Bob Copps is a corporate lawyer focusing on mergers and acquisitions and private investment transactions, both domestically and internationally. Bob handles M&A transactions and general corporate matters for both publicly-traded and private corporate clients. These transactions include mergers, stock acquisitions and dispositions, asset acquisitions and dispositions, acquisitions and dispositions of divisions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and other similar transactions. Bob represents private investment funds in all aspects of their operations, including fund formation, capital raising, portfolio investments, regulatory matters and exit transactions. He has worked with prominent clients on significant transactions in a number of industries, including: manufacturing, technology, telecommunications, energy, timber, water and other natural resources, and financial services.
Bob is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and is the Partner in Charge of the New York Office. He is also the co-head of the firm’s Diversified Industrials Sector in the US.
Awards and Rankings
Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of mergers and acquisitions: middle-market (2015-2019)
Experience
“We worked on a deal in which we represented the buyers of the old International Paper timberlands. This turned out to be the third largest land transaction in U.S. history. The first was the Louisiana Purchase; the second was the purchase of Alaska; and then our deal-it is very gratifying to work significant transactions like that.”
Experience
Represented Siemens AG and Siemens Corporation in numerous M&A transactions.
Represented purchasing consortium in $5 billion timberland acquisition from International Paper Company.
Advised Forest Capital Partners in connection with its acquisition and eventual sale of nearly two million acres of timberland in the United States.
Represented an Australian-based public transportation operator in connection with its acquisition of a transportation-related mobile app from a US-based technology company.
Represented a US-based provider of mortgage and real estate market risk management solutions in connection with the sale of its European subsidiaries.
Served as lead transaction counsel to First Data in the formation of the Bank of America Merchant Services joint venture, and the creation and restructuring of numerous other bank joint ventures.
Represented Freepoint Commodities LLC in its joint venture with ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC to acquire certain storage terminals, refining units and marine infrastructure at the former Hovensa refinery in the US Virgin Islands.
Represented Sweetwater Capital in connection with initial investments in, and subsequent sales of its portfolio companies Central States Tower, LLC and Central States Tower II, LLC and numerous other transactions.
Advised Olympic Resource Management on the formation of a several REIT-structured timber funds for acquiring property in the Pacific Northwest.
Represented Joh Pengg AG in connection with the structuring and formation of a joint venture with American Spring Wire Corp.
Represented Catella Real Estate AG in the formation of its U.S. acquisition vehicle and two leveraged acquisitions of timberlands.
Represented a Bermuda reinsurance company in its structuring and formation, the private offering of its securities, and the establishment of its business.
Represented Foley Timber and Land Company in connection with its sale of certain minerals and related assets.
Represented Forest Capital Partners in connection with its sale of approximately two million acres of timberlands in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Louisiana and Minnesota.
?Represented Freepoint Commodities LLC in connection with its participation in the equity financing and corporate restructuring of the Limetree Bay refinery restart project in St. Croix.
Represented Sweetwater Capital in the sale of Central States Tower III, LLC.
Represented Fora Financial in the acquisition of a controlling interest in P. A. R. Consulting, LLC.
Represented EG Group in the $330 million acquisition of the Minit Mart convenience store portfolio of TravelCenters of America LLC.
Represented Channel Partners Capital in a controlling equity investment by Elliott Management Corporation and in the refinancing of existing debt with CIBC.
Represented a global provider of essential components and solutions and its subsidiaries in their acquisition of all the outstanding stock of a manufacturing company and its Costa Rican affiliate.
Represented subsidiaries of a leading independent fuel station and convenience retailer in the acquisition of a travel center in Pennsylvania.
Multimedia
Webcast: Hot Topics in the Taxation of Private Investment Funds (March 13, 2013)
Sutherland Partners Robb Chase, Bob Copps and David Roby will address recent regulatory and legislative developments affecting the taxation of private investment funds. In particular, the program ...
News
In the News
Sutherland Attorneys Manage Wind, Gas and Oil Deals (December 4, 2015)
Daily Report
In an article published by the Daily Report, a number of Sutherland attorneys in Atlanta, Houston, New York and Washington DC are recognized for handling three energy deals in wind, natural gas and ...
Press Releases
19 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 87 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2019 Legal 500 United States (June 10, 2019)
Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that 19 practice areas and 87 attorneys have been recognized in the 2019 edition of The Legal 500 United States, a comprehensive survey of legal service ...
16 Sutherland Practice Areas, 59 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2016 Legal 500 United States (June 16, 2016)
ATLANTA and WASHINGTON-Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is pleased to announce that 16 practice areas and 59 attorneys have been ranked in the 2016 edition of The Legal 500 United States. Legal 500 is ...
Sutherland Represents Freepoint Commodities in Joint Acquisition of St. Croix Oil Storage Terminal (December 2, 2015)
HOUSTON-Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is pleased to announce that the firm represented commodities merchant Freepoint Commodities LLC, in a joint venture with private equity firm ArcLight Capital ...
14 Sutherland Practice Areas, 62 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2015 Legal 500 United States (June 4, 2015)
ATLANTA and WASHINGTON-Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is pleased to announce that 14 practice areas and 62 attorneys have been ranked in the 2015 edition of The Legal 500 United States, a ...
Presentations
“I enjoy bringing the deal together. I studied business as an undergraduate, and I went into law knowing I could work on all aspects of deals, from high-level strategy aspects to specific transaction details, by being on the legal side.
Presentations
The Advisor & Broker-Dealer's Forum on Retail Alternative Investments (May 17, 2012 - May 18, 2012)
The Advisor & Broker-Dealer's Forum
Two Sutherland partners are speaking at The Advisor & Broker-Dealer’s Forum on Retail Alternative Investments, May 17-18, 2012 in New York. The forum explores investment potential of alternative ...
Capital Market Transactions Involving Real Estate Investment (January 2005)
In-house Continuing Legal Education Program
Publications
“One of the many advantages of working at Sutherland is the ability to call on colleagues who are recognized authorities in their areas, enabling us to provide the high-end creative guidance our clients require.”
Legal Alerts
Legal Alert: Delaware Supreme Court Finds UCC Termination Filings Valid Despite Lack of Lender’s Intent (October 28, 2014)
On October 17, the Delaware Supreme Court held that JP Morgan (JPM) terminated its security interest in all of the collateral provided by General Motors (GM) in support of a $1.5 billion loan, ...
Legal Alert: Final Volcker Rule: Update and Key Takeaways for Private Funds (January 14, 2014)
If you have any questions, please contact Brian Barrett or Jamie Cain. On December 10, 2013, the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the ...
Legal Alert: CFTC Finalizes Harmonization Rules: Advisers to RICs Benefit From “Substituted Compliance” for Many Obligations (August 26, 2013)
On August 13, 2013, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) adopted final rules to harmonize certain disclosure, reporting and recordkeeping obligations of commodity pool operators (CPOs) ...
Legal Alert: CFTC Issues Highly Anticipated Harmonization Rules (August 13, 2013)
Today, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) provided long-awaited clarification and relief to investment advisers that are registered with the CFTC as commodity pool operators (CPOs) ...
Legal Alert: Department of Energy Report Indicates Fracking Has Not Contaminated Drinking Water in Western Pennsylvania (August 7, 2013)
A recent study by the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) indicates that chemical-laced fluids used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, have not contaminated the ...
Legal Alert: Amendments to CFTC Rule 4.5 Affecting Advisers to Registered Investment Companies Upheld (June 27, 2013)
On Tuesday, June 25, 2013, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (Court of Appeals) affirmed the decision of the United States District Court ...
Legal Alert: The CPO and CTA Regulatory Regimes: What Operators of and Advisers to Commodity Pools Should Expect in 2013 (January 17, 2013)
Legal Alert: CFTC Responds to Questions Regarding CPO and CTA Registration and Compliance (August 16, 2012)
Legal Alert: Operators of, and Advisers to, New Private Funds Have Until December 31 2012, to Register with the CFTC (August 2, 2012)
Legal Alert: NFA Guidance on Transitioning From an Exemption From CPO Registration Under CFTC Rule 4.13(a)(4) to Registration or an Alternative Exemption (June 29, 2012)
Articles
Eversheds Sutherland presents annual Industrial Foresight Report 2020 (February, 2020)
In collaboration with Eversheds Sutherland Managing Partner Dr. Matthias Heisse .
Our global Diversified Industrials sector team are proud to present our annual Industrial Foresight Report 2020. This report identifies key risks, legislation and commercial developments your company ...
