An Ode to Mr. Lipton

This blog is devoted to our hero and idol, corporate law phenom Martin Lipton. Mr. Lipton, name partner in the prestigious and venerable firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, has been practicing law since the mid-1960's after he graduated from NYU law school, and is considered by most in the industry to be the "dean" of the M&A bar. This legendary advocate is most famous in legal circles for inventing the "poison pill," a takeover defense now used by virtually all public companies to delay and deter hostile tender offers and other solicited acquisitions.

That's right, you heard me--not only is Mr. Lipton a skilled and accomplished lawyer, he is an inventor as well. We also hear that he is a marvelous ballroom dancer, but have yet to receive confirmation on this point.

We don't work for Mr. Lipton (we're not smart enough). We don't socialize with him (he prefers the millionaire types, while we prefer to congregate with Shoneys waitresses). We don't know him personally, nor have we ever met him (although we did once see him, from a distance, working the buffet line at a luncheon). But for some time now, from a distance, we've come to admire, and even to worship the man, for what he is, what he has done, and most importantly, for what he is capable of. This is, after all, a man who has spent his life defending the interests of corporate America. A man who has given back to his community in the form of invention. And a man who may or may not be a gifted ballroom dancer.

This blog is our testament to the powerhouse that is Marty Lipton. But more than that, this blog will tell the story of two friends, young men who met while reaching for the same pair of size 34 slacks from the bargain bin at JC Penney's, and started off hating each other because of their mutual desire to own those beautiful trousers, but who later tabled their animosity towards each other when they discovered their mutual admiration for Mr. Lipton, over a few Orange Julius' in the food court later that afternoon while trying to figure out what to do about the pants (ultimately, donating them to Goodwill).

Don't worry, Herb. You'll get your own fansite someday too if you invent something.