“Seth will add depth to our private equity team in New York,” said James Tandler, chair of the firm’s U.S. Corporate Group. “He also brings broad-based experience in strategic M&A acquisitions and divestitures for leading financial and asset management firms, manufacturers and service providers.”
Merl advises public and privately held companies, private equity funds and hedge funds on a wide array of transactional matters, including platform acquisitions and divestitures, portfolio and asset investments and divestures, strategic mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances. He has been involved in numerous strategic growth acquisitions for some of the world’s largest global asset managers. In addition, he functions as outside general counsel to many of his clients and their portfolio companies, providing advice on day-to-day legal operations, securities law and other corporate and equity matters.
“I’m excited to join a top-25 global platform and a highly regarded corporate practice with an entrepreneurial approach to working with clients,” Merl said. “Reed Smith provides tremendous growth potential for my practice and the opportunity to work collaboratively with a very talented group of lawyers.”
In addition to his transactional practice, Merl does significant work on the corporate side of bankruptcy and out-of-bankruptcy reorganizations, including 363 transactions. Over the past year and a half, he has also counseled on COVID-19 response and legal matters related to government assistance programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program.
“Seth’s broad scope of experience with private equity and strategic transactional matters, general corporate matters and his knowledge of issues related to COVID-19 response bolster our capabilities at a time when our clients are facing evolving and ever more complex legal issues,” said Cindy Schmitt Minniti, office managing partner in New York. “We’re thrilled that he has made the move to Reed Smith.”
Before joining Reed Smith from Kramer Levin, Merl was an associate at Dewey Ballantine LLP. He received his B.A. in history from University of Michigan and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School.