Expertise

Complex Transactions

Deborah’s extensive involvement as counsel and/or business principal in complex transactions includes:

• mergers and acquisitions (split-ups, spinoffs and mergers of equals)

• debt and equity offerings (public and private)

• long-term supply arrangements

• joint ventures, licensing and other strategic partnerships

• software and mobile app development

• restructuring and recapitalizing distressed companies

corporate governance

Deborah is deeply steeped in the application and law of corporate governance. She has first-hand experience in respecting the interests of all an organization’s stakeholders from owners to management to line employees, while keeping sight of the needs of external interests including customers, suppliers, and regulatory officials. She implemented best practices while Board Chair establishing a first-time governing board in a 100-year old company with varying blocks of third generation family ownership. As Vice Chair in a prior board, she was a majority-appointed board member serving with an independent director and minority-appointed director. She has chaired governance committees for non-profit companies enhancing corporate governance. As a lawyer, she was a leader in advising public and private corporations, LLC’s, and non-profits on the obligations of good corporate governance. She is currently serving as an expert on corporate governance in a case pending in the North Carolina Business Court.

efficiency

Fact-finding and information exchange is a critical aspect of corporate transactions as in dispute resolution. Deborah’s first-hand experience in due diligence offers practical insight in scoping appropriate access to vital information and people without undue delay, burden or expense.

Structuring and running efficient processes is a skill Deborah honed in the boardroom, as CEO, and as lead counsel in varying complex transactions. In arbitration, she utilizes those skills to deliver on the promise of efficient and timely resolution. She uses the sense of process in mediation to foster framework for reaching agreement. In dispute prevention, she brings creativity and problem-solving both to structure processes that assist the parties in achieving their mutual objectives and to facilitate in finding solutions for disagreements before escalating into disputes.

See “Concentrations” for fields in which Deborah utilizes her expertise.

Background

Deborah brings practical insights from her years as:

• CEO of investor-backed digital health company

• Board Chair implementing first-time governing board in $1B revenue consumer products company

• Service on several additional corporate boards

• Restructuring Officer

• Strategic consultant

• Corporate and transactional attorney