Patrick J. Brooks

Partner

Languages spoken
English | Russian

About Patrick

Patrick Brooks regularly advises clients on transactional and commercial matters, with a concentration on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, complex commercial contracts and corporate finance. Patrick has advised on numerous joint venture arrangements, minority and majority investments and related governance and exit disputes, as well as exits and related transitional and foundational commercial arrangements.

He has extensive experience providing strategic counsel to clients investing across numerous sectors, not limited to, manufacturing, infrastructure, mining and financial services. In addition to an active US and cross-border practice, Patrick is the director of the firm’s Astana office and previously led the Corporate team in the firm’s Russian office. His corporate/M&A work has been recommended in Chambers Europe and Legal 500 since 2015.

According to Chambers, “Patrick Brooks receives praise for his strong negotiation skills, which enable us to communicate efficiently with the other party to find mutually acceptable solutions.”

Chambers noted, “‘Patrick is experienced, he’s done so many transactions. ‘He understands how to negotiate deals,’ a client says, adding that as a result ‘he’s got a good feel for what will or will not work in a transaction.’ Another client added: ‘He takes a constructive, commercial approach in negotiations. He’s able to focus negotiations, he’s very much in the room.’”

In addition to his transactional work, Patrick plays a key role in advising on corporate governance, anticorruption, regulatory and compliance matters. Patrick has advised clients on the application of sanctions to various transactions, internal investigations, diligence exercises and the development of compliance programs.

Patrick started his career in the firm’s Restructuring & Insolvency Practice Group, so he understands the impact of insolvency on commercial arrangements and mitigation strategies.

Experience

Mergers and Acquisitions, and Private Equity

Telecommunications, Media and Technology

  • Representing an online retailer in connection with numerous rounds of capital raising.
  • Representing an online travel metasearch engine in connection with shareholder restructuring and fundraising.
  • Representing a private equity fund in connection with numerous investments, including, but not limited to:
    • Acquiring a minority position in an online travel platform
    • Acquisition of a material stake in the second-largest independent mobile telecommunications towers operator in Russia
    • Divestiture of a leading outside advertising business in Russia and Ukraine
  • Represented QIWI PLC, a leading provider of payment and financial services in the CIS, in connection with the acquisition of a significant equity stake in a SaaS platform for customer life cycle management and personalization.
  • Represented a leading provider of wireless broadband services in connection with a share exchange with a strategic investor and subsequent exit.
  • Represented Russia’s largest 4G/LTE provider on a US$6.5 billion merger with one of the leading telecommunications service providers and the subsequent exit of the founder group.
  • Representing founders and the other shareholders of Kinopoisk, Russia’s leading internet movie database portal, in connection with the exit sale to Yandex.
  • Represented an investment fund in connection with investments in data centers.

Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Energy

  • Represented an investor in connection with the acquisition of a material stake in a grain transshipment facility.
  • Advised the founders of a leading Nigerian chemical solutions provider in the sale of a material stake of the company to CEPSA Quimica S.A.
  • Represented a US publicly traded specialty steel and bearing manufacturer in connection with establishing a manufacturing joint venture.
  • Represented Macquarie Renaissance Infrastructure Fund in a US$625 million consortium investment in a leading wholesale power producer in the Russian Federation.
  • Represented investors in connection with leveraged acquisitions of several manufacturer facilities with operations in Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Russia.

Consumer Products and Logistics

  • Advised in connection with the acquisition of several fishing businesses.
  • Advised Norbert Dentressangle in a logistics joint venture with Danone and the acquisition of interests in a Russian specialty logistics firm.
  • Represented a private equity fund in the divestiture of its interests in a leading restaurant chain.
  • Represented a founding entrepreneur in connection with the competitive sale process of a snack business among leading strategic players.
  • Represented STS Logistics Corporation in connection with a merger to create one of the largest logistics service providers in Russia and subsequent restructuring.
  • Advised a development fund in connection with the US$144 million exit from a poultry business.
  • Advised an investor in connection with a restructuring investment in a dairy alternative business.

Financial Services

  • Representing a state charter bank in connection with the divestiture of professional services subsidiary.
  • Represented a leading publicly traded provider of fleet card and specialty payment services in acquisitions of numerous complementary businesses.
  • Advised a pension fund in connection with numerous investments in the financial services sector, including banks and insurance providers.
  • Advised a private equity fund in connection with an investment in a collections business.
  • Advised a multinational development bank in connection with a minority investment in a consumer bank.
  • Represented a bank in connection with a US$220 million private placement with two international investment funds.

Russia/Ukraine Conflicts

  • Advising clients on the changing US and Russian sanctions regime.
  • Advising clients on risks related to maintenance of Russian investments, winddown and divestitures.

Credentials

Education
  • The University of Akron, J.D., cum laude, member, Akron Law Review, 1998
  • The University of Akron, B.A., 1993
Admissions
  • North Carolina, 2006
  • Ohio, 1998
Courts
  • U.S. Ct. of App., Third Circuit, 2002
  • U.S. Dist. Ct., Middle Dist. of North Carolina
  • U.S. Dist. Ct., W. Dist. of North Carolina, 2006
  • U.S. Dist. Ct., N. Dist. of Ohio

Recognitions

  • Recognized in Chambers Europe 2021 for: Russia – Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability and Russia – Private Equity
  • Recognized in Legal 500 Europe, Middle East & Africa 2021 for Russia – Commercial, Corporate and M&A: Moscow
  • Recognized in Chambers Global 2021 as a leading international expert on Corporate/M&A, Russia

Expertise

Services
Corporate Private Equity