Barnstable-Brown_Christopher

Christopher D. Barnstable-Brown

Partner

Chris Barnstable-Brown's nationally recognized practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and corporate finance transactions, with particular emphasis on the technology, finance and life sciences industries.  

Mr. Barnstable-Brown has extensive experience advising public and private companies and private equity sponsors in matters involving domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, joint ventures and asset sales. Mr. Barnstable-Brown is a trusted advisor to issuers, underwriters and lenders in domestic and international financing transactions, including public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, as well as solutions-focused advice to emerging growth companies during all stages of their lifecycles, including with respect to corporate organization, governance, venture and mezzanine financings and sales transactions.

Mr. Barnstable-Brown was recognized by The M&A Advisor as a winner of the 2019 Emerging Leaders Awards, and has been named a "Leading Lawyer" by The Legal 500 United States in the 2023 edition for his M&A corporate and commercial practice and by New York Super Lawyers in the 2015–2018 editions.

Before joining WilmerHale, Mr. Barnstable-Brown was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Boyce F. Martin, Jr. of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Barnstable-Brown was born in Louisville, Kentucky.

Experience

    • Solid Biosciences in its acquisition of AavantiBio
    • Acquco in its $160 million Series A financing to buy and scale Amazon third-party sellers
    • Amplitude Healthcare Acquisition Corporation in its business combination with Jasper Therapeutics
    • ZebiAI Therapeutics in its acquisition by Relay Therapeutics
    • XLMedia plc in its acquisition of the CBWG sports media, gaming and betting business
    • The underwriters in connection with the $90 million initial public offering of Graybug Vision, Inc.
    • Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals in its merger with AcelRx Pharmaceuticals and its later agreement to be acquired by Melinta Therapeutics
    • WeWork Companies in connection with various acquisition and sale transactions, including in respect of Teem Technologies, Prolific Interactive, SpaceIQ and Conductor
    • Medtronic plc in connection with public offerings of more than $10 billion of registered senior notes, as well as various M&A and strategic transactions
    • PTC Therapeutics in its acquisition of Agilis Biotherapeutics
    • Blue Apron in connection with its $300 million initial public offering and $78 million equity capital raise; Blue Apron in connection with its definitive merger agreement to be acquired by Wonder Group.
    • Durata Therapeutics, a NASDAQ-listed company, in connection with its sale to Allergan (formerly Actavis) for $675 million in cash plus contingent value rights representing potential cash payments of up to an additional $155 million 
    • Eleven Biotherapeutics in connection with its acquisition of Viventia Bio for 19.9% of Eleven’s outstanding common stock
    • Apellis Pharmaceuticals in connection with its $150 million initial public offering
    • Ophthotech Corporation in connection with its acquisition of an Inception Sciences/Versant Ventures portfolio company
    • Intercept Pharmaceuticals in connection with public offerings of equity and convertible debt
    • The underwriters in connection with the initial public offering of MaxPoint Interactive
    • Bellerophon Therapeutics in connection with its initial public offering 
    • PAE, a portfolio company of private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg, in its acquisition of the Applied Technology Division of Computer Sciences Corporation
    • Archer Daniels Midland Company in connection with its recommended $3.5 billion offer to acquire GrainCorp Ltd. of Australia, which followed ADM taking a 19.8% equity stake in GrainCorp
    • The initial purchasers in connection with the $250 million 144A/Reg S high-yield senior debt offering of Brightstar Corp.

Recognition

  • Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 United States and recognized as a "Next Generation Lawyer" in the 2020-2022 editions for his M&A: Middle Market practice 
  • Named a winner of The M&A Advisor's 2019 Emerging Leaders Awards for accomplishments in the financing and turnaround industry
  • Recognized in the 2015–2019 editions of Super Lawyers as a New York Rising Star for his mergers and acquisitions practice

Insights & News

Credentials

  • Education

    • JD, Boston University School of Law, 2008

      magna cum laude
    • BS, Management, Purdue University, 2005

  • Admissions

    • New York

  • Clerkships

    • The Hon. Boyce F. Martin, Jr., US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2008 - 2009

Credentials

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