John Partigan is known for his extensive experience in public and private company mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, capital markets transactions and corporate governance. He is the team leader of the firm’s national Securities practice.
My focus is on helping our clients achieve their goals, by efficiently and effectively structuring and executing on transformative transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, debt or equity financings, initial public offerings, joint ventures and strategic alliances.
I enjoy working with clients in a wide variety of industries and on transactions of all shapes and sizes. I recently represented a publicly traded, global corporation in its acquisition of two waste-to-energy facilities in Palm Beach County, Florida. By contrast, in 2018, I represented a privately held company in connection with a $250 million investment from a sovereign wealth fund in a deal valued over $1 billion. In addition, I have worked on structuring numerous joint ventures involving publicly traded companies, including Cars.com and CareerBuilder.
I also have deep experience representing clients in the media industry. For more than 20 years, I have represented TEGNA Inc., a publicly traded broadcast and digital media company, in numerous corporate transactions and strategic investments. Most recently I represented TEGNA in its transformative $740 million acquisition of 11 television stations from diversified media company, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. We also advised TEGNA Inc. in its $535 million acquisition of two top-rated television stations and a radio station from Dispatch Broadcast Group. In 2019, we advised TEGNA on a total of $1.5 billion of completed media acquisitions and secured $2.6 billion of debt financing in the U.S. debt capital markets and under its amended and extended credit agreement.
I have recently represented issuers of high-grade and high-yield debt securities, in Rule 144A and Regulation S distributions, exchange offers, tender offers and consent solicitations, involving over $5.3 billion. These financings are often completed in conjunction with merger and acquisition transactions. I have also recently represented a venture capital fund on an initial public offering of its portfolio company and two sales of portfolio companies, including a registered resale of two million shares of common stock of the buyer received in the sale transaction.
Increased merger and acquisition activity, particularly among strategic buyers, as the debt capital markets continue to be strong.
Pensions & Investments | July 08, 2019
In this story, Washington, DC, Corporate partner and Securities team leader John Partigan discusses the opportunities and challenges of the direct listing process as an alternative for companies looking to avoid a traditional IPO.
Law360 | June 14, 2019
Nixon Peabody is mentioned as counsel to Tegna in its $535 million deal to acquire two television stations and one radio station in the Midwest from Dispatch Broadcast Group.
The Deal | June 12, 2019
The following stories mention Nixon Peabody as counsel to Tegna in its $535 million deal to acquire two television stations and one radio station in the Midwest from Dispatch Broadcast Group. NP’s deal team included partners John Partigan, Brian Kopp, Sean Clancy, counsels Todd Shinaman and Al Floro, and department attorney Dana Campbell.
Law360 | March 20, 2019
In the following coverage, Nixon Peabody is mentioned for its role as counsel to Tegna, which agreed to purchase a number of television stations from Nexstar Media Group for $740 million. Washington, DC, Corporate partner John Partigan led the deal team.
Bloomberg Law | March 20, 2019
In the following coverage, Nixon Peabody is mentioned for its role as counsel to Tegna, which agreed to purchase a number of television stations from Nexstar Media Group for $740 million. Washington, D.C. Corporate partner John Partigan led the deal team.
The Deal | March 19, 2019
In the following coverage, Nixon Peabody is mentioned for its role as counsel to Tegna, which agreed to purchase a number of television stations from Nexstar Media Group for $740 million. Washington, D.C. Corporate partner John Partigan led the deal team.
The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation | September 18, 2018
Washington DC Corporate partner John Partigan wrote this article analyzing Spotify’s decision to go public without conducting an underwritten IPO, making the music streaming service the largest company to do so through a direct listing.
Law360 | August 23, 2018
Washington DC partner and team leader John Partigan is mentioned in this article for leading the deal team in Tegna Inc.’s $105 million acquisition of local television stations in Ohio and Texas. The deal team also included partners Sean Clancy, Brian Kopp, Jean McCreary and Denise Pursley; counsel Todd Shinaman; and associates Pierce Han, Dara Histed, Carolyn Lowry and Dana Stanton.
The Deal | March 01, 2018
Public Company Transactions practice group leader John Partigan and attorneys Brian Kopp, Mike Hausknecht, Allan Floro, Justin Thompson, Sean Clancy, Pierce Han, Erin Kansy and Carolyn Lowry were mentioned in this article for representing Tegna in its recent purchase of a CBS-affiliated TV station and two radio stations in San Diego.
Law360 | February 15, 2018
Washington DC public company transactions partner and practice group leader John Partigan led a team from Nixon Peabody that advised client Tegna Inc. on its acquisition of two television stations and two radio stations in the San Diego media market.
S&P Global Market Intelligence | January 30, 2018
Washington DC public company transactions practice leader John Partigan is quoted in this article explaining Spotify’s rumored interest in “direct listing,” a seldom used method of making company stock available without the backing of Wall Street underwriters.
Albany Law School, J.D., magna cum laude
Willamette University, B.A., cum laude
District of Columbia
New York
John has been recognized for exceptional standing in the legal community in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2020 for Corporate/M&A and Private Equity (Washington, DC). He has also been recommended in The Legal 500 United States 2019 editorial for M&A/Corporate and commercial—M&A: Middle-market (sub-$500m).
John is a member of the American Bar Association (Negotiated Acquisitions Committee and Federal Regulation of Securities Committee, Business Law Section), the District of Columbia Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. John is a former member of the NASDAQ Listings Qualifications Panel (2004–2014).