Grant Darwin is a partner in the Corporate Department and a member of the Private Equity and Mergers & Acquisitions Group. Grant advises private capital sponsors and private and public companies in connection with a variety of domestic and cross-border buyouts, joint ventures, restructurings and other strategic transactions, including growth and emerging company equity financings as counsel to investors and companies.
Asset manager clients frequently look to Grant for guidance in critical life cycle events, including GP/asset manager M&A transactions, as well as GP-stakes and GP-led secondary transactions. Beyond financial services, Grant’s experience spans an array of industries, including media, sports and entertainment, technology, retail and consumer products. Grant regularly advises on a variety of corporate governance, commercial and strategic matters.
Beyond his corporate practice, Grant engages in a range of pro bono efforts and volunteer work, including voter registration and election protection initiatives and serving as a mentor for elementary school students in NYC public schools through Read Ahead.
Education
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University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D.
magna cum laude
Order of the Coif
Journal of Law and Social Change, Executive Articles Editor for Outreach
Inaugural Penn Law Sports Law Symposium presented by the Heisman Trust, Co-organizer
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Vanderbilt University, B.A.
cum laude
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The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Certificate in Finance and Management
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
Awards & Recognition
Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2023-2025
The Legal 500 United States: M&A Corporate & Commercial: Large Deals ($1bn+) 2024
Matters
Summary of Selected Transactions
- Asset Manager M&A:
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W Capital Partners, an asset manager focused on GP-led and direct secondary transactions with $1.9 billion AUM, in its sale to AXA Investment Managers.
- abrdn Inc., the US subsidiary of global asset manager abrdn, in its sale to High Vista Strategies of abrdn’s US private equity and venture capital capabilities representing approximately $4 billion AUM.
- Newbury Partners, an asset manager specializing in private equity fund LP secondaries with $4.3 billion AUM, in its sale to Bridge Investment Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BRDG).
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- Media, Sports and Entertainment:
- TGL in connection with league organization and the sale of the initial six teams in the innovative, tech-forward, team golf league developed by TMRW Sports in partnership with the PGA TOUR.
- Minute Media, a leading global technology and sports content company, in its transformational publishing rights transaction for Sports Illustrated with Authentic Brands Group.
- Yonkers Racing Corporation in its $850 million sale to MGM Resorts International Ltd. of Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway.
- Discovery Communications in its $120 million sale of a majority interest in Discovery Education, a unit of Discovery Communications that provides digital content and professional development for public schools.
- Discovery Communications in its Series A financing of a production studio focused on virtual reality spherical filmmaking.
- Retail, Commercial and Consumer Goods:
- Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), a worldwide distributor of medical and dental supplies, in numerous acquisition and strategic transactions.
- Decowraps, an intentional floral packaging manufacturer, and its founder Steven Tchira in the sale of Decowraps to Palladin Consumer Retail Partners, LLC.
- Blue Owl in its debt-to-equity conversion and acquisition of Swipe Acquisition Corp. (which operates as PLI), the world’s largest producer of hotel keycards.
- Oasis International, a global manufacturer of manufactures drinking water coolers, non-refrigerated water fountains, bottled water dispensers and a portfolio company of Patriarch Partners, on its sale to Culligan International.
- KKR Credit Advisors in its acquisition of a minority interest in and debt financing of Z Galleire, a national chain of chain of home furnishing, art and decor retail stores.
- Seacoast Capital in its growth equity investment in AMP Smart, a Utah-based provider of residential security and smart home services.
- L Catterton in its acquisition of Leslie’s Holdings, Inc., the world's largest retailer and online marketer of swimming pool and spa supplies and services.*
- LCatterton in its nearly $1 billion take-private acquisition of Steiner Leisure Limited, a worldwide provider and innovator in the fields of beauty, wellness and education.*
- Other Representative Transactions:
- Stellex Capital Management in its acquisition of the US- and Australia-based conveying business units from Komatsu Mining Corp.
- Represented a leading France-based private equity fund in its equity investment as part of a consortium of equity financing lead by Warburg Pincus and Vista Equity Partners in Infoblox Inc., a leading secure cloud-managed network services company.
- Banbury Private Capital LLC on its growth equity investment in SeaTec Consulting, Inc., a Washington-based aerospace industry technology/business consultant.
- Public Interest Registry, the non-profit manager and registry of the .ORG domain, in its proposed $1.135 billion sale to Ethos Capital.
- Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) in its sale to Premier of GNYHA’s Acurity and Nexera businesses.
- Eye Center of Northern Colorado and related entities in its launch of a strategic partnership and management services organization formed with Archimedes Healthcare Investors.
- Cincinnati Eye Institute in the launch of CEI Vision Partners, a new management services organization formed with an investment from Revelstoke Capital Partners.
- Palladium Equity Partners, LLC in its acquisition of GoodWest Industries, Inc., a leading provider of foodservice dispensing solutions.*
* at prior firm