W. Bryan Rakes

Representative Matters

• As lead counsel, represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of  four restaurant franchise groups, consisting of 190 restaurants
• As lead counsel, represented the U.S. subsidiary of a Canadian company in its acquisitions of a global business-to-business digital music services and rights platform, and an interactive streaming mechanical royalty collection agency
• Represented the portfolio company of a private equity group in its purchase of a division from General Electric Corporation and related debt financings
• As lead counsel, represented a private equity firm in the acquisition of a group of clothing stores, related third-party debt financing, and rollover equity investment by founders
• As lead counsel, represented a private equity fund in its sale of a franchise restaurant group for $29 million
• As lead counsel, represented a six-bank syndicate in a multi-currency $130 million loan facility for a private equity-backed manufacturing company secured by domestic and international assets
• As lead counsel, represented a five-bank syndicate in a multi-currency, $325 million loan facility for a leading consumer products company secured by domestic and international assets
• As lead counsel, represented a bank in a $50 million hybrid cash flow–real estate loan that was accompanied by an interest rate hedge/swap agreement and secured with real property
• As lead counsel, represented several banks in loans totaling hundreds of millions of dollars to private equity-backed companies, to partially fund acquisitions
• Represented the borrower in a music publishing transaction, including a $330 million equity investment, and senior and subordinated financings of $70 million in the context of a workout
• Represented an IT solutions company in the $200 million sale of its software portfolio to a private equity firm
• Represented a Hong Kong-based pet products company in a management buyout transaction and related debt financings involving Hong Kong, the United States, Canada, and the Cayman Islands
• As lead counsel, represented a tech staffing company in a $60 million purchase of an international staffing business with operations in four countries
• Represented a digital media company in its acquisition of a division of a public company in the higher education industry
• As lead counsel, represented an anatomic pathology laboratory in its acquisition of a laboratory providing urologic services, and its affiliated entity
• As lead counsel, represented a technology company in its acquisition of an email infrastructure and data center technology company, and related debt financings
• Represented a surgical monitoring business in its sale to a group of investors, led by a national private equity firm for an aggregate value of more than $40 million, including earn-out and retention of a 25% equity stake
• As lead counsel, represented both lead investors and companies in numerous investment rounds

Education

• J.D. magna cum laude Syracuse University College of Law 2001

• Executive Editor and Associate Editor, Syracuse Law Review, 1999-2001

  Syracuse University Chancellor’s Scholar

• B.A. Transylvania University 1996

• Transylvania University Dean's Scholar

Bar Admissions

• Maryland

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association, Section of Business Law
• Member and former board member, Association for Corporate Growth, Maryland Chapter
• Teaches entrepreneurship and management programs at The Johns Hopkins University
• Graduate, Greater Baltimore Committee's LEADERship Program

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2018 - 2020
• Recognized in Legal 500, leading middle-market M&A attorney
• Recognized  as a Rising Star, Maryland Super Lawyers 

Volunteerism

• Member, advisory committee, Civic Works
• Member, board of directors, Everyman Theatre