New York
Phone +1.212.309.6636
Fax +1.212.309.6001
101 Park Ave.//New York, NY 10178-0060//United States
Jonathan D. Morris concentrates his practice on US and international mergers and acquisitions, involving publicly traded and privately held enterprises. He also advises on joint ventures, strategic alliances, commercial contracts, and general corporate matters. He represents both strategic and private equity clients primarily in energy and infrastructure, life sciences, food and beverage, and media services sectors.
Jon is the New York office leader for the corporate and business transactions practice and was previously the co-head of the firm's mergers and acquisitions practice. He is also a former member of the firm's Diversity Committee.
selected representations
Energy and Infrastructure Transactions
Highstar Capital and Ares EIF in the pending sale to JERA Co., Inc. of a 50% interest in the Linden Cogeneration Facility, a 972-MW gas-fired thermal power cogeneration complex
Highstar Capital in the acquisition and project financing of the Salem Harbor Power Station development project, an approximately 700-MW gas-fired power plant to be built in Salem, Massachusetts
Highstar Capital in the sale of a combined-cycle natural gas power generation facility and two peaker plants to AltaGas
Highstar Capital in its acquisition of two combined-cycle natural gas power generation facilities from LS Power
Highstar Capital in its acquisition of one combined-cycle natural gas power generation facility and two peaker plants from Harbert Infrastructure
Highstar Capital in the sale of Utilities, Inc., a regulated water and wastewater company
John Laing Group in its acquisition of a majority interest in the Buckthorn Wind Power Project
National Grid in connection with its partnership with Sunrun for the ownership of approximately 200 MW of residential rooftop solar assets
National Grid in its investment in the Access Northeast pipeline expansion
National Grid in connection with its investment in Clean Line Energy, a developer of high-voltage-direct current (HVDC) long-haul transmission lines
National Grid in connection with the formation of the Green Line Infrastructure Alliance with Anbaric to develop large-scale, HVDC transmission projects that leverage wind power and hydropower to address key regional energy issues in New England
A.P. Moller-Maersk Group in the sale of its Direct ChassisLink subsidiary
Transforce Corporation, a transportation and logistics provider, in its acquisition of Transport America
Transforce Corporation in its acquisition of Dynamex, a Nasdaq-listed company
Food and Beverage
Dr Pepper Snapple Group in its merger with Keurig Green Mountain to create Keurig Dr Pepper (pending)
Dr Pepper Snapple Group in its acquisition of Bai Brands
Diageo in the formation of a joint venture with Sean “Diddy” Combs and the joint venture’s related acquisition of a luxury tequila brand
Diageo in the acquisition of a super-premium tequila brand
Diageo in the acquisition of flavored whiskey brand
Dr Pepper Snapple Group in its acquisition of the business assets of Davis Beverage Group and Davis Bottling Group
Kraft Foods in the sale of its Balance Bar business
Nash Finch in its merger with Spartan Stores
Life Sciences
Varsity Healthcare Partners in the formation of Forefront Management Holdings and the related acquisition of assets from Dermatology Associates of Wisconsin
Varsity Healthcare Partners in the formation of EyeCare Services Partners Holdings and the related acquisition of assets from Katzen Eye Group
Varsity Healthcare Partners in its investment in Colonial Family Practice
Forefront Dermatology on its sale to OMERS Private Equity
EyeCare Services Partners Holdings on its sale to Harvest Partners
Media
Daily Mail and General Trust plc in the sale of Elite Daily to Bustle Digital Group
UBM plc in the sale of PR Newswire
UBM plc in its acquisition of Advanstar Communications
UBM plc in its acquisition of Canon Communications
UBM plc in its acquisition of Techonline, Shorecliff Communications, US Newswire, and Portelligent
Awards and Affiliations
Member, Law Firm of the Year, Energy/Projects: Power (including Renewables), Chambers USA (2018)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Energy, Law360 (2016)
Member, Energy Law Firm of the Year, US News & World Report/Best Lawyers (2015)
Notable Practitioner, IFLR1000 United States (2018)
Notable Practitioner, IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate (2019–2021)
Recommended, Finance: Project finance, The Legal 500 US (2019)
Recommended, Industry focus: Energy: transactions: conventional power, The Legal 500 US (2019, 2020)
Recommended, Finance: Project finance: advice to sponsor, The Legal 500 US (2018)
Recognized, Notable Practitioner for M&A, IFLR1000 (2017)
Recommended, The Legal 500 US (2012–2016)
Recognized, New York Super Lawyers (2015–2017)
Recognized, New York Metro Rising Star, New York Super Lawyers (2013–2014)
Recognized, Top 40 Under 40, Legal Adviser category, The M&A Advisor (2014)
Managing Editor, University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform