Yvan-Claude Pierre is a partner in the Corporate and Finance practice, based in New York. He focuses his practice on representing privately held and publicly traded companies, investment banks, financial institutions and, private equity and venture capital clients in corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, contract negotiation, corporate governance and regulatory compliance matters (including SEC, NYSE and NASDAQ matters). Many of his clients are based in the United States, Europe and India.

He also has considerable experience in private equity and venture capital financings, as well as all types of capital markets and corporate transactions. These include:

• Representation of issuers as well as underwriters in a wide variety of public and quasi-public offerings of equity and debt securities, including IPOs, convertible debt, PIPEs, trust preferred and 144A offerings
• Representation of purchasers or sellers in the structuring and negotiation of merger and acquisition transactions and in the senior and mezzanine financing of the acquisition
• Representation of private equity funds in the acquisition of portfolio companies and in the senior and mezzanine financing for such acquisitions
• Representation of issuers or investors in the private placement of equity and debt securities
• Advising directors and senior management on strategic planning and securities law matters
• Representation in commercial and technology transactions, including the structuring and documentation of intellectual property licensing; outsourcing manufacturing and distribution arrangements; joint venture relationships (international and domestic); purchase and supply agreements; and e-commerce transactions
• Advising startup entities in the structuring and formation of corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, including documenting stockholder agreements, operating agreements, buy-sell arrangements and voting trust agreement

Before entering law school, Mr. Pierre worked in the financial investments groups at TIAA-CREF and Morgan Stanley and as an accountant on the financial audit staff of Ernst & Young LLP. While attending law school, he worked in the private client group at Merrill Lynch & Co.

The Network Journal has named Mr. Pierre to its "40-Under-Forty" list of rising African-American stars in the United States.

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Representation of private equity funds, in their acquisitions of more than 15 portfolio companies for over $2 billion in the aggregate, and in their financings for such acquisitions
• Representation of several venture capital funds, in connection with their investments in more than 30 portfolio companies in various industries for over $220 million in the aggregate
• Representation of Broadband Enterprises, the premiere online video network, in connection with a $10 million strategic equity investment by Velocity Interactive Group
• Representation of a leading provider of long-haul marine transportation in one of the largest commercial tankers construction project in the US, which included various financing transactions, including the refinancing of its $310 million senior secured credit facility, $70 million PIPE offering, $100 million 144A offering of seniors secured notes, and $500 million joint venture financing arranged by Lehman Brothers, Inc. and CIBC World Markets
• Representation of Clear Channel Communications, a leading global media and entertainment company in the spinoff of shares of common stock of its entertainment business, Live Nation, Inc., one of the world’s largest diversified promoters and producers of live entertainment events, and the listing of its securities on the NYSE and in its $610 million senior secured credit facility
• Representation of a national independent pharmacy benefit manager, ranked by Fortune magazine as one of the fastest growing companies, in its acquisitions and securities matters, including the acquisition of a pharmacist-run company that provides PBM services, health care, data services and health care management programs to commercial and multiple managed Medicaid plans nationwide
• Representation of a portfolio company of a private equity fund, in its acquisitions of a leading petroleum-based products transportation company for $30 million plus additional consideration, and a leading transportation and logistics services company for approximately $20 million, and in the senior secured financings for such acquisitions
• Representation of a leading transportation company in its proposed initial public offering of its common units representing limited partner interests for $133.5 million (excluding the over-allotment option), with Citigroup, Lehman Brothers and UBS Investment Bank acting as representatives of the underwriters
• Representation of a leading Canadian oil and gas company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange in its cash tender offer for all outstanding common shares of Prima Energy Corporation, a leading regional energy corporation for a total acquisition price of US $534 million
• Representation of a rapidly expanding pharmaceutical services company in the issuance and sale of its series A convertible preferred stock to New Mountain Capital, a leading New York based private equity investment fund, for approximately $80 million, and the use of approximately $50 million of the investment to conduct an issuer tender offer to purchase up to 4.5 million shares of its common stock
• Representation of a leading international multi-media company operating magazines, television channel and other media outlets serving the worldwide multicultural urban market, in the private placement of its shares of common and preferred stock to The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and other investors
• Representation of a leading global investment banking, securities trading and brokerage firm, acting as lead underwriter, in the secondary public offering of the common stock by a leading supplier of defense electronic products and systems, with proceeds in the aggregate amount of $112 million.

Admissions

• Connecticut
• New York
• United States Tax Court

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• New York City Bar (formerly Association of the Bar of the City of New York)
• Financial Reporting Committee, Member
• Securities Regulation Committee, Adjunct Participant
• Connecticut State Bar Association

Civic and Charitable

• Futures In Education Foundation
• Fundraising Committee Member, 2004 - 2008
• Youth About Business
• New York Advisory Board, 2006 - 2008