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James T. Lidbury
Partner
Ropes & Gray
One South Dearborn Street
Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60603-2302
T + 1-312-212-4423
F + 1-312-212-4476
E-mail
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Practice
James Lidbury, a partner in Ropes & Gray's Corporate Department, is widely acknowledged for his work in Mergers & Acquisitions. He represents publicly traded and privately held corporations, private equity sponsors, and special board committees in complex M&A and corporate governance situations.
Professional Experience
Jim was a partner in a major international law firm prior to joining Ropes & Gray. Prior to that Jim served as a Staff Attorney in the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance in Washington, D.C. Industry experts and client surveys agree that Jim's legal acumen is rivaled only by his outstanding commitment to client service, both of which are frequently recognized by peers and publications. The 2007 edition of Chambers USA cited Jim’s “. . . ‘fantastic disposition, intellect and judgment,’” and said “his peers appreciate his ‘reasonable and cooperative’ approach.” In its 2006 edition, Chambers described Jim as “. . . an exceptional corporate lawyer — professional, intelligent and friendly.”
Jim's experience includes the following:
- Represented a global designer, manufacturer, and supplier of communications equipment, services, and systems in a $2.6 billion strategic merger with a business leader in structured cabling systems for business enterprise applications.
- Represented a global industrial company in its $300 million acquisition of a public company that supplies business application software and related services.
- Represented a major Western railroad company in its acquisition of a wireless telecommunications company that provides data communications solutions and services through packet-switched data networks.
- Represented a private investment firm in the €660 million sale of several well known champagne, wine and sparkling wine businesses.
- Represented a special committee of the board of directors of major public enterprise software company in its $1.6 billion strategic merger with a private equity controlled software company that specializes in enterprise software.
- Represented a private investment firm in its $365 million acquisition of a premier West Coast ski resort.
- Represented a national chain of family restaurants in its $245 million sale to a private equity sponsor.
- Represented one of the leading chemical manufacturers in the world in its $12 billion strategic merger with one of the oldest chemical and polymers companies in the United States.
- Represented a maker of computer modems and related products in its $7.7 billion strategic merger a public computer network infrastructure products company.
- Represented one of the leading chemical manufacturers in the world in the $7 billion sale of a subsidiary that was a leading prescription drug maker.
- Represented a major railroad in the Western U.S. in its $4.5 billion strategic merger with another major railroad in the midst of a competing hostile takeover bid from a third major railroad.
- Represented a global diversified manufacturer of engineered components and specialty systems worldwide in its $3.6 billion strategic merger with a public company manufacturer of commercial and consumer products.
- Represented a public oil and gas company in a $5.3 billion strategic acquisition.
- Represented a public oil and gas company in a $3.5 billion strategic acquisition.
- Represented a public oil and gas company in a $3.1 billion strategic acquisition.
- Represented a regional savings and loan in its $1.2 billion sale to one of the nation's largest savings and loans.
- Represented a major petroleum pipeline operator in its $1 billion strategic merger with one of the largest pipeline transporters and terminal operators in North America.
- Represented a leading foreign telecoms provider in the $1 billion sale of a business to a leading provider of communications solutions serving customers throughout the world.
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Mergers & Acquisitions
- Chambers USA, recommended for M&A
- Illinois Super Lawyer
- BTI Consuting Inc., 2008 Super All-Star Team
- Global Counsel 3000, Chicago’s 25 leading corporate transactional attorneys
Publications
- Negotiating and Drafting Major Business Agreements, Insight Information Co., Chicago, Illinois, 2000
- Drafting Corporate Agreements, Practicing Law Institute, Chicago, Illinois, 2000, 1999 and 1998
- Doing Deals; Understanding the Nuts and Bolts of Transactional Practice, Practicing Law Institute, Chicago, Illinois, 1996
- “Getting Soft on Safe Harbors; Is There a Duty to Disclose Projections?” The Daily Deal, Vol. 18, Issue 226, November 21, 2007.
- Hedge Fund and Institutional Shareholder Activism, April 2006
- Comprehensive Reform of US Takeover Regulations and Regulation of Cross-Border Takeover Bids, Merrill/Magnus Publishing, November 1999
- “Drafting Acquisition Agreements,” PLI Course Handbook, Drafting Corporate Agreements, 1998-2000, No. B-1089
- “Acquisition Structuring in the Aftermath of Epstein v. MCA, Inc.,” Insights, Volume 9, Number 7, July 1995
Presentations & Speeches
- Moderator, LBO and Private Equity Panels, Beecken Petty O’Keefe & Company Private Equity Conference, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
- Keynote Speaker, American Association of Railroads Chief Legal Officers Annual Meeting (Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002: An Overview), 2002
- DePaul University Certificate Program in Effective Investor Relations, Chicago, Illinois, 2001
Professional & Civic Activities
- Institute of Illinois Business Law, Chairman, Public Companies Subcommittee (2005–2007)
- Chairman, Public Companies Subcommittee of the Illinois Secretary of State's Business Law Advisory Committee (2004-2005)
- President, Goodman Theatre Scenemaker's Council (2005–2007)
- Advisory Board Member, Chicago Chapter of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
- Member, The Economic Club of Chicago
- Member, The University Club of Chicago
Bar Admissions
- New York, 2007
- Washington, D.C., 1992
- Illinois, 1990
Education
- 1990,
J.D., Northwestern University School of Law
- 1987,
B.A., Northwestern University
©2008 Ropes & Gray LLP. All rights reserved.
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