For more than 30 years, Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman has provided responsive, solution-oriented, practical, and full-service legal advice to its diverse client base. We regularly guide businesses and investors through successful corporate and commercial transactions, protect the interests of financial institutions and corporations facing complex business litigation, and help individuals and entrepreneurs raise capital and grow their businesses.
Notable representations led by our lawyers include the following:
- Cash merger of client Hello Products, LLC with Colgate-Palmolive Company.
- Acquisition of Approved Networks and its affiliate, US Critical, by A&M Capital Opportunities’ portfolio company, Champion Optical Network Engineering.
- Representation of GoldenTree Asset Management LP and its portfolio company, James Cable, LLC, in connection with the acquisition and roll-up of numerous regional cable companies and the eventual disposition of the combined cable entities to BCI Broadband.
- IPO for Grubb & Ellis Realty Advisors, Inc., a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), sponsored by the public company, Grubb Ellis Company.
- 13e-3 going private transaction between client Varsity Brands, Inc., the industry leader in the high school spirit industry, and Leonard Green & Partners, L.P.
- Structured investment in, and subsequent acquisition of, From You Flowers, LLC, an on-line, worldwide floral retailer, on behalf of Tenth Avenue Holdings, LLC.
- Stock merger between client, Grubb & Ellis Company, a publicly traded commercial real estate services company, and NNN Realty Advisors.
- Sale of First Sterling Financial, Inc., a leading syndicator of investment funds benefiting from low income housing tax credits, to Regions Bank.
- Sale of client Art Agency Partners, a premier art advisory firm, to Sotheby’s.
- Representation of Sagaponack Partners, L.P., in connection with the acquisition, restructuring and disposition of Waterworks, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of high-end kitchen and bathroom fixtures.
- Representation of A&M Capital Opportunities in connection with its acquisition of Champion Optical Network Engineering, a leading designer, marketer and distributor of carrier grade optical transceivers.
- Sale of the affiliated global consulting firms J.S. Held LLC and Held Enloe & Associates, LLC to Lovell Minnick Partners.
- Acquisition of Dutchland Plastics, LLC, a contract rotational molding plastics manufacturer, by A&M Capital Opportunities.
- Representation of Tenth Avenue Holdings in connection with its lead venture investment in, and eventual acquisition of majority ownership and control of, Hello Products, LLC, a leader of organic oral care products.
- Sale of Recorded Books, a worldwide provider of unabridged audiobooks, digital context and services primarily to the libraries and educational market, to Wasserstein & Co.
- Representation of A&M Capital Opportunities in connection with its acquisition of Classic Brands LLC, a manufacturing, sourcing, distribution and logistics company in the sleep products industry.
- Carve out transaction with respect to the sale of the Apex Foot Health and Wellness division of client Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. to Orthotic Holdings, Inc.
- Acquisition of PackIt, a manufacturer and marketer of proprietary, foldable, reusable coolers, by Tenth Avenue Holdings.
- Sale of Triumph Learning, a publisher of state specific test prep materials for the K-12 market and a division of Haights Cross Communications, to School Specialty, Inc, a public company.
- Representation of Sagaponack Partners, L.P., in connection with the sale of Ustman Technologies, a provider of compliance information for underground storage owners, to Veeder-Root Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation.
- Sale of Sonia Kashnuk, Inc., an eponymous designer, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary beauty products, in connection with its sale to Target Brands, Inc.
- Represented Friedman LLP in connection with its merger with Marcum LLP combining two national accounting and advisory firms.
- Represented The Execu-Search Group in connection with a strategic investment by Mill Rock Capital.
- Represented Homebridge Financial Services, Inc. in connection with its merger with Figure Technologies, Inc.
- Represented Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP in connection with a strategic investment by New Mountain Capital and its reorganization as an alternate practice structure.
- Represented Glenmount Global Solutions, Inc. in the sale of its energy, infrastructure, and industrial projects consulting solutions business to E-Technologies Group, a portfolio company of Falfurrias Capital Partners, a private equity firm.
- Represented HomeBridge Financial Services, Inc. in its acquisition of the residential mortgage banking operations of Homestreet Bank.
- Represented Freedom Mortgage Corporation in:
- Its merger with Roundpoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation
- Its acquisition of the residential mortgage banking operations of New York Community Bank.
- Its acquisition of J.G. Wentworth Lending, LLC
- Its acquisition of the residential mortgage banking operations of Continental Home Loans, Inc.
- Its acquisition of the residential mortgage banking operation of Sterling National Bank.
- Its acquisition of the USDA mortgage loan operations of JPMorgan Chase Bank.
- Represented CHMI Solutions, Inc., a publicly traded REIT, in its acquisition of Aurora Financial Group, Inc.
- Represented HomeBridge Financial Services, Inc. in its acquisition of the residential mortgage banking operations of Prospect Mortgage, LLC
- Represented Execu/Search Group, Inc., a staffing and executive search firm, in connection with its sale to New Heritage Capital, a private equity firm.
- Represented Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, a national accounting firm, in numerous acquisitions of accounting firms.
- Represented Art Agency Partners, an art advisory firm in connection with its receipt of strategic investments and its eventual sale to Sotheby’s.
- Represented the global consulting firms of J.S. Held LLC and Held Enloe & Associates, LLC in connection with its sale to Lovell Minnick Partners.
- Represented Instinet Holdings Incorporated in connection with Instinet’s purchase of BlockCross ATS, an industry leading alternative securities trading system, and related technology from State Street Global Markets, LLC.
- Represented Chi-X Global Holdings in connection with the sale of Chi-X Canada, its subsidiary and a leading alternative securities trading platform for Toronto Stock Exchange listed securities, to NASDAQ, Inc. for $110.0 million.
- Represented Chi-X Global Holdings in connection with the sale of its Australian and Japanese alternative securities trading platforms and its Hong Kong based technology development and services unit to J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC.
- Represented Rafaella Apparel Group, Inc., a portfolio company of Cerberus Capital Management, in connection with its sale to Perry Ellis International, Inc.
- Represented a subsidiary of Instinet Incorporated (which is wholly owned by Nomura Holdings, Inc.), Chi-X Global LLC, in connection with the sale of minority equity interests to Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and other financial institutions.
- Represented GoldenTree Asset Management in connection with its equity investment in the Harrah’s $27.8 billion going-private transaction.
- Represented Freedom Mortgage Company, a privately held mortgage banker, in its $270 million acquisition of the nationwide mortgage production operations of Irwin Mortgage Corporation, the wholly owned mortgage subsidiary of Irwin Financial Corporation, a NYSE-listed Midwestern financial institution.
- Represented financial services firm in connection with securing $1 billion revolving loan facility from Citibank Global Markets Realty Corporation.
- Represented Grubb & Ellis Company, a NYSE-listed commercial real estate services firm, in connection with its stock-for-stock merger with NNN Realty Advisors valued at $723 million.
- Represented GoldenTree Asset Management in connection with their equity investment in Reader’s Digest’s $1.6 billion going private transaction.
- Represented Varsity Brands, Inc. in connection with its $125 million going-private transaction sponsored by Leonard Green & Partners.
- Represented GVA Williams, a privately held full service commercial real estate firm, in connection with its sale of majority interest to First Service Corporation, a Canadian public company.
- Represented Edict Pharmaceuticals in connection with its sale to Par Pharmaceutical Inc.
- Represented a leading litigation finance company in connection with its $53 million recapitalization involving the negotiation of two new $25 million secured credit facilities, a $3 million equity investment and the repayment of existing indebtedness.
- Represented Haights Cross Communications in connection with the restructuring of its $80 million second lien indenture through a tender and exchange offer.
- Represented Opteum Financial Services, LLC in connection with its spin-off of certain operating assets and its sale to Bimini Mortgage Management, Inc., a NYSE publicly traded REIT.
- Represented a wholly-owned portfolio company of Cerberus Capital Management, in connection with strategic acquisitions for such portfolio company.
- Represented a leading litigation finance company and its affiliate in connection with negotiation and structuring of $50 million asset-based secured credit facility from Autobahn Funding Company LLC and DZ Bank AG Deutsche Zetral-Genossenschaftsbank.
- Represented private diversified holding company in connection with their acquisition of a majority interest in an online retailer in the floral industry.
- Represented Haights Cross Communications in connection with the acquisition of a digital educational testing company, and the financing in connection therewith.
- Represented IBM in the subleasing of 70,000 square feet of office space in New York City to Weight Watchers International, Inc. for its international headquarters.
- Represented the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Marquis Jet Partners, Inc., a leader in private jet travel, in connection with the management-led leveraged buyout of the Company.
- Represented Grubb & Ellis Realty Advisors in connection with its $125 million initial public offering underwritten by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
- Represented Cox & Company, Inc., a commercial and military aerospace manufacturer, in connection with a leveraged ESOP transaction financed by Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services Inc. pursuant to which Cox & Company became 100% owned by its employees.
- Represented a leading litigation finance company in connection with the purchase of a portfolio of receivables valued at approximately $20 million and the negotiation and structuring of a $35 million asset-based secured credit facility provided by a hedge fund.
- Represented James Cable, LLC, a regional cable and Internet service provider in connection with the acquisition, disposition and exchange of various cable systems.
- Represented Caribiner International, a NYSE company, in the acquisition of more than thirty companies and in connection with Warburg Pincus’ joint venture investment.
- Represented Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG, a German banking corporation, in connection with the spin-off of its worldwide commercial real estate financing business.
- Represented Grubb & Ellis Company in its $95 million preferred equity and $30 million convertible debt 144A private offerings placed by JMP Securities, Inc.
- Represented special committee of a public international shipping company in connection with certain asset acquisitions from entities controlled by related parties.
- Represented Oxford Health Plans in the leasing of more than 2,000,000 square feet of space and in the purchase and leasing of buildings.
- Represented RSA Lighting, Inc., in the sale of its business to Cooper Lighting, Inc., a division of Cooper Industries, a NYSE company.
- Represented Grubb & Ellis Company in connection with its $95 million secondary offering underwritten by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
- Represented OCS Security, Inc. in its sale to Initial Security, LLC, a subsidiary of Rentokil Initial, plc, a British publicly traded company.
- Represented Riddell Sports in connection with its $48 million secured credit funding and various strategic acquisitions.
- Represented special committee of a public company that is a provider of business services to commercial users in connection with exploring various strategic alternatives.
- Represented Ustman Technologies in the sale of substantially all of its assets to the Danaher Corporation.
- Represent special committee of a public pharmacy management company in connection with a change-of-control transaction involving the sale of equity and the exchange of debt.
- Representation of an agent bank on $1.1 billion secured uncommitted revolving credit facility for a major energy trader.
- Representation of an agent bank on $300 million secured revolving credit facility for a major base metals trader, with both committed and uncommitted tranches.
- Representation of an agent bank on $275 million secured uncommitted revolving credit facility for a major base metals trader.
- Representation of an agent bank on $235 million secured uncommitted revolving credit facility for a major precious metals trader.
- Representation of an agent bank on $260 million secured uncommitted revolving credit facility for a major precious metals trader.
- Representation of an agent bank on $190 million secured committed revolving credit facility for a major retail energy trader.
- Representation of a purchasing bank on $40 million and $20 million receivables purchase facilities.
- Representation of a purchasing bank in establishing platform documentation for supply chain finance receivables purchasing.
- Representation of a purchasing bank in numerous and continuous receivables purchases on existing supply chain finance platform.
- Representation of a major mortgage lender in connection with its $120 million MSR financing facility.
- Representation of a major mortgage lender in connection with its numerous mortgage warehouse facilities with an aggregate credit availability of nearly $1 billion.
- Representation of a private equity firm in connection with its $12 million senior credit facility and $6 million mezzanine credit facility to finance the acquisition of a rotational plastic molding company.
- Representation of a private equity firm in connection with its $75 million credit facility to finance the acquisition of a mattress producer.
- Representation of a private equity firm in connection with its $27 million senior credit facility and $55 million mezzanine credit facility to finance the acquisition of an optical company.
- Defended major national mortgage bank against $30 million damages claim arising from alleged letter agreement to enter into revolving mortgage warehouse facility, including seven-day bench trial.
- Defended agent bank for syndicated loan against claims by syndicate members alleging $20 million in damages for alleged failure to detect borrower fraud; case dismissed on summary judgment.
- Defended foreign state-owned bank in federal action seeking in excess of $600 million for alleged defaults in finance agreements around the globe.
- Prosecuted legal malpractice action against attorneys for professional negligence and conflict of interest arising from attorney’s improper role in loan transaction and neglect of due diligence; resulted in substantial settlement shortly before jury selection.
- Defense of multi-million dollar fraudulent conveyance claims brought against wife by creditors of husband arising from judgment in partnership dispute.
- Defense of foreign central bank in actions alleging breach of loan agreements, alter ego, and breach of letter of credit obligations.
- Defense of foreign government in action alleging breach of oil brokerage agreements and hostage-taking.
- Prosecuted claims for malicious defamation by creation and maintenance of defamatory website names, Twitter feeds, and webpage content; resulted in consent judgment in favor of injured parties.
- Defense and prosecution of claims of employee solicitation, theft of trade secrets, unfair competition, and breach of employment agreements in numerous cases on behalf of, current employers, former employers, and employees.
- Lead counsel to a U.S. bank in claims arising from fraudulent use of wire transfer facilities in Argentina.
- Lead counsel to international manufacturer in product liability litigation.
- Defense and prosecution of claims of infringement, unfair competition, dilution, breach of contract, and business torts among designers and founders of fashion labels involving high-end fashion designs and accessories.
- Defended arbitration of alleged owner of world-famous restaurant business against owners of the business, claiming ownership; resulted in confidential settlement.
- Defended claim for judgment on guarantee of loan facility to Hospitality Industry business; resulted in dismissal of claim on defendant’s motion.
- Represented high-net-worth property owner in recovering on extensive claims against first-party insurer, third-party insurer, and third-party wrongdoer for damage to property caused by moving and storage company; confidential settlement.
- Represented high-net-worth property owner in recovering on complex first-party insurance claim arising from massive damage from water-infiltration in custom-built home.
- Represented individual shareholders in family business dispute requiring emergency injunctive relief to prevent dissipation of business assets in excess of $20 million.
- Represented corporate executive in claim against an international investment firm to recover a $1.2 million bonus that he was orally promised before being terminated.
- Represented international bank in various lawsuits in recovering substantial portion of $240 million lost in massive international banking fraud.
- Represented minority members of limited liability company in recovering substantial portion of $30 million investment in international telecommunications venture.
- Represented spurned acquisition target in fraudulent concealment claim relating to theft of trade secrets. Won jury verdict exceeding $4 million after five-week jury trial. Verdict was affirmed and enlarged on appeal.
- Represented licensee of reproductive health technology in obtaining multi-million dollar award following four-week confidential arbitration.
- Represented founder of leading Radiology Practice Group in extensive multi-week trial of partnership dispute concerning operation, ownership, succession, management and financing of practice. Obtained for our client a high six-figure damages award for breach of fiduciary duty by a partner, and an arbitration award entitling our client to acquire 100% ownership of practice.
- Represented senior physician, who had privileges wrongfully and summarily revoked by hospital, at evidentiary hearing to review suspension, resulting in findings that suspension should be terminated immediately with full privileges and no restrictions.
- Represented dissident members of Anesthesiology Physician Group in negotiations with group management, resulting in restructuring of shareholder rights to substantially improve representation and voice of dissident members.
- Represented administrative assistant who was sexually harassed by her employer, resulting in substantial cash settlement shortly after presentation of our proposed complaint prior to filing.
- Represented prominent Midtown New York City landlord in successful suit to compel high-profile, major retail tenant to convert electrical service from “rent inclusion” to direct purchase from electrical utility, at tenant’s expense, notwithstanding extremely complex and expensive costs to perform conversion.
- Represented manufacturer of natural gas product in recovering full payment, by settlement in mid-trial, on products liability claim.
- Represented major electronics supplier in recovering full payment, on summary judgment, on contract for sale of media company production equipment.
- Represented oil refinery in recovering tens of millions of dollars from insurance carriers for environmental insurance liabilities.
- Defense counsel to credit card debt collection company in action brought by large U.S. bank for breach of credit card account purchase agreement.
- Counsel to investment bank seeking recovery against debtor in foreign liquidation proceedings, resulting in U.S. court decision denying comity recognition to foreign proceeding.
- Represented public and private companies in recovering millions of dollars from insurance carriers in various matters for wrongful denial of insurance coverage arising from directors & officers insurance, bankers’ blanket bond insurance, fidelity, theft, and CGL policies.