Gray Reed’s mergers and acquisitions team counsels privately held and public companies, management teams, founders, private equity funds and other equity sponsors in a broad range of industries in their capacity as buyers, sellers, operators, investors or issuers. We advise on the full spectrum of legal issues faced by public and private companies in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions as well as day-to-day operational matters as they grow and manage their businesses. Our practice includes teams with particular expertise in transactional and operational matters for various industries, including healthcare, energy, construction and real estate. Across several industries, our practice includes:
- Mergers, acquisitions and divestitures of assets and equity securities, including private equity fund roll-up and bolt-on acquisitions, management and employee leveraged buy-outs and divestitures with equity rollover components
- Minority and majority equity investments and recapitalizations
- Complex partnership structures, including the creation of complex distribution waterfalls and management co-investment and profits interest opportunities
- Private and public offerings of securities, including IPOs and SPACs
- Competitive bidding transactions, including representing debtors, stalking horse bidders and other bidders in bankruptcy 363 sales
- Fund formation, including private placement memoranda, governing documents, management agreements and securities filings
- Debt financings representing both borrowers and lenders, including bridge convertible, senior, subordinated and mezzanine debt arrangements
Our practice includes implementing legal due diligence reviews, advising on transaction structure and negotiating and drafting letters of intent, term sheets, purchase and sale agreements, contribution agreements, partnership and limited liability company agreements, working capital and indemnity escrow agreements, earn-out agreements, management and administrative services agreements, transition services agreements, restrictive covenants agreements, employment agreements, profits interest grant agreements, option agreements and other transaction agreements.
Our industry specialists also assist with related regulatory matters in connection with various transactions within those industries. Learn more about our industry groups under “Related Industries” below.
We think outside the box and have the experience to help clients successfully navigate high stakes transactions. We pride ourselves on understanding of each party’s perspective developed through many years representing private equity funds, portfolio companies, founders, management teams, and various other individuals and businesses.
Access to Resources and General Counsel Capabilities
We staff our deal teams leanly with experienced attorneys who work closely with clients and their professional advisers in a manner intended to be practical and cost-efficient. We are able to complement our deal team by making available a broad array of services from our experienced teams of tax, capital markets, private equity, oil & gas, antitrust, real estate, labor & employment, environmental, banking & finance, employee benefits & executive compensation, intellectual property and litigation attorneys.
In addition to the wealth of knowledge within our firm, we have a worldwide network of lawyers for international and cross-border issues when a client transacts business or acquires or disposes of assets in foreign countries. These resources allow us to serve as outside general counsel for our clients and help solve nearly any issue they may face in the life cycle of their business.
Our Clients
We counsel privately held companies, public companies, management teams, private equity funds and the portfolio companies in which they invest, venture capital funds, founders, investors, management teams, boards of directors, special committees and financial advisors in a broad range of industries in complex mergers and acquisitions, private equity and capital markets transactions spanning each phase of the company growth cycle. We have experience representing clients in their capacity as buyers, sellers, bidders, target companies, issuers, equity investors, lenders, operators, fiduciaries, executive officers and board and committee members. This diversity in experience enables us to understand each side’s perspective and creatively problem solve to help navigate transactions to a successful close.
Our clients operate in a wide array of sectors, including upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas, oilfield services, mineral interest and royalty aggregation, saltwater disposal, industrial cleaning services, hazardous and non-hazardous waste transportation, storage and disposal services, environmental remediation services, chemical and product manufacturing, technology, health care, manufacturing, distribution and logistics, retail andhospitality and professional services.
Recognition
Our M&A partners, as well as our M&A deals, are routinely recognized by regional and national ranking and award programs. Below are some highlights that we are proud to share.
Why Clients Feel at Home at Gray Reed
Your experience with our transactional attorneys will be fully aligned with your goals and objectives and tailored specifically to how you want to do business with us. Our lawyers are adaptable and nimble – you will never be forced into a box that doesn’t fit your opportunity or problem, or your needs and desires. Helping you through every stage of your business, from formation through restructuring, you’ll be comfortable with our skill and practical approach. We know exactly when to turn up the heat and when collaboration is the smartest way for you to achieve your goals.