CompanyLeaders – JUAN MONTEVERDE AND A CAREER IN MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

While some of us may have heard the term “mergers and acquisitions” before, it remains a poorly understood area of business for some. A greater level of comprehension in this area can be helpful for the general public, but it can be especially relevant for attorneys deciding on a potential career path for themselves. In order to assist those in this situation, we’ve undertaken efforts to explain the field and give some information on a leading attorney practicing in this area — Juan Monteverde. With a look at his professional life, and some additional information on this specialty, individuals can learn much about this important aspect of business and law.

Concentration Overview

Before looking at specifics, let’s first gain a better understanding of mergers and acquisitions in general. For attorneys, this specialty is typically concerned with issues of corporate law that deal with instances of companies purchasing or joining together with other companies. Usually, a long list of details must be settled in order for a merger or acquisition to move forward and an attorney in this field can be involved with settling these details by helping companies come to an agreement. After such an agreement has been reached, a deal can move forward in the agreed upon manner.

The work of an attorney engaged in this concentration can be vast and varied but it can focus on a few key aspects of these deals. One such aspect can be the need for financing to allow a deal to progress. A mergers and acquisitions attorney can assist a client in negotiating this type of financing and can also provide advice on how to draft or negotiate areas of a contract related to this concern. A merger or acquisition can be one of the most complex occurrences in the life of a company, so the involvement of an experienced and competent attorney can be a key part of bringing such a deal to its conclusion.

Additional Responsibilities

While negotiating the details of a deal can broadly describe some of the work conducted by an attorney engaged in mergers and acquisitions, this work can be accomplished through a range of smaller steps. One key task for this type of attorney can be to identify their client’s business objectives. A merger or acquisition can be undertaken for a number of different reasons and each case can require a different approach and different set of priorities. These different reasons can also be accompanied by a host of different legal issues, which may need to be identified by an attorney and planned for accordingly.

An attorney in this field can also help their client achieve their goals by advising them on best practices for engaging in negotiations. The familiarity with negotiation strategies gained by an attorney experienced in mergers and acquisitions can be an invaluable resource for a company unfamiliar with the typical details of such a deal. This familiarity can also be used to advise clients on the financial implications of such an agreement, for instance as it relates to taxation. Experience in this area can also be invaluable for identifying potential regulatory hurdles and how these concerns can be addressed in a timely and effective manner.

Career Examined

To gain a better idea of how an attorney related to this field can conduct his work, let’s turn to the career of Juan Monteverde and see how he’s become one of the leading professionals in his concentration. The attorney received his undergraduate degree in finance from California State University, Northridge. He then went on to attend St. Thomas University’s School of Law where he graduated Cum Laude. During his time at law school, he served as a staff editor for the law review and as President of Plead the 5th, the school’s official newspaper.

After receiving his law degree, the attorney went on to work at several different firms to prepare for a career in securities law and mergers and acquisitions. One of these firms was Levi & Korsinsky, LLP, where he represented victims of securities fraud, mutual fund abuse, and ERISA violations. He also worked to protect shareholder rights in situations that involved a takeover or a change in control. Not only did this work give him an opportunity to provide services for a variety of clients, it also helped build his foundation of experience in his chosen field.

Developing a Firm

Eventually, the attorney transitioned to his own firm, Monteverde & Associates. That transition can provide additional information for those thinking of entering this field. The firm’s concentration serves to illustrate the focus of much of the attorney’s professional career — shareholder rights. This concentration has seen the firm handle a number of high-profile cases involving mergers and acquisitions to maximize shareholder value. In past cases, the attorney has strived to recover damages, ensure the agreement of a fair purchase price, and obtain the disclosure of all material information.

In recognition of these efforts, the attorney has been repeatedly singled out by professional organizations that identify leading attorneys in their field. One such instance of this is the attorney’s selection in multiple years as a New York Metro Rising Star in Securities Litigation by Super Lawyers, an award given to fewer than 2.5% of attorneys in the field. The attorney’s high level of recognition has also afforded him the opportunity to present his understanding of the field to professional groups and legal conferences such as PLI and ABA.

While “mergers and acquisitions” are familiar in name to many, its details are sometimes misunderstood by those without a background in the concentration. This type of misunderstanding can be detrimental to those who may be interested in pursuing a legal career in this field. An examination of the above information on the legal specialty and the career of Juan Monteverde can help to better equip those interested in pursuing professional work in this area. If this information has provoked or strengthened your interest in the field, look for additional information on the specialty to better understand how such a career may work for you.