Justin G. Hamill
Partner
New York
justin.hamill@lw.com
+1.212.906.1252
PRACTICES
- Communications
- Connectivity, Privacy & Information
- Emerging Companies & Growth
- Entertainment, Sports & Media
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Public Company Representation
- Real Estate
INDUSTRIES
- Entertainment, Sports & Media
- REITs
- Retail & Consumer Products
- Technology
EDUCATION
- JD, Boston College Law School,
cum laude - BA, Dartmouth College,
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
PROFILE
Justin Hamill is Global Chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Practice. Recognized as a 2024 and 2020 Dealmaker of the Year by The American Lawyer, a 2024 M&A MVP by Law360, and a 2021 Dealmaker of the Year by The New York Law Journal, Justin represents clients in a range of complex corporate matters, with a focus on high-value M&A and private equity deals.
Justin provides sophisticated transactional counsel to diverse clients, including public and private companies, investment funds, and financial institutions. He regularly advises on multibillion-dollar mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, drawing on his substantial experience across a broad array of industries, such as media, sports, and entertainment, as well as technology, financial services, consumer products, healthcare, and real estate. His practice also encompasses a range of corporate governance and emerging companies matters.
Justin regularly advises clients on:
- Leveraged buy-outs
- Negotiated and contested M&A transactions
- Public and private investments
- Restructuring transactions and joint ventures
- Corporate governance matters (including Securities and Exchange Commission and exchange requirements, as well as fiduciary law matters)
- Emerging companies matters (including capital raising transactions)
Justin is the former secretary of the New York City Bar Association Committee on Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Control Contests. He is also a published author and frequent speaker on corporate matters.
Recognition Highlights
- The American Lawyer – Dealmaker of the Year (2024 and 2020)
- Law360 – M&A MVP (2024)
- The Hollywood Reporter – Power Lawyers (2024) and Top Dealmakers (2023)
- The New York Law Journal – Dealmaker of the Year (2021)
- Chambers USA – Corporate/M&A (2018-2024)
- The Legal 500 US – Leading Lawyer – M&A/Corporate and Commercial: Private Equity Buyouts (2022-2024)
- The Legal 500 US – Next Generation Partner – Sport and Media, Technology & Telecoms: Media & Entertainment: Transactional (2019-2024)
- Variety – Dealmakers Impact Report (2019-2023)
- Variety – Legal Impact Report (2020-2023)
- Business Insider – 8 Must-Know Deal Lawyers Advising Private Equity Firms (2020)
EXPERIENCE
Justin has represented clients in a range of corporate matters, including:
Public Company Transactions
- Skydance Media in its pending merger with Paramount to form “New Paramount” at an enterprise value of approximately US$28 billion and Skydance at US$4.75 billion
- Endeavor in its pending US$13 billion sale to Silver Lake
- Manchester United in its sale of an approximate 30% equity interest to Sir Jim Ratcliffe for US$1.6 billion
- Endeavor in its US$21 billion merger of UFC and WWE
- Silver Lake in its US$12.5 billion acquisition of Qualtrics
- Michael Kors in its US$1.2 billion acquisition of Jimmy Choo*
- Casper Sleep in its sale to Durational Capital Management
- Taylor Morrison Home in its approximately US$1 billion acquisition of AV Homes*
- Kate Spade & Company in its US$2.4 billion sale to Coach *
- RSC Holdings in its sale to United Rentals for approximately US$4.2 billion*
- Warner Music Group in its sale to Access Industries for approximately US$3.3 billion (named M&A Deal of the Year by The Deal Magazine)
- Emdeon in its sale to Blackstone for approximately US$3 billion*
- Interstate Hotels & Resorts in its sale to Thayer Capital and Shanghai Jin Jiang (named M&A Deal of the Year by Asian-MENA Counsel Magazine)*
- Agrium in its US$4.9 billion unsolicited cash / stock tender offer for CF Industries*
- Teck Resources in its US$17 billion unsolicited cash / stock tender offer for Inco*
- SpectraSite in its US$11.3 billion merger with American Tower*
Private Equity Transactions
- Apollo in a number of transactions, including:
- Its US$3.6 billion pending acquisition of Barnes Group Inc.
- The US$1.4 billion offer by Concord Chorus Limited for Hipgnosis Song Fund Limited
- KKR in a number of transactions, including:
- Its US$1.85 billion sale of Chord Music to Universal Music Group and Dundee Partners
- Its US$1.2 billion acquisition of Kobalt
- Its joint venture with BMG to acquire music rights
- Its acquisitions of the music catalogs of ZZ Top, Diplo/Major Lazer, John Legend, Twenty One Pilots, John McVie, and Five Finger Death Punch
- Its acquisition of a majority stake in OneRepublic and Ryan Tedder’s music catalog
- Silver Lake in a number of transactions, including:
- Its lead participation, along with DigitalBridge, in a US$9.2 billion equity investment round by Vantage Data Centers
- Its US$500 million investment in Shadowbox Studios
- The US$1 billion equity funding round by Thrasio
- Its US$1 billion investment in Reliance Retail Ventures
- The US$650 million equity funding round by Klarna
- Its investment in BJYU’s
- Its US$1.35 billion investment in Jio Platforms
- Its acquisition of TEG, Asia Pacific’s leading live entertainment and ticketing company
- Its US$500 million investment in City Football Group
- TPG in a number of transactions, including:
- Its establishment of a new talent management and representation company and simultaneous investment in Untitled Entertainment
- Its significant strategic growth investment in K2 Medical Research
- Its acquisition, together with Oaktree Management, of Taylor Morrison / Monarch Homes for approximately US$1.2 billion
Private Company Transactions
- Ancestry.com in its US$4.7 billion sale to Blackstone
- Authentic Brands Group in a number of transactions, including its acquisitions of Champion, Reebok, Quiksilver, and Billabong
- Endeavor in a number of transactions, including:
- Its acquisitions of UFC, IMG, OpenBet, NeuLion, Barrett Jackson, and Asylum Group
- Its dispositions of IMG Academy, Endeavor Content, Diamond Baseball Holdings, Miss Universe, and Droga
- Skydance Media, in connection with its US$400 million financing round led by KKR as well as its joint venture with the NFL to create a multi-sports production studio
- Headspace in its merger with Ginger
- Citigroup in its sale of CitiCapital to GE for approximately US$13.4 billion*
- Sony in the formation of its joint venture with Bertelsmann for Sony-BMG Music and in its acquisition of Bertelsmann’s interest in Sony-BMG Music for approximately US$1.2 billion*
- VICE Media in its joint venture with A&E Networks to launch a new 24-hour cable channel*
Capital Markets Transactions
- Endeavor Group Holdings in connection with its initial public offering
- Virgin Group in connection with the initial public offering of Virgin America*
- Taylor Morrison Home Corporation in its initial public offering*
- Hudson’s Bay Company in its initial public offering in Canada*
SPAC Transactions
- Starry in its US$1.6 billion merger with FirstMark Horizon Acquisition Corp
- Transfix in its US$1.1 billion merger with G Squared Ascend I
- Virgin Orbit in its US$3.2 billion merger with NextGen Acquisition Corp. II
- Aspiration in its US$2.3 billion merger with InterPrivate III Financial Partners
- Vacasa in its US$4.5 billion merger with TPG Pace Solutions
- Embark Trucks in its US$4.55 billion merger with Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II
- Bird Rides in its US$2.3 billion merger with Switchback II Corporation
- Boxed in its US$900 million merger with Seven Oaks Acquisition Corp.
- Vivid Seats in its US$1.95 billion merger with Horizon Acquisition Corporation
- Offerpad in its US$3 billion merger with Supernova Partners Acquisition Company
- The Beachbody Company in its US$2.9 billion merger with Forest Road Acquisition Corp. and Myx Fitness
- Taboola in its US$2.6 billion merger with Ion Acquisition Corp.
- Talkspace in its US$1.4 billion merger with Hudson Executive Investment Corp.
- Ouster in its US$1.9 billion merger with Colonnade Acquisition Corp.
- Opendoor in its US$4.8 billion merger with Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings II
- GCM Grosvenor in its US$2 billion merger with CF Finance Acquisition Corp.
- Virgin Galactic in its US$1.5 billion merger with Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings
Workouts and Restructurings
- Starry Group Holdings, Inc., in connection with its chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings
- Virgin Orbit Holdings, Inc., in connection with its voluntary chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in order to effectuate a sale of the business
- GM Bondholders Committee in the chapter 11 § 363 sale of GM for US$105 billion, and the preceding US$27 billion bond exchange offer*
- Penson Worldwide, a securities and clearing firm, in its proposed debt restructuring*
- GMAC Bondholders Committee in the US$28.5 billion bond exchange offer by GMAC*
*Matter handled prior to joining Latham
Speaking Engagements
Justin's speaking engagements include:
- “A Closer Look at SPACs – Pros & Considerations,” NVCA Webcast
- “Finding the Right SPAC,” TechGC SPACS & Direct Listings Forum
- “Panel on SPACs,” Harvard Law Entrepreneurship Project’s Annual Symposium
- “Panel on M&A Advice,” DealFlow’s SPAC Conference
- “Defending Against an Activist Campaign,” Active-Passive Investor Summit
- “Distressed Opportunities in Private Equity,” Yale Private Equity Conference
- “Current Environment for Private Equity Investing,” Practicing Law Institute
Thought Leadership
Justin's recent publications include:
- “Revlon: The Next Iteration,” The Daily Deal
- “Differential Treatment of Stockholders in Third Party Transactions: Effects and Implications Under Delaware Law,” The M&A Lawyer
- “M&A Due Diligence and the Perils of Social Media,” The Daily Deal
- “Quasi-Appraisal: The Unexplored Frontier of Stockholder Litigation?,” The M&A Journal