Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce the election of six new US partners effective January 1, 2019.

Eversheds Sutherland Co-CEO Mark D. Wasserman commented:

“I am honored to welcome this exceptional group of attorneys into our growing partnership. Each of these colleagues has made a significant impact within their respective practice areas and provided superior service to our clients. Their contribution to Eversheds Sutherland’s ongoing growth and success is vital, and I wish them continued success on this significant milestone in their careers.”

Eversheds Sutherland US Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Vanessa A. Scott added:

“As we continue to work toward greater diversity in our partnership, we are proud to announce that half of this stellar group of newly elected partners are women. We remain committed to developing a pipeline of outstanding leaders that also reflects the diversity in our society and among our clients.”

The following attorneys have been elected partner:

From our Corporate and Financial Services Practice Group:

Stephani M. Hildebrandt, resident in the Washington DC office, offers her clients a thorough understanding of corporate transactions as a member of Eversheds Sutherland US’s Corporate Practice Group. She counsels issuers and investment banks in public and private securities transactions. Working closely with venture and early stage companies, Stephani also advises clients on a broad range of corporate and securities matters, including corporate governance, disclosure, regulatory and related compliance matters. She represents various entities, including business development companies, financial institutions, and technology and industrial companies in initial public offerings, corporate restructurings, and mergers and acquisitions.

Katie Blaszak, resident in the Washington DC office, is a member of Eversheds Sutherland’s Corporate Practice Group. Katie focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, new venture formations, joint ventures and complex commercial transactions.  Katie has extensive experience advising clients in the media industry—from major media companies, to private equity firms, to entrepreneurs in the cable, broadcast, publishing, technology, online and digital media markets.  In particular, Katie has advised clients on the purchase and sale of television stations, newspapers and software-related businesses. Katie also negotiates commercial contracts and advises clients on other general corporate and business matters.

R. Christian Walker, resident in the Washington DC office, represents corporate clients in the areas of securities, finance and corporate governance. His practice focuses on advising public and private companies and funds, such as business development companies, on public and private debt and equity offerings, secured debt financings, ongoing US Securities and Exchange Commission reporting and securities law compliance, and other transactional matters.

From our Energy and Infrastructure Practice Group:

Darryl F. Smith, resident in the Atlanta office, represents a broad range of clients in connection with capital markets offerings and compliance with federal securities laws, including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reporting obligations. In these areas, Darryl has significant experience in working with electric utilities—particularly electric cooperatives—and investment banks.  His practice primarily focuses on debt financings, including taxable and tax-exempt offerings, federally registered and exempt offerings, direct placements and conduit bond financings, and numerous financings related to infrastructure projects. Darryl has served clients in various capacities in these transactions, including company counsel, underwriter’s counsel and bond counsel.

From our Litigation Practice Group:

Jesse W. Lincoln, resident in the Atlanta office, is focused on litigation and arbitration of construction disputes. He represents construction industry participants at all levels (owners, developers, architects, general contractors, design/builders, subcontractors) in litigation and arbitration. Jesse helps resolve construction disputes involving industrial facilities, including traditional fuel power plants (coal-fired, combined cycle natural gas), solar power plants, cement plants, paper mills and manufacturing plants; mixed-use commercial developments; and technology projects involving power plant scrubbers, 4G LTE data networks and SCADA systems.  Jesse also has extensive construction transactional experience. He prepares and negotiates design and construction contracts of all varieties and project delivery methods, including engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, design-build contracts, design contracts, consulting contracts, and construction contracts and subcontracts.

From our Tax Practice Group:

Meredith L. O’Leary, resident in the Washington DC office, counsels both public and private companies on a diverse spectrum of employment, compensation and benefits law. Her practice focuses on corporate transactions, executive and equity-based compensation arrangements, and the design, qualification, administration and termination of tax-qualified retirement plans, non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements, health and welfare plans and fringe benefit packages. Meredith regularly advises clients on employment, compensation and benefits issues that arise in connection with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations and other business transactions, including with respect to securities and tax law. Meredith also regularly represents pension funds in their investment transactions.