Skadden is representing Rural Cellular in its approximately $2.67 billion acquisition by Verizon Wireless, announced on July 30. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2008. Rural Cellular, based in Minnesota, provides wireless communication services to more than 700,000 customers in 15 states. Verizon — a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone — is the nation's largest wireless company, providing service to 62.1 million customers.