MARK H. KIM, 39
FIRM: Munger Tolles & Olson LLP
LAW SCHOOL: Yale Law School
SELECTED CLIENTS: Air Lease Corp., Berkshire Hathaway, Encompass Digital Media, Oaktree Capital Management, Phil Ruffin
YEARS IN PRACTICE: 12
Biggest Deal: $50 billion merger of Monsanto Co. and Pharmacia & Upjohn.
Most Difficult Deal: Initial $2.8 billion capital raise and subsequent $923 million initial public offering for Air Lease Corp., started from scratch.
Best Career Moment: Negotiating the $775 million acquisition of the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in less than a week.
Worst: Getting through the second night of a double-all-nighter in Newmont Mining Corp.’s $4.4 billion acquisition of Franco-Nevada Mining Corp. and Normandy Mining to create the world’s largest gold producer.
Highlight of Past Year: Seeing Air Lease Corp. take off as a new company.
The Secret to Closing a Deal: Being practical, exercising patience, thinking creatively and finding common ground.
If I Weren’t an Attorney: I’d be playing a lot more golf.
My Colleagues Don’t Know: I’m a History Channel junkie.