Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP announced today that James J. Moriarty and Ernest S. Wechsler have been named co-chairs of the firm’s Corporate department. They assume the role most recently fulfilled by Howard T. Spilko, who on January 1 became co-managing partner of the firm, along with Paul H. Schoeman. Jamie Kocis and Todd E. Lenson will serve as the department’s deputy chairs.

Kramer Levin has extensive experience providing strategic counsel on a broad range of complex corporate and securities transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and financings. Mr. Moriarty, Mr. Wechsler, Ms. Kocis and Mr. Lenson are representative of the diversity of the firm’s practices.

“Kramer Levin’s Corporate department has flourished under Howard’s leadership,” said Mr. Schoeman. “The changes we are announcing today reflect the strength and depth of the department and the firm’s commitment to providing the highest-quality service and advice to our clients.”

“I am pleased to have Jim and Ernie take over as co-chairs of our Corporate group, and I have no doubt that through their leadership they will build effectively on the department’s depth, capabilities and success,” said Mr. Spilko. “It has been a pleasure to work closely with Jim, Ernie, Jamie and Todd for years, and I have the utmost confidence in them.”

Mr. Moriarty represents middle-market private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as strategic buyers, in a wide variety of transactions, including acquisitions and sales, leveraged buyouts, growth equity financings, recapitalizations, joint ventures, and management equity arrangements, across a wide variety of industries.

Mr. Wechsler counsels strategic businesses and private equity funds in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, minority investments, and corporate restructurings, as well as in general corporate matters. Ernie advises companies in a range of industries, including financial, technology and manufacturing.

Ms. Kocis advises securitization participants in both warehouse securitization facilities and term securitizations across all esoteric asset classes. She serves as deal counsel in market-leading transactions involving new and emerging asset classes, including in the solar asset and commercial PACE (property assessed clean energy) space. Ms. Kocis is also co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Committee.

Mr. Lenson represents public companies, private equity funds and their portfolio companies, hedge funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and family offices and other family-owned businesses in all types of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and securities offerings.