|
Experience:
Richard Shepro's corporate and securities practice emphasizes sophisticated international business transactions and complex corporate planning problems. Rick is widely recognized for his nuanced approach to the negotiation and structuring of cross-border acquisitions and other transactional matters. His areas of practice emphasis include dealing with insurance companies and other multinational and offshore financial institutions, in particular on the formation and combination of insurance and reinsurance entities.
Rick works quite closely with the firm's Paris office on matters involving complex cross-border deals and organizations, reflecting both his fluency in the French language and his familiarity with the French legal code. As a graduate of the London School of Economics he is knowledgeable about European finance; and he relates well to the conceptual and strategic framework that European clients and counsel bring to corporate issues. Illustrating the strength of his multicultural focus is the statement by Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, that Rick is "[one] of the finest legal minds in the US."
Although Rick frequently works with multinational clients on cross-border transactions, he is equally adept at representing domestically based companies in more general matters involving business combinations. He has counseled clients on deals involving products ranging from nitrogen to electronic components, and frequently advises financial and professional service organizations. Rick helps these and other clients on negotiations and planning for acquisitions and sale of publicly traded and private businesses, including both friendly and hostile transactions, as well as joint ventures and other business arrangements. His practice also encompasses restructurings, venture capital and private equity fund work, proxy and consent solicitations, public and private offerings, broker-dealer and investment adviser regulation, and general securities law counsel. Clients he has represented include Northern Trust Corporation, Terra Industries Inc., Molex Corporation, LBO France, Argos Soditic, Lazard Freres, CNA Financial Corporation, Harbor Point Insurance and some multinational law firms.
Rick has been recognized by Chambers Global since 1999 as being among the world's Leading Lawyers for Business, and by Chambers USA as among America's Leading Lawyers for Business since 2003. Clients have commented to both publications concerning their high regard for his guidance, calling him a "fine and thoughtful lawyer" who is "thorough and highly analytical," "thorough, creative and bright," and who "can boil problems down to get them solved." (Chambers USA, 2007 and 2006). Other clients quoted in Chambers USA praise Rick as being "excellent on both the strategy and the structuring of transactions" and "bright and quick on his feet." Clients have commented to Chambers Global (2006) on Rick's "outstanding depth of knowledge and common-sense approach to getting the deal done" as well as his "keen cross-cultural understanding."
Rick has also been selected for inclusion in Leading Lawyers Network (2006), The Best Lawyers In America (2006 and 2008), and the Guide to the World's Leading Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers (2006). He joined Mayer Brown's Chicago office in 1981, and was co-head of the firm's Corporate practice from 1997 to 2005.
Before joining Mayer Brown, Rick served as Law Clerk to The Honorable Judge James R. Browning, Chief Judge, US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Notable Engagements:
Advised on the acquisition by LBO France, the leading French private equity firm, of Castle Harlan's Gravograph, Technifor and Gravotech Group, specialists in high-tech printing and engraving accessories and materials
Facilitated the formation, on behalf of private-equity investors, of a $2 billion Euro multinational reinsurance and specialty insurance company to be based in Bermuda with operations in France, the US and the UK
Acted as counsel in Terra Industries Inc.'s sale of its Texas methanol and nitrogen business to Eastman Chemical Company.
Advised on the acquisition of the automotive connector business of Connecteurs Cinch SA (an affiliate of French aerospace corporation Snecma) by Chicago-area electronic components maker Molex, Inc. The transaction involved companies and plants in four continents.
Advised on the acquisition of Paris-based Buffet Crampon (a leading maker of musical instruments) by French private equity firm Argos Soditic. The transaction involved manufacturing and marketing activities in Europe, Japan and the US.
Advised on the acquisition of a French wine company by a Los Angeles-based private equity firm.
Education:
Harvard Law School, JD, cum laude, 1979; Supreme Court Note Editor, Law Review, London School of Economics, MSc, 1976, Harvard University, AB, magna cum laude, 1975. |
