Foley Gardere announced Larry Waks has joined the firm as a partner in its Business Law Department and Transactions Practice Group. Waks will split his time between the firm’s Dallas, Austin and New York City offices.

Waks is a corporate transactional and intellectual property lawyer and a trusted advisor to a wide range of domestic and international clients, including many in the food and beverage, energy, manufacturing, private equity, technology, and media and entertainment industries. He also represents publishing and distribution entities, computer game, software and hardware companies, and oil and gas interests. His practice experience is broad-based, with particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, consumer products, fashion, entertainment and intellectual property.

Waks’ transactional experience includes leading a six-attorney team that represented actor George Clooney, along with Clooney’s business partners Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, in the $1 billion sale of the premium Casamigos tequila brand to global spirits giant Diageo Plc. He also handled the $1.7 billion sale of an international chemical company, the $1 billion going-private sale of a medical products company to Blackstone, and the $400 million sale of a high-tech defense company to Carlyle Group. In addition, Waks has led the acquisition and sale of more than $2 billion in businesses in the energy industry and has represented clients in a variety of lawsuits involving intellectual property issues, as well as libel and privacy matters.

“Larry’s extensive knowledge and experience managing a broad range of transactional and intellectual property issues for cutting edge and new economy clients will be a tremendous asset to clients who are increasingly becoming involved in sophisticated deals and projects across the country and abroad,” said Gabor Garai, co-chair of Foley’s Transactions Practice Group. “We are extremely pleased to welcome Larry to our team and look forward to his contributions.”

Waks comes to Foley from Wilson Elser, where he was head of the M&A practice. Before that, he was a partner at Jackson Walker, and previously, at Milgrim, Thomajan & Lee. He also once served as assistant general counsel of Tesoro Petroleum Corp.

Waks is a fellow of the American Bar Association Foundation, the Austin Bar Foundation, and the Texas Bar Foundation. He is also a member of the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Section’s Governing Committee and past chairman chair of its Copyright and Texas Entertainment & Sports Sections, and he is a former chair of the American Bar Association’s Entertainment & Sports Practice Forum’s Litigation Division. In addition, Waks is a voting member of the Grammy’s and Latin Grammy’s.

“Larry is a great addition to our already stellar transactional group here in Dallas,” said Michael Newman, managing partner of Foley Gardere’s Dallas office. “He brings with him a very interesting and exciting client base that will undoubtedly benefit from the breadth and depth of the Foley platform. It feels like a perfect fit for Larry and the firm as a whole.”

About Foley & Lardner LLP

Foley & Lardner LLP looks beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving demands facing our clients and their industries. With over 1,100 lawyers in 24 offices across the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia, Foley approaches client service by first understanding our clients’ priorities, objectives and challenges. We work hard to understand our clients’ issues and forge long-term relationships with them to help achieve successful outcomes and solve their legal issues through practical business advice and cutting-edge legal insight. Our clients view us as trusted business advisors because we understand that great legal service is only valuable if it is relevant, practical and beneficial to their businesses.

On April 1, 2018, Foley combined with Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP. The combined firm operates as Foley Gardere in Austin, Dallas and Houston. In Mexico City, the firm operates as Foley Gardere Arena. All other offices operate as Foley & Lardner LLP.