Chris is a partner in the firm's Business Group and specializes in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and complex business transactions involving debt and equity offerings, serving as legal advisor to financial and strategic buyers and sellers of businesses throughout the middle market. Chris assists clients across a variety of industries that include veterinary medicine, manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, financial services, information technology, agriculture, and business and professional services.
Chris also has significant experience representing companies throughout their business life-cycle and often serves as outside general counsel to his clients in a variety of industries. His experience includes pre-incorporation planning, general corporate representation and counseling, early and middle-stage financing transactions, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions.
Chris holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University, cum laude, and a J.D. from the Michigan State University College of Law, magna cum laude, where he served as the associate editor of the Law Review.
Representative Transactions
- Represented MedVet in its acquisitions of specialty and emergency animal hospitals nationwide.
- Represented an investment fund in multiple equity financings into a technology based, veterinary urgent care start-up in the New York City area.
- Served as regulatory counsel for a private equity-sponsored provider of veterinary services in its sale to a large west coast private equity buyer.
- Served as buyer, seller and corporate counsel for multiple businesses in the veterinary services industry sector.
- Represented a family office in its investment in a steel manufacturing and fabrication facility in Memphis, TN.
- Represented a family office in its investments in a national security and surveillance business.
- Represented Kronos Foods Corp. in the divestiture of a division of its food services operations.
- Represented a healthcare industry-focused software technology company in its sale to a technology-focused private equity fund, and subsequent sale to a large private equity buyer.
- Represented a private equity fund in the acquisition of a nationwide clinical trials practice and multiple add-on acquisitions.
- Represented Diamond Cellar in its recapitalization.
- Represented United Retirement Plan Consultants, Inc. in its acquisition of MGA Consultants, Inc. and actual sale.
- Represented multiple venture capital-backed companies in the retail, technology and business services industries in connection with equity and debt financings.
- Represented an agricultural grain company in the acquisition of multiple grain elevators.
- Represented Purepay Capital in multiple acquisitions of payment processing, credit collection and financial services companies.
- Represented Stonehenge Opportunity Fund II, LP in multiple mezzanine debt and equity investments.
- Represented Live Technologies, LLC in its recapitalization and multiple add on acquisitions.
- Represented ARPAC, LLC in its acquisition of Global Material Handling, Inc.
- Represented ARPAC, LLC in its sale to Duravant, LLC, and subsequent sale to a large private equity buyer.
- Represented a private equity fund in multiple leveraged buyouts, ambulatory surgery center and business services industries.
Speaking Engagements
- Keynote speaker to Columbus Chapter of Financial Executives International regarding “Key Trends and Market Outlook in Mergers and Acquisitions for 2019” - Jan. 22, 2019
- Panel moderator for the “Third Annual Central Ohio M&A and Capital Markets Forum: How Deals Are Getting Done” - June 20, 2018
- Panel moderator for the “Third Annual Central Ohio M&A and Capital Markets Forum: How Deals Are Getting Done” - June 21, 2017
- "Building Your Own Successful Business Model," OH&LA 2015 Annual Conference & Gala, Columbus, OH - Nov. 16, 2015
- "Construction Reform," Newly Elected Mayors Workshop, Mayors Association of Ohio Conference, Co-presenter, Columbus, OH - June 27, 2012
- “Municipal Contracting and Construction Reform,” Co-presenter, Cleveland, OH - Dec. 16, 2011
- “Public Construction Seminar,” Co-presenter, Columbus, OH - Sept. 9, 2011