Matters

HK Organization – Brooklyn Joint Venture Acquisition, Financing and Disposition

Represented an affiliate of HK Organization in the joint venture with a real estate fund to acquire, finance, refinance and subsequently sell the property known as The Chocolate Factory, a large, historic mixed-use building in Brooklyn with over 100 newly renovated residential units.

Lido Advisors – Key Strategic Partnership

Represented Lido Advisors ("Lido"), a nationally recognized wealth advisory firm, in its entrance into a key strategic partnership with Charlesbank Capital Partners ("Charlesbank"), a middle market private investment firm.  Through the partnership, Charlesbank will become a significant investor in Lido alongside the founders and management team.   

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Charlesbank at this pivotal time for Lido and, more importantly, for our clients,” said Jason Ozur, Lido’s Chief Executive Officer. “With Charlesbank at our side, our unparalleled investment and wealth planning solutions will continue to expand, both in breadth and scope, all to the benefit of our clients.”

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Lido is a full-service, independent Registered Investment Advisor (“RIA”) that brings an innovative family office investment approach to grow and safeguard its clients’ wealth and legacies. Lido’s clients include high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, corporate executives, non-profit organizations and foundations.  

Resources

Global Provider of Cloud Based Software – Acquisition of Cyber Threat Detection Company

Advised Datto Holding Corp. (NYSE:MSP), the leading global provider of cloud-based software and technology solutions purpose-built for managed service providers (MSPs), as lead counsel in connection with its acquisition of BitDam Ltd. (“BitDam”), an Israel-based cyber threat detection company. BitDam’s cyber-defense platform secures collaboration tools, such as M365 and Google Workspace, from ransomware, malware, and phishing.

Legends – Majority Investment Transaction

Represented Legends Hospitality Holding Company, LLC (“Legends Hospitality”) in majority investment by private equity firm Sixth Street in the global premium experiences company, co-founded by the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys. As reported by Legends, “[t]he new investment from Sixth Street will support the long-term growth of the Company’s global client relationships and further enhancements to its innovative 360-degree platform of premium experience offerings for the most iconic global brands in sports, entertainment, and attractions.”

Herrick has represented Legends since its inception in 2008, when our Sports Law Group worked with the Cowboys and the Yankees, along with two private equity firms, to form this ground-breaking joint venture. Initially, Legends focused on delivering enhanced concessions and premium experiences. Since its formation, Legends’ range of services has grown to include six worldwide divisions and it has partnered with many iconic international sports, entertainment and attractions brands. 

Resources

Legends Hospitality – Control Interest Transfer

Represented long-standing client Legends Hospitality in its entry into a share purchase agreement with the private equity firm Sixth Street. Under the share purchase agreement, Sixth Street acquired a controlling interest in Legends Hospitality. This investment will support Legends continued growth as a premium experiences company that specializes in delivering holistic solutions for sports, entertainment and attractions clients. 

In connection with the acquisition, Legends Hospitality (i) issued senior secured long-term notes and (ii) entered into a revolving credit facility and PIK facility. The net proceeds were used to redeem certain outstanding equity securities of Legends Hospitality and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

In order to preserve Legends Hospitality’s liquidity and support its continued investment in accretive, long-term capital projects, affiliates of Sixth Street and other third parties will provide Legends Hospitality with access to funding provided by an investment vehicle. The funding will be used for capital expenditures, pre-opening costs and other disbursements contemplated by contracts entered into by Legends Hospitality.

Wilkinson Global Capital Partners – Purchase Agreement

Represented Wilkinson Global Capital Partners LLC, a leading asset management and investment advisory firm, in its purchase of Wilkinson Global Asset Management, a New York-based private wealth investment manager, pursuant to a call option. The sale was made in accordance with a multi-year financing agreement with the seller, Fiera Capital.  

Resources

Olnick Organization – Acquisition of 201 West 77th Street

Represented the Olnick Organization in connection with a $106 million acquisition of 201 West 77th Street, a mixed-use property located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

CoreNet Global – ProBono Outside Counsel

Herrick acts as pro bono outside corporate counsel to the New York City Chapter of CoreNet Global, a non-profit association, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S.), representing more than 10,000 executives in 50 countries with strategic responsibility for the real estate assets of large corporations.

Legends Hospitality – Tax Advice

Assisted numerous sports franchises and leagues in connection with state tax law issues.

Not-For-Profit Association – Compensation Plan

Represented a major sports franchise operator in connection with establishing a deferred compensation plan.

Not-for-Profit Sports Association – ERISA Matters

Represented client in a dispute regarding a domestic relations order applying to the client’s pension plan.

Coblentz Patch Duff & Bass – Employment Agreements

Represented Coblentz Patch Duff & Bass LLP in review of California entity’s employment award agreements for New York employees.

Negotiated separation agreement for senior executive of professional sports team

Represented senior executive in the negotiation of a separation agreement from a professional sports team. 

Employment Agreement – U.S. Subsidiary of High Tech & Software

Represented a U.S. subsidiary of an Israeli high-technology, security and software developer, in an employment agreement for a member of their C-suite.

Strategic Investment in Leading Dance and Entertainment Companies

Represented Break the Floor Productions in a groundbreaking dance industry transaction. TZP Group (“TZP”), a multi-strategy private equity firm, made strategic investments in Break The Floor Productions and Star Dance Alliance to create Dance One Holdings, LLC, the largest holding company of dance brands in the world. This investment represents the largest institutional investment in the dance industry as of the date of the deal.

Resources

Employment Agreement – Professional Services Firm

Represented Chairman and President of a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management firm in connection with his employment agreement.

Privately Owned Real Estate Investment Advisory Firm -Acquisition of Health Care Related Properties

Representation of privately owned real estate investment and advisory firm, as managing member of programmatic joint venture with value-oriented REIT focusing on investment in institutional quality real estate to acquire and operate medical office buildings, together with other potential healthcare related properties across U.S. markets.

Represented Shareholders in Asset Sale of Independent Medical Examination Provider

Represented shareholders in multi-million-dollar sale of assets of an independent medical examination provider (IME). The IME serves insurance carriers, employers, and third-party administrators, to leading provider of IMEs, peer reviews, Medicare compliance, record retrieval, document management and related services, with clients in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.  The agreement provided for post-closing employment and restrictive covenants of selling shareholders and key personnel and bonus payments relating to key employee retention.

Professional Golf Tour – Advised on Spectrum of Matters

Counseled LIV Golf, a professional golf tour whose mission is to modernize the game of professional golf through expanded opportunities for players and fans, on a spectrum of issues including general employment matters, ticketing issues, broadcast and media rights, liability issues and facial recognition technology issues.

Internal Restructuring of Real Estate Family Office

Represented clients in internal restructuring of real estate family office restricting and facilitating entity simplification plan to implement client desired future business goals, involving more than 80 entities.

Represented Leading Producer of Golf Equipment and Apparel in Sale of Business Transaction

Represented Sun Mountain Sports, Inc. ("Sun Mountain"),  a leading producer of golf equipment and apparel, in a sale of business transaction to a private investment firm, Solace Capital Partners.  

Founded in 1981, Sun Mountain is a pioneer in the golf industry known for its best-in-class brand and many innovations in golf bags, push carts, and outerwear. Sun Mountain’s products are sold in national retail stores, specialty golf stores, and pro shops, as well as online and internationally. The sale did not include Sun Mountain Motor Sports, which produces motorized golf cars under the Finn Scooters brand.  

Three Ocean Partners served as financial advisor to Sun Mountain. 

Resources

Community Preservation Corporation – Affordable Housing

Represented long-standing client, The Community Preservation Corporation, in a joint venture that preserves 1,036 high-quality affordable and supportive housing units in 13 buildings located throughout Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan. The proceeds of the joint venture’s purchase will be used to capitalize a newly formed charitable organization, Blue Sky Social Justice Fund, which is focused on social justice and human rights, including LGBTQI+ rights, water and energy access, anti-slavery and the Black developers network.

Kirov Academy – Washington D.C. Mortgage Loan

Represented The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity in connection with a mortgage loan secured by a property located in Washington, DC. The borrower operates the Kirov Academy, a renowned non-profit ballet school.

Employment – Chief Executive Officer

Assist a long-standing real estate client in their termination of their Chief Executive Officer and in their search for a new Chief Executive Officer, including interviewing potential candidates and the preparation and negotiation of the new Chief Executive Officer’s Employment Agreement and the Separation Agreement with their prior Chief Executive Officer.

Employment – Transition

Represent a multifamily focused real estate company in the retirement and transition of their Chief Operating Officer, including the preparation and negotiation of the Transition Agreement.

MAXX Properties – Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)

Represented MAXX Properties in the structuring of their state of the art Long-Term Incentive Plan, including the preparation of the Plan documents.

Michel Design Works Acquired by Portfolio Company of Audax Private Equity

Represented the shareholders of Michel Design Works Ltd, a leading omni-channel lifestyle brand, in connection with its stock sale to Stonewall Kitchen, a premier specialty food and home goods platform in North America.  Stonewall Kitchen is a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity, which has invested over $7 billion in more than 140 platforms and over 1,000 add-on companies.  

Resources

Real Estate Investment Advisor – Incentive Equity Option Plan

Represented a prominent, privately owned real estate investment advisor in establishing an incentive equity option plan.

Emmes Capital LLC – Regulatory Advice

Represented Emmes Capital LLC in providing regulatory advice on investment advisor, commodity trading, swaps and Dodd-Frank regulations.

Real Estate Advisory – Employee Stock Incentive Plan

Represented a real estate investment advisory and property management company in the restructuring of its employee stock incentive plan.

Investment Advisor/Property Management Co. – Regulatory Advice

Represented a real estate investment advisory and property management company in the re-evaluation of regulatory compliance mechanisms to accommodate investment advisory clients subject to ERISA.

HK Organization – Empire Stores Redevelopment

Represented the HK Organization in a joint venture with Midtown Equities and Rockwood Capital to redevelop Brooklyn’s Empire Stores, a complex of seven historic warehouses. The property was transformed into a mixed-use creative hub with 100,000-sq.-ft. of retail, restaurant and event space in addition to 300,000-sq.-ft. of office space.

New York Racing Association – Not-for-Profit Foundation

Represented New York Racing Association in the formation of a not-for-profit foundation.

Cryptocurrency Trading Platform

Represented a financial services company in establishing its cryptocurrency trading platform.

Investment Advisory and Property Mgmt Co. – Formation of Conduit Limited Liability Company

Represented a real estate investment advisory and property management company in the formation of a conduit limited liability company to facilitate distribution of carried interest from investment fund to employees of investment manager pursuant to an employee incentive compensation plan.

World Surf League – League Ownership, Operations and Surfer Agreements

Represented the World Surf League in establishing the league’s ownership, operations and core investment structures to maximize league value. We also advised the league in the negotiation and development of a form agreement for surfers competing in the WSL Championship Tour, which covered merchandise licensing and media and promotional matters.

Turkish Art, Culture and Education Nonprofit Formation

Represented a client in forming a U.S. nonprofit to promote and support Turkish and other forms of dance and artistic endeavors.

Real Estate Investment Bank President – Equity Ownership and Employment Matter

Represented the president and managing principal in negotiating equity ownership and employment with a high-end real estate investment bank owner/operator.

Cross-border Acquisition Post-Secondary Educational Institutions

Represented an offshore education foundation and operator of more than 100 post-secondary schools and research institutions worldwide in its proposed acquisition of post-secondary schools located in New York, Boston, Washington D.C. and San Francisco.

Capture the League – Corporate Matters

Represented Capture the League, LLC, a multi-game eSports organization, in corporate matters related to preparation of non-player employment and confidentiality agreements, independent contractor agreements, master service agreements and player trades.

Kiska Developers, Inc. – Employment Matters

Represented Kiska Developers, Inc., a provider of real estate-related services including property development, general contracting and construction management, in employment matters.

Senior Executive – Compensation Arrangements

Represented a senior-level executive at a well established private equity firm in establishing compensation arrangements.