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Lawyers

Robert F. Smith

Lawyers

Represents financial sponsors and corporate borrowers on a wide range of transactions, with a focus on acquisition and other leveraged finance transactions.

Robert’s practice focuses on the representation of financial sponsors and corporate borrowers in a wide range of U.S. and cross-border transactions, with a particular concentration in acquisition and other leveraged finance transactions. Robert’s sponsor clients have included Atairos, Bain Capital, Crestview Partners, Lightyear Capital, Loews, Tailwind Capital and TruArc Partners.

Experience highlights

Select Sponsor Representations
  • Atairos in the financing for its investment in Opry Entertainment Group and Bowlero’s merger with Isos Acquisition
  • Bain Capital in the financing for its acquisition of Merchants Fleet
  • Crestview Partners in the financing for its investments in Digicomm International and The Gersh Agency
  • Lightyear Capital in the financing for its acquisition of Allworth Financial, the financing for its partnership with Schellman & Company, the recapitalization of Cerity Partners and the sales of Datalot and Therapy Brands
  • Loews in various financings for Altium Packaging
  • Tailwind Capital in its acquisition of Onix Networking, the investment by Freeman Spogli in EverVet and financings for One Diversified
  • TruArc Partners in the financing for its acquisitions of Molded Devices, Global Med and Schauenburg-Truplast
Other Notable Representations
  • ABB in its $2.6 billion acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions
  • Arcis Golf in its $375 million term loan and revolving credit facilities
  • Bowlero in its $900 million term loan refinancing and $35 million revolver increase
  • First Group in its $4.6 billion sale of First Student and First Transit and $172 million sale of Greyhound Lines
  • Genuine Parts Company in its $2 billion acquisition of Alliance Automotive Group
  • HSN in its $2.6 billion acquisition by Liberty Interactive
  • Huatai Securities in its $780 million acquisition of AssetMark Financial
  • IHS Market in its $1.9 billion acquisition of Ipreo
  • Masco in its $725 million sale of Milgard Manufacturing
  • McCormick in its $710 million acquisition of FONA International
  • Mitsubish HC Capital in its $3 billion acquisition of CAI International
  • PGT Innovations in its $575 million notes offering, the financing for its $185 million acquisition of Martin Door and the financing for its $126 million acquisition of Anlin Windows & Doors
  • S&P Global in its $550 million acquisition of Kensho Technologies
  • Sitio Royalties in its $4.8 billion merger with Brigham Minerals
  • SSW Partners in its $1.5 billion sale of the Veoneer Active Safety business
  • Suez in its $3.4 billion acquisition of GE Water & Process Technologies
  • TE Connectivity in its $895 million acquisition of Creganna Medical Group
  • Technip in its $17 billion combination with FMC Technologies to form TechnipFMC
  • Tyson Foods in its $2.2 billion acquisition of Keystone Foods
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Education
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
  • magna cum laude
  • Dean's List
  • Order of the Coif
  • Managing Editor, The Tax Lawyer
B.A., Political Science and Astrophysics, Williams College
  • with honors
  • Dean's List
Professional history
  • Partner, 2023-present
  • Counsel, 2021-2023
  • Davis Polk since 2013
Qualifications and admissions
  • State of New York
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