Barnes & Thornburg
Barnes & Thornburg was born from the merger in 1982. It has 19 offices, plus a satellite branch, in 14 states.
Focusses / specialisms
Barnes & Thornburg’s presence is felt most in Indiana and Michigan, where it does notable work in banking and finance.
The firm does good work in the banking and finance practice area. The team represents lenders in loan and credit facility agreements, as well as refinancing transactions. They represent many clients in the banking and financial services industry.
Key clients
The firm has a large amount of clients in the banking and financial services industry, but they are confidential.
Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Throughout the research period, the banking and finance team advised lenders in numerous term loan and credit facility transactions. It also worked on a couple of refinancing transactions. All of their transactions are confidential.
In terms of lateral moves, the firm brought over partners Jenni Tauzel and Jason Myers from Winstead and Hudson Advisors, respectively. Partner Michael Kaye retired and partner Patrick Sullivan left the firm as well.
Client feedback: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Banking
“Mike Campbell and his Barnes team do an excellent job from the beginning of a new relationship through and beyond close. Mike provides great ideas to fine tune structure and amend documentation language to satisfy all parties involved. He is a trusted, valuable partner that I know will get the job done efficiently and accurately. Additionally his paralegal, Melissa Porter, is awesome to work with as well. When I engage Mike to work on a new opportunity I know exactly what to expect and without surprises.”
“Comprehensive service offering with experts in various fields. Timely and responsive. Appropriate cost/value proposition.”
“Always provides sound advice, creative, flexible, and timely.”
“Works with bank and borrower’s counsel to agreeable solutions.”
Bodman
Founded in 1929, Bodman is one of the leading firms in Michigan for financial and corporate law. The firm has five offices throughout Michigan: Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Cheboygan, Troy and Detroit. Key partners include chair of the firm, Carrie Leahy, chair of the banking practice, Robert Diehl, chair of the automotive and industrial practice, Laurence Deitch and co-chairs of the business practice group, Timothy Damschroder and Gene Bowen.
Focusses / specialisms
Bodman does outstanding work in M&A and banking and finance. In M&A, the firm advises strategic buyers and sellers in acquisition related matters. It also advises clients in follow on investments.
Though the firm has experience in a plethora of industries, is has special expertise in the automotive, technology, manufacturing and industrial industries. The banking and finance team represents lenders in credit facility agreements, loan agreements, acquisition financing and mortgage loans.
Key clients
Key clients for the firm include Novares, PridesCrossing Capital, Olcott Plastics, Bank of Ann Arbor, Comerica Bank, CIBC Bank, the Huntington National Bank and LevelOne Bank.
Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)
In the most recent research period, the M&A team continued to represent strategic buyers and sellers in the automotive, financial services, manufacturing and industrial industries in acquisitions. The banking and finance team advised lenders in term loans, revolving loans, credit facilities and acquisition financing agreements.
The corporate practice brought over partners Joseph Nuyen and Jill Miller from Nuyen Tomtishen & Aoun, Varnum, respectively. Partner John “Jack” Carver joined the firm, previously serving as an in-house counsel. Of counsel Richard Hoeg moved to the firm from Honigman. Partner Mary Comazzi moved to become an of counsel at Barnes & Thornburg. In the banking and finance practice, partner Brian Kersey joined from McShane & Bowie. Partner Wendy Zabriskie left the firm shortly after.
Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Bank of Ann Arbor $102 million acquisition of First National Bank in Howell, MI
Lakeshore Recycling Systems $120 million revolving credit line and $80 million term loan
Client feedback: 30th edition (2019/2020)
M&A
“Responsive, smart, creative, great communication, timely, cost reasonable.”
“Great subject matter expertise. Responsive and practical. Cost effective.”
Real Estate
“Strong attention to detail, very responsive, clear and concise communications.”
Honigman
Honigman is one of the market leaders in Michigan for business law. In addition to its Michigan offices in Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing, the firm has out of state offices in Chicago and Washington D.C. The firm was founded in 1948 in Detroit, which serves as the largest office and its headquarters.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm has experience in almost every industry and has a top tier corporate department. In M&A, the team finds itself both on the buyer and seller side in strategic and private equity acquisitions and divestments. It works on both public and private M&A transactions.
The firm also has capital markets experience in securitizations and derivatives.
Key clients
Key clients for the firm include Agree Realty, O2 Investment Partners, Syntron Material Handling, Rockbridge Growth Equity, Taubman Centers, Limback Holdings, VW Credit, Ashford University, Kenwal Steel and Mahindra North American Technical Center.
Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Over the research period the corporate team worked regularly on acquisitions, representing mostly strategic buyers and sellers. It did also assist with private equity acquisitions and a Series D financing. The team also worked on capital markets transactions, specifically ABS and forwards.
The Chicago office’s corporate practice had a great year in terms of recruitment. It brought over Erin Broderick from Borderless Law, Eric Buske from Koley Jessen and Garrett Lorentz and Brian Tweedie from Kirkland & Ellis. In Michigan, corporate partner Jordan Schwartz and senior counsel Jeremy Scherlinck left for Miller Johnson.
Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)
Agree Realty $208 million forward offering
ORIX Capital Partners acquisition of NTI Connect
