Christopher Mayer

Partner

chris.mayer@davispolk.com

Mr. Mayer is a partner in Davis Polk’s Corporate Department. His practice is devoted primarily to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings and corporate governance and director liability. In addition, he has extensive experience in pooled investment vehicles, private equity transactions and securities offerings.

He was a member of our Management Committee from 1993 to 2005. Mr. Mayer has also served as head of our Corporate Department.

Contact

New York
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
P: 212-450-4338
F: 212-701-5338

Related Practices

Bar Admissions

State of New York
U.S. District Court, S.D. New York

Education

B.A., Princeton University, 1968
J.D., Columbia Law School, 1974

Work Highlights

Acquisitions and Divestitures

Roche in connection with its $48 billion acquisition of the public minority in Genentech; its $3 billion hostile acquisition of Ventana Medical Systems (a leading developer of medical diagnostic tissue-testing equipment) and $600 million negotiated acquisition of BioVeris (a global health care and biosecurity company)
CNOOC on its proposed $18.5 billion acquisition of Unocal
Compaq Computer on a number of acquisitions, including its $9.6 billion acquisition of Digital Electronics
Sealed Air on its $5 billion acquisition of the packaging business of W.R. Grace
Emerson Electric in its acquisition of Fisher Controls and disposition of Rosemount Aerospace

Other Representations

Bertelsmann in connection with its 50-50 recorded music joint venture with Sony
Emerson Electric in connection with its 50-50 power tool joint venture with Robert Bosch
Bell Canada in its acquisition of a 30% interest in Jones Intercable, a public cable company controlled by Glenn Jones, with an option to acquire control
A consortium, including Comcast and TCI, in connection with a leveraged acquisition of Storer Communications, a cable company controlled by KKR
Going-private transactions involving J Ray McDermott, Cullum Companies and Jonathan Logan
Spinoffs of a defense-related electronics business by Emerson Electric and a bio-technology business by Whittaker Corporation and a splitoff and public offering of Ingram Micro
Recapitalizations of RJR Nabisco, Sealed Air and Whittaker Corporation
Structuring and marketing private equity funds and related investment vehicles and making and disposing of portfolio investments
Public offerings by Anadarko, Compaq Computer, Comcast and Freeport McMoRan

Of Note

Trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee, Bank Street College of Education

Professional History

Partner, 1982-present
Associate, 1974-1982
Member, Management Committee, 1993-2005
Chair, Corporate Department, 1996-2005

News

Davis Polk Advises Thomas H. Lee Partners on Its Investment in First BanCorp

Davis Polk Advises Kosmos Energy Ltd. on Its Initial Public Offering and Corporate Reorganization

Davis Polk Advises Tailwind Capital on Its Investment in Hamilton State Bancshares

View More > >

Client Publications

FDIC and Private Capital: Moving the Goal Lines
Client Memorandum

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