JOHN A. LACO, 46

FIRM: O’Melveny & Myers LLP

LAW SCHOOL: Loyola Law School

SELECTED CLIENTS: Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board, Mitsubishi Corp., Guess Inc., MacSteel Global B.V., Global Communication Semiconductors

YEARS IN PRACTICE: 19

Biggest Deal: $1.6 billion IPO for Santa Fe International Corp. At the time, it was one of the biggest IPOs in history.

Most Difficult Deal: Many years ago I worked on a prepackaged bankruptcy asset sale. Bankrupt companies are inherently more difficult to work with than healthy companies. Ultimately, the transaction did close, but with some very excruciating moments along the way.

Highlight of Past Year: Closing the $600 million sale of the U.S. operations of MacSteel Global B.V. We were brought into the transaction midstream with a mandate to close it within 30 days, with an untouched 10,000-document data room and all of the transaction agreements still to be negotiated.

The Secrets to Closing a Deal: Really understanding the business forces underlying the transaction: Why is each party at this place? And most important: having an open line of communication with opposing counsel that is based on mutual trust.

If I Weren’t an Attorney: I would travel the globe, competing with (or working for) Rick Steves.

My Colleagues Don’t Know: Every morning I give my high-energy Labrador retriever either a five-mile walk or a two-mile bike ride, just to bring her enthusiasm down to a normal range for the day. Also helps clear out my arteries!