Exploring Specialized Areas in Corporate Law: M&A vs. Capital Markets

Our long awaited Bankers vs. Lawyers podcast episode! Wondering about the differences and similarities between traditionally "good" jobs like doctor, banker, and lawyer? Or maybe how to transition from a career in law to one in high finance? We are going to pull back the curtain and explore the business, lifestyle, and culture of "big law", while debunking the myths and misconceptions you may have from watching popular shows like "Suits", "Law and Order", and "The Good Wife".

Today's episode specifically covers Corporate Law and its intersection with high finance. Our incredible guests are two of NYC's most prominent attorneys: Jake Kling of Wachtell Lipton, who specializes in Mergers & Acquisitions law, and Roshni Cariello of Davis Polk, who specializes in Capital Markets law.

We get into the path to becoming an attorney, the process of applying to law school, how important "prestige" of your law school is to landing a job, compensation, hours, culture, and much much more.

Bios:
Jake Kling is a partner in Wachtell Lipton’s Corporate Department. Jake’s practice primarily focuses on mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, securities law matters, and advising companies and boards of directors on takeover defense, shareholder activism and general corporate governance matters. He has advised a broad range of public and private clients across multiple industries, including banking, financial services, healthcare and pharmaceutical, life sciences, technology, media and telecom, sports, industrial, retail, private equity and real estate.

Jake received an A.B. magna cum laude in mathematical economics from Brown University, and a J.D. from Yale Law School, where he served as Projects Editor of the Yale Law Journal.  Jake also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Dennis Jacobs, then Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

In 2024, Jake was named to the Forbes inaugural list of America’s Top 200 Lawyers across all practice areas nationwide,  one of seven M&A lawyers included on the list.  In 2023, The American Lawyer named Jake the “Young Lawyer of the Year—Corporate”, selecting him as the top corporate lawyer in the country under the age of 40.  Jake was also named a “Dealmaker of the Year” by the New York Law Journal, was one of five M&A lawyers chosen as a Law360 MVP, was one of four M&A lawyers selected for Bloomberg Law’s “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” awards, and was named one of the 500 Leading Dealmakers in America by Lawdragon. BTI Consulting Group selected Jake as a BTI Client Service All-Star for his commitment to exceptional client service. 

Roshni Banker Cariello is a partner at Davis Polk advising corporate and financial institution clients on capital markets transactions, including initial public offerings and other equity off