Lawyers / Professionals

 
Geoffrey C. Cockrell       
Partner
77 West Wacker Drive
Suite 4100
Chicago, Illinois 60601-1818
T: 312.849.8272
F: 312.698.4572
gcockrell@mcguirewoods.com
 

Mr. Cockrell has a wide scope of expertise spanning mergers and acquisitions, senior and mezzanine lending, venture capital investments and private equity fund formation. His mergers and acquisition experience representing private equity and strategic purchasers extends across a diverse number of industries from healthcare and energy to manufacturing and agriculture. His lending experience includes advising both commercial and mezzanine lenders on a wide array of financing transactions ranging from senior asset backed lending to traditional mezzanine structures. He also has extensive experience in earlier stage investment work representing both companies and venture funds in preferred equity and other structures. Mr. Cockrell also has extensive private equity fund formation experience representing scores of private equity, venture and mezzanine funds in their formation and in advising small business investment companies (SBICs) in regulatory and licensing matters.


Representative Matters
  • Healthcare and Life Science Experience
    • Represented Bostwick Laboratories in sale to MetalMark Capital
    • Represented HealthMark Partners in sale of ambulatory surgery center management business to USPI
    • Represented private equity fund in regulatory matters in acquisition of national owner/operator of surgical hospitals
    • Represented Surgery Center of Joliet in sale to Provena St. Joseph Hospital
    • Represented private equity fund in regulatory matters in acquisition of national ambulatory surgery center management company
    • Represented Chicago Hospital System in multiple acquisitions of physician practice groups
    • Represented LLR Equity Partners, a private equity fund, in its investment in a manufacturer of complex mobility devices
    • Represented I-Cyt Mission Technology, Inc. in sale to Sony Corporation of America
    • Represented Chicago Hospital System in major acquisition of regional hospital
    • Represented LLR Equity Partners in its investment in Vivere, LLC, a Texas fertility clinic chain
    • Represented Indiana ambulatory surgery center in restructuring transaction with regional hospital system
    • Represented Rosetta Partners, a life science private equity fund, in its investment in a Wisconsin innovator of a revolutionary wound infection-fighting drug
    • Represented private equity fund in acquisition of controlling interest in California-based medical equipment manufacturer
  • Agriculture Experience
    • Represented large agricultural cooperative in strategic joint venture with global agriculture company
    • Represented investor in large investment in Indiana grain origination and merchandising business
    • Represented Illinois agricultural company in several acquisitions of regional grain businesses
    • Represented large acquirer of controlling interest of three agricultural cooperatives in Iowa
    • Represented large agricultural cooperative in acquisition through merger of several Illinois regional agricultural cooperatives
    • Represented acquirer in acquisition of major grain storage and aggregator in southern Illinois
    • Represented strategic acquirer of large seed and agronomy business out of bankruptcy with locations all along the east coast
    • Represented investor in investment and divestiture of Mexican pet food manufacturer
  • Energy Experience
    • Represent Clean Energy Trust, a regional consortium of research institutions facilitating commercialization of clean technology businesses
    • Represented purchaser of an Iowa-based fuel terminal business
    • Represented developer of corn oil extraction technology added to the ethanol production process
    • Represented bidder in acquisition of assets out of bankruptcy from publicly traded ethanol production company
    • Represented multiple energy-related private equity funds in formation and fund investments
  • Technology Experience
    • Represented Argonne Venture Accelerator Committee, a group of technology venture capital funds in commercializing technology from Argonne National Laboratory
    • Represented Norwegian company in its acquisition of leading provider of software for utilities industry
    • Represented secure messaging software company in sale to publicly traded software company
    • Represented numerous technology start-up companies in formation and preferred equity round financings
  • Manufacturing and other M&A Experience
    • Represented seller in complex reorganization of international employee benefits systems provider
    • Represented Altus Capital in leveraged buyout of Michigan-based manufacturer of zinc die cast parts for gaming, appliance and automotive industries
    • Represented Altus Capital in leveraged buyout of Indiana mineral wool manufacturing company
    • Represented acquiror in acquisition in portfolio company investment in hedge fund management company
    • Represented Aqua-Vac Systems, Inc., manufacturer of robotic pool cleaning equipment in the sale of substantially all of its assets
    • Represented investor in acquisition of Utah-based charter school
    • Represented MK Capital in investment in national landscape services company
  • Lending Experience
    • Represented mezzanine lender in mezzanine and warrant investment in wholesale distributor of fruits and vegetables
    • Represented regional senior lender in numerous asset-backed loan facilities
    • Represented lender in currency hedge facility for international operations of domestic manufacturer
    • Represented ABL lender in $150 Million term and revolving credit facility to a poultry producer with facilities in numerous states
  • Fund Formation Experience
    • Represented Hyde Park Venture Partners in formation of venture capital fund
    • Represented numerous venture capital, mezzanine and buyout private equity funds in their formation and fundraising
    • Advised numerous funds in the licensing process of obtaining licensure as a "Small Business Investment Company" throughout all aspects of licensure process
    • Provided regulatory guidance with respect to portfolio company investments and related issues to numerous regulated private equity funds
    • Provided SBIC regulatory advice to introduction of TIGRcub securities fund

Practices & Industries
Honors
  • Named an Illinois Super Lawyers "Rising Star," 2009, 2010
  • Named a Client Service "All Star," BTI Consulting

Previous Experience
  • Partner, Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, LLP, Chicago, Illinois, 1997-2008

Publications
  • "Prepping Healthcare Portfolio Companies for Market," Co-authored with Krist Werling and Amber Walsh, Daily Deal/The Deal, June 17, 2011
  • "Largest Pooling in SBIC Program History Becomes One of Lowest SBA-Pooled Debenture Pricings in 50 Years at 4.084%," McGuireWoods Legal Update, April 15, 2011
  • "Impact Investment SBIC Funds Receive Additional Guidance from SBA," McGuireWoods Legal Update, April 14, 2011
  • "Dodd-Frank Adviser Provisions Compliance Dates Delayed," McGuireWoods Legal Update, April 12, 2011
  • "Private Equity Fund Managers Would be Exempt from Advisers Act Registration under Pending Legislation," March 31, 2011
  • "SBIC Funds Offer Reprieve from Volcker Rule's Restrictions on Banks' Investments in Private Equity Funds," McGuireWoods Legal Update, March 4, 2011
  • "SBA Revises Policy Regarding Buyouts of Participating Securities SBIC Funds," McGuireWoods Legal Update, January 7, 2011
  • "The Impact of the Volcker Rule on Managers of Private Funds," McGuireWoods Legal Update, September 10, 2010
  • "The Impact of Dodd-Frank on Managers of Private Funds," McGuireWoods Legal Update, September 2, 2010
  • "FINRA Issues Reminder With Respect to the Obligations of Broker-Dealers in Regulation D Offerings," McGuireWoods Legal Update, July 13, 2010
  • "New Source of Limited Partner Capital: SBA Proposes $1 Billion Investment," McGuireWoods Legal Update, June 30, 2010
  • "Small Business Administration Announces Streamlined Process for Fund Managers Seeking New License to Operate SBIC Fund," McGuireWoods Legal Update, March 9, 2010
  • "House Small Business Committee Proposes New SBIC Equity Program," McGuireWoods Legal Update, October 30, 2009
  • "House Small Business Committee Proposes 'Small Business Financing and Investment Action of 2009'" (H.R. 3854), McGuireWoods Legal Update, October 21, 2009
  • "SBIC Funds Back in Vogue," McGuireWoods Legal Update, September 11, 2009
  • "FDIC to Provide Guidance on Private Equity Bank Investments," McGuireWoods Legal Update, June 3, 2009
  • "SBA Implements Recovery Act Changes for SBIC Funds," McGuireWoods Legal Update, June 2, 2009
  • "Secondary Private Equity Markets in a Down Economy," Lawdragon, May 18, 2009
  • "SBA Investment Division Issues New Guidelines Concerning SBIC Debenture License Applicants Structured as a Business Development Company or as a BDC Subsidiary," March 20, 2009
  • "Fundraising Strategies in a Challenging Economy," Raising Capital for Private Equity Funds, Aspatore Books, 2009, Thomson Reuters
  • "10.11.3.a: BDCs Eligible Portfolio Companies Expanded to Include Certain Listed Securities," VC Experts, Inc., March 2, 2009
  • "BDCs Eligible Portfolio Companies Expanded to Include Certain Listed Securities," McGuireWoods Legal Update, July 7, 2008
  • "Illinois Teachers Expands Allocation to Private Equity Asset Class," McGuireWoods Legal Update, June 30, 2008
  • "Batson Reform: A Lottery System of Affirmative Selection," Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy, Vol. 11, Issue 1, 1997

Speaking Engagements
  • Panel Moderator, "Private Equity's Role in and View of the ASC Market," 18th Annual Ambulatory Surgery Centers Conference, October 27, 2011
  • Panelist, "Industry-Specific Trends in Healthcare Private Equity," Maximizing Profit Through Private Company M&A in 2011, Webcast, October 22, 2011
  • Panelist, "Selling Your Healthcare Business: Maximizing Value," Webinar, September 22, 2011
  • Webinar Series: "Due Diligence Issues in Healthcare Services and Life Science Companies," March, April and May 2011
  • Conference Co-Chair, Panel Moderator, "8th Annual Healthcare & Life Sciences Private Equity & Finance Conference: Building Value in Healthcare and Life Sciences Investments," February 23, 2011
  • Panelist, "Transaction Support Services Training Session," RSM McGladrey, June 21, 2010
  • Panel Moderator, "2010 McGuireWoods Renewable Energy Conference," April 8, 2010
  • Panel Moderator, "7th Annual Healthcare & Life Sciences Private Equity & Finance Conference," February 11, 2010
  • Panelist, "Due Diligence in Private Equity Transactions," Spring 2009 Private Equity Litigation & Bankruptcy Webinar Series, April 16, 2009
  • Panel Moderator, "Portfolio Company Turnarounds," Spring 2009 Private Equity Litigation & Bankruptcy Webinar Series, April 15, 2009
  • Panelist, "The Archway Cookies Case: Don't Let the Cookie Monster Gobble Your Portfolio," Spring 2009 Private Equity Litigation & Bankruptcy Series, April 14, 2009
  • Panelist, "Winter 2008 Private Equity Webinar Series: NASBIC - The First 100 Days of a New Administration," A Discussion with Brett Palmer, President of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies, November 21, 2008
  • Panelist, "Winter 2008 Private Equity Webinar Series: Health Care and Private Equity - Crossroads and Crosshairs?" A Discussion with Brian Scullion from William Blair & Company, November 20, 2008
  • Moderator, "Winter 2008 Private Equity Webinar Series: Private Equity Secondary Purchases," A Discussion with Charles Stetson, Co-founder of PEI Funds, November 19, 2008
  • Presenter, "6th Annual Mid-America Healthcare Venture Forum," October 1-2, 2008
  • Panel Moderator, "2008 Private Equity Webinar Series (Fundraising Series): Private Equity Fundraising: Current Market Trends," with Mark O'Hare, PREQIN - Private Equity Intelligence, Ltd., September 5, 2008
  • Panel Moderator, "2008 Private Equity Webinar Series (SBIC Series): First Time SBIC Funds: A Guide to the SBIC Licensing Process," September 4, 2008
  • Panel Moderator, "2008 Private Equity Webinar Series (SBIC Series): The State of the SBIC Program," with Lee Mercer, President of National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC); and Steve Vivian, 2008 Chairman of National Association of Small Business Investment Companies and Partner, Prism Capital, September 3, 2008
  • Panelist, "2008 Private Equity Webinar Series (M&A Series): Review of Market Conditions & Deal Trends," August 12, 2008
  • Presenter, "The Art of the Smaller Deal: How Smaller Middle-Market P.E. Funds Can Outperform the Great Big Ones," Capital Roundtable, March 15, 2007

Professional Affiliations
  • Association for Corporate Growth
  • Illinois Venture Capital Association
  • National Association of Small Business & Investment Companies
  • American Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
 

EDUCATION

Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, Indiana, J.D., magna cum laude, 1997

Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, B.A. Business/Economics, cum laude, 1993

 
 

ADMITTED

Illinois 1997

 

PLACE OF BIRTH

Marion, Indiana