Spotlighting some of the brightest minds behind recent headline deals, The Deal's annual Movers & Shakers issue aims to introduce readers to the passions, tough decisions and struggles that shaped their career paths.

As noted by the report's editor, Vyvyan Tenorio, most of this year's Movers & Shakers have played vital roles in large or transformative transactions as advisers. Often they labor behind the scenes to shepherd complex, multiparty or multinational transactions to completion. Or they are high profile standouts in their fields. She writes, "It's not always easy to coax these folks to discuss their lives - if they can find time to do it - but this special report offers glimpses to the more personal sides of dealmakers."

In the report's stories about the selected dealmakers, The Deal's editors and writers indicate why each individual made this year's Movers & Shakers list:

"Back in good graces," by Dennis Fitzgerald. The megadeals orchestrated by the co-heads of global technology at Credit Suisse have catapulted the bank to Dealogic's No. 1 ranking for global and U.S. tech deals. David Wah advised on the first-ever tech leveraged buyout in 1996 and the record-breaking LBO of Freescale Semiconductor 10 years later. Meanwhile, David Popowitz advised Nortel Networks in its purchase of Alteon WebSystems.

"Pumped up," by Claire Poole. Steve Trauber, head of global energy investment banking at UBS, loves the energy business which keeps him hopping. He aims to make UBS the leading energy investment banking group, after doing likewise at Morgan Stanley.

"A craftsman's eye," by David Marcus. At Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Ukraine-born Igor Kirman represented SuperValu Inc. in its acquisition of Albertson's and a group led by Goldman Sachs Capital Partners in the $22 billion LBO of Kinder Morgan. With an appreciation for the legal craftsmanship required in deals, he teaches a seminar on M&A at Columbia University.

"Master problem solver," by Dan Slater. A partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, David Sorkin has stewarded an eye-glazing list of megadeals. He represented the KKR-led consortium that agreed to take HCA private in August and one year earlier he advised Ford Motor Co. when it sold Hertz Corp. When he reaches a sticking point in a contract, Sorkin can pull back and see the big picture without letting his ego get in the way.

"Of dealmakers and tailgaters," by Kelly Holman. Jon Isaacson, managing director at American Capital Strategies, believes the middle-market buyout business is almost as exciting as watching his beloved Washington Redskins. Of the three buyouts he executed this year, he says, "It's about watching entrepreneurs take their companies to the next level and helping them achieve their dreams."

"A diplomat in a lawyer's clothing," by Matt Miller. A Miami-based partner with Hogan & Hartson LLP, Miguel Zaldivar, a fourth generation lawyer of a Cuban refugee, is widely acknowledged as a guiding light in complicated cross-border transactions that involve Latin America. His favorite deal involved a $1 billion joint venture fertilizer complex in Venezuela called FertiNitro that garnered accolades for its low borrowing cost, investment-grade rating and was the largest-ever emerging-markets project bond to exceed 20 years.

"In the front lines," by Chris Nolter. Fred Turpin, senior managing director at Bear Stearns, worked as a generalist for a few years before focusing on telecommunications. He advised MetroPCS Communications as well as UbiquiTel Inc. in its $1.3 billion sale to Sprint Nextel. His interests include the Civil War and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team.

"Living in close quarters with pharma," by Tara Croft. As head of Cooley Godward Kronish LLP's life-sciences practice out of Palo Alto, Calif., Barbara Kosacz usually does three or four deals a year; this year she's done 11 so far, mostly collaborations of some kind. To Kosacz, her work with pharma carries a higher meaning - to bring better medications to the public.

"Unfinished business," by Vyvyan Tenorio. Marco Masotti of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, has been an adviser in more than $25 billion worth of private equity and hedge fund-formations over the past two years. His ultimate journey toward a partnership at Paul Weiss began with a newspaper article. Born and raised in South Africa, Masotti's South African affinity motivates him to contribute time to organizations focusing on world issues.

"Trying to keep it local," by Laura King. Dale Ponder, a managing partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, was lead lawyer for Inco Ltd. in one of the most complex and compelling series of deals in Canadian history.

"Fear and lawyering in Los Angeles," by Aleksanders Rozens. Originally from the East Coast, David Neale was drawn to the West by the lure of getting courtroom experience as a young professional. A name partner in the firm of Levene, Neale, Bender, Rankin & Brill LLP, he was more interested in being a lawyer than an associate in his early age.

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