Key Takeaways
- • Davis Polk announced the addition of Todd B. Kornreich as a partner in its Mergers & Acquisitions practice in New York, effective September 2, 2026, strengthening the firm's private equity M&A capabilities.
- • Kornreich brings specialized expertise in leveraged buyouts, take-private acquisitions, corporate carve-outs, divestitures, and cross-border transactions, with particular depth in industrials and manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and healthcare services sectors.
- • Kornreich joins from Ropes & Gray, where he was a partner in the private equity transactions group and co-lead of the transportation and logistics sector practice, representing a direct competitor hire for Davis Polk.
- • The hire underscores Davis Polk's strategic expansion of its private equity platform and its position as a lead counsel firm for sophisticated PE sponsors across deal lifecycles.
Summary
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP announced the recruitment of Todd B. Kornreich as a partner in its Mergers & Acquisitions practice, effective September 2, 2026. Kornreich joins the firm's New York office from Ropes & Gray, where he held partner-level status in the private equity transactions group and served as co-lead of the transportation and logistics sector practice.
According to Neil Barr, Davis Polk's Chair and Managing Partner, Kornreich's appointment reflects the firm's ongoing investment in its private equity platform. "Todd has deep experience advising sophisticated private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on their most significant M&A transactions," Barr stated, noting that the hire "further strengthens Davis Polk's position as a go-to firm for private equity clients seeking elite counsel across the life cycle of their transactions."
Kornreich's practice focuses on advising private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on domestic and cross-border M&A activity, including leveraged buyouts, take-private acquisitions, corporate carve-outs, divestitures, and strategic investments. He maintains sector specialization in industrials and manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and healthcare services and technology—areas representing significant deal flow for large PE firms.
Oliver Smith, head of Davis Polk's Mergers & Acquisitions practice, highlighted Kornreich's deal execution capabilities and client orientation. "Todd has an impressive understanding of both the global deal landscape and the needs and issues unique to sponsors, and he has a strong track record of successfully executing complex and high-stakes deals for major PE clients," Smith said, characterizing Kornreich as "highly ambitious" with demonstrated "extraordinary commitment to clients."
The hire represents a notable lateral move in the competitive private equity legal services market, where large law firms continue to pursue experienced sector-specialized partners to maintain market share among institutional PE clients.
According to Neil Barr, Davis Polk's Chair and Managing Partner, Kornreich's appointment reflects the firm's ongoing investment in its private equity platform. "Todd has deep experience advising sophisticated private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on their most significant M&A transactions," Barr stated, noting that the hire "further strengthens Davis Polk's position as a go-to firm for private equity clients seeking elite counsel across the life cycle of their transactions."
Kornreich's practice focuses on advising private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on domestic and cross-border M&A activity, including leveraged buyouts, take-private acquisitions, corporate carve-outs, divestitures, and strategic investments. He maintains sector specialization in industrials and manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and healthcare services and technology—areas representing significant deal flow for large PE firms.
Oliver Smith, head of Davis Polk's Mergers & Acquisitions practice, highlighted Kornreich's deal execution capabilities and client orientation. "Todd has an impressive understanding of both the global deal landscape and the needs and issues unique to sponsors, and he has a strong track record of successfully executing complex and high-stakes deals for major PE clients," Smith said, characterizing Kornreich as "highly ambitious" with demonstrated "extraordinary commitment to clients."
The hire represents a notable lateral move in the competitive private equity legal services market, where large law firms continue to pursue experienced sector-specialized partners to maintain market share among institutional PE clients.
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