Business Journal makes its case for L.A.’s top lawyers who shepherd the biggest M&A deals.
LINDA L. CURTIS, 50
FIRM: Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP
LAW SCHOOL: Stanford University
SELECTED CLIENTS: CityCenter Holdings LLC, General Electric Capital Corp., Jack in the Box Inc., Stater Bros. Holdings Inc.
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 22
Biggest Deal: Del Monte Foods Co.’s $5.3 billion leveraged buyout by KKR and other investors this spring.
Most Difficult Deal: My most difficult deal was a closing in December 2002 when I worked for three days straight with virtually no sleep.
Best Career Moment: Moving to Gibson Dunn’s L.A. office 18 years ago.
Worst: Snoring through a cab ride to the Kennedy airport from midtown in front of three colleagues after the three-day closing mentioned above.
Highlight of Past Year: Representing the senior lender with respect to the California Pizza Kitchen leveraged buyout.
The Secret to Closing a Deal: Learning to rise above the small stuff.
If I Weren’t an Attorney: I would be a gamer or a pro tennis player.
My Colleagues Don’t Know: I played the trombone in high school – badly.