Patrick Johnson, Brooks Pierce Photo

Patrick J. Johnson

Partner

Overview

Patrick is a business and transaction lawyer. For more than twenty years, including eight years with large New York and international law firms, he has counseled clients on M&A, securities, financing and commercial matters. He is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© (2013-23) for Corporate and M&A.

My Practices

  • Patrick has extensive experience representing clients in the sale or purchase of a business. He negotiates and advises on deal terms, representations and warranties, covenants, indemnification and survival provisions, exclusivity arrangements, and other key terms in M&A transactions.

  • Patrick has a diverse corporate practice, counseling large corporations and small businesses on a variety of complex issues. He negotiates and advises on commercial contracts, such as ongoing supply and procurement agreements. He also advises clients on governance issues, organizational documents and choice of entity. He has significant experience advising on formation of private equity and real estate funds, and investment in private equity funds.

    Current clients include:

    • A global materials manufacturing company with significant operations on four continents.
    • Several large real estate funds.
    • An S&P 500 publicly-traded company
  • Patrick advises issuers in connection with the private placement of securities, including private equity and real estate funds. He also advises clients in connection with transactions on broker-dealer issues and matters related to the Investment Company Act and Investment Advisers Act.

    Additionally, Patrick represents borrowers in secured debt facilities and negotiating credit and security agreements. Patrick has also advised on numerous ISDA derivatives agreements for hedging commodities and foreign currency.

  • Patrick represents clients in international business transactions, including cross-border transactions and other arrangements involving foreign entities. He counsels a global manufacturing business and advises it on commercial arrangements.

Experience

Mergers & Acquisitions:

  • Private equity/real estate fund in multiple business acquisitions.
  • Media company in its acquisition of two television stations.
  • Software company in sale of business to public company in automobile business.
  • Software company in sale of its business to large media business.
  • Media company in its acquisition of assets of six radio stations. 
  • Private health care service provider in its acquisition of family-owned health care service provider.
  • Private owner of broadcast television stations in sale of stations to public company. 
  • Private U.S. distribution company in sale to U.K. public company. 
  • Private media company in sale of cable systems to private investor.
  • Two Midwestern utilities in sale of jointly-held U.K. electricity distribution business to U.K. utility. 
  • Prominent investment banker in purchase of national magazine from large media company. 
  • National telecommunications company in large equity investment by financial buyer in telecommunications company’s reorganization in Chapter 11.
  • Public telecommunications company in its acquisition by private telecommunications company. 
  • Wine products business in sale to employees.
  • Purchaser of hardscape and landscaping business.
  • Private equity fund in its investments in cable service provider. 
  • Pension trust of Fortune 10 company in its investments in public hotel chain and private direct marketing company.

Securities, Private Placements, and Finance:

  • Formation of real estate fund and private placement of several hundred million dollars in limited partner interests to investors.
  • Formation of second real estate fund and private placement of several hundred million dollars in limited partner interests to investors.
  • Formation of private equity/real estate fund and private placement of several hundred million dollars in limited partner interests to investors.
  • Formation of real estate fund and private placement of limited partner interests to investors.
  • Representing a “green” manufacturer borrower in secured credit facility.
  • Representing a textile manufacturer borrower in secured subordinated lending facility.
  • Representing a sports equipment manufacturer borrower in secured lending facility.
  • Representing a borrower in a secured lending facility for real estate development.
  • Representing a global material manufacturing business in negotiating numerous ISDA derivatives and hedging agreements.

International:

  • Two Midwestern utilities in sale of jointly-held U.K. electricity distribution business to U.K. utility.
  • Private U.S. distribution company in sale to U.K. public company.
  • Purchase agreement for ongoing supply of products from Canadian manufacturer for delivery at U.S. plants.
  • Numerous foreign entities in negotiating hedging arrangements with foreign banks.

Credentials

Honors & Recognitions

Recognized by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America © in Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2013-2022, 2024)

40 Under 40 Leadership Award, Triangle Business Journal, 2009

Power of Justice Award, Business Leader Magazine and NC Bar, 2008

Education

University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1994; Managing Board, Virginia Tax Review, 1993-94

University of Virginia, B.A., 1991

Admissions

New York

North Carolina

Newsroom

News

Professional & Civic

Professional & Civic Activities

Chair, Steering Committee, North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Program (NC LEAP) (2006-2009)

Council Member, Business Law Section, North Carolina Bar Association (2009-2010)

Vice Chair of Member Relations, Leadership Raleigh Alumni Association (2009-2010)

Graduate, Leadership Raleigh (2005-06)

Member, American Bar Association 

Member, North Carolina Bar Association 

Member, Wake County Bar Association

Member, Rotary Club of Raleigh

Board of Directors, Rotary Club of Raleigh (2014-2015)

Board of Directors, United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County (2014-2017)

  • 2
    2 road biking clubs Patrick is a member of. He loves to ride!
  • 10
    10 years Patrick has played in the Wake County lawyers’ basketball league.
  • 2
    2 kids, a teenage girl and teenage boy, Patrick is the proud parent of.
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