Goldman Sachs-led consortium, BAA finally
succummed to Ferrovial’s advances.
Although McFadden handles both private equity
and public M&A work, his focus most recently has
been on private equity deals. As such, last year he
also advised Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, BC
Partners and Goldman Sachs on their bid for
Spanish telecoms group Auna, as well as Boston
Ventures and Clarity Partners on the management
buyout (MBO) of Vue Entertainment.
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