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Morris

Jonathan D. Morris

Partner

jonathan.morris@morganlewis.com

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

Admissions

  • New York

Education

  • University of Michigan Law School, 1998, J.D.
  • University of Pennsylvania, 1995, B.A.

Sectors

  • Energy
  • Life Sciences
  • Healthcare

Services

  • Mergers Acquisitions
  • Project Finance Infrastructure Natural Resources
  • Private Equity
  • Corporate Finance Investment Management
  • Healthcare Transactions

Regions

  • North America

News

6/18/2020 - Morgan Lewis Advises Astoria Energy in Sale of Two Facilities
7/23/2019 - M&A Wrap, Mergers & Acquisitions
7/23/2019 - Morgan Lewis, Akerman Score in Big Houston Sports Deal, Texas Lawyer
7/19/2019 - Morgan Lewis Represents James Harden in Minority Ownership Buy of Houston Dynamo Soccer Team
10/1/2018 - Morgan Lewis Advises Varsity Healthcare in Probo Medical Recapitalization, Partnership
9/12/2018 - Morgan Lewis Advises Star West Generation in Power Plant Sale to Capital Power Corp.
7/19/2018 - Morgan Lewis Advises Sidewinder Drilling in Combination with Independence Contract Drilling
7/10/2018 - Morgan Lewis Represents Dr Pepper Snapple Group in Keurig Green Mountain Merger Closing
1/29/2018 - Morgan Lewis Advises Dr Pepper Snapple on Merger with Keurig Green Mountain, Helping Join Iconic Beverage Companies
6/1/2017 - Morgan Lewis Advises Ferguson Enterprises in Sale of Endries International
11/22/2016 - Morgan Lewis Advises Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. in $1.7bn Acquisition of Bai Brands, LLC
2/12/2016 - Morgan Lewis Advises Forefront Dermatology on Sale to OMERS Private Equity
12/22/2015 - Morgan Lewis Advises Varsity Healthcare Partners in Colonial Family Practice Investment
1/12/2015 - Morgan Lewis Advises Highstar Capital on Acquisition of Salem Harbor Power Station Project and $730 Million Construction Financing
11/3/2014 - Morgan Lewis Advises Dr Pepper Snapple Group in Beverage Group and Davis Bottling Co. Acquisition
10/1/2014 - Morgan Lewis Represents UBM in $972M Purchase of Advanstar Communications
6/2/2014 - Morgan Lewis Advises TransForce Subsidiary on Transport America Acquisition
5/20/2014 - Morgan Lewis Advises Varsity Healthcare on Investment in Dermatology Associates of Wisconsin / Forefront Dermatology
5/12/2014 - Morgan Lewis Advises Varsity Healthcare Partners on Acquisition of Katzen Eye Group
5/6/2014 - Morgan Lewis Partner Receives 40 Under 40 Recognition Award from The M&A Advisor
7/22/2013 - Morgan Lewis Advises Food Distributor Nash Finch on $1.3B Merger with Spartan Stores
11/27/2012 - Morgan Lewis Advises National Grid on $40M Investment in Clean Line Energy Partners
8/6/2012 - Morgan Lewis Advises Howard Berger Company on Investment from Littlejohn & Co.
12/14/2010 - Morgan Lewis Advises TransForce in $248M Acquisition of Dynamex
9/16/2010 - Morgan Lewis Advises United Business Media on $287 Million Acquisition of Canon Communications
5/20/2010 - Morgan Lewis Advises Toyota on Agreement with Tesla to Jointly Develop Electric Vehicles
4/26/2010 - Morgan Lewis Advises Apollo Global Management on $1 Billion Acquisition of CKE Restaurants

Publications

2/4/2010 - A Primer on Infrastructure M&A: What You Need to Know About Deals Involving Infrastructure Companies and Assets