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Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Corporate attorney Brittney Yocum thrives in mergers and acquisitions. But her roles as strategist and tactician only partially reflect what she brings to the negotiating table. “What sets Brittney apart—the secret sauce, so to speak—is her ability to meld the technical skills needed to be a top M&A lawyer with the ability to relate with clients,” said one of her Faegre colleagues. Yocum advised Cummins Inc. on a yearlong acquisition of two Faurecia commercial vehicle manufacturing plants, one being in the Netherlands. She led a team of attorneys in representing Hoosier Penn Oil Inc. in its sale to Cadence Petroleum Group. Since 2022, she has led Outdoor Living Supply in nearly 20 acquisitions. “While successfully closing a transaction is always rewarding,” she said, “my greatest satisfaction comes from guiding clients through life-changing transactions, such as the sale of a founder-owned or multi-generational family business.” For the past two years, she has been ranked as an up-and-coming M&A lawyer by Chambers and Partners, a leader in legal rankings.
Getting here: A summer associate role after law school led to practicing at a law firm. “As a law student, I envisioned a career in litigation and am grateful that the first firm that I worked at placed me in the corporate group, where I discovered my passion for transactional work,” she said.
First job: Dog walker. Her client? A lawyer.
Givebacks: board member of the Indiana chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, volunteer at Indiana Legal Services
Influential person: Jim Birge, a mentor and colleague at Faegre. “He has instilled in me the importance of building exceptional and supportive teams, as well as the values of client advocacy, integrity and leadership,” Yocum said.
Meaningful moment: The first time she brought a high-stakes M&A deal to the firm, it involved a friend she had met through showing horses. The deal was life-changing for her friend. The experience taught Yocum how passions and relationships outside work can complement her career.•
Check out more Forty Under 40 honorees.
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