The international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP announced that corporate and securities attorney Darrell R. Windham has joined as Co-Managing Shareholder of its Austin office and Chair of its Texas Corporate & Securities Practice. He has more than 30 years of experience assisting clients with business, corporate finance and securities matters, including mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions and public and private securities offerings. He also advises clients on business start-ups and structures, strategic alliances, joint ventures, securities law reporting and compliance, and other domestic and international business transactions.
Windham has handled historic transactions in Texas, including representing Tony Lama Boot Company in its public securities work and its subsequent sale to Justin Industries through a public tender offer; and serving as lead counsel to a publicly held medical device company, Encore Medical Corporation, in its acquisition by Blackstone Capital Partners V, L.P. The total value of the Encore transaction was approximately $900 million (including public debt and senior secured debt offerings aggregating $600 million) which, at the time of the closing, represented the most ever paid for an Austin-based company. Windham is a leader in the Texas community, particularly with The University of Texas at Austin, having served as President and Chairman of its alumni association, The Texas Exes, and on its Commission of 125, the Executive Committee of the Chancellor’s Council of the University of Texas System, and as a member of the Men’s Athletic Council. Windham also serves on the boards of the Texas TriCities Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors; the Austin Chamber of Commerce – Economic Development Corporation; The Austin Museum of Art; the Nature Conservancy’s Central Texas Chapter; and the Texas Business Hall of Fame.
“We continue to be a unified firm that focuses on our unmatched U.S. platform and key global locations to empower our lawyers to compete locally as well as globally,” said Richard A. Rosenbaum, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are fully committed to building our Texas platform, delivering value that makes a difference to our clients here and elsewhere. Darrell brings deep relationships throughout the state with the investment banking, private equity and venture capital communities, as well as strong capabilities with respect to corporate, securities and M&A matters for large, middle market and early stage companies.”
“I saw in Greenberg Traurig a unique firm that has grown steadily while staying close to its core cultural values. It has built a significant presence in the world’s key financial and business centers while remaining fully committed to empowering its people on the ground and truly embracing each of its local communities,” said Windham. “At this stage of my career, I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of building something special in this kind of environment.” Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig, Windham was the head of the Corporate/Business section in the Austin office of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP.
“We are fortunate to have Darrell join Greenberg Traurig,” said Barry Senterfitt, Co-Managing Shareholder of the Austin office. “Darrell’s considerable experience in leading some of the largest transactions for both publicly and privately-held companies in Texas, the U.S. and abroad make him well-suited to lead the Corporate Practice for our state. As Co-Managing Shareholder of the Austin office, he will also help guide our efforts as we continue to expand and grow our presence in Austin and throughout Texas.”
Gary Epstein, the Chair of the firm’s Global Corporate & Securities Practice, added, ”Darrell complements our group because he embodies the skills, experience and commitment to client service that are the basis of our corporate team’s global reputation. We look forward to having him as a resource in Texas. and in collaborating with him throughout our network to help his clients achieve their objectives.”
Windham’s addition comes on the heels of the announcement that renowned M&A attorney Dennis J. Block had joined Greenberg Traurig in New York, as Senior Chairman of its Global M&A Practice. Comprised of more than 350 lawyers in more than 30 offices, Greenberg Traurig’s Corporate and Securities/M&A Practice provides advice and services to companies and entrepreneurs throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Greenberg Traurig’s practice groups and attorneys have been recognized as No. 1 in their respective geographic regions by The National Law Journal, Chambers & Partners, Corporate Board Member magazine, Latin Lawyer magazine and numerous regional and local professional publications. Most recently, Greenberg Traurig ranked 5th among all law firms representing investment banks in U.S. mergers and acquisitions transactions, with 12 announced transactions, in the 2011 Six-Month Banker Representations listing published by Corporate Control Alert. Firms were ranked by the total number of deals having a value of $100 million or more during the period from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011. According to league table reports published by Bloomberg, mergermarket and Thomson Reuters, during the first half of 2011, Greenberg Traurig had 50 M&A deals announced globally, with a value of approximately $60 billion, up from 30 announced deals valued at approximately $16 billion in the first half of 2010. The firm’s advance was propelled by its role in several high-profile transactions. Greenberg Traurig ranked in the top 15 law firms nationally and top 20 law firms globally in eight rankings in the reports, which highlight deal activity at top law firms across a broad array of deal types, regions, and industry sectors.
Windham holds a J.D., with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law and a B.B.A., with highest honors, in Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin.
