A&O Shearman U.S. and Americas

Partner Robert E. O'Leary and of counsel Antonia Stolper recently shared their expertise in a thought-provoking interview with Latin Lawyer. As editors and key contributors to the third edition of Latin Lawyer’s Guide to Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG), they discuss the current landscape of ESG compliance and disclosure in Latin America. In their interview, Robert and Antonia emphasize the evolving role of social license, the impact of new reporting standards, and how companies in the region are addressing challenges while aligning with sustainable development goals. Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eYrSgQa9 #AOShearman

How does the IRS’s new Form 15620 impact Section 83(b) Elections? On November 7, 2024, the IRS released Form 15620, providing taxpayers with a standardized way to make Section 83(b) Elections under the Internal Revenue Code. This new form addresses the risk of errors often associated with the historically required self-drafted letters. Partners Ryan Bray and Jai Garg, alongside counsel Matthew Behrens, and associates Austin Jones and Christopher Torikoglu discuss the implications of this development and what it means for taxpayers. Read more here: https://ow.ly/AcnR50UbUS5 #AOShearman

We are proud to share our ranking in Global Investigations Review’s GIR 30 list! The GIR 30 ranks the thirty top law firms for complex multijurisdictional corporate investigations through a rigorous vetting process. Firms are evaluated across several categories, including institutional strength, jurisdictional reach, cross-border caseload, and most significant matters handled over the past two years. This recognition highlights our dedication to excellence in handling sophisticated cross-border investigations. Thank you to our clients for their trust and collaboration! Learn more about the rankings here: https://lnkd.in/gTfucJY3 #AOShearman

Partners Kyle Park and Alain Dermarkar, alongside associates Efren Lemus and Elizabeth Robishaw, represented Alturus Capital in connection with the sale of Encapture to SMA Technologies. Encapture is a machine learning platform that accelerates funding times, improves loan margins and reduces regulatory risk for banks, credit unions and fintech lenders. SMA Technologies, backed by Thoma Bravo, has acquired Encapture to further enhance its capabilities in the fintech space. “We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Alturus in its successful divestiture of an important asset. Our involvement in this uniquely Texas-centered transaction underscores the strengths of our attorneys to meet the needs of investors in this dynamic market,” said partner Kyle Park. Read more about the deal here: https://lnkd.in/e87iWZiJ #AOShearman

Austin office associate, Mina Zaky, recently represented our firm as a panelist at the Harkey Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies Mentor Appreciation Dinner, hosted by the Texas McCombs School of Business. In a dynamic discussion titled “Understanding AI’s Industrial Revolution: Current Innovations and What’s Next,” Mina joined an esteemed lineup of leaders: Gregory Allen, Andy Tryba, and Tom Wala. Together, they explored the cutting-edge developments in AI and shared predictions on how these advancements will continue to reshape industries in the years ahead. Mina’s contributions to such an important dialogue are a true testament to his expertise and drive. We’re inspired by his dedication and seeing him engaged in conversations that matter. #AOShearman #AI

We recently hosted our market-leading U.S. Leveraged Finance Training Camp in NY, with over 1,600 registrants from an impressive roster of firms across private equity, private credit, investment banking and debt advisory. This exceptional turnout speaks to the ambition of our clients and the value of this innovative training program. Following?an intro to A&O Shearman’s powerful debt finance practice, the program offered a comprehensive lineup of sessions led by our partners – from the anatomy of a leveraged capital structure, financing commitments and key covenant concepts to navigating credit agreements, restructuring fundamentals and the latest legal and commercial developments in the market. It was an “outstanding day” of “very insightful” sessions, and “a wonderful experience overall,” according to attendees. A special thanks?to Max Mickiewicz?of?Altas Partners?for his insightful fireside chat! For those interested in LFTC but unable to attend, please reach out for access to the course materials and on-demand recordings. Looking forward to another impactful event next year! #Finance #Credit #PrivateEquity #AOShearman

Our powerhouse U.S. team—Elaine Hughes, Susan Gault-Brown, Barbara Stettner, Hilary Sunghee Seo, Caroline Lapidus, and John Hibbard—recently collaborated with A&O Shearman offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, and Paris to bring invaluable insights directly to EU fund managers and investors through our Coming to America roadshow. Together, they showcased our US Regulatory, Funds & Asset Management and Tax team’s capabilities to EU asset managers and investors through a series of locally held events, equipping attendees with the tools they need to navigate the U.S. funds market. At each stop, we connected with local investors, fund managers, and service providers, delving into strategies for U.S. market entry, fundraising, and regulatory challenges. We are especially grateful for the support of the LPEA - Luxembourg Private Equity & Venture Capital Association and LPEA member Revel Wood, for partnering with us and helping make our Luxembourg session such a success. A heartfelt thank you also to the members of our EU teams that helped bring the roadshow to life—Ellen Cramer-de Jong, Aron Berket, Isabelle Panis, Niels De Waele, Dorothee Atwell, Miao Wang, Jean-Christian Six, Yannick Arbaut, Antoine Sarailler, Brice Henry, Benjamin Lacourt, Pascal Molinelli, and Mathieu Vignon. We are excited to keep these conversations going and look forward to exploring more opportunities with our EU-based clients and partners. Stay tuned for additional events in other areas of the world as part of our ongoing coordination with our global offices! #Funds #AssetManagement #AOShearman

Partner Emily Black and senior associate Billy Marsh have been recognized in The American Lawyer’s Litigator of the Week series for their outstanding work on behalf of Dow, Inc. Their efforts helped Dow successfully fend off litigation from the State of Maine, which was seeking to hold Dow liable for environmental contamination caused by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Dow did not manufacture PFAS, but merged with PFAS manufacturer DuPont in 2017 before the companies later separated in 2019 through a spin-off. Maine District Court Judge Michael Duddy dismissed the state’s claims last week, finding a lack of personal jurisdiction. Congratulations to Emily, Billy, and the entire team on this significant win! Read the full article here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eeBksVM3 #AOShearman

Our team, led by partner Augusto Ruiloba, supported by associates Leopoldo E. Melo Santaella?and Maria Paz Delgado,?represented AES Andes, Colbún, Engie Energía, and Generadora Metropolitana—Chile’s largest electricity generation companies—in the sale of securities issued by the Chilean Electricity Tariff Stabilization Fund (MPC Securities). The transaction employed a pioneering structure to monetize present and future MPC Securities for an amount of up to USD2.4 billion pursuant to Chile’s 2022 stabilization mechanism statute known as the MPC Law. Structured with an innovative USD2.4 billion A/B bond facility by IDB Invest, this transaction will help mitigate the impact on power generation companies in Chile resulting from the deferred payments established by the MPC Law. Read more about the deal here: https://lnkd.in/gbF_g2Ra? #AOShearman

Our finance team, led by Jake Mincemoyer, Thomas Mastoras?and S. Alexandra de Padua, along with Elizabeth Taraila, Daniel Resnick, John Chua, Christina Simpson, Akili Dorsey-Bell, and Dhruti Tummalapalli, assisted lenders and agents in connection with the financing of Mill Point Capital LLC's acquisition of the commercial refrigeration and foodservice equipment businesses of Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., AeriTek Global LLC, in a single corporate carve-out transaction. ? Mill Point Capital LLC is a New York City-based private equity firm. Headquartered in Kennesaw, GA, AeriTek Global is a provider of commercial refrigeration and foodservice equipment services, operating under the Imbera and Torrey brands. Partners Brian Jebb, Keren Livneh, and Anna Rudawski, along with Dustin Plotnick, Anna Armao, Rachel Lee, Will Jackson, Kyle Coogan, Alexis Wilpon, and Ben Vallimarescu, provided additional guidance on this transaction. #AOShearman #LeveragedFinance