Watson, Farley & Williams, a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that it advised the management team of Commarco GmbH (“Commarco”), a leading independent marketing services group in Germany, on its sale to WPP, the world’s largest communications services group. Independent mid-market European private equity firm, Cognetas LLP (“Cognetas”) and Commarco’s management team which holds 35% of the company’s share capital agreed to its acquisition by WPP. The purchase price is confidential and is subject to regulatory approval, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of 2011.  This is reportedly the largest acquisition in the German advertising industry.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges serves as antitrust counsel to Johnson & Johnson in its acquisition of Synthes, Inc., one of the world’s leading medical device companies. According to the merger agreement announced today, Johnson & Johnson will acquire Synthes for CHF159 per share, or approximately $21.3 billion. Each share of Synthes common stock, subject to certain conditions, will be exchanged for CHF55.65 in cash and CHF103.35 in Johnson & Johnson common stock.

Rogers & Hardin LLP represented long-time client, Primerica, Inc., in connection with the public offering of 12 million shares of Primerica common stock held by a subsidiary of Citigroup, Inc. The offering was made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, previously filed by Primerica, which registered $2.2 billion of the company’s securities. Under the effective shelf registration statement, Primerica may offer up to $1 billion of its securities in the future, and certain selling stockholders, including Citigroup, may resell their shares of Primerica’s common stock.

A highly-regarded six lawyer team has joined the energy and environmental practices of Fulbright as the global firm opened an office in Western Pennsylvania, the center of activity for Marcellus Shale natural gas production.

Littler Mendelson, P.C. (Littler), the nation’s largest employment and labor law firm representing management, announced today the opening of its 51st office in Nashville, TN. The firm is also pleased to welcome two new shareholders, Jennifer Robinson and C. Eric Stevens.

Davis Polk advised J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC as joint book-running managers in connection with the initial public offering of 34,825,470 shares of Class A common stock of Air Lease Corporation, which includes 4,542,450 shares from the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. The gross proceeds from the offering were approximately $872 million. Air Lease Corporation’s Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AL.”

A team at Olswang has successfully agreed the sale of OFI Private Equity Capital to Eurazeo, one of Europe’s leading investment companies. OFI Private Equity Capital is a NYSE Euronext-listed French investment company specialising in SME majority investments. In acquiring the private equity house, Eurazeo deepens its support of French SMEs whilst strengthening its position in the French and European private equity markets across a number of sectors.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, a leading global law firm, announced today that it is advising China Everbright Limited (“China Everbright”), a financial services company whose shares are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in the disposal of 51% of the share capital of Everbright Securities (International) Limited to Everbright Securities Company Limited (“Everbright Securities”), a financial services company whose shares are listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, for a consideration of approximately US$114 million.

International law firm Eversheds has advised Private Equity house ECI Partners on its investment in Reed & Mackay, the leading provider of strategic travel management services.