Davis & Gilbert acted as lead counsel to WPP Group plc, one of the world’s largest communications groups, in its contemplated acquisition of AKQA Holdings, Inc. AKQA is the world’s leading independent digital agency and recipient of numerous “Agency of the Year” awards, and the transaction represents one of the largest-ever acquisitions of a digital ad agency. AKQA will operate as an independent and standalone brand within WPP Group. AKQA had assets totaling $282 million at the end of 2011, and projects revenues of $230 million for 2012. It employs 1,160 people across offices in San Francisco, New York, Washington DC, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin and Shanghai.
The cross-disciplinary team from Davis & Gilbert included attorneys from several practice groups, including Corporate, Tax, Benefits & Compensation, Labor & Employment, Advertising, Marketing & Promotions and Real Estate. The team was led by Curt Myers, Co-Chair of the Corporate Practice Group and included Matthew Schneider, Corporate Partner; Mitchell Karsch, Corporate Partner; Ralph Norton, Corporate Partner; Randall Lee, Corporate Associate; Stephen Foley, Tax Of Counsel; A. Derek Nelson, Benefits & Compensation Counsel; David Fisher, Labor & Employment Associate; Wendy Chong, Corporate Associate; Anjali Bonner, Corporate Associate; David Lee, Corporate Associate; James Johnston, Advertising, Marketing & Promotions Partner; Vejay Lalla, Advertising, Marketing & Promotions Partner; Oriyan Gitig, Advertising, Marketing & Promotions Associate; Darren Fried, Advertising, Marketing & Promotions Associate; Sarah Calvert, Advertising, Marketing & Promotions Associate; and Seth Chaikin, Real Estate Associate.
