Kling named Mergers & Acquisitions MVP for 2025 by Law360

Jacob Kling, a partner in Wachtell Lipton’s Corporate Department, has been named a Law360 MVP for 2025 in the Mergers & Acquisitions category.

Jake advises on complex corporate transactions—including mergers, acquisitions, carveouts, and governance matters—with a focus on guiding clients through transformative deals in dynamic market conditions.

This year, he played a pivotal role in several high-profile transactions across a range of industries, including representing:

• Norfolk Southern in its $85 billion merger with Union Pacific to create a $250 billion combined enterprise and America’s first transcontinental railroad
• Global Payments in its $24.25 billion acquisition of Worldpay and simultaneous $13.5 billion carveout sale to FIS
• Palo Alto Networks in its $25 billion acquisition of CyberArk Software
• Pfizer in its up to $10 billion acquisition of Metsera
• Janus Henderson in its $7.4 billion acquisition by Trian and General Catalyst
• The PGA Tour in its $3 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group, creating PGA Tour Enterprises

In his Law360 interview, Jake highlighted his most significant accomplishments of the year, reflected on what drives him—his commitment to achieving the best outcomes for clients and his dedication to continuous learning—and offered guidance to junior attorneys, encouraging them to take a holistic view of matters, proactively learn from colleagues, and balance professional excellence with personal connections.