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MoFo Advises DPR Construction on Acquisition of GE Johnson

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Morrison & Foerster advised DPR Construction in connection with its acquisition of GE Johnson, a general contractor headquartered in Colorado Springs with projects in the healthcare, education, multi‑family/hospitality, advanced technology, commercial office, public/Federal, and cultural markets.

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Morrison & Foerster advised DPR Construction in connection with its acquisition of GE Johnson, a general contractor headquartered in Colorado Springs with projects in the healthcare, education, multi‑family/hospitality, advanced technology, commercial office, public/Federal, and cultural markets.DPR Construction is a general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects with a portfolio of work ranging from large-scale new construction to small tenant improvements and special projects. Its acquisition of GE Johnson will bring strategic growth and employee development opportunities to both companies, and GE Johnson will continue to further its presence in the Mountain States by leveraging DPR’s global customer relationships.The MoFo deal team representing DPR Construction was led by Palo Alto corporate partner and co-chair of the firm’s Private Funds Group Paul ‘Chip’ Lion III, together with associates Shannon Sibold and Katherine Suzuki. The wider team included San Francisco tax of counsel Joy MacIntyre and associate Adam Nguyen, San Francisco finance of counsel Vincent Novak, and Palo Alto employment + labor of counsel Oswald Cousins.Read more about the transaction in DPR Construction’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bdcnetwork.com/ge-johnson-joins-dpr-construction">press release</a>.

MoFo Advises DPR Construction on Acquisition of GE Johnson

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Chip advises institutional investors and fund sponsors in connection with the formation of venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds, real estate opportunity and other private equity funds. He also represents both public and private companies in a broad range of industries, including the biotechnology, finance, medical device and information technology sectors. He structures, negotiates and advises clients on acquisition transactions and related matters, including stock acquisitions, asset acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, auction transactions, tender offers, defensive strategies, leveraged buyouts and cross-border transactions.In addition to representing businesses and business leaders, Chip has served in numerous leadership positions of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, representing its 50,000 members on cutting-edge business issues. He served as Chair of the Section in 2014-2015 and held other officer positions, including Vice-Chair, when he served as editor-in-chief of Volume 68 of The Business Lawyer, the highly regarded journal of the Section, and Secretary of the Section (2011-2012), where he served as co-editor-in-chief of the Section's online monthly magazine. He is the Past Chair of the Venture Capital & Private Equity Committee of the Section. In 2020, he was awarded the prestigious Life Time Achievement Award by the Business Law Section of the California Lawyers Association.<h5>Chip’s clients include:</h5>Venture and Private Equity Funds:<ul><li>Longitude Capital (life sciences venture capital firm)</li><li>Base10</li><li>Anthem Ventures (technology venture capital firm)</li><li>MAP Royalty, Inc. (fund focused on royalty interests associated with gas fields and renewable energy products) </li><li>The Capital Partnership Group (private investment office and asset manager)</li><li>NorthgateCapital</li><li>GSSG Solar (solar developer)</li><li>Others, including Inspiration Ventures, NEA, Frazier, 5 AM, Fifth Wall Ventures</li></ul>Company Side Representation (including Corporate Venture Capital, IPOs and M&A transactions):<ul><li>MarketShare Partners LLC (marketing analytics), sold to Neustar, Inc.</li><li>Mediconnect Global, Inc. (medical record retrieval), sold to Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ VRSK) </li><li>Microfabrica, Inc. (micromachining, additive manufacturer), sold to Technoprobe</li></ul>Chip is nationally recognized for his work with Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). He writes and edits articles, outlines, and books on LLCs and partnerships and participates on panels focused on LLCs, including for the American Law Institute — American Bar Association LLC satellite telecast on LLCs for over 20 years. As former Chair of the Partnerships Committee of the Business Law Section of the California State Bar, he formed and participated in the Committee that drafted California's original LLC Act that became law on September 30, 1994. He has served as an advisor to the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, the Revised Uniform Limited Company Act, and the Revised Uniform Partnership Act Drafting Committees of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. From 1984-1990, he was an adjunct lecturer at law for the Santa Clara University School of Law.

Paul 'Chip' Lion

Partner

Shannon Sibold is the Managing Partner of Morrison Foerster’s Austin office and a partner in the firm’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Group. Her practice focuses on corporate finance and securities matters, including private financings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, and corporate governance. Shannon advises emerging-growth and venture-backed companies throughout their entire lifecycle, from formation and early architectural and governance decisions through seed, growth, and later-stage financings, strategic partnerships, and liquidity events. She also regularly counsels management teams and boards of directors on matters of corporate governance and shareholder relations. In addition to representing companies, Shannon works closely with angel investors, venture capital funds, and strategic corporate investors in connection with their investments in high-growth companies. Her experience spans hundreds of venture capital and growth equity transactions, including complex financings and strategic deals involving technology and innovation-driven businesses. Drawing on deep experience across corporate, securities, and M&A matters, Shannon is known for her practical, business-oriented approach and for guiding founders, executives, and investors through the legal and strategic challenges that arise at every stage of growth. Before beginning her legal career, Shannon competed internationally as a member of Canada’s long-track speed-skating national team, an experience that shaped the results-oriented mindset and collaborative work style she brings to her practice.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><h5>Company-Side Representation (including financings, M&A transactions, restructurings, and corporate governance) </h5><ul><li>Lennar Corporation, one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S. </li><li>Zoox, Inc., an autonomous vehicle developer </li><li>AgVend, Inc., the leading provider of digital solutions that help agribusinesses operate and engage with customers </li><li>Optain Health, Inc., a healthcare technology company using AI and imaging to detect eye and systemic diseases earlier </li><li>Ascertain Systems, Inc., an agentic AI platform that delivers end-to-end automation across care management and revenue cycle workflows </li><li>Spektion, Inc., a company helping clients control their software supply chain security and manage third-party risk </li><li>EcoCart Sciences, Inc., a sustainability platform that helps e-commerce brands measure their environmental impact and offset order emissions </li><li>Propmatic, Inc., an AI-driven PropTech platform optimizing real estate marketing and digital lead generation </li><li>Fastn, an AI-powered orchestration platform for developers to connect any data flow </li><li>All Day Kitchens, a kitchen platform enabling restaurants to expand reach </li><li>Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, a nonprofit corporation founded by Stephen and Ayesha Curry committed to unlocking the amazing potential of every child </li><li>DPR Construction, one of the top 50 general contractors in the United States </li></ul><h5>Venture Capital Funds and Corporate Venture Capital Investors </h5><ul><li>Base10 Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm partnering with entrepreneurs who are bringing automation to traditional sectors of the economy </li><li>Fifth Wall Ventures, the largest asset manager investing at the intersection of real estate and technology </li><li>LenX, the venture capital arm of Lennar Corporation </li><li>EJF Capital, a global alternative asset management firm specializing in regulatory event-driven investing across financial services and real estate </li><li>Adverb Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm </li><li>Gradient Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage artificial intelligence (AI) startups </li><li>Frameworks Venture Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm.</li></ul>

Shannon Sibold

Managing Partner, Austin

Katherine Suzuki is a corporate associate in the firm's Palo Alto office.Katherine’s practice focuses on corporate and securities matters, including venture capital and private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance.Prior to joining the firm as an associate, Katherine served in the United States House of Representatives as a Legislative Fellow. She also served as an Honors Program Legal Intern with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.Katherine earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where she earned a Certificate of Specialization in Business Law. While in law school, she served as Executive Editor for the Asian American Law Journal and participated in the New Business Practicum, which advises startups in the Bay Area.Katherine received her B.A., with distinction, from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Katherine Suzuki

Associate

Vincent Novak devotes his practice to advising clients in complex financing transactions across a variety of industries and is skilled at finding creative, bespoke solutions to unique challenges that clients face. He represents public and private companies, private equity sponsors, venture-backed companies, financial institutions, renewable energy investors, social enterprise and impact investors and emerging and multinational companies in connection with domestic and cross-border financial transactions.  He assists clients in both secured and unsecured loans and revolving facilities, bilateral and syndicated lending, acquisition finance, asset and cash-flow based lending, letter of credit financing, equipment leasing, factoring arrangements, distressed lending and workouts, navigation of foreclosure proceedings and assignments for the benefit of creditors, and debtor-in-possession financing in bankruptcy proceedings.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Represented a surgical robotics technology company in obtaining a $100 million senior secured working capital credit facility.</li><li>Represented a biotargeting oncology company in connection with a $60 million multitranche senior secured credit facility.</li><li>Represented a producer of internet-connected industrial sensors in obtaining a $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility.</li><li>Represented an investment management firm in obtaining a $1.245 billion secured credit facility to fund the acquisition of 1.55 million acres of timberland throughout the United States.</li><li>Represented a private equity fund in the development of more than 10,000 MW of wind and solar power facilities in the United States through royalty-generating joint venture arrangements.</li><li>Represented a pharmaceutical company in connection with a $600 million drug co-development arrangement secured by substantially all the assets of the venture partner.</li><li>Represented Alpine Investors and its portfolio company Evergreen Services Group in financing a number of acquisitions of portfolio companies. </li><li>Represented Gryphon Investors in financing its acquisition of RegEd, Inc., the leading provider of compliance and regulatory management services for insurance companies, broker-dealers, banks, and other financial services companies.</li><li>Represented Spark Networks in financing its acquisition of a portfolio of online dating companies in North America and Europe.</li><li>Represented Real Industry, Inc. and affiliates as debtor’s counsel in their chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in connection with a $255 million senior secured debtor-in-possession revolving credit facility and an $85 million secured debtor-in-possession note purchase agreement.</li><li>Represented Maxus Energy Corporation and affiliates as debtor’s counsel in their chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in connection with a $63 million senior secured debtor-in-possession credit facility. </li><li>Represented Sungevity, Inc. and affiliates as debtors in their chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in connection with a $20 million secured debtor-in-possession credit facility. Sungevity and its affiliated debtors are engaged primarily in the business of providing design, installation, financing and maintenance services for residential solar energy systems.</li><li>Represented Nikon Corporation, Intel Corporation and numerous other technology companies in the chapter 11 bankruptcy case of Eastman Kodak Company to protect their intellectual property rights in the sale of Kodak’s patent portfolio.</li><li>Represented AmericanWest Bancorporation in its chapter 11 case in the first use of a bankruptcy sale process designed to save an undercapitalized bank from liquidation by the FDIC. Turnaround Management Association recognized this as a Transaction of the Year, and the Financial Times featured the transaction in its report on the Most Innovative U.S. Law Firms.</li><li>Represented the chapter 11 trustee for MF Global Holdings Ltd. in its bankruptcy in the largest chapter 11 case of 2011, assisting the company to help settle more than $3 billion of claims against affiliates, and eliminating a $1.6 billion shortfall in customer accounts.</li><li>Represented CoinLab, Inc., the largest creditor in the U.S. and Japanese bankruptcy cases of MtGox Co., Ltd., the then-largest Bitcoin exchange in the world.</li><li>Represented affiliates of Trilogy, Inc. in connection with a debtor-in-possession loan and global IP licensing dispute in the dueling bankruptcy estates of software company Think3, Inc. in U.S. and Italy. </li><li>Represented technology company Electroglas, Inc. as debtor’s counsel in the successful sale of business and liquidation of foreign operations in France, Germany, Taiwan, China, Singapore and other jurisdictions in cross-border insolvency proceedings.</li><li>Successfully defended the former CEO of Atari Inc. from $20 million fraudulent transfer claim by aggressive Chapter 7 trustee, resulting in complete victory in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.</li><li>Represented Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of homebuilder Dunmore Homes, Inc.</li></ul>

Vincent J. Novak

Of Counsel

Mergers + Acquisitions