In 1989, Snyder was named partner-in-charge of the mergers and acquisitions practice in the Chicago office.

Most important, the acquisition bolsters Credit Suisse's mergers and acquisitions practice in crucial areas like the ultracompetitive and fast-growing telecommunications industry.

"While activism will assuredly rise in 2006, the movement will likely abate," said Paul Taubman, who runs the mergers and acquisitions practice at Morgan Stanley.

"It's remarkable," said Steven Baronoff, who heads Merrill Lynch's mergers and acquisitions practice.

But he has a long history as a dealmaker and investment banker and helped found and expand the mergers and acquisitions practice at Goldman Sachs.

Brian Hoffmann has been named co-head of Clifford Chance's merger and acquisitions practice in the Americas.

Mr. Kindler will be joining Morgan Stanley as it is trying to refocus its mergers and acquisitions practice.

Marc Granetz, who has been in charge of media and telecommunications banking, was named to run the bank's mergers and acquisitions practice.

Mr. Shariff and Mr. Singer are members of the mergers and acquisitions practice in New York.

"People are much more sober," said Paul Taubman, who runs the mergers and acquisitions practice at Morgan Stanley.