Undertaking an acquisition, whether for the first time or as a seasoned acquirer, can be a daunting, long and expensive undertaking. We offer a team-oriented approach that combines deep knowledge and experience in M&A, intellectual property, privacy, tax, employee benefits and real estate with sophisticated counsel that maximizes efficiency and value, streamlines delivery time and reduces client costs.

Focusing primarily on middle-market deals, we work with many of the country’s most well-known companies and countless “serial acquirers” on their acquisition programs and roll-up strategies. These clients value dedicated deal teams, consistency in approach to deal terms and risk allocation, and a due diligence process that positions them well for successful integration.

In terms of staffing deals, we start by establishing a core deal team for each client to maintain consistency and continuity, and if the need arises, we have the depth to handle multiple deals simultaneously for a client. Our deal teams can draw on experienced transactional lawyers with a wide range of functional specialties, including securities, tax, intellectual property, antitrust, benefits and labor. This enables us to ensure that deals are structured properly and meet the client's strategic and economic objectives.

In an effort to improve deal predictability, enhance process efficiency and ensure clear communication, we have developed a tool that helps to guide in-house lawyers in analyzing the complexity of each M&A transaction, allowing Perkins Coie to then prepare custom budget and staffing plans.

Our Private Equity practice is a leader in the representation of private equity funds and firms and their portfolio companies. We emphasize middle-market transactions that typically involve domestic or overseas companies with enterprise values up to $1 billion. Our private equity-focused M&A attorneys represent investors at all stages of the portfolio company investment cycle, from new platform acquisitions and add-on acquisitions to full- or partial-sale liquid events. 

It is critical for sellers to understand the unique concerns of private equity funds and the structures they utilize for their investments. We draw heavily on the experience of our dedicated private equity attorneys to help our sell-side clients navigate these issues. Private equity funds often approach risk allocation issues, tax structuring, and representation and warranty insurance, among other things, in a much different manner than would an operating company or “strategic” buyer. Our experience with private equity transactions enables us to also advise sellers regarding equity rollovers and post-closing employment and consulting arrangements sought by private equity funds.

We regularly represent public companies and their boards of directors in connection with strategic alternatives, including sale of the company. We also represent clients in connection with acquisitions of public companies. Our attorneys keep current on the law and trends impacting fiduciary duties, sale processes and transaction structures. Beyond the “big picture” issues, our deal teams bring the right capabilities to bear on every transaction.

Public company acquisitions, and the process that precedes them, present a unique set of challenges for target companies, buyers and their respective boards and management teams, including governance and fiduciary issues, disclosure questions, antitrust matters, and tax and other deal structuring considerations. Our team of seasoned public company M&A lawyers is well-equipped to help steer sell-side clients through a public company sale process, from the initial evaluation of defensive tactics to the negotiation of deal protection measures to a successful closing, and is well-complemented by our deep bench of authorities on securities law who regularly represent some of the country’s most respected public companies in day-to-day disclosure, compliance and governance issues.

Perkins Coie's M&A practice includes substantial experience representing buyers and sellers in "carve-out" transactions involving acquisitions or dispositions of divisions or business units. Carve-outs involve a range of legal issues arising from the fact that divisions and business units are typically not easily disentangled from their parent company. Often, there are overlapping assets, liabilities, contracts, intellectual property rights, employees, and shared services that must be addressed to ensure the acquired business can operate on a standalone basis under new ownership.

Perkins Coie’s M&A team understands the attraction of carve-out transactions to sellers and both strategic and financial buyers. We have extensive experience helping sellers refocus on their core business through the divesture of divisions or subsidiaries, as well as helping buyers acquire assets as a catalyst to drive growth. We know how to navigate through the complex issues involved in carve-outs and bring the right combination of resources to bear to ensure these transactions are properly executed.

Our Emerging Companies & Venture Capital lawyers are passionate about representing venture capital-backed technology companies and have extensive experience in advising companies in their exit strategies. Our team has handled hundreds of exit events for VC-backed clients. Our representation of many of today’s high-growth startups in stock acquisitions and sales, joint ventures and strategic alliances provides us with broad and deep experience negotiating and closing deals quickly and efficiently.

Selling a family business can pose challenges that result from multiple owners and stakeholders in a business, family dynamics, and the connection certain family members may have with a business. With decades of experience working with family businesses, our lawyers are sensitive to the unique dynamics and challenges of selling a family business. We work with business owners to find answers that help develop a road map, preparing them for what will likely be the biggest financial event in their lives. Our M&A team prepares clients to ensure that the sale of their businesses is on well-understood and acceptable terms.

Perkins Coie has a long history of actively participating in the growth of the global economy. Starting in 1916 with our work incorporating The Boeing Company, we have continued to work with domestic and international clients to pioneer international markets and projects. We regularly serve as lead M&A counsel on transactions that involve target companies with operations and assets outside of the United States. We also represent non-U.S. companies seeking to acquire assets and companies in the United States. In each case, we draw on the knowledge of our traditional M&A practice teams, our International practice and our tested network of firms outside of the United States to offer clients a seamless and efficient legal solution for multijurisdictional M&A engagements.