John Stanley

John Stanley focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, with an emphasis on private equity and financial services M&A. Mr. Stanley represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, alternative asset managers and private and public company clients in complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, recapitalizations, growth equity investments and other transformative capital events.

His representations cover a wide range of industries, including financial services, healthcare, software and technology and professional services, among others. He also regularly advises alternative asset managers on regulatory and operational issues involving business development companies and other permanent capital vehicles, and in connection with efforts to diversify their business, including joint ventures and other strategic transactions.

Mr. Stanley currently serves on the firm’s Global Associates Committee. He joined Dechert as a summer associate in 2016.

Private Equity

Sterling Investment Partners in a number of its transactions, including in connection with its acquisition of Verdantas, LLC, a provider of integrated environmental science, engineering, and consulting services; in connection with its investment in Banner Industries, a leading distributor of high purity flow components and related equipment; in connection with its acquisition of PROtect, LLC, a leading provider of safety, reliability, compliance and risk management services; and in connection with various add-on acquisitions.
Bregal Partners in connection with its sale of Arcus Hunting, an acquisition and organic growth platform that seeks to build a strong portfolio of leading brands in the bowhunting and archery consumables and accessories market.
Morgan Stanley Capital Partners and its portfolio company US HealthConnect in the acquisition of Bryn Mawr Communications and Evolve Medical Education, leaders in healthcare information and education.
Court Square Capital Partners in a number of its transactions, including in connection with the sale of AHEAD, a leading provider of enterprise cloud solutions, to Centerbridge Partners and contemporaneous acquisitions of RoundTower Technologies and Kovarus; in connection with the acquisition of Data Blue, a provider of customized infrastructure, cloud architecture and virtualized solutions, and the subsequent merger with another Court Square portfolio company; and in connection with sale transactions and dividend recapitalization transactions of various portfolio companies.
Cerberus Capital Management and PaxVax on the sale of PaxVax, a company focused on specialty vaccines that protect against existing and emerging infectious diseases, to Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Financial Services Transactions and Asset Management M&A

Palmer Square Capital Management, an investment firm specializing in global alternative (non-traditional) investments with a total return orientation, in connection with the launch of Palmer Square Capital BDC Inc. (PSBD), a business development company that primarily lends to and invests in corporate debt securities; in connection with PSBD’s subsequent $89.7 million initial public offering and listing on NYSE; and in connection with PSBD’s general corporate and securities matters.
Capitala Investment Advisors, LLC, an investment adviser to Capitala Finance Corp. (now known as Logan Ridge Finance Corp.), a business development company, in connection with its entry into a definitive asset purchase agreement with an investment adviser affiliate of BC Partners Advisors L.P. pursuant to which the investment adviser affiliate became the investment adviser to Capitala Finance Corp. (now known as Logan Ridge Finance Corp.)
The independent directors of the Board of Directors of BlackRock TCP Capital Corp. (NYSE: TCPC), a business development company, in connection with TCPC’s entry into an agreement to merge with BlackRock Capital Investment Corporation.
Franklin BSP Lending Corporation (FBLC) and Franklin BSP Capital Corporation (FBCC), each a business development company whose investment advisor is an affiliate of Benefit Street Partners, in connection with the merger of FBLC and FBCC.

Life Sciences & Growth Equity

BioAtla, Inc. (Nasdaq: BCAB), a global biotechnology company, in its US$72.5 million Series D financing round and in its subsequent US$189 million initial public offering (with J.P. Morgan, Jefferies and Credit Suisse acting as joint book-running managers).
SEMCAP Food & Nutrition in its investment in a plant-based food company.