Lowenstein Sandler is proud to announce that Marita A. Makinen, partner, Chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice, and co-Chair of the firm’s Transactions & Advisory Group; and Kathleen A. McGee, partner in the firm’s White Collar Defense practice and Emerging Companies & Venture Capital (fka, The Tech Group), have been named to Crain’s fifth annual list of Notable Women in Law.
Crain’s yearly list celebrates an exceptional pool of talented female lawyers who have impacted New York City in major ways through professional, civic, and philanthropic achievements. Nominees are assessed for their outstanding achievements during the year, activity with nonprofit or community groups or on behalf of underrepresented individuals or communities, and demonstrated leadership ability.
Makinen performs complex transactional work for some of the world's best-known brands. She counsels public and growth-stage technology and consumer products clients on a broad spectrum of issues, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions as well as minority and control investments. Her deals–whether buy side or sell side–frequently involve highly complex capital structures, intricate management incentives, talent retention issues, and protection of intellectual property. Makinen was also recently recognized by The Deal: Women in Dealmaking (2021) as a “woman who made an impact on the dealmaking community, advised on the most important transactions of the year, and took a leadership role in promoting change.”
Makinen has recently represented (to name a few): The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) in its increase of ownership of DECIEM Beauty Group Inc. (total enterprise value of approximately $2.2 billion); PVH Corp., one of the world’s largest apparel companies, in the sale of its Speedo North America business for $170 million; and Compassionate Care Hospice, a community-based organization providing hospice care nationwide, in its $340 million sale to Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED), making Amedisys the third-largest hospice provider in the United States.
McGee, with over two decades of experience as a prosecutor and leading regulator, including as Bureau Chief of the New York Attorney General’s Bureau of Internet and Technology, possesses unique public sector experience that gives her an edge in counseling emerging and mature companies on a broad spectrum of regulatory issues concerning technology, data security, and privacy.
In 2021, with the advent of the CARES Act, McGee focused on helping loan applicants navigate the challenging process of securing state and federal aid through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as businesses of all sizes contended with the pandemic and consequent economic crisis. She published numerous articles with guidance on PPP and also presented on this subject to audiences such as the National Media Credit Professionals, establishing herself as a go-to resource for loan applicants navigating the process, as well as for individuals and companies facing allegations of fraud arising from government loan programs.
This year she also received an award from Her Justice, a nonprofit focused on helping low-income women in New York City, at the organization’s 2021 Commitment to Justice Awards for outstanding pro bono work.
These Crain’s accolades are a reflection of both women’s remarkable achievements and Lowenstein’s commitment to providing opportunities and advancement for women. Through its focused employee resource groups, equitable benefits, and dedicated mentorship and sponsorship, the firm demonstrates its sustained investment in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all employees can build and pursue productive careers.
Lowenstein’s diversity, equity, and inclusion achievements have been recognized by a perfect (100 percent) score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index for five years in a row; Bloomberg Law’s inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Framework, which recognizes law firms for their level of disclosure of diversity-related metrics and distinguished performance; and in Vault’s 2022 law firm rankings as a Best Law Firm for Diversity and one of the Best Law Firms to Work For. It is consistently included on such lists as Crain's Best Places to Work in New York City (four years in a row), NJBIZ’s Best Places to Work in New Jersey (for ten consecutive years), and WomenInc. magazine’s Top 100 Law Firms for Women.
About Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Lowenstein Sandler is a national law firm with more than 350 lawyers based in New York, Palo Alto, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington, D.C. The firm represents leaders in virtually every sector of the global economy, with particular emphasis on investment funds, life sciences, and technology. Recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit and high standard of client service, the firm is committed to the interests of its clients, colleagues, and communities.
Contact(s):
Penny Paul
Manager, Marketing Communications
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
T: +1 973.597.2592
E: ppaul@lowenstein.com
