Robert A. Ross

Represented an Ohio based Professional Employment Organization (PEO) in the sale of the company to a national PEO based on the West Coast.

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 steel manufacturing company in a $22 million sale of its alloy extrusions businesses to a strategic purchaser.

Represented a publicly listed global manufacturer in the acquisition of a North America-based manufacturer of industrial motion components primarily used in the energy industry.

Serving as U.S. Counsel to Camlin Fine Sciences, a Mumbai company and leading manufacturer of food antioxidants and ingredients.

Ongoing representation of Continental Tire, Continental Automotive and ContiTech North America, a major tire and automotive components manufacturer with operations throughout the Americas, in multiple acquisitions and divestitures including (i) the acquisition of a major stake in Zonar Systems, (ii) the acquisition of 100% of the stock of Hoosier Racing Tire Corporation, (iii) the acquisition of Advanced Scientific Concepts, located in Santa Barbra California, a leader in the development of advanced technologies relating to the self-driving automotive industry, (iv) the acquisition of Hill Tire, a commercial vehicle and truck (CVT) retail and retread operation with locations throughout Georgia and Alabama, (v) the acquisition of Cadna Rubber Company, an automotive parts distributor primarily selling power transmission belts, hoses and metal components to retail and wholesale channels, (vi) the acquisition of Legg Company, located outside Wichita, Kansas, a manufacturer of conveyer belt systems and related rubber products, (vii) the acquisition from a Cleveland based publicly-held company of its mobile climate systems division with locations in seven countries, (viii) the divestiture of Continental Automotive’s diesel systems operations in South Carolina to an Illinois based NYSE company and (ix) the divestiture of Continental Tire’s off-the-road tire division headquartered in Ohio to a subsidiary of an Iowa based publicly-held entity. Also represented the German parent company in connection with several joint ventures located in Japan, France and Australia.

Represented Ennis-Flint, a North Carolina-based portfolio company of Olympus Partners, in its acquisition of the thermoplastics pavement markings business from The Sherwin-Williams Company.

Acted as lead counsel to Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LECO) in its acquisition of Tennessee Rand, Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of tooling and robotic systems for welding applications. Tennessee Rand, with operations located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, serves a wide base of automotive and metal fabrication customers. The Tennessee Rand purchase complements the deal Lincoln Electric (represented by Hahn Loeser) made last year to buy Ft. Loramie, Ohio-based Wayne Trail Technologies, another robotic welding company. Hahn Loeser also represented Lincoln Electric for its acquisition of the Kaliburn, Burny and Cleveland Motion Control (CMC) businesses from ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT). Kaliburn is a designer and manufacturer of shape cutting solutions, Burny produces shape cutting control systems, and CMC manufactures web tension transducers and engineered machine systems. All three businesses are consolidated in a headquarters and manufacturing operation located in Ladson, South Carolina, near Charleston.

Acted as lead counsel to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., an Ohio-based NYSE and Fortune 500 company with respect to (i) its purchase and subsequent sale of coal mine properties and related assets located in the State of West Virginia and (ii) its purchase and subsequent sale of coal mine properties and related assets located in the States of Alabama and West Virginia. The former received the 2011 Award for Steel Excellence: Best Merger & Acquisition, awarded by a panel of independent industry experts in conjunction with American Metal Market magazine.

Represented an Ohio-based NASDAQ company in multiple acquisitions ranging from $10 to $100 million, including the acquisition of Chinese software distribution companies with offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong and the acquisition of several U.S.-based companies with operations in the UK.

Represented Beck Aluminum in its acquisition by Real Alloy.

Represented Nationwide Appraisal Services in the selling of 65% of its LLC membership interests to Corridor Capital.

Served as local counsel to a Japanese law firm in connection with the purchase of the stock of an Ohio based company and a German-based company with multiple U.S. subsidiaries. The representation included advising the Japanese firm as to appropriate due diligence and then coordinating the corporate due diligence on the U.S. subsidiaries as well as assisting in structuring the transaction and preparing or assisting in preparing the applicable purchase agreement.

Representing Camlin Fine Science, a Mumbai based public company and leading manufacturer of traditional and custom liquid and dry blended antioxidant formulas.

Represented InfoAccess, LLC, a global provider of an e-invoicing service solution with more than 16,000 customers in over 50 different countries, in the sale of all its assets to Concentric Collective Business Systems.

Represented management of an Ohio-based company with operations in China and Hong Kong initially in a recapitalization pursuant to which a large NYC-based private equity firm acquired approximately 75% of the company and then later represented the same entity in a $150 million sale to a strategic buyer

Represented AFIMAC Global, a North American leader in corporate security and crisis response, in the acquisition of Mena International Group, specialists in security, investigations and crisis response within Latin America. As a result of this acquisition, AFIMAC now has a presence in both Brazil and Argentina.

Represented a Connecticut-based technology firm in a $70 million sale of one line of business to a large UK conglomerate; currently representing the same firm in a $17 million sale of another line to an Australian entity.

Representation of LeafFilter, a provider of gutter guards for homeowners in North America, in its sale to Gridiron Capital, LLC.

Represented Continental Tire in the acquisition of 100% of the stock of Hoosier Racing Tires.

Ongoing corporate, labor and litigation representation of Shearer’s Foods, LLC, a national snack food manufacturer in both the proprietary brand and private label space and current portfolio company of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (and formerly of Wind Point Partners, Mistral Equity Partners and Winston Partners). Represented the management and shareholder groups of in a series of recapitalizations, first to Winston and later to Mistral and Wind Point and then to the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Acted as lead counsel to Shearer’s with respect to its ongoing plant acquisition and expansion projects in several states and Canada and in transactions relating to its acquisition (and subsequent disposition) of the assets of a popcorn manufacturing facility in Ohio and a pretzel manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. Representation as local counsel in Shearer’s acquisitions of Snyder-Lance, Barrel O’ Fun and Snack Alliance.

Acted as lead counsel to a Colorado-based NYSE company and its Ohio subsidiary with respect to the $30 million disposition of the assets relating to its surface and underground coal mining operations in Ohio.

Represented the buyer in its add-on acquisition of a provider of disaster restoration services.

Represented buyer in its acquisition of a disaster restoration services company from an ESOP.

Represented a seller in its sale of equity, equity rollover and real estate for its alloyed and precious metals and adhesives manufacturing company to west coast private equity firm, where the work earned Benesch the opportunity to continue on as counsel for future add-on transactions.

Represented Stein Holdings, Inc. in its sale of Stein, LLC and Stein Mill Services, LLC to TMS International, a leading provider of outsourced industrial services to steel mills globally.

Represented Stellex Capital Management, a middle market private equity firm with offices in New York and London, in its acquisition of Custom Glass Solutions from Guardian Industries.

Represented Ennis-Flint in its acquisition of ThermoDrop® thermoplastic assets and product line from Potters, and Potters purchased Ennis-Flint’s bead manufacturing facilities.  Ennis-Flint is a worldwide leader in the traffic safety, access, rail, and road marking industries providing the most comprehensive line-up of pavement marking materials and electronic control products.

​Represented seller in the sale of its business to a strategic buyer in a Representation and Warranty Transaction.

​Represented a manufacturer and distributor in its exchange of business division assets with a third party.

Represented the sellers in their sale of SaaS technology offering end-to-end audience engagement and sales tools for radio broadcasters, TV Stations, and publishers.

Represented a private equity owned Buyer in an add-on acquisition of a manufacturer and distributor of laminated glass and polycarbonate products for light and heavy rail, locomotive, and military and commercial vehicle applications.

Represented a private equity portfolio company in the add-on acquisition of a provider of finance and accounting consulting and staffing services.​

​Represented the founder in the sale of his die-cutting and non-metallic fabrication services business to private equity.

Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a leading manufacturer of single-use bio-process components and systems including fittings, tubing, single-use assemblies, and fabrication.

​Represented the sellers in the sale of a refractory removal and preparation services business to a private equity purchaser.