Jonathan R. Todd

Represented a Landlord for the lease of an entire six-story building (214,560 rentable square feet of premises) in Northbrook, Illinois, to the healthcare industry’s largest medical-surgical product manufacturer and supply chain provider.

Represented a private equity buyer in its acquisition of a wholesale distributor of pipes, valves, and fittings.

Represented Loar Holdings Inc., a diversified manufacturer and supplier of niche aerospace and defense components, in its acquisition of Applied Avionics, Inc., a manufacturer of highly engineered avionics interface solutions catering to the aviation industry, valued at $385 million.

Successfully defended a client importer accused of unlawful importation to resolve a civil penalty case before U.S. Customs and Border Protection with over $200,000 in cost savings.

Represented a global leader in the formulation, development and manufacture of performance polymer solutions in its acquisition of a developer of premium thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) materials for manufacturers across a diverse range of industries throughout North America, Asia and Europe.

Represented a global leader in labeling and packaging materials in its acquisition of a leading provider of sports apparel customization & retail experience technology.

Mergers and Acquisitions – Providing valuable strategic vision on post-close opportunities, industry-focused due diligence review, counsel on legal and regulatory requirements, operational best practices, and commercial standards for targets in all modes and industry segments.  Deal experience includes the digital brokerage, last mile and courier, air and ocean forwarder, value-add warehousing and fulfillment, and over-the-road trucking segments.

Licensing and Permits – Acquiring, transferring, updating, and modifying licenses, permits, and operating authorities including those required for motor carrier, indirect air carrier, foreign air freight forwarder, ocean forwarder, and non-vessel operating common carrier operations.

Transportation and Logistics – Strategic advice and operations counsel on all aspects of transportation and logistics operations including development of new service lines and market entry, inter-company and third party relationships, equipment sourcing and asset management, driver sourcing and safety management, independent contractor owner-operator relationships, technology solutions, last mile operations, middle mile operations, drayage operations, import and export services, all forms of operational and customer contracting, and dispute resolution.

Supply Chain Management – Advising on global supply chain risk and best practices including supply and service procurement, vendor diligence, contracting, development of new production and distribution strategies, and dispute resolution. 

International Trade Compliance – Preparing risk assessments for current and prospective international operations, developing meaningful compliance programs and pragmatic operating procedures, providing reasonable ad hoc advice as situations arise, preparing root cause analysis reports and producing corrective action plans for implementation, assisting in the determination of whether to submit voluntary self-disclosure notices, and representing clients during investigations and enforcement actions to minimize risk and mitigate exposure.

Represented Yusen Logistics in its acquisition of Taylored Services, a multichannel third-party logistics fulfillment organization, from private equity firm Saybrook.

Contract Drafting and Negotiation – Drafting and negotiation of all manner of services contracts including: Motor Carrier, Broker, and Forwarder Services Agreements; Courier and Last Mile Delivery Services Agreements; Dray Agreements; Intermodal Services Agreements; Air Forwarding and Indirect Air Carrier Agreements; Air Charter and Block Space Agreements; Ocean Freight Forwarder and Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier Agreements; Warehousing and Fulfillment Agreements; Distribution Agreements; Customs Broker, Export Forwarder, and Collateral Access Agreements; Power of Attorney Forms; Equipment Interchange Agreements; Equipment Lease and Rental Agreements; Independent Contractor Owner-Operator Lease Agreements; Bills of Lading and Waybills Terms; and Terms and Conditions of Service or Use.

Regulatory Enforcement – Successfully representing clients during regulatory enforcement investigations and audits, often with the elimination or mitigation of penalties, including experience before the: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and State Public Utilities Commissions (PUC). 

Represented Gridiron Capital Partners in its initial platform acquisition of Jacent Strategic Merchandising, a provider of strategic impulse, in-line and check stand, merchandising products and solutions to retailers.