- +1 215 994 2778
- john.larocca@dechert.com
- +1 215 994 2222
- vCard
-
Philadelphia OfficeCira Centre, 2929 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America 19104-2808
Mr. LaRocca practices primarily in the areas of private equity, mergers and acquisitions, carve-outs and alternative investments. He has represented a wide range of private equity buyers and sellers and their portfolio companies in both domestic and cross-border transactions across various industries, including healthcare, technology, manufacturing, consumer products, and professional services. He has also represented several public accounting firms in connection with alternative practice structure reorganizations and related investments by private equity firms. In conjunction with our firm’s private client group, he also advises several family-owned businesses in respect of shareholder, succession planning and corporate matters.
Mr. LaRocca has been ranked among the top private equity buyouts lawyers in the United States Chambers USA, where he is recognized for having “excellent judgment, knowing exactly when to be more flexible and when to stand firm.” He has been listed as a top lawyer for private equity buyouts in The Legal 500 US, which noted his “very good business-sense.” Particularly interested in working capital and complicated purchase price and waterfall mechanics and alternatives, Mr. LaRocca served as a certified public accountant and senior accountant with Price Waterhouse prior to joining Dechert.
Mr. LaRocca co-authored the 2018 through 2022 editions of The International Comparative Legal Guide to Private Equity - United States Chapter.
- Marcum LLP in connection with several transactions, including
- its $2.3 billion sale of its advisory, tax and consulting business to CBIZ, Inc.;
- its sale of its attest practice to Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.
- Grant Thornton LLP in its sale of a majority stake of its advisory, tax, and consulting business to a consortium led by New Mountain Capital L.L.C.
- Graham Partners in connection with
- Its acquisitions and sales of several portfolio companies, including BPC Holding Corporation (parent of Berry Plastics Corporation), Infiltrator Systems, Atlas/Vitron, Transaxle, Schneller, Strata Products, Strata Proximity, Innovative XCessories, GFX Ltd, HemaSource, Acme Cryo, Medbio, Damping Technologies, Velocity and Rhythmink;
- Its growth capital investments in several portfolio companies, including Kinova Group, Signifi Solutions, Novarc Technologies, KCF Technologies, and Surgere.
- EisnerAmper in connection with its sale of a majority stake of its advisory, tax and consulting business to a consortium led by TowerBrook Capital Partners.
- Eisner Advisory Group LLC in connection with several acquisitions of accounting and wealth management firms, including:
- The Prosperity Consulting Group, LLC, a wealth management business, and certain assets and liabilities of The Hoffman Group, LLC, an accounting and consulting firm owned by the majority equity holder of Prosperity as of immediately prior to the closing of the transactions.
- Edelstein & Company LLP, a Massachusetts-based CPA firm.
- Lurie LLP, a Minneapolis-based accounting and advisory firm.
- Morrison & Morrison, a Chicago-based accounting and advisory firm.
- Postlethwaite & Netterville, a Louisiana-based accounting, assurance, tax, consulting and technology firm.
- Graham Capital in connection with its sale of the Graham Architectural Products business and the Graham Engineering business.
- A family office in connection with its investment in Philadelphia Union MLS franchise.
- Gerber Technology in connection with its sale to American Industrial Partners.
- Norma Group, a German-based portfolio company of 3i Group plc, in connection with various transactions, including its acquisition of Breeze International Products Corporation from Wind Point Partners.
- Strategic Industries in several transactions, including the sale of GST Autoleather to funds serviced by Advantage Partners, LLP, an Asia-based private equity firm.
- FastenTech, Inc. in its sale to UK-based Doncasters as well as in numerous acquisitions, including Gear & Broach, Inc., Acraline Products Inc., Meco, Inc., Triumph Group, Inc.’ s special processes business, Katsakos Industries Inc., Spun Metals, Inc., and BNC & Associates, Inc.
- Shareholders Agreement for Succession Planning, 26th Annual Estate Law Institute Conference — Philadelphia, PA (November 7, 2019)
- The Art of the Deal — Finding What Works, Duke Fuqua 2019 Inaugural Southeast Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference — Durham, NC (September 7, 2019)
- Going to the Big Dance — Putting Your Best Foot Forward: The First Steps in Significant Corporate Transactions, Association of Corporate Counsel (DELVACCA) Conference — Philadelphia, PA (March 20, 2013)
- Strategies for Moving Away From the Bid Process in Buyouts, The Private Equity Fund Forum on Legal Structuring, Structuring Innovations, & Fund-Raising Success Conference — San Francisco, CA (June 23, 2005)
-
- Drexel University, B.S., 1985
- Temple University Beasley School of Law, J.D., 1990, magna cum laude, business editor of the Temple Law Review
-
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania