Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR), a full-service, international law firm, announced that it has combined with Hartman & Craven LLP, a New York law firm with a broad-based practice as well as deep roots and knowledge about the New York area market. The combination of the two storied law firms, each with over 90 years of history and service both to clients and the legal profession, was effective October 1, 2012 and doubled the number of SGR attorneys in New York.

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On November 26, 2012, the Special Committee (“Special Committee”) of the Board of Directors of CNH Global N.V. (“CNH”) announced that it has recommended the merger agreement entered into today between CNH and Fiat Industrial S.p.A. Cravath represented the Special Committee in connection with this transaction, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2013 and is subject to customary regulatory approvals and limited closing conditions.

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Hogan Lovells announced today that it is advising Equity Residential on the US$16 billion acquisition of Archstone Enterprise LP (Archstone) from Lehman Brothers Holding, Inc.

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Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, represented Alpek, S.A.B. de C.V., the largest petrochemical company in Mexico and one of the largest in the world, in connection with its inaugural international issuance of debt securities. The oversubscribed offering involved the issuance of $650 million of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2022 pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S.

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International law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, LLP, led by Global Securities partner James H. Ball, Jr., has represented a group of investment banks as underwriters in the follow-on sale of shares of asset manager WisdomTree Investments, Inc. The public equity offering is valued at $157.2 million.

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Weil advised Providence Equity Partners, a minority partner in Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (YES), in News Corporation’s acquisition of a 49 percent stake in YES. YES is a New York City-based regional cable television channel that broadcasts sports events, including New York Yankees baseball games and Brooklyn Nets basketball games. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2012.

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Simpson Thacher recently represented Walter Energy, Inc. in its offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 9.875% Senior Notes due 2020. Walter Energy intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to repay indebtedness outstanding under its credit facilities, to pay fees and expenses related to the offering and for general corporate purposes. The offering was conducted in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S.

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Simpson Thacher represented Reed Elsevier in connection with a Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.125% Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”). Simpson Thacher also represented Reed Elsevier in connection with offers of additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $311,176,000 and cash in exchange for a portion of its outstanding 7.750% Notes due 2014 and 8.625% Notes due 2019. The Notes were issued by Reed Elsevier Capital Inc. and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed jointly and severally by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV, the parent companies of the entities that comprise the Reed Elsevier group of businesses.

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Simpson Thacher represented the underwriters, led by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in the issuance of $400 Million 1.850% Senior Notes due 2017 and $500 Million 3.125% Senior Notes due 2022 by Roper Industries, Inc.

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Shearman & Sterling is advising Dycom Industries, Inc. on its definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of Quanta Services, Inc.’s domestic telecommunications infrastructure services subsidiaries for approximately $275 million in cash. Subject to customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to be completed by December 31, 2012.

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