William H. Behr

William H. Behr is Of Counsel in the New York office. His practice encompasses a wide variety of corporate, securities and other commercial transactions. He has represented buyers, sellers and targets in a variety of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures that range in size from several million to several hundred millions of dollars. With respect to securities offerings, Will has assisted companies and investors in public and private issuances of debt and equity securities and is versed in federal and state securities compliance.

At the firm, Will has worked regularly with insurance industry clients on governance and regulatory matters as well as on transactions. Will has served as the assistant secretary of a New York-domiciled subsidiary of a publicly traded, foreign property/casualty insurance company. Will has represented clients in both the purchase and sale of licensed insurers, MGAs, TPAs and the sale of an impaired insurer in runoff. He has assisted in structuring joint ventures for industry participants and advised clients with respect to licensure requirements, holding company legal issues, reinsurance contract wording, and the development of board committees and investment policies.

On both the fund and company sides of private equity and venture capital transactions, Will has structured and negotiated the purchase and sale of numerous businesses, and has led debt and equity follow-on investments on behalf of both companies and investors. He has counseled businesses at all stages of their evolution – whether it be in connection with the creation of new businesses, day-to-day governance of a mature business or a business’s ultimate liquidation and dissolution. Will has advised clients in operational, strategic, extraordinary corporate governance and commercial matters, including business combinations, recapitalizations and reorganizations. He also has significant experience structuring and negotiating joint ventures and partnerships.

Will has drafted and negotiated syndicated credit facilities for leading banks and corporate borrowers and has also assisted clients with bridge, mezzanine and other bank finance facilities. Will has advised clients in a wide variety of industries, including software, gas and electric utilities, telecommunications, livery, aerospace, construction, manufacturing and financial services. He has experience with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. He has negotiated nearly every form of commercial agreement, including employment agreements, licensing agreements, investor rights agreements, registration rights agreements, debt instruments, indentures, services agreements and franchise agreements.