Christopher J. DePizzo

Biography

Christopher J. DePizzo is an experienced transactional attorney that has extensive experience advising private equity firms and their portfolio companies, along with other public and private companies, on a broad range of complex transactions, including platform and add-on acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, carve-outs, strategic mergers, minority and emerging company investments, dispositions, special situations transactions, and joint ventures. He also counsels clients on various general commercial, corporate, and governance matters.

During the course of Chris’ career, he has represented principal parties in M&A transactions totaling more than $47 billion in the aggregate. Chris has led numerous transactions across industries, including manufacturing, consumer goods, biotechnology, energy, software, retail, and sports. He has handled transactions involving—and has represented—companies spanning the corporate life cycle, from innovative start-ups to international market leaders.

Experience

Chris’s experience includes representing:

  • A private equity firm and its portfolio companies in nine acquisitions and two divestitures.
  • A global chemical company in its negotiation of an innovative facility and supply agreement related to the domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors.
  • A private equity fund in its acquisition of a wooden pallet manufacturer.
  • A privately held global manufacturing company in multiple domestic acquisitions.
  • A Mid-Atlantic restaurant group in its procurement of growth capital from a regional private equity fund focused on franchising.
  • Multiple strategic, non-profit, family office and funded investors (both in lead and minority roles) in numerous domestic and foreign (UK, Asia, and Europe) convertible debt offerings and early-stage equity financings.
  • A privately held pharmaceutical manufacturer in the prospective eight-billion-dollar sale to a global pharmaceutical company.
  • A private equity firm in the sale of an organic baby products manufacturer to an international consumer goods company.
  • A recreational vehicle, parts, and services company in its UP-C initial public offering of $32.6 million of common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).
  • An early-growth enterprise data masking software technology company in its sale to a “unicorn” private data management and infrastructure company.
  • The official governing body of soccer in the United States in their hosting of a 2016 international men’s soccer tournament.
  • A private equity firm in its potential $367 million acquisition of a waste disposal, storage, and treatment facility.
  • A private equity firm in its $2.1 billion joint venture acquisition of four power plants from a public electric utility.
  • A private equity firm in its $800 million joint venture acquisition of a petroleum refining company.
  • A private equity firm in its $100 million acquisition of certain wind assets.
  • An energy services and delivery company in its acquisition, formation, and initial public offering on the NYSE, of a diversified energy and utility company with $30 billion in assets.
  • A privately held logistics company in its $350 million sale to a family-owned transportation company.
  • A public company in its over two-billion-dollar acquisition of an American group of specialty apparel retail chain stores for women.
  • A U.S.-based hedge fund in connection with its £14 million purchase of a shopping center in the United Kingdom.
  • An international pharmaceutical and chemical company in its $270 million acquisition of a manufacturing facility in the United States.
  • A private equity firm in its $37 million acquisition of an asset-light automotive logistics technology company.
  • A global financial information and services company in its $18 million sale of a secure open-messaging platform to a technology company.
  • A high-net-worth individual in the creation and funding of an intellectual property joint venture with a world-renowned professional athlete.
  • A Fortune 500 healthcare products company in connection with its global reorganization.
  • A privately held European gene therapy company in its acquisition of certain American-held neurobiologic assets.
  • An East Coast university hospital system in connection with its acquisition of several physician practices and health care facilities as part of a statewide roll-up strategy.

Recognitions

2021–2025, “Ones to Watch,” Mergers and Acquisitions Law, listed in Best Lawyers in America

Affiliations

Professional Activities

Christopher was a member of Saint Peter’s University Board of Regents from 2015 to 2018 and of Saint Peter’s University Board of Trustees from 2009 to 2010.

Credentials

Admissions

  • New York
  • Ohio

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD
  • Saint Peter's University, BA, summa cum laude