Practice Areas

Corporate Transactions

Shook, Hardy & Bacon offers nationally-recognized expertise in all aspects of corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; joint ventures; securities offerings; venture capital investments; private equity; and merchant banking. The SHB Corporate Transactions Practice regularly counsels financial institutions and corporate borrowers on loans and regulatory issues, in addition to providing assistance with business planning; private placements; public offerings; distributorships; tender offers; equity and debt restructuring; project finance; workouts; and general corporate law. With 10 offices located in major U.S. and European cities, SHB supplements these services with a unique competitive advantage combining cost-effective strategies, unparalleled litigation resources and an in-depth knowledge of commercial law.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Joint Ventures

The SHB Corporate Transactions Practice works with a diverse client base that includes multinational public companies and early-stage private firms to structure, negotiate and close mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. On behalf of public clients, SHB attorneys have acquired and sold companies; prepared registration statements under the securities laws; assisted in structuring and conducting “auctions” of businesses and divisions; formulated and implemented takeover defense strategies; and handled tender offers. Members of this practice have also collaborated with special board committees in connection with insider matters, such as management-led buyouts and “going private” transactions, spin-offs and restructurings. This practice has acted as virtual general counsel when necssary to help clients achieve their long-term goals.

Securities Offerings

The SHB Corporate Transactions Practice represents both issuers and underwriters involved with public offerings and private placements of securities. Recognizing the risks of rapidly changing markets, SHB attorneys use the firm’s significant resources to bring securities to market as promptly as possible. SHB also advises public companies on periodic reporting compliance, insider trader and other regulatory matters.

Venture Capital Investments, Private Equity & Merchant Banking

SHB corporate law attorneys assist numerous venture capital, private equity and merchant banking firms with their investments and acquisitions. This practice also works with many companies that obtain venture capital investments or are sold to private equity or merchant banking firms. Familiar with the various structures of these arrangements, SHB lawyers possess a knowledge of existing market conditions that makes the firm well-suited to handle either side of the transaction.

Business Planning

SHB attorneys can also address the practical issues facing business owners. They have access to experts in a wide variety of related areas, including: buy-sell, non-compete and shareholder agreements; professional and general business corporations; limited liability companies; creditor protection planning; family business and succession planning; purchase or sale of business; employment agreements; limited partnerships; lines of credit; and other financial arrangements.