Gregory M. O'Shaughnessy

My focus

My team and I are focused on handling sophisticated middle-market transactions for our clients all over the world, including mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, private credit transactions, startups, and venture capital financings. In the private equity area, we represent private equity firms, family offices, and venture capital and growth equity investors in connection with structuring, negotiating, and closing their portfolio company investments, add-on acquisitions, and exits. After one of our private equity clients closes a portfolio company investment, our team typically handles the ongoing legal work for the portfolio company. We also represent large strategics in connection with their middle-market acquisitions and divestitures. Finally, we support leading entrepreneurs, owner operators, and families in building middle-market companies. We partner with these clients to help them grow their businesses and then represent them in connection with an M&A exit or other significant liquidity event, most often with a private equity investor or a strategic buyer on the other side of the table. We have significant experience, and a thoughtful touch, with first-time sellers in particular.

We have had, and continue to have, the good fortune of working with clients across a wide range of industries all over the world, which has allowed our team to take a deep dive in many different areas, including healthcare, consumer products (including retail and e-commerce), food and beverage, industrial products and services (including aerospace and defense), niche manufacturing, all manner of technology transactions, and business services.

Most importantly, my team and I take great pride in creating partnerships with our clients that go far beyond always providing exceptional service and best-in-class legal work (which should be a given). After more than 25 years practicing together in this area, we have built an extensive ecosystem in the middle-market deal community, and we tap into that ecosystem to create value and opportunities for our clients. Whether helping clients source transaction opportunities, identify sources of capital, find executive talent, or build teams of top advisors like investment bankers and accountants, we are committed to understanding our client’s businesses, and then using the full leverage of our firm’s talents, experience, and network to help them accomplish their goals.

Looking ahead

After a challenging environment for middle-market dealmaking in 2023, marked by a difficult interest rate environment and many businesses facing an uncertain economic outlook, we are optimistic that 2024 will see the pent up demand in the market begin to be released and that there will be a steady increase in deal volume throughout the year, culminating in a robust deal market in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

Insights

• Moderator, “Market Overview 2024,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle-Market, February 2024
• Moderator, “National Defense and Cybersecurity,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle-Market, November 2023
• Moderator, “Consumer Products: Trends & Opportunities for 2023,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle-Market, April 2023
• Moderator, “Healthcare: Trends & Opportunities for 2023,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle-Market, February 2023
• Moderator, “Private Equity and M&A Outlook: Trends & Opportunities,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle Market, November 2022
• Panelist, “A Conference for Business Owners: M&A Solutions for Privately Held Companies,” Babson Executive Conference Center, October 2018
• Moderator, “Private Equity Investing Outlook: What is next for the Consumer Products & Services Industry,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle Market, May 2017
• Moderator, “Private Equity and M&A Outlook: Trends & Opportunities,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle Market, January 2017
• Moderator, “Private Equity Investing Outlook: What is Now and Next for Investing in Health Care Technologies,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle Market, October 2016
• Moderator, “Private Equity Investing Outlook: What is Next for the Food & Beverage Industry,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle Market, April 2016
• Moderator, “Private Equity and M&A Outlook: Trends & Opportunities,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle Market, January 2016
• Moderator, “Private Equity Investing Outlook: What is Next for the Food & Beverage Industry,” Nixon Peabody Hot Topics in the Middle Market, April 2015