Sophie J. Daroff

Kirkland & Ellis advised AE Industrial Partners and its portfolio company, BigBear.ai, a leading provider of artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud-based big data analytics, and cyber engineering solutions, on the completion of BigBear.ai’s business combination with GigCapital4, Inc. (Nasdaq: GIGGU, GIG, GIGGW), a Private-to-Public Equity (PPE)TM entity also known as special purpose acquisition company. Upon completion of the business combination, the combined company changed its name to BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (“BigBear.ai”). The transaction values BigBear.ai at a $1.378 billion pro forma enterprise value. Read the BigBear.ai press release The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners Matthew Arenson and Jeffrey Swatzell and associates Eric Sweigard and Sophie Daroff with support from corporate partners Douglas Gessner and Jeremy Liss, capital markets partner Tim Cruickshank and associates Gena Olan Panter, Julianna Debler, Lune Klappe and Polina Pristupa, debt finance partners Michelle Kilkenney and Carolyn Aiken and associates Claire Rokita and Brennon Nelson, tax partner Rachel Cantor and associate Joe Morley, technology & IP transactions partners Aaron Lorber and Jeffrey Seroogy, government contracts partner Boyd Greene, employment and labor partner Michael Schulman and associate Jaime Wamble, employee benefits partner Jeffrey Quinn and associate Hannah Barlow, executive compensation partner Stephen Jacobson and associate Karsten Busby, environmental transactions partner Christian Semonsen, real estate partner Joshua Faulkner, and international trade and national security partner Mario Mancuso and associate Matt O’Hare.

Dec 8

1 min

The Daily Business Review and Law.com editorial staff, with the help of distinguished members of the Florida legal community, are pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2026 Florida Legal Awards. All honorees will be recognized, and winners of finalist categories announced, at the awards ceremony to be held on April 29 at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami. We hope to see you there. For tickets and sponsorships, please contact Andre Sutton at andre.sutton@alm.com for more information. While many awards recognize the contributions legal professionals or organizations have made over the past year, our Lifetime Achievement award celebrates the long-term impact that Florida lawyers have made. Congratulations to everyone on the shortlist, and we look forward to celebrating you in April. Lifetime Achievement Winners David Bianchi, Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain Michael A. Haggard, The Haggard Law Firm Joseph Serota, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman William R. Scherer, Conrad & Scherer Trial Lawyers Attorney of the Year Finalists Jeffrey Bass, Bass Law Kimberly L. Wald, The Haggard Law Firm John Yanchunis, Morgan & Morgan Best Mentors Finalists Lori Adelson, Approved Dispute Resolution Arturo Arca and Christian Rodriguez, Trembly Law Firm Jeffrey Hearne, Legal Services of Greater Miami Pedro E. Hernandez, Hinshaw & Culbertson Marck K. Joseph, The Joseph Firm Kate Lashley, Sidley Austin Allen P. Pegg, Hogan Lovells Martha Rabbitt, Shutts & Bowen Miranda L. Soto, Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney Construction Trailblazer Finalists Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod Trent Cotney, Adams & Reese Timothy D. Woodward, Shutts & Bowen Cross-Border Disputes Finalists King & Spalding Squire Patton Boggs White & Case Dealmakers of the Year Finalists Matthew Arenson and Eduardo M. Leal, Kirkland & Ellis Francisco Cerezo, DLA Piper David J. Cohen, Weil, Gotshal & Manges Esteban J. Elias, Leech Tishman Joshua B. Forman, Greenberg Traurig Jackson Hwu, Dentons Ira N. Rosner, Holland & Knight Distinguished Leaders Winners Andres Fernandez, Holland & Knight Brian L. Hayden, Jackson Lewis Harry Burnett, King & Spalding Joseph J. Lazzarotti, Jackson Lewis Alison Tanchyk, Morgan Lewis Rick Martin, Winston & Strawn Robin Bresky, Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas Todd J. Michaels, The Haggard Law Firm In-House Counsel of the Year Finalists Lynn Carrillo, FIFA Gerald Del Amo, Broward Health Nefertari Rigsby, Kaplan North America Evian White De Leon, MIAMI Association of REALTORS Innovators Finalists Kaley Dreyer, Farah and Farah Carl Fornaris, Winston & Strawn Kevin Henderson and Eric Pacifici, SMB Law Group Marlon Hill, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman Michael Platner, Lewis Brisbois Stuart Ratzan, Ratzan Weissman & Boldt Charles B. Jimerson, Jimerson Birr Law Firm of the Year Finalists Gastesi Lopez Mestre & Cobiella King & Spalding Morgan & Morgan Litigation Departments of the Year, Construction Finalists Cole, Scott & Kissane Duane Morris Litigation Departments of the Year, General Litigation Finalists Boies Schiller Flexner Greenberg Traurig Holland & Knight King & Spalding Levine Kellogg Lehman Schneider + Grossman Weil, Gotshal & Manges Morgan & Morgan (Personal Injury Department) Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan Ratzan, Weismann & Boldt Litigation Departments of the Year, Insurance Finalists Carlton Fields Hunton Andrews Kurth Litigation Departments of the Year, Products liability/Mass Torts Finalists King & Spalding Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd Managing Partner of the Year (Large and Midsize Firm) Finalists Abbye Alexander, Kaufman Dolowich Beatriz Azcuy, Sidley Austin Dean Cannon, GrayRobinson Albert Dotson, Jr., Bilzin Sumberg Manuel Garcia-Linares, Day Pitney William Lewis, Morgan & Morgan Rick Martin, Winston & Strawn Olga Vieira and Sam Williamson, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan Managing Partner of the Year (Small Firm) Finalists Raul Gastesi, Gastesi Lopez Mestre & Cobiella Patricia M. Hernandez, Avila Law John N. Lambros, Brinkley Morgan Eric Pacifici, SMB Law Group Spencer Payne, Moore Payne Law Maritime Attorney of the Year Winner Elisha Sullivan, Chartwell Law Most Promising Newcomer Finalists Caitlin Calvo, Winston & Strawn Mischaël Cetoute, Holland & Knight Evan Gilbert, Winston & Strawn Briana Harris, Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine Emma G. Refuveille, Shutts & Bowen On the Rise Winners (Large & Midsize Firms) Valeria Angelucci, Becker Sara A. Brubaker, Akerman Laura Ferguson, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan Alina M. Fernandez Portela, Hogan Lovells Giovanni Giarratana, Bradley Audrey Goldman, Robinson+Cole Elle Hayes, McDermott Will & Schulte Daniel McQuade, Kirkland & Ellis Axel Miranda, Sidley Austin Isel Perez, Jones Day Mark Pinkert, Holtzman Vogel Tom Schulte, Hunton Andrews Kurth Andrew Ingalls, Day Pitney Matthew R. Maranges, Jones Walker Brian Vaca, Hughes Hubbard & Reed Chanae L. Wood, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman James R. Williams Jr., Gunster On the Rise Winners (Small Firms) Melissa Bryan, HAWM Law Marcelo Diaz-Cortes, Levine Kellogg Lehman Schneider + Grossman Zachary Gorwitz, Podhurst Orseck Nicole Kruegel, Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa Russell Monilla, Cruz Law Firm Daryl L. Saylor, LashGoldberg Jordan Shaw, Shaw Lewenz David Tarras, Tarras Defense Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Finalists Melanie Kalmanson, Quarles & Brady Ross Linzer, King & Spalding Real Estate Attorney of the Year Finalists Katherine Amador, Berger Singerman Daniel Kaskel, Sachs Sax Caplan Real Estate Firm of the Year Finalists Berger Singerman Bilzin Sumberg Foley Lardner Greenberg Traurig Government Law Group Perez Mayoral Talent Management Winner, Firm The Joseph Firm Talent Management Finalists, Individual Ravin Sahadeo, Morgan & Morgan Andrea DeField, Hunton Andrews Kurth Unsung Heroes Winners Juan Bauta, Simmons Hanly Conroy Carmen Manrara Cartaya, Continental Sharon Caserta, Morgan & Morgan Adam Finkel, The Haggard Law Firm Garrett S. Kamen, Fisher Phillips James Moon, Meland Budwick Elizabeth Somerstein, Greenspoon Marder We hope to see you at the awards ceremony on April 29 at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami. For tickets and sponsorships, please contact Andre Sutton at andre.sutton@alm.com for more information.

Mar 3

4 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised affiliates of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (“CD&R”), a private investment firm, on its acquisition of Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CNR), the largest manufacturer of exterior building products in North America, for an enterprise value of approximately $5.8 billion. CD&R is currently the beneficial owner of approximately 49% of Cornerstone’s outstanding shares of common stock. The proposed transaction is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2022 and is subject to customary closing conditions as well as approval by holders of a majority of the shares of common stock not owned by CD&R and its affiliates. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners David Klein, Kevin Mausert and Lukas Richards as well as Richard Campbell and Daniel Wolf and associates Jimin He, Mike Lowes and Sophie Daroff, executive compensation partner Rohit Nafday and associate Karsten Busby, tax partner Mike Carew, and litigation partner Matthew Solum.

Mar 7

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised Uplift Investors, a middle-market private equity firm, on the formation of Orion Legal MSO, a managed service organization supporting leading plaintiff law firms. The transaction marks Uplift’s first platform investment following its launch in 2025. Read Uplift’s press release The Kirkland team included corporate lawyers Corey Fox, Matt Arenson and Sophie Daroff; debt finance lawyers Maureen Dixon and Sumner Fontaine; technology & IP transactions lawyers Aaron Lorber and Jessie Perlman; and tax lawyers Rachel Cantor and Rebecca Fine.

Jan 30

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis counseled Adenza, a provider of mission-critical risk management and regulatory software to the financial services industry, a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm and long-time Kirkland client, on its definitive agreement to be acquired by Nasdaq, Inc. (Nasdaq: NDAQ), a technology company serving the global financial system, for $10.5 billion in cash and shares of common stock. Read Nasdaq’s press release The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners Peter Stach, Corey Fox and Brett Nelson and associates Jeremy Mandell and Sophie Daroff; capital markets partners Brad Reed, Michael Keeley and Cot Eversole; debt finance partners Fred Lim and Patrick Loughery; tax partners Kevin Coenen and Adam Kool; and technology and intellectual property transactions partner Aaron Lorber and associate Jessie Perlman.

Jun 12

1 min