Mergers and Acquisitions
Smart Strategy. Seamless Execution. Real Results.
At Barnes & Thornburg, we help clients make smart, strategic mergers and acquisitions — guiding deals from handshake to close with focus, agility, and precision. Our team represents public and private acquirers, financial sponsors, and sellers across a wide range of industries and transaction types, offering practical, business-minded counsel that drives results.
We handle hundreds of M&A transactions annually. From strategic acquisitions and divestitures to complex joint ventures and recapitalizations, we deliver high-value service for clients at every stage of their business lifecycle.
Built for the Middle Market. Trusted by Industry Leaders.
Our M&A practice thrives in the middle market — where speed, precision, and efficiency matter most. Whether you are a global company executing a sophisticated acquisition strategy or a closely held business entering into a once-in-a-lifetime sale, we tailor our approach to your unique goals.The Right People at the Right Time
We build lean, experienced deal teams that stay laser-focused on what really matters. With robust bench strength in key areas — tax, employee benefits and executive compensation, intellectual property, environmental, labor and employment, finance, and regulatory — we address issues proactively and deliver smart, holistic solutions.Our lawyers collaborate seamlessly with clients’ accountants, bankers, and internal stakeholders, and we are known for leading, not lagging. Through efficient project management and deep market awareness, we spend less time on irrelevant haggling and more time creating real value.
Strategic Counsel from Both Sides of the Table
Because we have sat on both sides of the deal table, we offer nuanced, tactical insight that helps anticipate and overcome challenges before they arise. We have a deep data set of prior experience which helps us to understand the paramount question, “What’s market?” Whether you are a buyer in a competitive auction or a seller seeking certainty in a bespoke transaction, we bring a clear understanding of deal dynamics, valuation drivers and risk allocation.
Our transactional experience includes:
- Stock and asset acquisitions
- Minority and majority investments
- Joint ventures and strategic alliances
- Private Equity
- Recapitalizations
- Spin-offs and corporate carve-outs
- Going-private transactions
- ESOPs and management buyouts
- Cross-border transactions
- Unsolicited deals and takeover matters
We also stay current on tools like representation and warranty insurance, helping clients leverage evolving trends to enhance value, minimize risk, and close with confidence.
More Than Legal Advice — A True Deal Partner
At Barnes & Thornburg, your transaction is not just a legal matter — it’s a strategic milestone. That is why we invest the time to understand your vision, priorities, and pain points. Our team acts as an extension of yours, asking the right questions, anticipating the next steps, and working relentlessly to protect your interests.
With a national footprint, industry fluency, and a reputation for getting deals done, we are proud to be the partner of choice for clients who value responsiveness, practical solutions, and trusted counsel.
Let us help you make your next move count.
Experience
- Represented an Indiana based employee-owned full service asphalt paving company in numerous acquisitions including of two different family owned paving and excavation businesses in Michigan.
- Represented a Nasdaq-listed global leader in water and fuel system technologies on a series of strategic acquisitions, including the all-cash acquisition of a water treatment company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.