Three transactions handled by Haynes and Boone, LLP lawyers have been selected as “Deals of the Year” finalists for D CEO magazine and the Association for Corporate Growth’s 2020 Mergers & Acquisitions Awards.
The program recognizes the top M&A matters in North Texas and the outstanding professionals who played key roles in the deals. The finalists will be honored at an awards ceremony on April 30 and featured in the May issue of D CEO magazine.
The transactions are described below:
Blucora’s Acquisition of 1st Global
A Haynes and Boone team represented Blucora Inc. in its acquisition of 1st Global Inc., a tax-focused wealth management company based in Dallas, for $180 million.
Haynes and Boone Dallas Partner Jan Sharry led the team representing Blucora and was assisted by Denver Partner Dan P. Malone Jr. and Associates Michael Pritchard, David Lightstone and Omar Shariff. New York Partners Madelyn Calabrese and Daren Domina advised Blucora on regulatory issues. Partners Paul Amiel and Sakina Foster and Associate Laura Shapiro advised the client on financing for the transaction. Associate Raquel Alvarenga advised on labor and employment issues and Associate Scott Thompson advised on employee benefits and executive compensation.
Landry’s Acquisition of Del Frisco’s Steakhouse Brands
Partners Jennifer Wisinski, Paul Amiel and Sameer Saxena and a team of lawyers represented Landry’s and its owner Tilman J. Fertitta, in the acquisition by Landry's of the Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouses and the Del Frisco's Grilles business from L Catterton, the largest and most global consumer-focused private equity firm, for an undisclosed price.
The deal team, led by Wisinski, Amiel and Saxena, included Haynes and Boone Associates Brent Beckert, Courtney Chouinard, Rachael Apfel, Brett Moore, Camie Carlock and Simin Sun. Partner Susan Wetzel and Associate Scott Thompson handled employee benefits and executive compensation matters and Partner Sam Lichtman handled tax aspects of the deal. Partner Monika Sanford and Associates Mitchell Heyland, Laura Shapiro and C.J. Donald advised the client on financing the transaction.
Sale of WatchGuard, Inc. to Motorola Solutions, Inc.
A Haynes and Boone team led by Partner Greg Samuel represented WatchGuard, Inc., a nationwide leader in the production and distribution of police video systems, including in-car video systems and body-worn cameras for public safety systems, in its sale to Motorola Solutions, Inc.
The deal team also included Partner Tom Harris and Associates Rosebud Nau, Brent Beckert, Rachael Apfel, Bryan Diebels and Scott Thompson.
To view the full list of finalists for the M&A Awards, click here.
Haynes and Boone’s M&A Practice Group has comprehensive experience handling middle-market deals, having helped clients close more than 500 transactions in the last five years, with an aggregate value exceeding $40 billion. The firm routinely represents private equity firms, closely held corporations, founders, large financial institutions and Fortune 500 public companies. The M&A team crafts strategic solutions that advance clients’ business objectives by anticipating and evaluating the roadblocks and opportunities that clients face on the way to closing a deal successfully.
Haynes and Boone, LLP is an international corporate law firm with offices in Texas, New York, California, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., London, Mexico City and Shanghai, providing a full spectrum of legal services in energy, technology, financial services and private equity. With more than 575 lawyers, Haynes and Boone is ranked among the largest U.S.-based firms by The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer and The Lawyer. It also ranks among the nation’s most recommended law firms by general counsel, according to BTI Consulting Group’s “Most Recommended Law Firms 2019” report.