Before coming to SKDKnickerbocker, I knew next to nothing about mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Though I had studied industrial organization in my economics classes at Princeton, I hadn’t really thought of the topic as something I would like to explore further. Beyond that, as the co-president of the University’s activist environmentalist group, I spent more time researching ways to fight Fortune 500 companies rather than to help them. Working on the Hill for the second time after graduation did little to change my heretofore unchallenged attitude.
For all these reasons, I have my internship to thank for broadening my horizons. What originally attracted me to the firm was their impressive work fighting for marriage equality and helping Democrats win in races across the country, to give just two examples. Initially, I paid little attention to the fact that SKDKnickerbocker had assisted US Airways and American Airlines as well as AT&T and DIRECTV successfully navigate and execute their mergers.
As I spent more time at the firm though, I grew more interested in M&A. It helped that I had the immense pleasure of working with a group of fun, dynamic, diverse individuals on a wide variety of deals. Though a team of this caliber makes work on any transaction exciting, what made the experience even more enjoyable was the sheer size and complexity of the deals. I enjoy a challenge, and these multibillion transactions provided no shortage of intellectual stimulation.
These deals gave me firsthand insight into the importance of corporate communications. Despite my initial relative ignorance about M&A, I had some sense of the role played by bankers and lawyers in these massive, highly complex transactions. What struck me was what many seem to have missed: the integral support provided by specialized communications teams, SKDKnickerbocker in particular. In my admittedly short time in advocacy and government, I have never met a team of individuals more talented at outreach to stakeholders and the media. And of course, this outreach did not happen in some haphazard way: it involved careful strategizing to maximize the impact for clients.
This experience at SKDKnickerbocker has proven to be very beneficial for me. After volunteering at the Democratic National Committee this summer, I will go to the London School of Economics for an MSc in Comparative Politics. Though I initially intended to study health policy at LSE, I am set on learning more about M&A. Thank you, SKDKnickerbocker!