Skadden Arps

In the 1970s, hostile takeover were considered un-gentlemanly. White shoe firms refused to represent corporate raiders. Joseph Flom at Skadden Arps had no such reservations. He took every hostile deal and built the most feared mergers practice in America. By the '80s, Skadden was the highest grossing law firm in the world. The firm represented attackers and defenders in the era's biggest battles. Skadden pioneered the modern M and A playbook. Poison pills, proxy fights, tender offer defenses. Every tool boards used today to fend off unwanted suitors was refined in Skadden's conference rooms.