Manatt, Phelps & Phillips announced that H.H. Sean Wee has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Corporate Practice. Wee comes to Manatt from Dewey & LeBoeuf in New York.

Wee has extensive experience representing investment banking clients in connection with public mergers, friendly and hostile tender offers, and private acquisitions across a broad range of industries. Wee has focused on advising clients regarding the delivery of investment banker opinions and related matters, including the preparation of proxy statements and registration statements for public M&A transactions and the negotiation of financial advisor engagement letters and dealer-manager agreements.

“Sean is a valuable and unique addition to our Corporate Practice, and we are delighted that he has joined us,” said Gordon M. Bava, chair of the firm’s Business, Finance & Tax Division. “The law related to financial advisors to public companies in M&A transactions is evolving as litigants challenge the methodology, disclosure and independence related to fairness opinions. His extensive experience representing investment bankers in their role as financial advisors in M&A transactions makes him a perfect fit for our firm and our investment banking clients.”

At Dewey & LeBoeuf and its predecessor, Dewey Ballantine, Wee was an integral member of the M&A financial advisory team – ranked No. 1 for more than a decade by The Deal’s Corporate Control Alert – representing both bulge-bracket and boutique investment banks. He also represented lead investment banks and issuers in financings, including IPOs and 144A offerings.

William T. Quicksilver, Manatt’s managing partner and chief executive officer, said, “Sean’s addition in New York enhances the talented team of professionals in our nationally recognized Corporate Practice and highlights the firm’s commitment to furthering our strategic expansion in our core markets. We are pleased to welcome Sean to Manatt.”

Wee graduated from Emory University and received his J.D. from Temple University School of Law.