Font Size: 
Weil, Dewey, Jenner and Honigman Heading GM Legal Team
The American Lawyer
May 26, 2009
While many people spent Memorial Day weekend chowing down on hamburgers and hot dogs, lawyers from four Am Law 200 firms were likely holed up in their offices, preparing General Motors for bankruptcy.
As previously reported, GM retained Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Dewey & LeBeouf to handle its negotiations with lenders, union members and the U.S. government.
Now sources tell The Am Law Daily that GM is also being advised by corporate/M&A partners Joseph Gromacki and Michael Wolf from Jenner & Block in Chicago and bankruptcy and reorganization chair Robert Weiss from Detroit's Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn.
Gromacki chairs Jenner's corporate practice and serves as co-chair of the firm's securities practice. GM has been a long-time client. In recent years, Gromacki has advised the company on more than $13 billion in deals and other high-profile engagements. (The American Lawyer named Gromacki one of its Dealmakers of the Year in 2007 for his work advising Sam Zell on the $8.2 billion privatization of the Tribune Company.)
Weiss is Honigman's "liaison partner" with GM, leading a team that represents the auto giant and its North American affiliates, according to his bio on the firm's Web site. Weiss' bio also says he advises GM on an "exclusive basis" in relation to the many financially troubled vendors that supply the company with auto parts.
From New York, Weil business finance and restructuring partner Stephen Karotkin is heading the firm's team advising GM, a longtime client, on what could be the biggest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history.
Dewey & LeBoeuf business solutions and governance practice leader Martin Bienenstock is advising GM on aspects of the automaker's proposed Section 363 sale in the bankruptcy court. Bienenstock is being assisted by M&A partner Gary Apfel in Los Angeles and bankruptcy and restructuring partner David Cleary in Chicago.
GM's financing arm, GMAC Financial Services, is being advised by Schulte Roth & Zabel.
As with Chrysler's Chapter 11 proceedings, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft financial restructuring co-chair John Rapisardi is lead counsel for the U.S. Treasury Department. Rapisardi's being assisted by R. Ronald Hopkinson, the head of Cadwalader's private equity group.
At the time of this post, GM confirmed it had reached a tentative labor agreement with the United Auto Workers.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton advised the UAW during the negotiations, just as it helped the union reach a similar agreement with Chrysler last month.
This article first appeared on The Am Law Daily blog on AmericanLawyer.com.
