Stuart is a partner in the firm's Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group and is the former chair of the firm's International Committee. He focuses his practice on private equity transactions, securities laws, international and domestic mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate matters. He represents private equity firms, financial institutions, management teams, investment banks, public companies and private issuers in a range of domestic and international investment activities. Stuart joined Thompson Hine in 1996 and became a partner in 2001. Prior to joining the firm, Stuart was a corporate finance solicitor in England. He is licensed to practice law in the state of New York as well as England and Wales (inactive).
Education
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law, LL.M., 1998
- The College of Law, York, England, LSF, 1992
- London Guildhall University, B.A., 1991, (Hons)
Representative Matters
- Private Equity:
- Representation of various private equity funds in connection with investments in chemicals, manufacturing, media, medical device, plastics, telecommunications and financial services businesses.
- Representation of Bank Holding Company Act entities and other investors in a range of primary and secondary private equity and venture capital fund investment transactions.
- Representation of management teams in investment and exit situations including, in one instance, a $250,000,000 multi-venture fund media start-up with a subsequent $100,000,000 second round financing.
- Representation of issuers in multiple financing rounds with angel, venture capital and strategic investors on a national basis.
- Representation of public companies in connection with “corporate venturing” investments in various industries.
- Mergers & Acquisitions:
- Representation of buyers and sellers of domestic and international businesses in auction situations with consideration ranging from $10,000,000 to $400,000,000.
- Representation of overseas public companies, particularly those headquartered in the U.K. and Ireland, in connection with acquisitions of businesses in the United States.
- Acquisition by private equity backed specialty chemicals company of division of public company for $100,000,000.
- Representation of U.S. shareholders in connection with the sale of a global pharmaceutical business to a private equity fund. Transaction valued in excess of $150,000,000.
- Purchase of the worldwide electronic metals business of a French multinational company by global specialty chemicals company. Led multi-jurisdictional team of lawyers in France, Germany and Australia.
- Sale of U.S. and Italian food business for shares of a public U.S. multinational. Consideration valued in excess of $175,000,000.
- Representation of U.S. public company in connection with sale of mining businesses.
- Representation of Irish public company in the healthcare sector in connection with U.S. acquisitions.
- Representation of investor group in connection with the "take private" of an Irish public company listed on London's AIM.
- Representation of a multi-jurisdictional shareholder group in the sale of the world's largest polar expedition cruise business (with U.K. law firm, Burges Salmon LLP) to a multi-national public company.