Biography
Jeffrey A. Fickes focuses on private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate matters for businesses and investors throughout the United States and internationally.
Jeff brings decades of experience in business to his role as a trusted adviser to company owners, boards, and senior executives. He has served as lead counsel on domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, private equity, venture capital, recapitalizations, debt and equity financings, and other strategic transactions, as well as corporate governance and organizational matters in virtually every industry and sector.
Jeff has real-world business experience that provides him with unique perspective as a lawyer. He grew up in a closely held business environment, and before entering private legal practice he held corporate financial management positions in both public and private companies. Jeff also is a serial private equity investor and has an MBA in corporate finance from the Fisher College of Business, where he was the Banc One Capital Fellow (awarded annually to the top Fisher College MBA finance student) and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Fraternity.
Experience
As lead counsel, Jeff has represented:
- A private equity firm in the capital raise, acquisition, and financing of an international specialty gauge and sensor manufacturer.
- A private equity firm in its capital raise, acquisition, and financing of a national specialty and truck vehicle body design and up-fitting service and product distribution company.
- A global Chinese-headquartered public company, through its international California-based parts manufacturer, in a North American joint venture with a Mexican-based company.
- An e-commerce logistics software technology company in its Series A and Series B preferred venture capital investment rounds and $20 million Reg. D notes/warrants offering.
- A global Chinese-headquartered public company, through its international California-based parts manufacturer, in multiple acquisitions and related financings throughout North America.
- A bank holding company in its preferred equity growth investment from a California-based private equity firm.
- A private equity firm in its capital raise, acquisition, and financing of a national building products manufacturer/distributor.
- A global U.S.-headquartered parts manufacturer/distributor in its acquisition and financing of an international Michigan-based company.
- A global Chinese-headquartered public company in its direct venture capital investment in a Silicon Valley-based software technology company.
- A Chicago-based software technology company in its Series A preferred venture capital investment from a public company strategic investor.
- A private equity firm in its capital raise, acquisition, and financing of a national commercial infrastructure products distributor.
- A private equity firm and its international New York-based portfolio company in its joint venture with an international European parts manufacturer.
- A global U.S.-headquartered parts manufacturer/distributor in its international joint venture with a global European-headquartered public company.
- A private equity firm and its international New York-based portfolio company in its capital raise and leveraged growth recapitalization, and related refinancing.
- An international Midwest- and Toronto-based commercial real estate services company in its sale to a global public company headquartered in California.
- A national business finance company in its sale to an international private equity-backed company based in Florida.
- A bank in its merger with a bank holding company and its subsidiary bank.
- An international industrial equipment manufacturer in its sale to a global Japanese-headquartered public company.
- An international parts manufacturer in its spin-off and sale of a division to an international company.
- An international Southeast-based parts manufacturer in its sale to a global India-headquartered public company.
- A publicly traded bank holding company in its private placement of equity securities.
- An international chemical manufacturer in its sale to a private equity firm, and subsequent sale to a global public company.
- A private equity firm in its sale of a hardwood manufacturing portfolio company to a strategic acquirer.
- An international laser manufacturer in its sale to a global Swiss-headquartered public company.
- An international industrial equipment manufacturer in its acquisition of a Canadian-based company.
- A medical product manufacturer in its sale to a global public company.
- A leveraged management buyout of a multi-state retail chain.
News & Views
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Media Coverage
Noteworthy Media Coverage
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Speaking Engagement
Noteworthy Speaking Engagements
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Press Release
Blank Rome Welcomes Leading Private Equity and M&A Team in New York
Recognitions
- 2018–2024, Corporate Law (New York), listed in The Best Lawyers in America
- 2024, M&A: Middle-Market (Sub-$500m), listed in The Legal 500 United States
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated
Affiliations
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Association for Corporate Growth
- Association for Corporate Growth Executive Vice President and Board of Directors
- American Bar Association Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Committees
- The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business Alumni Board
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Fellow
- United Way Tocqueville and Philanthropist Societies
- United Way Corporate Fundraising Cabinet
Credentials
Admissions
- New York
- Ohio
- Texas
Education
- Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, JD
- University of Akron, BS
- Ohio State University, MBA