Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli has welcomed two new shareholders to the firm’s St. Louis office and its Business Department – J. Powell Carman and C. Brendan Johnson. Joining Polsinelli from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, both are experienced corporate attorneys who guide clients through transformative and complex transactions, securities financing, corporate matters, strategic alliances and venture capital investments. Their addition comes on the heels of the recent hiring of Raymond Jacobi and Matthew Weill, further demonstrating Polsinelli’s exceptional growth momentum in the corporate space.
“Powell and Brendan are outstanding attorneys who have earned their great reputations. Their addition reflects our continuing focus on the expansion of our department and the investment we are making in our high-priority areas of M&A, private equity and venture capital,” said Jane E. Arnold Co-Chair of Polsinelli’s Business Department.
“I am excited to join Polsinelli and offer the firm’s broader resources and deeper bench to our agri-business and ag-tech clients. I think our clients will particularly benefit from this in the areas of strategic investment and transactions,” said Carman.
“I was drawn to Polsinelli’s exceptional venture capital and M&A capabilities and its unmatched national platform,” said Johnson. “With clients in agri-business, distribution, software, life sciences, medtech and venture capital investing, Polsinelli’s robust full-service offering and depth in venture capital and M&A transactions make it a perfect fit. I am also excited to work with my new colleagues and reconnect with former colleagues across the firm’s offices.”
Carman counsels private and publicly held clients on general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital investments, strategic alliances, licenses, commercial agreements and other business issues. His practice focuses largely on clients in the life sciences, agribusiness, ag biotech and food industries. He has extensive experience guiding national and international biotech and agribusiness companies through acquisitions and divestitures and serves as outside general counsel for a number of privately held companies and nonprofit organizations. Carman received his J.D., with honors, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and his B.S., cum laude, from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is joining Polsinelli in the Corporate M&A Practice Group.
Johnson has a broad-based corporate practice with concentrations in venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities law, and corporate governance matters. He has represented clients ranging from emerging companies to public companies in matters such as private placements of debt and equity securities, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and strategic commercial arrangements. He also has experience with initial public offerings and other public securities offerings as well as SEC periodic reports and proxy materials. In addition, Johnson has represented numerous private equity-backed companies in connection with their acquisition programs and other strategic transactions. Johnson received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and his A.B., cum laude, from Princeton University. He is joining Polsinelli in the Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Companies Practice Group.
Polsinelli’s Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures Practice closes deals. Spanning multiple industries, the firm’s attorneys complete transactions for private and public companies. They work collaboratively with in-house personnel and coordinate efforts with clients’ investment bankers, local and foreign counsel, accounting firms and other advisers to provide high caliber, integrated legal advice covering all areas needed for a seamless negotiation and closing process. By taking the time to understand the economic and value-related consequences singular to clients’ business transactions, Polsinelli attorneys work to protect interests and lead in the navigation of a full range of deal options.
Polsinelli’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Companies Practice is focused on representing investment funds and venture-backed companies across a range of industry verticals, with a special concentration on disruptive technology, consumer, food and beverage healthcare and biotech/life sciences. While primarily focused on growth and later-stage equity, Polsinelli’s attorneys routinely represent seed funds and start-ups, and other pre-Series A companies. The team’s approach and processes allow Polsinelli’s clients to receive thorough and diligent counsel, but with the speed, pace and economics that venture capital requires
Source: www.polsinelli.com
