WilmerHale Partner Robert Schwed and Senior Associate Debra Charish, members of the Corporate Group and the Mergers and Acquisitions Group, aided successful negotiations in the acquisition of American Dental Partners Inc. by private equity firm JLL Partners Inc. The proposed buyout was worth $398 million, including $81 million in debt.

Schwed and Charish advised a special committee to American Dental Partners Inc., which consisted of six independent directors that negotiated the deal and recommended it to the board of directors.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, American Dental Partners Inc. has 40 days to solicit acquisition proposals from outside parties, and JLL has the right to match any bids. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2012.