Simone Hicks
Partner – Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Description of field of expertise
Ms. Hicks’ practice focuses on developing creative solutions to the complex challenges regarding employment agreements, benefits, severance and other employee issues that arise during mergers, spinoffs and carve outs.
Most recently, Simone co-led Debevoise’s benefits team in its representation of Spirit Airlines in its acquisition of JetBlue for $3.8 billion.
Simone’s other recent work includes serving as a key member of the benefits team in Debevoise’s representation of Discovery in its acquisition of WarnerMedia from AT&T, where she negotiated changes to compensation, benefits and severance packages of executives who did not know their company was about to be acquired. The deal, which was signed in only 14 days to stay ahead of press leaks, was the largest U.S. M&A deal of 2021 and completely upended the media industry. As the deal moves toward closing, Simone is in near-daily communication with both sides—including negotiating employment agreements for the post-closing executive team.
Simone also served as co-lead of Debevoise’s benefits team as advisor to Sun Life in its $2.74 billion acquisition of DentaQuest in which she negotiated the sensitive question of how to structure the deferred compensation.
As a senior associate, Simone was tapped to take the lead of the benefits elements of a client’s three pronged deal when the Debevoise benefits partner advising longtime client Domtar retired —just in time for her to handle the challenge of helping Domtar, a Canada-based leading supplier of fiber-based products, undertake its first major spinoff in more than a decade at the same time that it was downsizing and reorganizing its corporate divisions. Simone handled the severance of those leaving the organization while negotiating new agreements with remaining executives who were being promoted as part of the leaner management team, and then advised on the spinoff of Domtar’s personal care division.
Final thoughts…
Simone has played an integral role in DEI efforts at Debevoise since arriving at the firm as a summer associate more than a decade ago. As an associate, she served for several years on the steering committee of the firm’s Black Lawyers Affinity Group; as a partner, she is a role model for younger women attorneys and attorneys of color.
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