Brandon Howald is a partner in Ropes & Gray’s private equity transactions group and a member of the firm’s infrastructure industry group, where he serves as lead of the digital infrastructure subsector. Brandon advises private equity funds, investors and public and private companies in private equity transactions, investments, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate and securities law matters. For over 20 years, Brandon has guided numerous middle-market and large cap transactions across a range of industries, including digital infrastructure, data centers, technology, software, health care, and consumer. Brandon has also represented companies and executives in employment agreements and equity incentive plans and agreements.
Clients value Brandon’s “very strong business judgment” and dedicated approach that “makes us feel like we’re his only client,” one client told Chambers. Another told Chambers that Brandon “is an outstanding negotiator and has a very good sense for the current 'market' for various deal terms.”
Brandon has been recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for M&A Corporate and Commercial – Private Equity Buyouts, Chambers USA for M&A and Private Equity – California, and IFLR1000 as both a Rising Star Partner and a Notable Practitioner in California for M&A and Private Equity. He was also recognized by BTI Consulting Group as a Client Service All-Star and noted as a Southern California “Rising Star” attorney by Law and Politics magazine.
Experience
Notable transactions in which Brandon was involved prior to joining the firm include:
- Represented various private equity firms in connection with acquisitions, investments, sales and/or other transactions.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its acquisition of LightEdge, a leading provider of colocation, cloud and managed service solutions.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its acquisition of Sectigo, a leading provider of automated digital identity management and web security solutions.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its majority investment in American Residential Services, a provider of heating and air conditioning (HVAC) and plumbing services.
- Represented Compass Group Diversified Holdings in connection with the acquisition of Marucci Sports, a manufacturer of baseball products.
- Represented Fitness International (formerly LA Fitness International) in multiple acquisitions.
- Represented Compass Group Diversified Holdings in connection with the acquisition of 5.11 Tactical for $400 million.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its acquisition of a majority interest in Blue Stream, a provider of gigabit-speed broadband, as well as video and voice services to residential and commercial customers.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its acquisition of a majority interest in DR Fortress.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its sale of Kellermeyer Bergensons Services to an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its acquisition of Single Digits, a provider of high-speed internet access technology services.
- Represented L Squared Capital Partners in connection with an acquisition.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its simultaneous acquisitions of California Cryobank and Cord Blood Registry.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its portfolio company Peak 10's acquisition of ViaWest, a provider of IT services ranging from cloud storage solutions to IT consulting, from Shaw Communications for $1.675 billion.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its sale of the Waypoint portfolio of rental properties to Colony Starwood Homes for approximately $815 million.
- Represented The ERGObaby Carrier, a portfolio company of Compass Group Diversified Holdings, in connection with the acquisition of New Baby Tula, a manufacturer of baby products.
- Represented GI Partners in connection with its acquisition of Netsmart Technologies, a provider of data management software and technology solutions for health and human services providers.
- Represented Plum Healthcare Group, a provider of post-acute care services, in its sale to Bay Bridge Capital Partners.
- Represented The Telx Group, a provider of interconnectivity, data center and cloud enablement services, in its sale to ABRY Partners and Berkshire Partners.