Laura M. Barzilai

Recent matters include:

• Magna International Inc. in its $1.525 billion acquisition of the Veoneer Active Safety business from SSW Partners.
• EQT Private Equity and Verdane in the sale of Forsta, an industry-leading global provider of customer experience and market research technology, to Press Ganey, a leader in patient, member, employee, and consumer experience across the healthcare ecosystem
• Prudential Financial, Inc. in the sale of a US$31 billion portion of its in-force legacy variable annuity block for US$2.2 billion to Fortitude Re, Bermuda’s largest multi-line reinsurer.
• GIC in connection with its agreement to acquire an indirect 19.9% equity interest in Duke Energy Indiana, for a total purchase price of US$2.05 billion
• Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. in its pending acquisition by ATN International, Inc. and Freedom 3 Capital in a transaction valued at approximately US$332 million
• EQT Partners Inc. in the merger of its portfolio company, FocusVision, with Confirmit, a portfolio company of Verdane
• GIC in connection with a US$1.0 billion investment in Convex Group Limited led by GIC and Onex Partners
• MetLife in its acquisition of Versant Health from an investor group led by Centerbridge Partners for approximately US$1.7 billion
• GIC in the acquisition by affiliates of Blackstone Infrastructure Partners, Enagas, GIC, NPS and USS, of all of the publicly held outstanding Class A Shares of Tallgrass Energy LP
• Anixter International, a global distributor of network, security, electronic and utility power solutions, in its agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for approximately US$3.8 billion, and in the successful sale of Anixter to WESCO International pursuant to a superior proposal valued at approximately US$4.5 billion
• GIC in connection with its acquisition, together with Brookfield Infrastructure, of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W)
• Ambac Assurance Corporation in connection with the conclusion of the rehabilitation of its segregated account and associated restructuring transactions
• Validus/AlphaCat Managers in connection with its insurance-linked securities funds and reinsurance sidecar transactions
• OMERS Private Equity in its sale of MatrixCare Holdings Inc. to ResMed Operations Inc.
• PSP Investments in connection with its investment in United Talent Agency
• GIC Pte. Ltd. in connection with the US$11.3 billion acquisition of ITC Holdings Corp. 
• Tenex Capital Management in its investment in Team Select Home Care, a leading provider of post-acute healthcare services in a home-based setting

Laura also represents clients in federal and state tax controversies, including at all stages of the administrative process. Disputes which she has successfully resolved include:

• Equity characterization of notes discharged in federal bankruptcy proceeding
• Application of the net unrealized built-in loss rules of Section 382 
• Deductibility of educational expenses under Section 162
• New York nonresident status of individual

In addition, Laura represented Coltec Industries Inc. in filing with the U.S. Supreme Court a petition for a writ of certiorari regarding the economic substance doctrine.

Laura serves on Sidley’s Executive Committee. She is also a member and the previous New York chair of the firm’s Committee on Retention and Promotion of Women. In addition, Laura is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association (Tax Section) and Tax Review of New York City. Laura also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Federation for Aging Research, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to support and advance healthy aging through biomedical research. She is also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.