Airi Hammalov

Airi Hammalov

Partner
Baker & McKenzie LLP

Biography

Airi Hammalov is a partner in the New York office of Baker McKenzie and a member of the Firm's Transactions practice. Prior to joining the Firm, Airi practiced at top international firms in Europe.

Practice Focus

Airi's practice focuses on M&A and private equity, particularly cross-border transactions and Nordic related tech deals. She has extensive experience representing domestic and multinational corporations, private equity sponsors, portfolio companies and financial institutions on their most complex acquisitions, strategic investments, joint ventures, leveraged buy outs and corporate matters. Airi has advised on large transactions across many industries and verticals, including technology and particularly gaming.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Advised 65 Equity Partners, global investment firm backed by Temasek, on its minority investment in Kendra Scott Design, Inc., the celebrated lifestyle and accessories brand.
  • Advised Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DNB) on multiple acquisitions, including USD 818 million acquisition of Bisnode Business Information Group AB, a leading European data and analytics firm; and its acquisition of Eyeota, a leading global data onboarding and audience intelligence company.
  • Advised Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) on its USD 1.05 billion acquisition of Navico, a global leader in marine electronics headquartered in Norway.
  • Advised Embracer Group (Nasdaq Stockholm: EMBRAC B), a Swedish headquartered video game holding company, on its multiple acquisitions, including USD 1.3 billion acquisition of Gearbox Entertainment (developer of Borderlands), and its acquisitions of game developers Saber (World War Z), Demiurge Studios, Shiver Entertainment, New World Interactive, Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider and Deus Ex), Limited Run Games and Tripwire (Killing Floor and Rising Storm). Advised Embracer Group on its sale of Shiver gaming studio to Nintendo.
  • Advised Enad Global 7 (Nasdaq Stockholm: EG7), a Stockholm based online games developer, on its USD 300 million acquisition of Daybreak Game Company, a multi-platform online games developer and publisher.
  • Advised SteelSeries, a Danish based global leader of gaming peripherals, in its acquisition of KontrolFreek, the industry leader in high-performance gaming controller accessories.
  • Advised Unilever PLC on its acquisition of Liquid IV, a US-based health science nutrition and wellness company.
  • Advised Daiwa Securities Group on its USD 120 million investment via the acquisition of bonds in Global X, a US based issuer of ETFs and owned by South Korea's Mirae Asset Global Investments.
  • Advised One Equity Partners on its multiple acquisitions, including carve-out acquisition of ORS Medco, a leading wholesaler of industrial and automotive aftermarket products serving over 15,000 distributors and resellers; and its acquisition of Fluor Corp's AMECO business, a full-service provider of construction equipment.
  • Advised Tietoevry Oyj, a Finnish headquartered IT software and services company, on its acquisition of MentorMate, a digital engineering company headquartered in the US.
  • Advised Safe Life, a Stockholm based global group of AED and first aid companies, on its acquisitions of Coro Medical, AED.us, AED Authority and AED Market, US market leaders in Automated External Defibrillator (AED) sales and services.
  • Advised KKR on its acquisition of Potter Global Technologies, a leading manufacturer of fire and life equity equipment.
  • Advised private equity group Aurelius on its acquisition of Dayco Propulsion Solutions, a global leader in the manufacture and sale of power transmission systems with eight worldwide production sites.
  • Advised Worthington Enterprises (NYSE: WOR) on its acquisition of Hexagon Ragasco, a Norwegian headquartered global leading manufacturer of composite LPG cylinders, and its joint venture with Hexagon Composites ASA for Austrian headquartered Sustainability Energy Solutions business.

Professional Honors

  • Selected, the Deal's Top Rising Star 2021 for M&A and Private Equity
  • Honorary Consul of Estonia in New York – appointed by the President of Estonia in September 2024

Admissions

  • New York~United States
  • England & Wales~United Kingdom
  • Estonia

Education

  • New York University School of Law (LLM, Fulbright scholar)
  • University of Tartu (BA in Law, cum laude)

Languages

  • English
  • Estonian
  • Russian
  • Co-author "Legal 500 Country Comparative Guide for Private Equity - US," 2022
  • Speaker, "Talking M&A Podcast: Cross-Border Dealmaking With Baker McKenzie," The Deal, October 2022