John Laco is a corporate partner in O’Melveny’s Los Angeles office and a member of the Transactions Department. John represents private and public companies, private equity and pension funds and family investment offices in mergers and acquisitions (buy-side and sell-side), equity and debt financing and recapitalization transactions.
John also provides boards of directors, CEOs and executive management with general corporate advice (fiduciary duties, executive compensation, corporate structure and stockholder agreements) and counsel with respect to joint ventures and other strategic decisions. John has experience across a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, professional services, medical devices, apparel, aerospace, entertainment, retail, software and technology, including semiconductor and clean energy technologies.
Illustrative Professional Experience
Representing Brookfield Asset Management in private equity transactions
Representing the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board in connection with portfolio company investment and disposition transactions, including the NYSE initial public offering of GNC, holding company of General Nutrition Centers
Advising Mitsubishi Corporation in portfolio company investment and disposition transactions
Representing MacSteel Global B.V. in the sale of its U.S. operations, MacSteel Service Centers USA, to Klöckner USA, a subsidiary of Klöckner & Co SE
Representing Guess?, Inc. in general corporate and securities law matters
Counseling Rosendin Holdings, Inc. in general corporate, legal structure, and stockholder matters
Representing Global Communication Semiconductors in a California recapitalization preceding reincorporation into the Cayman Islands
Advising Beachpoint Capital in portfolio company investment and recapitalization transactions
Representing American Capital, Ltd. in dozens of leveraged buy-out investments, portfolio company dispositions, portfolio company “add-on” acquisitions and recapitalization transactions, including sales of Axygen BioScience to Corning, Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company to RLJ Capital, and United Food Group to The Yucaipa Companies
Representing Castle & Cooke in the acquisition of Inland Cold Storage
Representing DIRECTV in the acquisition of 180 Connect, Inc.
Representing an electric automobile manufacturer in a successful California fairness hearing and rescission offer, and merger transactions
Counseling the Special Committee of the Board of a NASDAQ listed company in connection with “interested party” transactions
Representing private companies in multiple strategic acquisition transaction acquisitions
International Experience
Mr. Laco has substantial experience working on international mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, in both Asia and Europe.
Recognitions
Mr. Laco has been recognized by The Legal 500 United States 2011 and 2010 publication as a leading lawyer for private equity buyouts and by the 2011 International Financial Law Review 1000 as a leading lawyer for private equity.
