Debevoise Named Law Firm of the Year at Buyouts Awards Dinner

NEW YORK, Mar. 10 /PRNewswire/ --

NEW YORK, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Debevoise & Plimpton LLP was named 'Law Firm of the Year' by Buyouts Magazine at its 2008 Deal of the Year Awards on March 5 in New York.

According to the magazine, Debevoise "combines a world-class fund formation practice with an equally strong line of deal attorneys." Buyouts also noted the firm's "global footprint and deep bench of attorneys [which] lets the firm follow any client anywhere and do just about anything that needs to be done."

Debevoise's Private Equity Funds Group is co-chaired by Michael P. Harrell, David J. Schwartz and Woodrow W. Campbell. Mr. Campbell said: "When we started 25 years ago we could not have imagined the scale of the buyouts market. Our practice has grown along with the private equity industry itself over that time and we are honored that Buyouts has selected the firm for this award."

Debevoise's Private Equity Group is co-chaired by Franci J. Blassberg and Margaret Andrews Davenport. Ms. Blassberg said: "We are excited to be acknowledged as Buyouts Law Firm of the Year. Debevoise truly is, as Buyouts noted, the one-stop law shop. We are excited to continue working side by side with our clients from fund formation through to deal making."

Buyouts, published semi-monthly by Thomson Financial, focuses on leveraged and management buyout activity.

With over 200 lawyers, including close to 80 partners and counsel, focusing on private equity in the US, Europe and Asia, Debevoise is one of a handful of firms with a truly global private equity practice, having established its reputation over the past 25 years.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a leading international law firm, representing a wide range of clients around the world. Founded in 1931, the firm has offices in New York, Washington, D.C., London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The firm now has approximately 700 lawyers, including more than 140 lawyers in Europe.