Gareth Clark
Partner
New York | Three Bryant Park, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, United States of America 10036-6797
T +1 212 698 3642 | F +1 212 698 3599
Services
Corporate > Mergers and Acquisitions > Private Equity >
Gareth Clark advises large and middle market private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on a broad range of U.S. and international corporate transactions and commercial matters across numerous industries, including industrials and chemicals, life sciences, and consumer. He is experienced in structuring a variety of global M&A transactions, including LBOs, carve-out transactions, going-private transactions, divestitures, growth capital investments, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, and other investments throughout a company's capital structure. He also advises his clients in connection with corporate governance, liquidity events, and management equity.
Over the course of his career, he has represented numerous private equity firms, including Cerberus Capital Management, Sterling Investment Partners, Stripes Group, Apollo Global Management, Searchlight Capital Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Tengram Capital Partners and VisioCap. As a result of his diverse client base, Mr. Clark has deep knowledge of the latest market terms and conditions and his clients benefit from his pragmatism and commercial savvy.
In 2019, Mr. Clark was named a Rising Star by the New York Law Journal. The annual award recognizes the most promising young lawyers in the region. He has also been listed as a recommended lawyer for mergers and acquisitions and private equity buyouts by The Legal 500 (U.S.), a legal directory based on the opinions of clients and peers, where he was cited in the 2019 edition as “very knowledgeable, responsive, hard working and dedicated.” In addition, Mr. Clark has been shortlisted by legal directory Chambers USA for 2019 LGBT+ Equality Lawyer of the Year, an award which recognizes a partner who is leading the way in their commitment to LGBT+ diversity and inclusion. He also serves on Law360’s 2020 Private Equity Editorial Advisory Board. Mr. Clark is a leading voice for one of Dechert’s core values – diversity. He serves as Co-Chair of Dechert’s LGBTQ Affinity Group and has previously served as the Co-Diversity Liaison Partner for Dechert’s Global Corporate Department. He is also a member of the Firm’s Hiring Committee.
Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Clark was a member of the private equity and mergers and acquisitions groups of another international law firm.
EXPERIENCE
CVC Capital Partners as the lead investor in a consortium that is sponsoring the proposed combination of Worldwide Express, LLC and GlobalTranz Enterprises, LLC to create an industry leader with unique technology capabilities and market- leading solutions for the freight and parcel markets. Other consortium members include GlobalTranz's current lead investors, Providence Equity Partners and PSG, while current Worldwide Express lead investor, Ridgemont Equity Partners, will also retain a significant stake in the combined entity. National Dentex Labs, the largest network of fully-owned dental labs in the United States, and portfolio company of funds affiliated with Cerberus Capital Management, in its acquisition of Dental Services Group. Seawall Capital, LLC, a middle-market private equity firm, in the acquisition of Kent Water Sports Holdings, LLC, a diverse platform of action sports brands with a broad product set spanning personal flotation devices, wakeboards, water skis, towable tubes and snowboards. Cerberus Capital Management in the acquisition by one of its affiliates of National Dentex Labs, the largest network of fully-owned dental labs in the United States. Cerberus Capital Management and Covis Pharma, a global specialty pharmaceutical company, in connection with the sale of Covis Pharma to funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management. Cerberus Capital Management and PaxVax in connection with the sale of PaxVax, a company focused on specialty vaccines that protect against existing and emerging infectious diseases, to Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS). One Equity Partners and PeroxyChem in the US$640 million sale of PeroxyChem to German-headquartered Evonik Industries (FRA: EVK). Sterling Investment Partners in connection with an investment in AIMS Companies (“AIMS”), an industrial and municipal cleaning services and hydro excavation business, in partnership with AIMS’ management. Sterling Investment Partners in its sale of Service Logic, the largest provider of aftermarket maintenance, repair and replacement services for commercial HVAC equipment, to affiliates of private equity firm Warburg Pincus. Sterling Investment Partners in its investment in Marcone Appliance Parts, a leading distributor of aftermarket parts for the repair of residential appliances in the United States and Canada. Stripes Group in its investments in Harvest Hosts, Snooze, Levain Bakery, Siete Family Foods and Stella and Chewy’s. Centric Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: CTRC), a portfolio of global consumer brands comprised of Hudson, Robert Graham and SWIMS, in connection with its US$1.2 billion carve-out acquisition of a significant part of the North American licensing business of Hong Kong-listed Global Brands Group Holding Limited, which includes Disney, Star Wars, Calvin Klein, Under Armour, Tommy Hilfiger, BCBG, bebe, Joe’s, Buffalo David Bitton, Frye, Michael Kors, Cole Haan and Kenneth Cole. Tengram Capital Partners and its portfolio company, Earth Treks Climbing and Fitness, in connection with the acquisition by Earth Treks of Planet Granite: Climbing, Fitness and Yoga. Tengram Capital Partners in the sale of its portfolio company, NEST Fragrances, a leading lifestyle fragrance brand, to Eurazeo Brands. Griffon Corporation in the acquisition of ClosetMaid Corporation, a market leader of home storage and organization products, from Emerson Electric Co.
EDUCATION
Monash University, LLB, B.Com, 2004
ADMISSIONS
New York Victoria
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Harvard Business School Private Equity & Venture Capital Conference — Boston, MA (February 8, 2020) Moderator, “Venture Capital Panel with the Draper Family." 2020 Global Private Equity Outlook – A Report from Dechert LLP and Mergermarket, Venture Capital and Private Equity Club at Harvard Business School — Boston, MA (December 4, 2019) Another Country: Assessing Economic Opportunities Amongst LGBTQ Consumers, Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute’ OutLaws 2019: Advancing LGBTQ Professional Leadership — New York, NY (June 12, 2019) NYU Stern’s Annual Venture Capital & Private Equity Conference — New York, NY (February 22, 2019) Moderator, "Growth Equity & Staying Private Longer" panel.