Areas of Practice
Industries
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 2004
- Michigan, 1999
Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1999
Brigham Young University, B.A., 1996
Language
- French
Jeff Gifford is the leader of Dykema's Corporate Finance Practice Group. Mr. Gifford counsels clients on mergers and acquisitions, public and private securities transactions, domestic and international commercial transactions, specializing in heavily regulated industries, including the financial institutions, health care and petroleum industries. He works closely with accountants, investment bankers and other professionals to address and handle the complex issues that characteristically arise in transactions. Jeff also advises publicly traded and privately held companies on organizational restructuring and corporate governance matters. He serves as the Co-leader of both the Firm's Mergers and Acquisitions subgroup and the Family Business Transition Team.
Experience
Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions
- Acquisition of asphalt operations and assets for $450 million plus inventory of approximately $370 million.
- Sale of one of the premiere global exterior and interior automotive rearview mirror manufacturers to a Canadian investment group for $320 million, plus the assumption of $95 million in debt.
- Representation of London Stock Exchange Company in an approximate $160 million stock and asset acquisition of the largest privately owned United States pest control business.
- Assisted one of the nation’s largest security services companies, publicly traded in the U.K., with a $75 million disposition of all of its U.S. security service entities to a U.S. publicly traded company, which allowed our U.K. client to focus its efforts on building a stronger base in its core U.S. business.
- Represented private health care software company in $62 million acquisition by private equity firm.
- Represented E&P company in $40MM purchase of Delaware Basin producing leasehold assets.
- Sale of an interior design, engineering, and maintenance service business valued over $30 million.
- Acquisition of $30 million international well servicing rigs business.
- Negotiated and closed several 7-figure purchase and sale agreements of upstream oil and gas assets.
- Sale of $55 million worth of international well servicing rigs business.
- Sale of an aircraft engineering and finishing business specializing in VVIP and head-of-state aircraft interiors valued at $40 million.
- Sale of the largest IBM value-added reseller in the U.S. through a recapitalization transaction with a national private equity fund.
- Sale of $13 million historical work of art.
- Sale of a historical Boeing B-17G bomber and related assets valued at $4 million.
- Represented a pharmaceutical manufacturer in a $1.2 million manufacturing joint venture investment.
- Acquisitions and Sales of Multiple State Banks and Branches throughout Texas.
- Facilitated the acquisition of a private market research, analysis and advertising company, by one of the leading publicly traded market research and advertising companies.
- Coordinated and directed a thin film disposition equipment manufacturer’s acquisition of a competing manufacturer located in Taiwan which strengthened our client’s strategic position in Asia allowing greater delivery capabilities to Asian markets.
- Helped our client to acquire two related Canadian private manufacturers of water heating systems and related products, providing our client with a better strategic position in Canadian and North American markets.
Securities
- Represented our client in a $216 million offering to the U.S. Department of Treasury to provide our client with additional capital to facilitate further lending and potential acquisitions of other financial institutions.
- Assisted our client with a $100 million shelf offering of its common stock providing our client with greater capital resources to expand its U.S. and European operations into Asian markets.
- Orchestrated a complex refinancing for an oil and gas development and production client that included a $125 million debt offering and subsequent exchange.
- Representation of a public company in connection with a $150 million shelf offering.
- Representation of a public company in connection with a $88 million follow-on public offering.
- Represented numerous health care, technology, manufacturing and financial institutions in raising private funds to further corporate objectives.
- Regularly assist several clients with their preparation and filing of SEC reports and related filings, including response letters to SEC comment letters.
Commercial Transactions
- Drafted and negotiated software license and related professional service agreements with major computer software and information technology consulting companies for comprehensive ERP software suite affecting virtually every aspect of the client company.
- Represented numerous clients in various contractual arrangements involving companies doing business in Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia.
Seminars & Speeches
- October 7, 2020
- Reps & Warranties Insurance: Shifting Indemnification Responsibility in Acquisitions, CLE Presentation, Association of Corporate Counsel of South/Central TexasMarch 6, 2019
- Precision Contracts: Advanced Principles for Drafters, CLE Presentation, Association of Corporate Counsel of South/Central TexasMarch 7, 2018
- Avoiding Boilerplate Burns: Hidden Dangers in your Miscellaneous Provisions, CLE Presentation, Association of Corporate Counsel of South/Central TexasSeptember 6, 2017
- May 18, 2016
- Recapitalization: The Third Way, Speaker, Texas CEO MagazineFebruary 12, 2015
- What’s Your Exit Strategy?, Business Transition & Succession Seminar Hosted by Cox Smith, Padgett Stratemann and NavidarApril 8, 2014
Publications
- October 27, 2020
- April 30, 2019Insurance Coverage Law Report
- October 17, 2018
- Fall 2018Association of Corporate Counsel - South/Central Texas
- Some signs point to another year of strong activity, but others suggest it may soon be time to wrap up that deal you've been working on.November 18, 2016CFO Magazinehttp://ww2.cfo.com/ma/2016/11/ma-2017-starting-cool-off/
- October 24, 2016
- Enthusiasm for deals is waning, suggesting that if you want to do one, it may be best to do it soon.February 2, 2016CFO Magazinehttp://ww2.cfo.com/ma/2016/02/time-pull-ma-trigger/
- October 30, 2015
News
- November 16, 2020
- November 3, 2020
- April 13, 2020
- October 17, 2018
- July 17, 2018
- December 8, 2017
- October 25, 2017
- September 18, 2017
- November 18, 2016
- November 8, 2016
- November 2, 2016
- October 26, 2016
- May 6, 2016
- February 3, 2016
Alerts
- January 29, 2018
- January 31, 2017
- August 24, 2016
- August 10, 2016
- January 28, 2016
- Has true equity crowdfunding finally arrived?December 22, 2015
- October 9, 2015
- Federal Appeals Court Reverses Dismissal and Revives Securities Fraud Class ActionAugust 12, 2015
- clawback (n.) /ˈklô,bak/: to get back by strenuous or forceful meansJuly 27, 2015
- January 14, 2015
- July 18, 2013
- August 31, 2012
- March 30, 2012
- June 1, 2011
Press Releases
- Survey respondents bullish about M&A outlook despite COVID-19, election fearsOctober 27, 2020
- 18 Attorneys Earn “Lawyer of the Year” HonorsAugust 20, 2020
- Impact of Trump Administration, Midterm Elections and the Rise of Automotive M&AOctober 17, 2018
- January 24, 2018
- Smaller and Middle Market Deals Expected to Lead Activity in 2018October 25, 2017
- Industry Predictions: Leveling Deal Activity and Optimism in Dykema’s 12th Annual M&A Outlook SurveyDealmakers Share Concerns – and Indifferences – on Brexit, U.S. Presidential Elections, Federal Regulations and Corporate TaxesOctober 24, 2016
- Despite Strong M&A Pace, Positive Outlook for M&A and Economy Declines to Lowest Level in YearsOctober 29, 2015
Memberships & Involvement
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas
- San Antonio Bar Association
- Association of Corporate Counsel, Ethics Follies Presenter
Community/Civic Activities
- North San Antonio Chamber Board of Directors, 2012-2014
- North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lab, Alumnus
- Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Leadership San Antonio, Class XXXIV
- Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Council, Steering Committee Member, 2008
- Alamo Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, numerous positions held
- San Antonio Management Society, Co-founder and Former Treasurer
Awards & Recognition
-
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2021. Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC
- Recognized by S.A. Scene in "San Antonio’s Best Lawyers" for Business & Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Securities & Corporate Finance
- Recognized by San Antonio Magazine in "San Antonio's Top Attorneys" for Corporate Finance Mergers & Acquisitions, 2019 and 2020
- S.A. Scene, "San Antonio's Rising Stars"
- Selected for inclusion as a "Texas Rising Star," Law and Politics Magazine, 2010-2011
- San Antonio Business Journal, "Forty Under Forty," 2009