Chris concentrates his practice on business law, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, mezzanine finance, private placements and general corporate matters.
Chris is the former co-chair of the firm’s private equity industry team. He represents private equity and mezzanine investment funds, investment groups and portfolio companies in all types of private equity transactions including leverage buyouts, control and non-control equity investments, venture capital investments and add-on acquisitions for portfolio companies.
Chris regularly represents clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings and reorganizations and other business transactions. He also represents private equity funds in all aspects of fund formation. Many of his private equity clients are small business investment companies (SBICs).
Experience
- Representation of a Charlotte-based private equity firm in its investment in a leading manufacturer of safety products.
- Representation of a leading provider of marketing analytics software and professional services in its acquisition of a communications software platform.
- Representation of private equity fund sponsor in connection with the acquisition of leading provider of regulatory compliance software solutions and services.
- Representation of private equity fund sponsor in add-on acquisition of company providing e-learning training solutions to traffic, workplace safety, medical, continuing education.
- Representation of private equity fund sponsors in connection with acquisition of manufacturer and distributor of school uniforms and related apparel.
- Representation of private equity fund sponsor in connection with sale of investment adviser providing investment expertise and research to professional advisers and active investors and investment models to exchange-traded funds and mutual funds.
- Representation of individual owner of a metal fabrication business focused on the ATM market to a private equity group.
- Representation of 15 siblings in the sale of a seafood harvesting, processing and distribution company with operations in the US and Argentina to a Canadian salmon farming company.
- Representation of family owners in connection with metal fabrication business to a private equity fund.
- Representation of private equity fund sponsor in connection with sale of a manufacturer of seamless rolled rings to international manufacturer to an Italian based manufacturing company.
- Representation of mezzanine lender in connection with investment in company providing Southwestern Mexican Style Snacks and Drink mixes.
- Representation of mezzanine lender in connection with investment in manufacturer of cash management systems and robbery deterrent products for retail industry.
- Representation of private equity fund sponsor in leveraged employee stock ownership plan buyout of a multi-location, traditional compounding pharmacy.
- Representation of mezzanine lender in connection with investment in provider of over- the-counter scar treatment products.
- Representation of mezzanine lender in connection with financing of acquisition of automobile parts distributor.
- Representation of institutional investor in preferred stock investment in national distributor of pet food and supplies.
- Representation of a private equity fund sponsor in connection with sale of a national engineering technical services and consulting company.
- Representation of a private equity fund sponsor in connection with sale of national commercial equipment finance and leasing company.
- Representation of a private equity fund sponsor in the acquisition of a provider of technical investment research and money management services.
- Representation of a private equity fund sponsor in connection with sale of quick- service restaurant franchise.
- Representation of a private equity fund sponsor in connection with sale of automobile finance services company.
- Representation of a private equity fund sponsor in connection with acquisition of automobile finance services company.
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The University of North Carolina School of LawJD
with Honors, Articles Editor, The North Carolina Law Review
1991 - University of VirginiaBA1986
Member; Past Member, Grievance Committee, Mecklenburg County Bar
Member, Association for Corporate Growth
Member, North Carolina Bar Association
- Faculty, "Acquisition Target #1: COMPLETED. What's Next?," Acquisitions 101: Webinar Series: Acquisition Target #1: COMPLETED. What’s Next?, August 20, 2014
- Faculty, "Closing Your Acquisition Target While Protecting Your Interests," Acquisitions 101: Webinar Series: Closing Your Acquisition Target While Protecting Your Interests, July 30, 2014
- Faculty, "My Acquisition Target Is Under Contract. Now What?," Acquisitions 101: Webinar Series, July 16, 2014
- Faculty, "How Do I Find the Right Company to Acquire?," Acquisitions 101: Webinar Series, June 25, 2014
- Faculty, "Will your company benefit from a grow through acquisition strategy?," Acquisitions 101 Webinar Series, June 11, 2014
- Speaker, "Transaction Hurdles: Minimize Your Risk and Financial Exposure," Business Owners Advisory Team Webinar Series, June 21, 2012
- Speaker, Detailed Review of the Business Transfer Process: Private Equity Backed Recapitalization Case Study, April 19, 2012
- Speaker, "The Business Transfer Process: A Case Study," Business Owner Advisory Team Webinar Series, April 19, 2012
- Speaker, "Negotiating LOIs: Understanding Market Terms," Business Owner Advisory Team Webinar Series, December 15, 2011
- Speaker, "Maximizing the Value of Your Business," Business Owner Advisory Team Webinar Series, October 20, 2011
- Speaker, "Getting Your Finances in Order Now," Business Owner Advisory Team Webinar Series, August 18, 2011
- Speaker, "Navigating Your Successful Business Transfer," Business Owner Advisory Team Webinar Series, June 16, 2011
- Speaker, National SBIC Summit for Middle Market Funds, October 28, 2010
- Moderator, Distressed M&A: Buying and Selling Financially Troubled Companies, August 27, 2009
- Panelist, Private Equity Fund Formation and Fundraising 2009, March 4, 2009
- Speaker, "The State of the SBIC Program," Fall 2008 Private Equity Webinar Series (SBIC Series), September 3, 2008
- North Carolina
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Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, 2019-2025; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2022-2025; Venture Capital Law, 2024, 2025, Woodward/White, Inc.
Selected for inclusion as a “Leading Lawyer,” Private Equity Buyouts, North Carolina, Legal 500 US, 2018
Named to “Legal Elite,” Corporate Counsel, Business North Carolina, 2011
AV Rating, Martindale Hubbell
- Author, SEC Enforcement Chief Andrew Ceresney Discusses CCO Liability, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, December 15, 2015
- Author, SEC Guidance: Applying Custody Rule to Private Equity Scenarios Involving SPVs, Escrow Accounts, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, July 16, 2014
- Author, The SEC Focuses on Private Equity Managers’ Fees and Expenses, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 12, 2014
- Author, SBIC TechNote 17: Determination of SBIC Common Control, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, February 19, 2013
- Author, Impact of the JOBS Act on Private Fund Managers, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 6, 2012
- Author, Dodd-Frank Adviser Provisions Compliance Dates Delayed, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 12, 2011
- Author, Private Equity Fund Managers Would be Exempt from Advisers Act Registration under Pending Legislation, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 31, 2011
- Author, SBA Issues New Guidelines on Investor Side Letters and Withdrawal Provisions for SBIC Funds, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, October 27, 2010
- Author, The Impact of the Volcker Rule on Managers of Private Funds, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, September 10, 2010
- Author, The Impact of Dodd-Frank on Managers of Private Funds, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, September 2, 2010
- Author, New Source of Limited Partner Capital: SBA Proposes $1 Billion Investment Allocation, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 30, 2010
- Author, SBIC Limited Partners’ Recertification Notice, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 13, 2010
- Author, FDIC to Provide Guidance on Private Equity Bank Investments, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 3, 2009
- Author, SBA Implements Recovery Act Changes for SBIC Funds, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 2, 2009
- Author, SBA Expands Access to SBIC Leverage, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 20, 2009
- Author, SBIC Limited Partners’ Recertification Notice, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 14, 2009