Law360 Names Nancy Lieberman '79 an M&A MVP

From Law360:

Leading a multifaceted effort to help Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. extricate itself from litigation and complete a $7 billion sale to Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. highlighted a banner year for veteran Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP partner Nancy Lieberman, earning her a spot on Law360's list of M&A MVPs.

Lieberman, 55, has spent three decades at Skadden and became the youngest partner in the firm's history in 1987, earning the coveted distinction at age 30. After breaking her neck in a ski accident in 2007 that left her quadriplegic, Lieberman recovered limited use of her body through years of therapy and has returned to her role as one of Skadden's pre-eminent dealmakers.

"It's a good thing for the world to know that just because someone can't walk or hold a pencil very well doesn't mean that their intellect isn't there," Lieberman said. "We should focus on people's abilities, not their disabilities."

Lieberman's considerable mental abilities were vital to helping Amylin move past crippling litigation with joint venture partner Eli Lilly & Co. The veteran partner worked with Amylin and Skadden's litigation partners to reach an agreement with Eli Lilly that ended a bitter fight over the pharmaceutical companies' venture to develop and market Byetta and Bydureon, two diabetes drugs.

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