NEW YORK – Seven Troutman Pepper professionals will serve on Law360 Editorial Advisory Boards this year. Board members were selected by Law360 to provide feedback on the publication’s coverage and expert insight on how to best shape future coverage.
Board members include:
Joan Arnold (Philadelphia | Tax Partner)
Tax Authority International Editorial Advisory Board
Ketan Bhirud (Washington, D.C. | Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement Partner)
Sports & Betting Editorial Advisory Board
Molly DiRago (Chicago | Business Litigation Partner)
Illinois Editorial Advisory Board
John Leonti (Los Angeles & New York | Capital Projects + Infrastructure Partner)
Project Finance Editorial Advisory Board
Andrew Medeiros (Philadelphia | Director of Innovation Solutions)
Legal Tech Editorial Advisory Board
Evelyn Meltzer (Wilmington | Financial Restructuring + Insolvency Partner)
Bankruptcy Editorial Advisory Board
Agustin Rodriguez (Richmond & Washington, D.C. | Regulatory Investigations, Strategy, + Enforcement Partner)
Cannabis Editorial Advisory Board
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK – Troutman Pepper’s Private Equity and Emerging Company + Venture Capital practices achieved top results in the league tables for the first half of 2023, advancing in numerous categories as tracked by Refinitiv and PitchBook.
“Our dynamic private equity practice has expertise across markets, deal types, and industries,” said Private Equity Partner Bruce K. Fenton. “Despite a softer market compared to last year’s blockbuster numbers, we continue to see and capitalize on opportunities for our clients, and their success is reflected in our strong league table rankings.”
“Of note this quarter was our robust performance in the energy space with our firm being among the top in the sector by deal volume,” added Private Equity Partner Alec Watson.
“Despite a difficult fundraising environment, we are very proud to have been able to help clients realize their passions, achieve successes, and continue to fundraise,” said Emerging Company + VC Partner Tom Dwyer. “Our league table rankings show that startup businesses continue to seek our advice to navigate growth during these challenging times. Companies are still looking to fundraise and there is money out there.”
“We have a number of startup clients who are seeking to raise money in the next 18 months applying to present at upcoming industry events, including the popular 2023 Mid-Atlantic Capital and Venture Atlanta conferences, in which the firm serves as host and recruiting sponsors, respectively,” Dwyer added.
“Our team’s particular expertise in the health care sector was highlighted in the league table rankings with our firm ranking among the top 10 law firms handling VC deals involving health care devices and supplies,” noted Emerging Company + VC Partner Chris Miller.
Recent rankings:
Refinitiv Global Private Equity Legal Review – First Half 2023
Advisors to Company: LBO & Related Rounds Based on Number of Rounds
#18 up from #23 in 2022
Advisors to Company: All Private Equity Stages Based on Number of Rounds
#21 up from #29 in 2022
PitchBook Global League Tables (PE/VC)
Geography
PE Deals Most Active Globally (#24)
Deals Most Active in U.S. (#11)
PE Deals Most Active in West Coast (#13)
PE Deals Most Active in Mountain (#7)
PE Deals Most Active in Southeast (#11)
VC Deals Most Active in U.S. (#23)
VC Deals Most Active in Mid-Atlantic (#15)
Deal Type
PE Deals Most Active in other PE Deals (#18)
PE Deals Most Active in Buyouts (#25)
Representing
PE Deals Most Active Globally: Companies (#23)
PE Deals Most Active in U.S.: Companies (#10)
PE Deals Most Active in U.S.: Investors (#14)
VC Deals Most Active Globally: Companies (#25)
VC Deals Most Active in U.S.: Companies (#17)
VC Deals Most Active in HC Devices and Supplies (#8)
Sector
PE Deals Most Active in Energy (#11)
PE Deals Most Active in Healthcare (#20)
PE Deals Most Active in B2B (#20)
PE Deals Most Active in B2C (#25)
PE Deals Most Active in IT (#23)
PitchBook Global League Tables (Deals Combined)
Deals Combined Most Active in U.S.: Companies (#16)
Deals Combined Most Active in U.S.: (#20)
Deals Combined Most Active Globally: Companies (#25)
Consistently recognized as a top-tier national practice, Troutman Pepper’s corporate attorneys regularly handle multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions. Core areas of service include capital markets transactions and other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance. The firm has particular expertise in the private equity and private fund services space, advising clients on matters from fund formation to investments and exit transactions.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK – Troutman Pepper announced today the firmwide release of Athena, a firm-approved, ChatGPT application to help attorneys and business professionals safely and effectively use generative AI to improve workflows and enhance overall user and client experiences. Within the first 24 hours of firmwide release on August 14, more than 125 different users, including users from all the firm’s practice and administrative departments, engaged the platform in nearly 300 conversations.
The firm’s Generative AI Task Force partnered with Microsoft to leverage OpenAI’s large language model (LLM) in the firm’s private cloud to provide these capabilities. Athena uses nuanced and advanced extensions of the LLM through system prompts allowing outcomes to be more directed and accurate. Over the past few years, Troutman Pepper’s IT and Innovation teams worked with its long-time strategic partner Framework Consulting, an award-winning AI development group, to research and build the platform. Early adopters tested, piloted, and provided feedback.
“The launch of Athena represents the next step in our exploration and adoption of generative AI and large language models,” said Will Gaus, Troutman Pepper’s Chief Innovation Officer and Task Force lead. “The ability to streamline internal processes quickly and effectively is crucial to delivering more value to clients. The use cases we identified and thoroughly tested during the pilot phase showed incredible results. This custom AI solution will positively impact our attorneys, business professionals, and clients, and we have plans to extend this model across the firm.”
As early as June 2021, members of the Task Force were collaborating with Troutman Pepper’s Office of General Counsel and Information Security teams to ensure efforts to research and, ultimately, build GPT-powered solutions were undertaken safely, securely, and ethically. While Athena is available to everyone at the firm, mandatory ethics training is required before they begin, to ensure they understand the risks, benefits, and ethical responsibilities associated with this technology.
In addition to that mandatory training, the Task Force developed an educational series for attorneys and staff with award-winning strategist and law professor, Josh Kubicki, most recently from the University of Richmond School of Law. The course was designed to help participants understand the hands-on, pragmatic application of generative AI to real-world legal issues.
Since May, Troutman Pepper’s Marketing department has been using Athena to create first drafts of marketing materials, including press releases, social media captions, and attorney bios.
“Our team has been very impressed with the results. We closely review everything for accuracy and completeness, and the outputs have been tremendous and have allowed us to more efficiently and proactively support our attorneys’ and clients’ needs,” said Dan Pulka, Troutman Pepper’s Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer.
Looking ahead, Athena has been approved to assist with legal work that is done in accordance with the firm’s – and clients’ – policies and procedures regarding the use of generative AI. The Task Force is also actively working to develop other generative AI solutions for internal and client use, as well as exploring powerful new generative AI capabilities within the firm’s existing application base, such as Relativity, Kira, Westlaw, and LexisNexis.
Troutman Pepper’s Generative AI Task Force was officially announced in May 2023. The team was assembled to help the firm and its clients successfully but safely use these disruptive tools and technologies.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from start-ups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK – The Best Lawyers in America® — the oldest peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession — has recognized 244 Troutman Pepper attorneys as Best Lawyers in America in 411 areas in its 2024 edition. In addition, Best Lawyers® honored 13 Troutman Pepper partners as “Lawyers of the Year” in 15 areas, a distinction held by very few practicing attorneys nationwide, with only one lawyer recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location.
The firm also has 167 attorneys recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® in 255 areas, a 21 percent increase in the number of attorneys since last year’s rankings. This recognition highlights the exceptional abilities of attorneys with less than a decade of private practice. It is a testament to the firm’s commitment to nurturing exceptional legal talent.
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Attorneys must be nominated for consideration and then voted on and recommended by their peers for inclusion. Those recognized must also be in good standing with their local bar associations.
Troutman Pepper’s full list of recognized attorneys can be found here.
Lawyers of the Year
Atlanta
David Ghegan: Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Hallie Meushaw: Energy Regulatory Law
Charlotte
Kiran Mehta: Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
Paul Steffens: Venture Capital Law
Detroit
Todd Fracassi: Litigation – Environmental
Los Angeles
Ted Gropman: Construction Law
Orange County
Terrence McInnis: Insurance Law
Philadelphia
Barry Abelson: Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Tracey Diamond: Litigation – Labor and Employment
Richmond
David Carter: Securities/Capital Markets Law
Thomas Fauls: Financial Services Regulation Law
Alan Wingfield: Consumer Law
Wilmington
Christopher Lamb: Real Estate Law
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from start-ups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Homer and Bruce Steinert, two highly regarded private equity debt financing partners, have joined Troutman Pepper’s Corporate Practice Group in New York and San Francisco, respectively. Homer joins from Gibson Dunn and Steinert from Perkins Coie.
Steinert has extensive experience in private equity leveraged buyout debt financing as well as representing a wide variety of clients on debt financing and related corporate matters. He works with PE sponsors, debt investment funds, publicly traded companies, and privately held ventures.
Homer similarly works within the PE industry, specializing in leveraged buyouts and advising PE clients and their portfolio companies in respect of a wide range of finance transactions. He also has considerable experience representing both privately held and publicly traded companies as borrowers in a variety of debt financing transactions across the syndicated and private debt markets.
“Jonathan and Bruce each bring significant PE and corporate finance experience to our practice,” said Matt Greenberg, chair of the Troutman Pepper Corporate Group. “Bruce is known for his practical approach within the PE deal landscape and increases our corporate bench on the west coast. Jonathan brings a wealth of experience representing private equity firms and portfolio companies and other borrowers to our impressive roster of PE lawyers. The breadth of their skills and experience fit well with our sophisticated PE practice and evolving client needs. We are thrilled to welcome both Jonathan and Bruce to the firm’s partnership.”
“Troutman Pepper is known for providing superior client service and I am pleased to join the firm as a Corporate partner,” said Steinert. “This opportunity offers me the exciting chance to continue my private equity work and further build upon my relationships with our existing and prospective clients.”
Steinert earned his J.D. and B.A. degrees from Rutgers University. He is licensed to practice law in California and New York.
“I am thrilled to join Troutman Pepper’s highly regarded Corporate Finance practice,” Homer said. “Troutman Pepper’s existing roster of private equity clients and its talented team of lawyers creates the ideal platform to grow my private equity practice and to continue providing innovative, top-notch legal services. I look forward to partnering with my new colleagues to promote the interests of our private equity clients and ensure the success of their transactions.”
Homer earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and his B.A. from Utah State University.
Troutman Pepper’s nationally recognized Corporate Practice Group has consistently handled multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions, including over $157 billion in capital markets deals and over $86 billion in M&A and private equity deals over the past five years. The group’s client base spans from industry-leading Fortune 100 corporations to emerging companies, for whom we serve as trusted outside general counsel, offering strategic insights from an enterprise-level perspective.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from start-ups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK – Troutman Pepper served as a U.S. legal advisor to FC Barcelona, one of the world’s most successful and storied professional football clubs, in its definitive agreement with Mountain & Co. I Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: MCAA), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, to bring its content creation platform, Barça Media, to the U.S. and other global financial markets. Read a company press release about the agreement.
The transaction values the pro-forma company at an estimated enterprise value of approximately $1 billion U.S. dollars. Upon closing, the combined company is expected to be listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “BRME.”
FC Barcelona is one of the world’s most visible and valuable sports franchises, with millions of fans and social media followers across the globe. Barça Media centralizes the creation, production, and commercialization of FC Barcelona’s audiovisual, digital, and esports output, producing thousands of original content pieces and services each year to grow the club’s brand recognition.
The Troutman Pepper team advising FC Barcelona includes Partners Jim Rosener, Thomas Rose, Daniel Sieck, Shona Smith, Nicole Edmonds, and Associates Alexander Yarbrough and Chelsea MacArthur, among many others.
Consistently recognized as a top-tier national practice, Troutman Pepper’s corporate attorneys regularly handle multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions both domestically and internationally. Core areas of service include capital markets transactions and other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, SPAC deals, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance. The firm has particular expertise in the private equity and private fund services space, advising both domestic and foreign clients on matters from fund formation to investments and exit transactions.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
WILMINGTON, DE – Troutman Pepper client Bryn Mawr Capital Management, a subsidiary of WSFS Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: WSFS), recently announced its expansion into southern Delaware and the establishment of a new presence in Boca Raton, Florida, after closing on an asset purchase agreement with a woman-founded, owned and managed registered investment advisory firm based in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Read a company press release about the expansion.
As indicated in the press release, the acquisition will bolster Bryn Mawr Capital Management’s capabilities and will expand its reach to better serve diverse clients across multiple regions. With this purchase, Bryn Mawr Capital Management welcomes six new Associates with a deep expertise and understanding of the industry. With the addition of these new team members, Bryn Mawr Capital Management is well equipped to provide guidance and tailor-made solutions to Clients seeking to optimize their financial goals in the rapidly growing beach areas of southern Delaware and to serve Clients residing in Florida.
The Troutman Pepper team advising Bryn Mawr Capital Management in the transaction was led by Michael H. Friedman and included Genna Garver, Seth Winter, Paul Porretta, Saba Ashraf, and Randy Varner.
Consistently recognized as a top-tier national practice, Troutman Pepper’s corporate attorneys regularly handle multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions. Core areas of service include capital markets transactions and other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance. The firm has particular expertise in the private equity and private fund services space, advising clients on matters from fund formation to investments and exit transactions.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK – Troutman Pepper Partner John Leonti, a leader in the firm’s Capital Projects + Infrastructure Practice Group, has been selected to serve on Law360’s Project Finance Editorial Advisory Board for a 10th consecutive year. The advisory board provides feedback on Law360’s coverage and expert insight on how to best shape future coverage.
“I am honored to be serving on the Project Finance Editorial Advisory Board again this year and continue to be honored by Law360’s invitation to participate,” Leonti said.
Leonti helps clients structure, negotiate, document and execute complex financial transactions in the energy sector, including tax equity transactions utilizing partnership and lease structures, debt transactions (such as construction financing and long-term commercial and institutional debt financing) and hedge transactions using over-the-counter derivatives (including physical and financial renewable energy hedges). He has acted as counsel to major utilities and their competitive subsidiaries, tax equity investors, independent power producers, renewable energy developers, lenders, investment banks, private investment funds, and power marketers.
From high-stakes, transformative deals to smaller investments, Troutman Pepper’s nationally recognized Capital Projects + Infrastructure Practice Group facilitates projects for investors, utilities, sponsors, private investment funds, lenders, developers, and other stakeholders. The team’s pragmatic and comprehensive approach helps clients identify, nurture, and manage bankable ventures.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK – Troutman Pepper client Marsh McLennan Agency, a subsidiary of Marsh, recently announced the acquisition of Philadelphia-based Graham Company, a leading risk management consultancy and one of the top independent insurance and employee benefits brokers in the United States. Read a company press release about the acquisition.
Founded in 1960, Graham Company specializes in providing business insurance, employee benefits, and surety brokerage services to companies in a range of high-risk industries, including construction, real estate, manufacturing and distribution, health and human services, and professional services.
The Troutman Pepper team advising Marsh McLennan in the acquisition was led by Brian Katz, Erica Wilson and James Jumper, and included Howard Goldberg, Paul Porretta, Barbara Sicalides, Stefanie Brennan, James Hipolit, Brent Hoard, Jessica Rothenberg, Chelsea MacArthur, Dean Longfield, Daisy Flores, and Jared Burns.
Consistently recognized as a top-tier national practice, Troutman Pepper’s corporate attorneys regularly handle multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions. Core areas of service include capital markets transactions and other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance. The firm has a particular expertise in advising Insurance Brokerages in their merger and acquisition transactions. The firm also regularly advises clients in the private equity and private fund services space, advising clients on matters from fund formation to investments and exit transactions.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
WILMINGTON, DE – Troutman Pepper client Compact Membrane Systems, a pioneer in advanced membrane technology, recently announced the completion of an oversubscribed Series A funding round of $16.5 million. The round was led by Pangaea Ventures and included GC Ventures, Solvay Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures, and Technip Energies. Read a company press release about the acquisition.
Compact Membrane Systems pioneers membrane systems for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors. CMS’s breakthrough OptipermTM platform provides bolt-on, modular solutions for existing facilities to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, expand capacity, and deliver new sources of revenue. The Series A funding will accelerate the development and commercialization of their olefins and carbon capture solutions, with the goal of delivering a low-cost, fully electrified solution by 2026.
The Troutman Pepper team advising Compact Membrane Systems in the funding round was led by Matthew Greenberg and included Stephen Fox and Ethan Zook. The firm regularly advises startup, emerging growth and venture capital clients through every stage of their life cycle. Industries served span software, hardware and other high-technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, financial technology, health care, consumer products, food and beverage, media and telecommunications products and services, and many others.
Consistently recognized as a top-tier national practice, Troutman Pepper’s corporate attorneys regularly handle multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions. Core areas of service include capital markets transactions and other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance. The firm has particular expertise in the private equity and private fund services space, advising clients on matters from fund formation to investments and exit transactions.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.