Paul S. Scrivano
Head of West Coast M&A. Widely regarded as an authority on public company M&A. Deep experience in proxy contests, shareholder activism and takeover defense.
Paul is the head of our West Coast M&A practice. Paul is a nationally recognized M&A lawyer, and clients across industries turn to him for guidance on their most complex U.S. and cross-border M&A transactions. Paul has extensive experience in a broad range of deals, including mergers, tender and exchange offers, stock and asset acquisitions, divestitures, spinoffs and splitoffs, and joint ventures.
Widely regarded as an authority on public company M&A matters, Paul has advised on hundreds of such transactions. He has advised on numerous proxy contests, and he regularly advises corporate boards and committees in transactional and high-profile corporate governance matters, in shareholder activism matters and as to takeover defense strategies.
Paul also regularly advises private equity firms and investment banks in M&A transactions.
Experience highlights
- HP in its pending $3.3 billion acquisition of Poly
- Natus Medical Incorporated in its pending $1.2 billion acquisition by ArchiMed Group
Paul’s representations before joining Davis Polk include the following:
- Altimeter Growth Corp. in its $40 billion stock-for-stock combination with Grab Holdings
- McAfee in its $14+ billion acquisition by an investor group comprised of Advent International, Permira Advisers, Crosspoint Capital, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, GIC and ADIA; and the $4 billion sale of its Enterprise business to Symphony Technology Group
- HP in its acquisition of Teradici, and its $425 million acquisition of HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology
- Gilead Sciences in its $1.74 billion exclusive option to acquire Pionyr Immunotherapeutics, and its $1.55 billion exclusive option to acquire Tizona Therapeutics
- Baring Private Equity Asia in its $2 billion acquisition of Virtusa
- Veeam Software in its $5 billion acquisition by Insight Partners
- Milacron in its $2 billion cash and stock merger with Hillenbrand
- Wieland-Werke AG in its $1.2 billion acquisition of Global Brass and Copper Holdings
- Qorvo in numerous acquisitions of semiconductor companies
- Bain Capital in its $18 billion acquisition of Toshiba Memory Corporation
- Mentor Graphics in its $4.5 billion acquisition by Siemens
- Alaska Air Group in its $4 billion acquisition of Virgin America
- BB&T in its $1.8 billion acquisition of National Penn Bancshares
- Dealertrack Technologies in its $4 billion sale to Cox Automotive by way of a cash tender offer followed by a second step merger; and its $1 billion cash and stock acquisition of Dealer Dot Com
- Microsemi in its successful $2.5 billion “deal jump” for PMC-Sierra, resulting in the termination of PMC-Sierra’s existing merger agreement with Skyworks Solutions
- Bear Stearns Merchant Banking in its negotiated spinout and transition to independence from JPMorgan Chase during the 2008 Financial Crisis
- Independent Directors of TRI Pointe Homes in connection with TRI Pointe's $2.7 billion combination with the homebuilding division of Weyerhaeuser Company in a reverse Morris Trust transaction
Credentials
Recognition
Law360 – “Technology MVP of the Year,” 2021
The Recorder – “California Trailblazer,” 2020
IFLR1000 – M&A, Private Equity, California and New York, Market Leader
Lawdragon – 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, 2021, 2022
National Law Journal – “M&A and Antitrust Trailblazer,” 2017
Daily Journal – “Top 100 Lawyers in California,” 2013, 2017
California Lawyer – “California Lawyer of the Year,” 2014
Law360 – “Life Sciences MVP of the Year,” 2012
Education
- Order of the Coif
- magna cum laude
Professional history
- Partner, Davis Polk, 2022-present
- Partner, Ropes & Gray, 2017-2022
- Partner, O’Melveny & Myers, 2005-2017
- Partner, McDermott Will & Emery, 2002-2005
- Associate, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, 1996-2002
Qualifications and admissions
- State of California
- State of New York