Christopher A. Rossi

Chris is the leader of the firm’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) practice and is experienced in advising all types of private investment funds throughout their life cycle. He is nationally known for advising on the formation and operations of SBICs and other private funds, including with respect to SBIC licensing and regulatory matters, general partner/limited partner dealings, investment fund principal compensation and planning, private fund adviser operations and regulatory compliance, and corporate governance matters.

He also represents wealthy individuals, family offices, and institutional clients (including SBICs and other private funds) in their investment activities, including platform and add-on investments and portfolio company divestitures, and related equity and senior and subordinated debt financing transactions. Often these transactions require Chris’ advice for the design and development of customized investment partnerships.

Chris also represents companies in relation to their acquisition and divestiture strategies and transactions, as well as in venture capital and other financing transactions, and intellectual property and technology acquisitions and licensing.

Chris is the managing partner of the firm’s Berwyn, Pennsylvania office.

• Represented multiple private equity, venture capital, and debt fund managers in connection with the formation, management, and operation of their funds, including SBICs.
• Advised multiple SBICs in connection with the divestiture by SBA of SBA’s preferred limited partnership interest to secondary buyers.
• Counseled the alternative investment group of a large NYSE-listed investment advisor in connection with the structuring and formation of multiple private equity funds, including a fund complex consisting of an evergreen series-based private partnership vehicle, a traditional private equity fund-of-funds and a hedge fund-of-funds, all targeting energy and natural resources.
• Represented a health care–focused venture capital firm (including its SBIC) as its general counsel in a wide variety of fund formation, operational, investment, and investor relations matters.
• Represented a private equity fund in connection with its acquisition of a gold mining company pursuant to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan and subsequent investments.
• Advised an SBIC in connection with its secondary sale of a portion of its interests in several portfolio companies in the health care and information technology space to another a UK-based investment fund.
• Represented a private equity fund in connection with its acquisition of several portfolio companies in the promotional products business and in the automotive security and audio products industry.
• Represented a group of selling shareholders in a management buyout of a large regional residential real estate brokerage business.
• Counseled a distributor of manufacturer-branded automotive accessory and high performance and speed products in connection with its sale to a private equity fund.
• Advised a private equity fund in connection with its platform acquisition of a national franchisor of health and fitness clubs and the concurrent acquisition of several large regional franchises and subsequent add-on acquisitions.
• Represented a management team in a leveraged recapitalization of various affiliated businesses located in more than 30 countries, which was financed by major European private equity and mezzanine funds and banks.
• Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of a manufacturer and distributor of rodent and pest control products, lawn and garden care products, and wildlife and pet caring and control products.
• Advised a private equity fund in its acquisition of an outsourced manufacturer and distributor of fragrance products, creams, lotions, and other personal care products.
• Counseled a private equity fund in its sponsorship of a leveraged recapitalization of an engineering design firm and subsequent add-on acquisitions.
• Advised a U.S. subsidiary of a large French electronics and defense company in connection with its acquisition of a Silicon Valley–based developer of software development tools.
• Represented a UK-based consumer health products company in its acquisition and subsequent sale of a U.S.-based medical products company.
• Represented a large publicly traded provider of dialysis services in connection with several acquisitions of regional service providers.
• Counseled a privately held company in its acquisition of the chemical management business of a large publicly traded company.
• Represented a privately held U.S.-based monofilament manufacturer in connection with its acquisition of a German-based group of companies and subsequent separate dispositions of its U.S. and European businesses.