This website uses cookies. By using this website, you agree to our Cookie Policy.
February 25, 2013
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP (Cadwalader), a leading counselor to global corporations and financial institutions, announced today that James Woolery will join as Deputy Chairman of the firm and Co-Chair of its Corporate department. The firm’s partnership unanimously elected Woolery to this new role. The move enhances the firm’s ability to counsel clients through the rapidly changing business, strategic, regulatory and legal challenges they face.
“Jim Woolery is the epitome of the Cadwalader lawyer – an exceptional legal mind that can fashion practical business solutions to complex legal problems,” said W. Christopher White, Chairman of Cadwalader. “Jim brings more than two decades of experience advising corporations and boards on the most important business challenges facing them. His arrival at Cadwalader adds to our already strong corporate capabilities. His partnership with our roster of highly experienced and respected corporate, financial and regulatory attorneys will help us continue to advance our clients’ interests.”
Woolery, who is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading M&A advisors, joins the firm from JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he was co-head of North American Mergers and Acquisitions. He has been involved in some of the most important M&A transactions in recent history, including a range of friendly, hostile, activist-defense and corporate governance reviews taken up by public company boards.
Prior to JPMorgan, Woolery spent his career at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where he established and led Cravath’s Strategy and Business Development Group. He joined Cravath as an associate in 1994 and was elected a partner in 2002.
Notable transactions on which Woolery has worked during his career include Dell Inc.’s recent definitive agreement to be acquired by Michael Dell and Silver Lake Partners, Medco’s merger with Express Scripts, Air Products’ public tender offer and proxy fight for Airgas, and Clorox’s successful defense against Carl Icahn.
At Cadwalader, Woolery will drive the corporate practice and be responsible for business development, strategy and external relations. He will see select transactions from JP Morgan through to their closing.
“Joining Cadwalader allows me to return to the practice of law while continuing to advise CEOs, general counsels and boards of directors on critical issues relating to corporate strategy and business risk,” Woolery said. “Cadwalader’s rich history of combining leading legal and regulatory counsel with a deep understanding of business operations and strategy will allow us to continue to meet increasingly complex client needs in an evolving market environment. I feel energized and humbled to have the opportunity to join the partnership and work with the firm’s stellar team of lawyers. I deeply value the time I have spent at JPMorgan, and look forward to the opportunity to continue to work with my colleagues there.”
Woolery holds a BA from Wake Forest University and a JD from University of Kentucky.
