Jeffrey A. Fickes

Partner

New York

Tel 646.346.8003
Fax 212.223.1942

Jeffrey A. Fickes is Practice Co-Leader of Ballard Spahr’s Private Equity Group and a member of the firm's Expanded Board. He focuses on private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate matters for businesses and investors throughout the United States and internationally.

Jeff brings decades of experience in business to his role as a trusted advisor to company owners, boards, and senior executives. He has served as lead counsel on domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, private equity, venture capital, recapitalization, debt and equity financing, and other strategic transactions, as well as corporate governance and organizational matters.

Jeff has real-world business experience that provides him with unique perspective as a lawyer. He grew up in a closely-held business environment, and before entering private legal practice he held corporate financial management positions in both public and private companies. Jeff also is a serial private equity investor and has an MBA in corporate finance from the Fisher College of Business, where has was the Banc One Capital Fellow (awarded annually to the top Fisher College MBA finance student) and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Fraternity.

Services

Experience

Representative Matters

As Lead Counsel, Jeff has represented:

A private equity firm in the capital raise, acquisition, and financing of an international specialty gauge and sensor manufacturer
A private equity firm in its capital raise, acquisition, and financing of a national specialty and truck vehicle body design and up-fitting service and product distribution company
A global Chinese-headquartered public company, through its international California-based parts manufacturer, in a North American joint venture with a Mexican-based company
An e-Commerce logistics software technology company in its Series A and Series B preferred venture capital investment rounds and $20 million Reg. D notes/warrants offering

A global Chinese-headquartered public company, through its international California-based parts manufacturer, in multiple acquisitions and related financings throughout North America
A Midwest-based bank holding company in its preferred equity growth investment from a California-based private equity firm
A Midwest-based private equity firm in its capital raise, acquisition, and financing of a national building products manufacturer/distributor
A global U.S. headquartered parts manufacturer/distributor in its acquisition and financing of an international Michigan-based company
A global Chinese-headquartered public company in its direct venture capital investment in a Silicon Valley-based software technology company
A Chicago-based software technology company in its Series A preferred venture capital investment from a public company strategic investor
A private equity firm in its capital raise, acquisition, and financing of a national commercial infrastructure products distributor
A private equity firm and its international New York-based portfolio company in its joint venture with an international European parts manufacturer
A global U.S. headquartered parts manufacturer/distributor in its international joint venture with a global European-headquartered public company
A private equity firm and its international New York-based portfolio company in its capital raise and leveraged growth recapitalization, and related refinancing
An international Midwest- and Toronto-based commercial real estate services company in its sale to a global public company headquartered in California
A national Midwest-based business finance company in its sale to an international private equity-backed company based in Florida
A Midwest-based bank in its merger with a Midwest-based bank holding company and its subsidiary bank
An international Midwest-based industrial equipment manufacturer in its sale to a global Japanese-headquartered public company
An international Missouri-based parts manufacturer in its spin-off and sale of a division to an international Michigan-based company
An international Southeast-based parts manufacturer in its sale to a global India-headquartered public company
A Midwest-based publicly traded bank hold company in its private placement of equity securities
An international Pennsylvania-based chemical manufacturer in its sale to a North Carolina-based private equity firm, and subsequent sale to a global Northeast-based company
A Midwest-based private equity firm in its sale of a hardwood manufacturing portfolio company to a strategic acquirer
An international Florida-based laser manufacturer in its sale to a global Swiss-headquartered public company
An international Midwest-based industrial equipment manufacturer in its acquisition of a Canadian-based company
A Midwest-based medical product manufacturer in its sale to a global Ohio-headquartered public company
A leveraged management buyout of a Midwest-based multi-state retail chain

Professional Highlights

Professional Activities

Association for Corporate Growth Executive Vice President and Board of Directors

American Bar Association Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Committees

The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business Alumni Board

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Fellow

Recognition & Accomplishments

The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law (New York), 2018-2024

Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated

Speaking Engagements

Moderator, Interactive Roundtable, "Midwest Deal Connect: Investment Banks," Opus Connect, November 15, 2023

Board Memberships & Community Service

The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business Alumni Board

Association for Corporate Growth Executive Vice President and Board of Directors

United Way Tocqueville and Philanthropist Societies

United Way Corporate Fundraising Cabinet

Related Insights

Credentials

Education

Harvard Law School (Executive Education, Leadership of Law Firms)

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (J.D.)

The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business (MBA, Corporate Finance)

The University of Akron (B.S, Accounting)

Admissions

New York

Ohio

Texas