Overview

Chris Bonser is Senior Counsel in the firm's Corporate and Tax Group. He advises private equity firms, portfolio companies, and public and private businesses across a broad range of industries on complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, venture capital financings, divestitures, carve-outs, joint ventures, corporate governance, and general corporate and securities law matters.

Before joining Hill Ward Henderson, Chris was an associate in the Corporate and Financial Services Department at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in New York, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and corporate and securities law.

Outside of his practice, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida State Seminoles, and Manchester City F.C.

Credentials & Experience

Education

Florida State University, B.S., Accounting & Finance, 2013, magna cum laude

Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 2016

  • Fordham Journal of Corporate & Financial Law, managing Editor

Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, M.B.A., 2016

  • Concentration: Finance & Business Economics

Bar Admissions

The Florida Bar

The New York Bar

Experience

  • Represented Victory Capital in its $8.5 billion bid to acquire Janus Henderson Group through publicly announced proposals to top Janus’ signed merger agreement with an investor group led by Trian Partners.
  • Represented Bluestar Alliance in its acquisition of Dickies, an iconic American heritage brand, for $600 million.
  • Represented Man Group plc in its acquisition of Bardin Hill, a U.S. private credit manager.
  • Represented Third Point LLC in its acquisition of AS Birch Grove LP, a diversified alternative credit fund manager.
  • Represented Bluestar Alliance in its acquisition of luxury streetwear brand Off-White.
  • Represented Aquiline Capital Partners on the close of its Continuation Fund, which raised approximately $1.1 billion of capital commitments.
  • Represented Orion Advisor Technology on its acquisition of Summit Wealth Systems, an advisor technology provider.
  • Represented Fullsteam, a leading provider of integrated business management software and payments to customers across the Main Street economy and a portfolio company of Aquiline Capital Partners, in its new investment from Aquiline and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), as well as a consortium of other investors.
  • Represented Title Resources Guaranty Company, one of the nation’s leading title insurance underwriters and a portfolio company of Centerbridge Partners, in its preferred equity investment in the Independence Title and TitleOne businesses of Anywhere Real Estate Inc., a global leader in residential real estate services.
  • Represented Cetera Financial Group, a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, in its acquisition of The Retirement Planning Group, an independent registered investment advisory firm.
  • Represented Orion Advisor Solutions in its acquisition of TownSquare Capital, a boutique, full-service investment and trading platform.

  • Represented Orion Advisor Solutions in its acquisition of Redtail Technology, a leading web-based CRM software firm serving the wealth management industry.

  • Represented Compassus, a portfolio company of TowerBrook Capital Partners, in its joint venture partnerships with Bon Secours Mercy Health and OhioHealth for home health and hospice services.

  • Represented Insight Partners in its growth equity investments in Dremio, the data lake engine company, and Resolve, which specializes in “buy now, pay later” capabilities for B2B transactions.

  • Represented Illuminate Education in its sale to Renaissance Learning, one of the largest U.S. providers of reading, math, and assessment solutions.

  • Represented Grizzly MEP, a portfolio company of Garnett Station Partners, in its acquisitions of Excel MEP, Vermont Mechanical and Stegall Mechanical to add to its commercial mechanical, electrical and plumbing platform.

  • Represented Garnett Station Partners in its acquisition of Apex Automotive, a tire and general automotive services provider.

  • Represented Garnett Station Partners in its acquisition of Flagstop Carwash, a Virginia-based car wash platform.

  • Represented Versant Health, a leader in managed vision care and portfolio company of Centerbridge Partners, in its $1.675 billion sale to MetLife.

  • Represented Loral Space & Communications Inc. in its combination transaction with Telesat Canada, one of the largest global satellite operators.

  • Represented Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. it its acquisition of an 80% interest in Off Lease Only, a leading independent used-car dealer in the United States.

  • Represented Cambium Learning Group, a leading provider in education software and portfolio company of Veritas Capital, in its acquisition of AIR Assessment, the student assessment division of the American Institutes for Research, one of the world’s largest behavioral and social science research organizations.

  • Represented Pamplona Capital Management in its sale of BBB Industries, an industry leader in the remanufacturing of starters, alternators, hydraulic and air disc brake calipers, both hydraulic and electronic power steering products and turbochargers for the OEM, personal and commercial vehicle aftermarket industries, to Genstar Capital.

  • Represented Senior management of CarVal Investors, an alternative investment fund manager and independently managed subsidiary of Cargill, in its management buyout of CarVal Investors from Cargill.

Professional & Civic

Community & Professional

  • American Bar Association
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