Boston, MA – February 16, 2005 – DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, one of the world’s leading law firms, today announced that four senior lawyers have joined its Boston office from Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault. Michael Collins, Kimberley J. Kaplan-Gross and Howard S. Rosenblum have become partners in the Corporate and Securities group; Joseph A. Hugg has become Of Counsel in the Tax group.
All were experienced members of the private equity practice group at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, will lead the expansion of the firm’s practice in the areas of private equity fund formation and operations, and are important additions to the firm’s growing corporate and securities group in its Boston office.
Elliot M. Surkin, the managing partner of the Boston office, said, “We are delighted to welcome this team of corporate and tax lawyers to the firm. Their skills and experience will complement the firm’s corporate offerings both in Boston and on a national level, by bringing to our team their experience in private equity fund formation, operations and transactions, as well as the representation of venture-funded operating companies.”
Michael Collins concentrates his practice in the private equity fund formation and investment area, including marketing, formation, structuring, operations, management, tax planning and related transactions and investment support for a wide spectrum of funds, such as venture capital, private equity, debt, distressed securities, institutionally sponsored investment programs, corporate investment programs, hedge funds, and a variety of customized vehicles throughout the United States, Canada, the UK and Europe. In addition to counseling fund managers and investment advisers, Mr. Collins also represents a number of institutional investors in the development of their asset allocation programs and the evaluation of fund investment opportunities internationally.
Mr. Collins has over 20 years of experience in these areas and served as the original chair of the private equity group at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault from its establishment in 1996.
Mr. Collins has published several articles on private investment fund topics and is an active guest speaker and participant with numerous professional and business conferences.
Mr. Collins received his A.B., magna cum laude, from Boston College and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Boston College.
Kimberley J. Kaplan-Gross represents international and domestic venture capital and private equity funds in capital formation transactions, secondary transactions, management and governance issues, and investment adviser regulatory matters. In fundraising, she advises fund sponsors on legal structuring matters, guides them in market positioning and setting proposed terms and conditions and leads their negotiations with investors. In addition, Ms. Kaplan-Gross represents institutional investors in their investments in private investment funds. Ms. Kaplan-Gross also assists private equity funds with investment and exit transactions and with transactions undertaken by their portfolio companies. Ms. Kaplan-Gross is a frequent presenter at conferences focused on the private equity industry.
Ms. Kaplan-Gross also has a robust general corporate practice representing public and private growth oriented companies in emerging and high technology industries. Her company representation experience includes private equity financing and public offerings, debt financing, securities compliance, mergers and acquisitions, technology licensing and commercial agreements, and general corporate representation.
Ms. Kaplan-Gross received her B.S. from Boston University and her J.D., cum laude and Order of the Coif, from University of Miami’s School of Law.
Howard S. Rosenblum concentrates in the areas of formation of and investments by domestic and international private equity funds and the general representation of emerging growth enterprises. His work in the private equity industry includes advising fund mangers on a broad range of issues including fundraising, capital formations, internal governance and operational issues, and portfolio investment transactions. Mr. Rosenblum also counsels companies in all aspects of their operations, from start-up through public offerings and/or acquisitions. He has advised companies across a diverse range of businesses, including software, telecommunications, networking, internet and retail. He has also published numerous articles regarding topics in the venture capital and high technology fields.
Mr. Rosenblum has significant involvement with the representation of Israeli and Israeli-related companies and venture capital funds. He has represented numerous Israeli technology companies in connection with their financing activities and operations in the U.S. Mr. Rosenblum also takes an active role in the Israeli venture capital community. In addition to his representation of many of the premier Israeli venture capital funds, Mr. Rosenblum is a frequent speaker at the Israel Venture Association conferences.
Mr. Rosenblum received his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D., cum laude, from Boston College Law School.
Joseph A. (“Tony”) Hugg concentrates his practice in the tax and ERISA issues affecting private equity funds, private equity investors and portfolio companies. He advises clients on the domestic and international tax aspects of fund formations, including choice of entity and partnership tax matters. Mr. Hugg also assists in structuring portfolio investments to minimize taxes and ensure compliance with U.S. and foreign tax laws. In addition, Mr. Hugg has substantial experience dealing with ERISA “plan assets” and other fiduciary issues arising from private equity investment transactions, including compliance with the Department of Labor’s venture capital operating company exception and other plan assets exceptions. Mr. Hugg has advised numerous private equity funds-of-funds on the special ERISA requirements that affect their structures and operations.
Mr. Hugg also works in the area of executive compensation. He is experienced with tax-qualified and non-qualified compensation arrangements, including equity compensation, representing both taxable and tax-exempt employers. He has also advised banks, insurance companies and investment management firms regarding ERISA compliance, with particular emphasis on investment-related matters and related Department of Labor class exemptions such as QPAM and INHAM.
Mr. Hugg has lectured frequently and has published numerous articles on these topics.
Mr. Hugg is a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School and he received a master of laws degree in Taxation from New York University. Mr. Hugg earned his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University.
