Francis J. Aquila

Francis J. Aquila is Sullivan & Cromwell’s Senior M&A Partner and a leading corporate lawyer. His practice covers mergers and acquisitions, ESG, shareholder activism, proxy contests, unsolicited bids, ransomware attacks, short squeezes, crisis management, board advice, and matters that affect corporate policy and strategy for major global companies and boards.

Francis earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 1983 and his A.B. from Columbia University in 1979. He is admitted to the New York Bar. His legal training and corporate practice support his work with boards of directors, senior leaders, and companies on high-value transactions and strategic business issues.

Francis has earned recognition for deal work and governance insight. Honors include Chambers Global Band 1, American Lawyer Dealmaker of the Year awards, the Atlas Award as Global M&A Lawyer of the Year, Law360 MVP honors, NACD Directorship 100 recognition, and Best Lawyers’ 2017 Corporate Governance Lawyer of the Year.

Francis has advised on transactions totaling more than $1.5 trillion. His clients have included Amgen, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Baxter International, Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Bosch, Canadian Pacific, Cheniere Energy, Diageo, GameStop, Haleon, Kering, Kraft, Navistar International, Novartis, Tiffany & Co., United Rentals, and other companies facing major global business changes and strategic demands.

Francis is an author and commentator on trends related to corporate transactions and boardroom issues. He has appeared on Bloomberg Radio, Bloomberg TV, CNBC, and Fox Business, wrote for Business Week, contributes the Practical Law “In the Boardroom” column, and regularly chairs PLI’s “Hot Topic” Briefings for professional legal audiences.

Francis J. Aquila has served Sullivan & Cromwell in senior roles, including on the Management Committee, as Global Head of M&A, and as Co-Managing Partner of the General Practice Group. He holds professional leadership roles with CPR, Brooklyn Law School, Dress for Success Worldwide, and the National Theatre in America.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
• Member, New York State Bar Association

Licensed State

• New York

Education

• Brooklyn Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Columbia University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges