Jay M. Tannon

Jay M. Tannon

Of Counsel
Washington, DC
About

Jay Tannon concentrates his practice on international and domestic business acquisitions, infrastructure projects and other strategic transactions.

Jay has been lead counsel to US, Canadian, Asian and European private investment funds, as well as to public and private companies, on numerous acquisitions, joint ventures, company and project investments, capital formation and other commercial matters.

Jay co-founded American Infrastructure Holdings. AIH focuses on water and other infrastructure project development. He also co-founded Novus Energy Partners, a transatlantic energy technology fund. Jay has held executive committee and numerous other leadership roles in international law firms, and he has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for 25 consecutive years.

Jay's legal practice has focused primarily on the energy, transportation and communications sectors. Illustratively, he has served as counsel for investments in or sales of toll roads, ports, airline and air cargo operations, rail systems, barge systems, renewable energy and conventional power projects, as well as media and telecom assets. That said, he has helped companies and investment funds acquire and /or sell fintech, cleantech, information and other technology companies, defense businesses and other government contractors, wineries, golf courses and racetracks, as well as a wide range of service and manufacturing businesses.

Areas of FocusEnergy and Natural ResourcesFinancial ServicesCorporateFinancePrivate EquityEmerging Growth and Venture CapitalMergers and Acquisitions
Bar admissionsDistrict of Columbia

EXPERIENCE

Jay has had the privilege of assisting such investment firms as Onex, Oncap, Teachers Private Capital, Instar Invest, Arcapita, Imperial Capital, EdgeStone, Highbridge, Richardson Capital, Rutland Partners, China Vision, Capricorn Investment Group, AMP Capital, Novus Energy Partners, Tsang's Group and Altas Partners; and he has provided counsel to such prominent companies as UPS, Pacific Links, Vincor, American Commercial Lines, Isolux, Nielsen, AIG, Cox Communications, Cogeco, D+H Financial, PRT Growing Services, AMC Networks and Moody's Analytics, among many others. Jay maintains effective working relationships with leading international investment and commercial banks, as well as with international investment and trade promotion agencies. He has developed strong working relationships with a range of advisory groups and political leaders in Washington.

Awards

Jay has for more than 25 years been awarded an AV rating, the highest available, by Martindale-Hubbell; has been consistently included in The Best Lawyers in America; and recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business and in Lawyers of Distinction. Since 2009, he has been named among the "Best Lawyers in Washington" and he has been recognized by The Legal 500 United States for his private equity work.
Education
  • J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
  • B.A., University of North Carolina
    summa cum laude

Bylines

Seminars

Jay often addresses legal and business audiences on a range of topics, including infrastructure, private equity and international business acquisitions. Illustrative recent speaking engagements by Jay include addressing the Harvard Sustainability Leadership Program, a Washington conference on infrastructure, a Milken Institute Roundtable on resilient infrastructure, a Stockholm conference on clean technology, a Washington conference on US-India renewable energy, a Beijing business conference on making North American investments, a New York conference on investing in China, as well as contrasting US and Canadian business acquisitions for a legal and business audience in Montreal. Jay has published numerous professional articles in bar association, M&A and industry journals; and he has authored opinion pieces for Bloomberg, Politico, The Hill, Business Insider, and Infrastructure Investor.

Media Mentions

Prior Experience

Jay has served as co-chair of DLA Piper's Private Equity practice. Before joining DLA Piper, Jay co-chaired the private equity and China practices of a major international law firm. Prior to that, he served on the executive committee and led the international transactions practice of a 500-attorney law firm in the central United States. He helped oversee strategic planning, client relations and ancillary business for that firm.

Additional Accomplishments

In addition to his undergraduate and law degrees, Jay has participated in academic programs at Harvard University, Georgetown University, the University of Toronto and the London School of Economics.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Special Counsel, World Leadership Alliance, Club de Madrid, (2019 – present)
  • Founding Member and Co-chair, Entrepreneurs Circle, Canadian American Business Council, (2019 – present)
  • Member, Cleantech Leaders Roundtable, (2021 – present)
  • Advisory Board Member, Atria Development, (2023 – present)
  • Advisory Board Member, Ceylon Graphite, (2023 – present)
  • Advisory Board Member, Pixstory, (2022 – present)
  • Senior Advisor, Health Growth Capital, (2019 – 2020)
  • Senior Advisor, Norwegian Crystals AS, (2017 – 2019)
  • Advisory Board Member, WTG India, (2017 – 2019)
  • Advisory Board Member, InTrust Global, (2015 – 2018)
  • Advisory Board Member, Alliance for US-India Business, (2014 – 2017)
  • Member, Chancellor's Global Leadership Council, University of North Carolina, (2016 – 2019)
  • Advisory Board Member, University of North Carolina Global Education Center, (2004 – 2014)
  • Advisory Board Member, Clean Tech Open Global Forum, (2011 – 2013)
  • Services Advisory Committee for the US Trade Representative, (2002 – 2006)
  • Venture South Initiative of the Southern Growth Policies Board, (2004 – 2006)
  • Private Equity Committee, Northern Virginia Technology Council, (2004 – 2005)
  • Professional Services Committee, Coalition of Service Industries, (2004 – 2005)
  • ABA Committee on Negotiated Acquisitions; Model Stock Purchase Agreement and International Transactions Task Forces
  • Organizer and Former Executive Committee Member, Evermore Investments LLC
  • Former Member, Steering Committee, International Business Exchange Council
  • Former Chairman, Kentucky World Trade Center (three terms)
  • Former Chairman, US Department of Commerce District Export Council for Kentucky
  • American and District of Columbia Bar Associations
Civic and Charitable

Among civic initiatives, Jay serves as pro bono counsel to the World Leadership Alliance/ Club de Madrid, and he is active with the Canadian American Business Council and the Cleantech Leaders Roundtable. Among past civic endeavors, Jay has served on the USTR/ US Department of Commerce International Advisory Committee for Services and helped the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the CPR Institute of Dispute Resolution create the US-China Business Mediation Center operating in Beijing and New York.

My latest insights

News

DLA Piper advises Rely Home on H.I.G. Capital investment

14 November 2025

News

DLA Piper advises PRT Growing Services in its acquisition of International Forest Company

28 April 2023 .2 minute read

News

DLA Piper advises Epps Aviation in business acquisition by SAR Trilogy Management

24 April 2023 .2 minute read

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Phone

+1 202 799 4204
(Work, Washington, DC)