Following Highlander Partners' Acquisition of Tapatio earlier this year, The Los Angeles Business Journal named the Katten team as part of the "Food/Beverage Breakthrough Deal of the Year" at the second annual M&A Awards.

This private, invitation-only cocktail reception honored the dealmakers, advisors and corporate teams behind the most significant mergers, acquisitions and strategic transactions in Los Angeles. From transformative local deals to complex cross-border transactions, the winning groups represented the deals and dealmakers driving growth and business transformation.

Private Equity and Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Partners Mark Solomon and Peter Bogdanow led the Katten team, which included Private Equity and M&A Partners Ethan Post and Bill Rivers, and Associates Miriam Wang, Lillianna Johanknecht, Astoneia Moss; Regulatory Associate Caitlin Kierum; Corporate Employment Partner Michelle Gyves and Counsel Emery Lyon; Transactional Tax Planning Partner Todd Hatcher and Associates Jeffrey Ng and Dan Collins; Intellectual Property Partner Sean Wooden; Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Partner Meredith Sheldon O’Leary; Corporate Environmental Partner Nancy Rich and Private Credit Partner Alexander Volsky.

"M&A Awards," The Los Angeles Business Journal, September 10, 2026