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 group.
When not in the office, John can be found searching the Virginia countryside for colonial and civil war history, fishing or playing golf.
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 Gannett Co., Inc. on its $1.8 billion acquisition of the 73% membership interest in Cars.com that it did not already own. This significant digital media acquisition followed our work with Gannett on its recent acquisitions of Belo Corp ($2.2 billion in 2013) and London Broadcasting ($215 million in 2014), which doubled Gannett’s broadcast television portfolio. By contrast, during 2014, I also represented the shareholders of J.M. Waller Associates, Inc., a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, on the sale of their stock to Versar, Inc. (NYSE MKT: VSR) for $13 million, and during 2015, I represented TEGNA Inc. on the disposition of two digital media properties and the acquisition of additional broadcast television assets. I recently represented Cars.com on its acquisition of Dealer Rater and TEGNA Inc. on multiple strategic investments.
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 $4.2 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.
Law360 | March 21, 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 21, 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 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 Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation | September 19, 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 24, 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 02, 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 16, 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 31, 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 2019 for Corporate/M&A and Private Equity (Washington, DC). He has also been recommended in The Legal 500 United States 2017 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).
