Cohen & Gresser LLP advised private equity firm Limerston Capital in its acquisition of Forensis Group Limited and Forensic Axis Limited (trading respectively as Forensic Access and Axiom International), specialists in forensics science services and premier providers of international institutional reform and capacity building. The combined acquisition will form the basis of a new, comprehensive international criminal justice services provider. Management and founders, led by Professor Angela Gallop, will retain a significant minority shareholding as part of the transaction and will work with Limerston Capital to expand the businesses through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. The terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

Johannes Jonas was featured in an article by Agefi-Dow Jones in which he discusses MAC-clauses in acquisition agreements.

Jumana Rahman spoke to Law360 about the British government’s emergency loan scheme for companies affected by the nationwide lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Jumana commented on some of the potential problems facing banks that increase loan approvals for businesses that could ultimately fail.

Bonnie J Roe, Kwaku Andoh, and Mark Spatz have been named to Law360’s Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Cannabis Editorial Advisory Boards, respectively, and will offer their insight and expertise in their fields to best shape future coverage by Law360. This marks the second consecutive year of both Bonnie and Kwaku's board memberships.

Read more about Law360’s Capital Markets Editorial Advisory Board

Read more about Law360's Mergers & Acquisitions Editorial Advisory Board

Read more about Law360’s Cannabis Editorial Advisory Board

Guillaume Guérin was featured in an article by Agefi-Dow Jones in which he discusses Vallourec’s (a multinational manufacturing company) contemplated share capital reduction and consolidation of shares.

Bonnie J Roe is quoted in an article by Activist Insight about whether adding activism as a risk factor in companies' annual reports is justified.

Muriel Goldberg-Darmon speaks with Caroline Ruellan, President of SONJ Conseil, about the relationship between shareholder dialogue and privileged information in an interview with Forbes.

(Regards croisés entre Caroline Ruellan, Présidente de SONJ Conseil et Muriel Goldberg-Darmon.)

Bonnie J Roe has been named to Law360’s 2019 Capital Markets Editorial Advisory Board and will offer her insight and expertise in the field to best shape future coverage of the capital markets landscape.

Muriel Goldberg-Darmon speaks to L'Agefi regarding shareholder activism in France.

Muriel Goldberg-Darmon speaks to Décideurs Magazine regarding activist investment funds and minority shareholders.

In this C&G client alert, Bonnie Roe and Cody Lipton discuss recent statements from the SEC that highlight the importance of “good corporate hygiene” in regulating purchases and sales of stock by the company and its officers and directors, and they analyze the impact of a changing regulatory environment on the design and implementation of 10b5-1 plans.

Muriel Goldberg-Darmon discusses the protection of shareholders’ rights during general meetings held behind closed doors due to the pandemic.

Jeffrey M Bronheim, Daniel H Mathias, and James R Mossetto discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on private equity funds, noting that investor uncertainty and the need to preserve cash may drive limited partners (“LPs”) to question their obligations to fund capital calls.

Jeffrey M Bronheim, Daniel H Mathias, and James R Mossetto discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on private equity funds, noting that investor uncertainty and the need to preserve cash may drive limited partners (“LPs”) to question their obligations to fund capital calls.

Muriel Goldberg-Darmon discusses the difficulties facing companies in fulfilling their continued disclosure obligations to the market, as well as the resulting risks of potential AMF sanctions.

In this C&G Client Alert, Bonnie J Roe discusses the “good faith” need determination standard for the new Paycheck Protection Program loans.

Muriel Goldberg-Darmon discusses how the outbreak of COVID-19 impacts a company’s responsibility to comply with financial communication and reporting obligations.

In light of the current outbreak of COVID-19 and other critical events of 2020, Jumana Rahman and Charlotte Ritchie consider the current state of force majeure in English law, and its impact on the performance of contractual obligations.

Jumana Rahman, Dawda Jawara, and Charlotte Ritchie consider the position of the UK borrower who defaults on debt due to COVID-19.

Muriel Goldberg-Darmon explains the specific regime of navigating whistleblowing within the French financial sector through the internal procedures of financial institutions and external procedures of the French Financial Market Authority (AMF) and the French Banking Authority (ACPR).

In this C&G Client Alert, Bonnie J Roe and Cody Lipton discuss the SEC guidance issued on January 30, 2020 on the use of key performance metrics for public companies discussing their financial results and proposed amendments to certain financial reporting requirements.

Bonnie J Roe and Cody Lipton examine the SEC's proposed amendments to its definition of “accredited investor,” which add new categories of qualifying natural persons and entities able to participate in certain exempt offerings without specific disclosures or other limitations.

In an article for Forbes, Muriel Goldberg-Darmon discusses the benefits of a recent market reform in France that lowers the threshold for majority shareholders to implement a squeeze-out, as well as the increased protection for minority shareholders proposed by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF, the French financial markets regulator) further to this reform.

Bonnie J Roe explores how Regulation A may be the best alternative for conducting an initial coin offering in her latest article for Bloomberg Law. 

Muriel Goldberg-Darmon co-authors an article examining the evolving corporate and social responsibilities of activist investors.

Karen H Bromberg discusses the increasingly prominent role of privacy and network security measures in decisions about potential strategic investments and acquisitions.

Bonnie J Roe will participate in a panel titled "Undertaking a Private Placement Transaction" at the Practising Law Institute's "Private Placements and Hybrid Securities Offerings 2020" program.

C Evan Stewart will chair an upcoming Practising Law Institute CLE program, titled “Ethics for Corporate Lawyers: Multijurisdictional Practice and Other Current Issues 2020,” which will analyze recent legal ethics developments, potential jurisdictional challenges, and common ethical pitfalls as they relate to corporate lawyers.

Muriel Goldberg-Darmon est intervenue sur le thème « Activisme actionnarial et risques d’abus de marché » lors de la conférence sur les Risques de crédits & Risques de marché, Le Mans Université.

(Muriel Goldberg-Darmon gave a presentation, titled “Shareholder Activism and Market Abuse Risks,” at Le Mans University’s Credit Risks and Financial Market Risks conference).

Muriel Goldberg-Darmon a participé à la Table Ronde sur “Quelle coopération entre les mis en cause et l’AMF ?” organisée par la Commission des sanctions de l’AMF le 3 octobre 2018. La table ronde était modérée par : Jean Gaeremynck, président de section au Conseil d’Etat, membre de la Commission des sanctions de l’AMF. Les intervenants étaients : Jean-Luc Blachon, premier vice-procureur, Parquet national financier, Sophie Bresny, chef du service des investigations de l’Autorité de la concurrence Andrew Cotterell, Head of Law, Policy & International, FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), Muriel Goldberg-Darmon Associée du cabinet  Cohen & Gresser,  Benoît de Juvigny, secrétaire général de l’AMF.

(Partner Muriel Goldberg-Darmon spoke at the AMF Enforcement Committee’s annual symposium on October 3, 2018, as the only speaker from a private law firm.  Muriel was a panelist for the second round table on “Cooperation between the respondents and the AMF during investigations or inspections and sanctions,” which was moderated by Jean Gaeremynck, State Councilor and member of the AMF Enforcement Committee.  Muriel’s fellow panelists were: Jean-Luc Blachon, First Vice-Prosecutor at the Parquet National Financier; Sophie Bresny, Head of the Inspections Unit at the Autorité de la concurrence; Andrew Cotterell, Head of Law, Policy & International at the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority); and Benoît de Juvigny, Secretary General of the AMF).