• Represents Smithfield Foods, the leading processor and marketer of fresh pork and processed meats in the U.S., in its strategic M&A program; over 20 transactions to date include the sale of its beef processing and cattle feeding operations to Brazil's JBS S.A., its bid for Swift & Company, its acquisitions of the European meats business of Sara Lee Corporation, the refrigerated meats business and Cooks Hams business of ConAgra Foods, its acquisition of Farmland Foods through a contested bankruptcy auction, and its investment in Spain's Campofrío Alimentación, S.A.
• Led successful defense of Chesapeake Corporation against hostile takeover attempt by Shorewood Packaging; employed rarely-used "Pac Man" defense to launch tender offer against raider and consent solicitation directed to raider's stockholders, resulting in raider being acquired by third party; led team that obtained landmark ruling in Delaware Chancery Court against raider's directors for breach of fiduciary duties in adopting takeover defenses.
• Represented Fortune 500 company in its IPO and an aggressive acquisition program that built the fourth largest grocery wholesaler and retailer in the U.S. Worked closely with management to structure, negotiate, finance and close more than 20 transactions, including stock-for-stock and cash-for-stock mergers, tender offers, asset acquisitions and the acquisition of a regional grocery chain through the "prepackaged" bankruptcy of the target.
• Represents international specialty packaging company in its acquisitions, dispositions, capital markets transactions and governance matters, including U.S. mergers, U.K. tender offers, U.S. equity offerings, Reg. S and 144A debt offerings.
• Represented public technology company that provided safety and source verification products to the food and agricultural industries in its financings, SEC reporting and governance matters, including PIPES equity placements and technology development joint ventures.
• Represented regional gas utility in stock-for-stock acquisition of public target with unique transmission and storage assets, including related financings.
• Special Counsel to Audit Committee of publicly held software company in connection with options pricing investigation, and Special Counsel to Board of Directors of publicly held specialty retailer in connection with replacing senior management and planning for reorganization proceedings.

• Member, Virginia State Bar
• Member, ABA Business Law Section, Federal Regulation of Securities Committee and Subcommittees on the 1933 Act (General) and Reporting Companies Under the 1934 Act
• Member, Virginia Bar Association

Community Involvement

• Boy Scouts of America, Heart of Virginia Council - Executive Board Member; former Vice President, Finance and Development
• Cornell University - University Council (2005-2009); Cornell Club of Central Virginia - Treasurer, Past President
• St. Michael's Episcopal School - Chairman, Board of Trustees
• Reveille United Methodist Church

• Listed in Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers for Business, 2003 - 2010
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2005 - 2010
• Listed in Lawdragon 3000, 2006 - 2009
• Listed in "Virginia Super Lawyers," Law and Politics magazine, 2006 - 2009
• Listed in "Legal Elite," Virginia Business magazine - 2003, 2006

• J.D., Boston University School of Law, 1984
  
• A.B., Cornell University, History, 1981