Laura Wilkinson

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Practice Area

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

Professional Experience

: Current; Florida Rock Industries, Inc. Acquisition by Vulcan Materials Company Secured antitrust clearance from the DOJ for the $4.2 billion acquisition of Florida Rock Industries, Inc. by Vulcan Materials Company. Florida Rock, a leading producer of construction aggregates, cement, concrete and concrete products, operated in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Vulcan Materials Co. is the nation’s foremost producer of construction aggregates and a major producer of other construction materials. We were able to successfully negotiate settlement that required divestiture of a limited number of aggregates quarries.

: Current; Kinder Morgan Management Group Management Buyout of Kinder Morgan Inc. Advised Kinder Morgan's CEO and senior management in the $22 billion buyout of Kinder Morgan Inc. by our clients and several investment funds, including funds managed by Goldman Sachs, AIG, The Carlyle Group, and Riverstone Holdings. The transaction presented cutting edge antitrust issues because a joint venture between Carlyle and Riverstone had preexisting minority investments in energy companies that may compete with Kinder Morgan. We reached a unique governance-related solution that allowed the transaction to be consummated without any divestitures.

: Current; The Sherwin-Williams Company The Sherwin-Williams Company Acquisition of Duron, Paint Sundry Brands and M.A. Bruder & Sons Obtained FTC clearance for Sherwin-Williams, a leading paint manufacturer, regarding two acquisitions of competitors, together valued at $625 million. Sherwin-Williams, acquired Duron, a significant regional paint manufacturer, after a “quick look” response to a Second Request. Legal advocacy and economic data secured antitrust clearance. Sherwin-Williams also acquired Paint Sundry Brands, the manufacturer of Purdy paint brushes, the premier brand among painting contractors. Also gained FTC approval for the company's acquisition of M.A. Bruder & Sons, a leading manufacturer and distributor of paints and coatings in the eastern and southeastern regions of the United States.

: Current; Vivendi Universal, S.A. Vivendi Universal's $14 billion joint venture with NBC Represented Vivendi Universal in its $14 billion joint venture with NBC, a subsidiary of General Electric. NBC Universal combines the companies’ industry leading entertainment assets, including Universal’s film and television studios, cable networks and theme parks and NBC’s broadcast and cable networks.

: Current; Shell Oil Company Shell Oil Company's acquisition of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company Represented Shell Oil Company in its $1.8 billion acquisition of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company. Antitrust clearance was obtained by negotiating a settlement with the FTC on terms favorable to Shell.

: Current; Footstar Foot Locker's acquisition of Footaction Obtained FTC clearance regarding Foot Locker’s acquisition of Footaction. Foot Locker and Footaction were the number one and two athletic footwear chains. Our client, Footstar, Footaction’s parent, sold the division as part of a bankruptcy reorganization. Clearance was obtained without a Second Request despite the compressed timeframe for filings involving bankruptcy assets.

: Current; NYMEX Holdings Inc. Unconditional antitrust clearance obtained for merger with CME Group Obtained unconditional antitrust clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice for NYMEX in connection with its multi-billion merger with CME Group. DOJ gave it's consent after a detailed and thorough review of the transaction. Clearance was secured on June 16, 2008 and the companies expect to close in the last quarter of 2008.

Education