Choate, Hall & Stewart was named a finalist of the 14th Annual M&A Advisor Awards in three categories, including M&A Deal of the Year ($500 million – $1 billion) and two Sector Deal of the Year categories. The annual M&A Advisor Awards “celebrate the creativity, perseverance and ingenuity of the industry’s professionals,” and winners will be announced at a gala event on November 17, 2015 in New York City.

Choate was named a finalist for its representation of Windjammer Capital Investors in their sale of portfolio company Protective Industries. (Caplugs) to Berwind Corporation in April 2015. The deal, which was Windjammer’s largest transaction ever, represented the capstone on Windjammer’s initial acquisition of Caplugs in May 2011.

Choate not only led the May 2011 acquisition, but also handled four separate add-on acquisitions for Windjammer and Caplugs between 2011 and 2015 before working with the companies to craft and direct a sale process that delivered significant value to Windjammer, its limited partners, and Caplugs’ management team. During Windjammer’s ownership, Caplugs’ revenues and EBITDA more than doubled as a result of both organic and M&A initiatives.

Choate’s nearly 20-lawyer deal team was led by partner Christian Atwood and included partners Louis Marett (tax), Arthur Meyers (benefits) and Bob Buchanan (antitrust).

Last year, Choate won The M&A Advisor’s “Restructuring Deal of the Year” ($50 million – $100 million) for representing Salus Capital Partners in the restructuring and sale of National Envelope. The firm also won the “Financial Services Deal of the Year” (over $200 million) for representing Century Capital Partners in the sale of its portfolio company Digital Risk to MphasiS.