The Americas M&A Awards, sponsored by the Financial Times and mergermarket, named Skadden the "USA Legal Advisor of the Year" for 2009. "Challenging times also make a good breeding ground for outstanding dealmakers," FT/mergermarket said in their announcement this week.
The firm also worked on the deal selected as "Americas Deal of the Year," Pfizer's acquisition of Wyeth. (Skadden advised Pfizer on tax aspects of the deal, as well as representing financial advisors to Pfizer.)