Anne E. Villanueva 

In the world of technology deals, few are as skilled in labor and employment aspects as Anne Villanueva, a partner at Skadden.

She holds an impressive track record of successfully navigating the labor and employment intricacies of high-profile transactions. What sets her apart is her ability to handle complex deals that involve companies with a global footprint, where employees are spread across different continents.

One of her notable clients was when she advised Elon Musk in his bid to own Twitter.

“I helped negotiate the labor and employment provisions of the transaction agreement. Then there was a period of time when it was unclear whether the transaction was going to close. We had to operate on a time-sensitive basis, and the various employment matters that arose in connection with the closing and during the following months were exciting and challenging.”

Villanueva knew everything she had worked on could be a media headline. It was a high-wire act under a global spotlight, with every decision potentially having a material impact on thousands of lives, and the next day, her team’s work would no doubt be scrutinized by the world.

Villanueva recalled, “I knew that every decision I would make could have a material impact on thousands of employees throughout the country. I had to operate at lightning speed and make informed judgment calls based on my knowledge of the law while also ensuring that the advice I was giving was practical under those circumstances. Any mistake could have significant consequences.”

She said it was an exciting time to test her limits to move at such a fast pace on a matter that would reign global attention.

“It was one of the highlights of my career, along with the Activision deal,” she said. “I’ve been an attorney for Activision Blizzard for some time now, and working on their acquisition by Microsoft for $75 Billion, which is the largest technology deal in the industry ever, has also been a highlight of my career.”

As a graduate of Harvard Law School, Villanueva brings an exceptional level of expertise to her practice. She is frequently sought after to share her insights and knowledge on various labor and employment topics.

— Douglas Saunders