Richard Beattie, a mergers lawyer known for pioneering private equity takeovers and immortalized in 'Barbarians at the Gate', died at 86 in Manhattan.
Beattie, a long-time attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, played a key role in major corporate deals like AOL's takeover of Time Warner and JPMorgan Chase's acquisition of Bank One.
He advised American International Group during its $85 billion federal bailout in 2008 and served as Simpson Thacher's chairman from 1991 to 2004.
Beattie foresaw the rise of private equity in the late 1960s and worked closely with Henry R. Kravis on notable leveraged buyouts, including the $25 billion RJR Nabisco takeover in 1989.
The RJR Nabisco deal was documented in 'Barbarians at the Gate' and held the record for the decade as the largest leveraged buyout.