Lee J. Potter practices in the area of corporate law with a concentration on mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Mr. Potter has significant experience in acquisitions and divestitures of both public and private companies. He also has extensive experience in venture capital and private equity transactions, equity and debt securities offerings, bank credit facilities, restructurings and general corporate matters for both foreign and domestic clients.

Mr. Potter is a 1992 graduate, with honors, of the University of North Carolina School of Law (joint J.D./M.B.A.), where he was articles editor for the North Carolina Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif, and a graduate of Oberlin College.

Representative Matters

Advised a German private equity fund on its acquisition of a small producer of beverage coasters located in Buffalo, New York.
Advised a Spanish investor regarding its SEC filing obligations in connection with the acquisition of shares in a U.S. public company.
Representing a Spanish acquirer in a pending purchase of a slate roof producer.
Prepared U.S. legal documentation for an internal restructuring the U.S. subsidiaries of Daimler AG in connection with the sale of Chrysler LLC to Cerberus.
Represented DQS Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsystemen GmbH on the U.S. portion of its joint venture with Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
Representing ThinkSmart, Inc., an Australian lease finance company, in establishing operations in the U.S.
Advised a U.S. public company in connection with an internal restructuring involving the issuance of "stapled stock" to an affiliated entity.
Represented a startup in a private equity offering under Regulation D, the proceeds of which were to be used to bid for assets of a telecom company in bankruptcy proceedings.
Advised Allied Irish Banks, plc in preparation and filing of Form S-8 for issuance of ordinary shares for purposes of issuing ADR's to participants in its incentive equity plan.
Represented an insolvent jewelry retailer in two separate sales of subsidiaries.
Represented a Spanish petroleum company in connection with a proposed acquisition of a Taiwanese manufacturing entity.
Advised a German manufacturer in connection with a bid for a Philippines-based business.
Represented a start-up bio-diesel producer in obtaining initial financing of $7.9 million from four institutional investors.
Represented a venture investor in connection with amending a convertible loan facility to a venture-stage borrower.

Professional Activities

American Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
Association of the Bar of the City of New York

Admissions

New York

Education

University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D./M.B.A., with honors, 1992
Oberlin College, B.A., 1983

Experience

Duane Morris
- Partner, 2007-present
Arent Fox LLP
- Partner, 2005-2007
Donahue & Partners LLP
- Partner, 2003-2005
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
- Associate, 1997-2003
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
- Associate, 1992-1997