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| Phone: (312) 857-2630 |
Fax: (312) 857-7095 |
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| Mr. Lavender's practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financings, general corporate counseling and taxation. As a former tax lawyer, Mr. Lavender brings an added dimension to his corporate practice. |
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Representative Experience:
Mergers & Acquisitions
Mr. Lavender has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions ranging from small asset acquisitions/dispositions to multi-million dollar transactions, including providing strategic counsel and conducting primary negotiations. Advised numerous manufacturing clients on strategic alliances, balancing protection of intellectual property, management control and economic expectations. He represents sellers and financial and strategic buyers, as well as private equity firms.
Mergers & Acquisitions Matters
Represented a skin and hair care consumer products company in a $43 million sale of the company to a consortium of private equity firms.
Represented an Ohio-based energy services firm and a Chicago-based technology firm in Alternative Public Offering transactions (reverse merger into a public shell).
Represented a Chicago-based private equity fund in the various acquisitions ranging from $5 to $20 million for high-tech, manufacturing, distribution, telecommunications and publishing companies in various stages of development.
Represented a publicly traded company in the acquisition of a dairy products manufacturer.
Represented management in a $60 million private equity buyout of a direct marketing company.
Represented publicly-traded company in a $28 million acquisition of a telecommunications service firm.
Represented registered investment advisor in the $160 million sale of the company to a Canadian based public company.
Equity and Debt Financing
Mr. Lavender has many years of experience in representing clients in connection with debt and equity financing, including representing issuers and investors. His experience ranges from early state venture financing to more traditional private equity funding. He assists clients in preparation for financings, including preparing private placement memorandums. Mr. Lavender has extensive securities experience, familiar with both the private and public issuance of equity and debt. His experience includes representing private investment funds in their formation and operation.
Equity and Debt Financing Matters
Represents a major Chicago-based second lien financing fund, a division of a large US based bank. Mr. Lavender has represented this fund in several financings ranging from $7.5 million to $20 million.
Represented various commercial lenders loans ranging from $10 million to $50 million in various industries.
Represented various registered investment advisors in their general corporate needs. Specifically assisted one of these advisor in a leveraged ESOP transaction of $10 million (subsequently sold – see above).
Represented issuer in two 144A financings totaling $78 million for the acquisition of real estate.
Represented a Midwest-based in various venture capital fundings in over $100 million of equity investments in high tech companies.
Represented issuer in a $128 million debt equity offering for the development of hotel and leisure property.
Represented a large life insurance company in the formation of a $300 million mezzanine debt fund and the formation of a $200 million affiliate fund.
Represented a $1.0 billion hedge fund in its formation and annual securities filings.
General Corporate Counseling
Mr. Lavender regularly acts as outside general counsel for his clients. With his tax, corporate, and securities background, Mr. Lavender is able to handle a myriad of projects without assistance. This allows for an efficient delivery of legal advice to a client when appropriate. Additionally, with an undergraduate degree and work experience in accounting, Mr. Lavender can understand the financial and accounting impact to operational issues. In this respect, Mr. Lavender's role ranges from negotiating contracts (including employment, joint venture, distribution and lease agreements) to advising clients on corporate structure (including entity formations) to providing advice with respect to general governance issues. |
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Honors and Awards:
Ranked in the 2008 and 2009 editions of Chambers USA as a leading practitioner in the corporate/M&A area. |
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Client Advisories:
"SEC Proposes Rule Regarding the Registration of Certain Hedge Fund Advisers," August 02, 2004.
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Bar Admissions:
Kentucky
Illinois
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| Education:
University of Louisville, J.D., 1987
University of Notre Dame, B.B.A., 1982
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Office Location:
333 West Wacker Drive
26th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606
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