William L. Barnard

Will focuses on private equity and strategic transactions across diverse industries. He represents clients in corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, asset purchases, business divestitures, and financings. With extensive experience in sectors such as insurance, energy, infrastructure, banking, food and beverage, and technology, Will manages private placements, public financings, and mergers and acquisitions. He also guides clients through securities filings and corporate governance requirements under securities law and stock exchange rules.

Before his legal career, Will was an investment banker in technology M&A, which enhanced his strategic transaction experience.

• Assisted in the representation of Smart & Final Holdings, Inc., an operator of more than 260 grocery warehouse stores and an affiliate of Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO), in its $620 million sale to Grupo Comercial Chedraui, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: CHDRAUI).
• Assisted in the representation of Pelican Energy Partners, a Houston-based private equity firm specializing in strategic investments in small to middle-market, high-growth potential energy service and equipment companies, in its definitive agreement to acquire GSE Solutions.
• Advised Kelvin, a national leader in intelligent HVAC solutions, to form an exclusive partnership with ClearGen LLC, backed by ClearGen’s investment to finance up to $100 million of affordable energy efficiency and comfort improvements for legacy multifamily buildings and campus properties.
• Assisted in representing Agile Growth Equity, LLC, a growth-oriented private equity group that invests in lower middle-market B2B companies, and its affiliates in the equity and debt financing and the acquisition of Kobus Services Limited, a UK private company limited by shares, and its U.S. subsidiary Kobus Inc.
• Assisted in representing a consortium of established investors in the solar energy industry, including an affiliate of Greenbacker Capital Management, Sunstone Credit, IGS Ventures, and others, with its secured lender, Cross River Bank (CRB), in the acquisition of Sunlight Financial Holdings.
• Assisted in advising ENMAX Corporation in its $1.3 billion acquisition of Emera Maine from Emera Inc.
• Assisted in guiding Hydro One Limited in its proposed $5.3 billion acquisition of Avista Corporation.

• Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Corporate Law (2026), Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2026)