Private Capital

Overview

We represent investment funds, portfolio companies and entrepreneurs, combining experience in securities law, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property and other areas of specialization across a full-service firm. Our industry experience is extensive and includes life sciences, cybersecurity, information technology, open-source software, manufacturing, digital media and entertainment, consumer products and retail, education and financial services.
 
Investment Funds and Advisors
 
We regularly represent institutional investors, private equity funds, independent sponsors, venture capitalists and angel investors making private equity, venture capital and early-stage investments. We advise capital providers, including family offices, in all levels of the capital stack on middle market deals across a breadth of industries, including technology, crypto and blockchain, financial institution and services, energy, healthcare, life sciences, distribution, products and retail, food and beverage, and other industries.
 
We additionally assist with private securities offerings, including those exempt from registration by Regulation A and Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, for operating companies, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Business Development Companies (BDCs), Delaware Statutory Trust 1031 Exchange offerings, among others.
 
Start-Ups and Entrepreneurs
 
We routinely advise technology-based start-ups and other emerging businesses on securing financing, defining investment terms and addressing critical business, intellectual property and regulatory matters. We help growing businesses prepare for potential exit scenarios and bolster investor value.
 
IP Due Diligence and Tech-Centric Deals
 
Our intellectual property and technology attorneys work with investors across all property types and have extensive experience in every facet of patent and IP law, including:

  • Evaluation of intellectual property assets to determine their value, ownership. and legal standing
  • Domestic and foreign procurement of assets
  • Opinion work (with respect to freedom-to-operate (“FTO”), validity, enforceability, litigation, interferences, oppositions and re-examinations
  • Complex transactions, litigation and pre-litigation investigations in and outside the U.S.

Name
Title
Contact
Robert B. Curran
Partner
Emailrcurran@whitefordlaw.com
410.347.9472
Frank S. Jones, Jr.
Partner
Emailfjones@whitefordlaw.com
410.347.8707
George S. Lawler
Partner
Emailglawler@whitefordlaw.com
410.832.2040
Clare M. Lewis
Partner
Emailclewis@whitefordlaw.com
804.977.1244
Enayat Qasimi
Partner
Emaileqasimi@whitefordlaw.com
+1 202.659.6792
Rajiv Radia
Partner
Emailrradia@whitefordlaw.com
804.807.7376
Ryan J. Stoker
Partner
Emailrstoker@whitefordlaw.com
443.263.8209
Eric A. Vendt
Partner
Emailevendt@whitefordlaw.com
703.280.9261

Amid the FTC’s Normal Annual HSR Act Updating, Federal Court Throws Out Biden Administration’s Enhanced HSR Reporting Reforms

  • Federal court vacates Biden-era HSR Act reforms: A judge struck down the October 2024 Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act reporting overhaul, calling it “arbitrary and capricious,” but stayed the ruling through February 19, 2026 to allow an appeal.
  • 2026 HSR filing and other dollar thresholds increase: The minimum “size-of-transaction” threshold rises to $133.9 million effective February 17, 2026, potentially reducing filing obligations for some deals.  
  • Filing fees adjusted upward: New multi-tiered HSR fees take effect February 17, 2026, with transactions under $189.6 million subject to a $35,000 filing fee and filing fees for mega-deals ($5.869 billion+) reaching $2.46 million.  
  • Prohibited interlocking directorate thresholds also rise: Updated Clayton Act Section 8 thresholds affect service as an officer or director of competing companies amid heightened enforcement.  
  • Advance planning & compliance strategy for deal makers remains critical: Despite regulatory uncertainty and shifting enforcement priorities at the FTC and DOJ, careful advance antitrust planning remains essential for parties to mergers, acquisitions and other HSR reportable events.

Client Alert: CTA Enforcement Suspended – Key Updates on Filing Requirements

On March 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury  (“Treasury”) announced that it will not impose penalties, fines, or pursue enforcement actions against U.S. companies, citizens, or their beneficial owners for failing to file beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) reports, pursuant to the Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirements final rule (31 C.F.R. 1010.380) (the “Reporting Rule”), the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) (31 U.S.C. § 5336), even after any forthcoming deadline extensions or changes to the Reporting Rule. Treasury’s announcement follows earlier guidance from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) (the Treasury bureau responsible for enforcing the CTA)—which suspended enforcement of the March 21, 2025, filing deadline.
 

Client Alert: Mandatory CTA Compliance Returns – What You Need to Know

On February 17, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas lifted the last remaining nationwide injunction against enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) previously issued in Smith v. US Dep’t of the Treasury, clearing the way for the law’s implementation. This marks a significant development following the U.S. Supreme Court’s January 23, 2025, order in McHenry v. Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., which lifted a separate nationwide injunction issued by another Texas federal district court. However, due to delays in the Justice Department’s motion in Smith, the CTA’s implementation remained blocked nationwide until now.

Client Alert: Corporate Transparency Act Reinstated

On December 23, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted the government’s emergency motion for a temporary stay of a district court’s order and nationwide injunction against the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its corresponding Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting Rule.

Client Alert: U.S. Government Appeals National Injunction Against Corporate Transparency Act

Following a Texas federal district court’s issuance of a nationwide injunction temporarily halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), the U.S. government has filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, challenging the district court’s findings (found here). In response to both the national injunction and the appeal, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), the agency responsible for enforcing the CTA, issued guidance (found here) clarifying that reporting companies are not currently required to file beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) reports and will not face liability for noncompliance “while the preliminary injunction remains in effect.”

Client Alert: Federal Court Grants Nationwide Preliminary Injunction Against Corporate Transparency Act

On December 3, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Merrick Garland (Civil Action No. 4:24-CV-478), issued a memorandum opinion and order granting a nationwide preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) and its implementing regulations and staying the compliance deadline for reporting companies pending further order of the court.

Client Alert: Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) Found Unconstitutional by Federal District Court

On March 1, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama in National Small Business United et al.  v. Janet Yellen et. al., Case No. 5:22-cv-1448-LCB,  held the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”) to be unconstitutional. In this surprising decision, U.S. District Court Judge Liles C. Burke ruled “The CTA is unconstitutional because it cannot be justified as exercise of Congress’ enumerated powers.”

Client Alert: Corporate Transparency Act Update: FinCEN Reporting and Compliance Begins in 2024

The Corporate Transparency Act’s (the “CTA”) reporting requirements are effective as of January 1, 2024. As a result, many companies in the United States will have to report information about their beneficial owners, i.e., the individuals who ultimately own or control the company. They will have to report the information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Client Alert: A Primer on the Corporate Transparency Act: Highlights of Additional Requirements to Conduct Business

What is the Corporate Transparency Act?

On January 1, 2021, heightened entity and beneficial ownership reporting arrived in the United States with the enactment of the Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”), part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The policy behind the CTA is to strengthen reporting and transparency as to who the beneficial economic owners are of business enterprises doing business in the United States. Prior to the passage of the CTA, the United States was viewed by some in the international marketplace as a tax haven for those looking to create shell companies to hide their assets through the formation of business entities in jurisdictions like Delaware or Florida, for instance.

Best Law Firms Recognizes Over 45 Whiteford Practices, Including 23 Nationally

Whiteford is pleased to announce that “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2026. Twenty-three of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, with the firm’s Bankruptcy, Construction Litigation and Real Estate Litigation practices receiving national Tier 1 rankings.

Leading Corporate Lawyer Clare Lewis Joins Whiteford in Richmond

Whiteford has announced that Clare Lewis has joined the firm as a Partner in Richmond. Ms. Lewis represents independent sponsors, private equity and venture capital fund investors, and emerging growth and middle market companies on mergers and acquisitions, equity financings, corporate governance, fund formations and other matters.

Whiteford Ranked in Top Tier in 43 Practices, 22 Nationally

Whiteford is pleased to announce that “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2025.  Twenty-two of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, and the firm’s Bankruptcy, Construction and Labor & Employment litigation practices have been recognized with national Tier 1 rankings. 

U.S. News Awards Top-Tier Rankings to 44 Whiteford Practices, Including a Record 22 Nationally and 10 Newly Ranked in Richmond

Whiteford, Taylor and Preston is pleased to announce that U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2021. Twenty-two of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, and the firm’s Bankruptcy and Environmental Law practices have been recognized with national Tier 1 rankings.

U.S. News Awards Top-Tier Rankings to 42 Whiteford Practices, Including a Record 20 Nationally and 10 Newly Ranked in Richmond

Whiteford, Taylor and Preston is pleased to announce that U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2020.  Twenty of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, including two bankruptcy practices with national Tier 1 rankings.  At the state level, an additional forty-two practices have been ranked in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and VA.
 

U.S. News Awards Top-Tier Rankings to 46 Whiteford Practices, Including 18 Nationally

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2019.  Eighteen of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, including two practices with national Tier 1 rankings:  Litigation and Bankruptcy.  At the state level, an additional forty-six practices have been ranked in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and VA.

Whiteford Ranks National Tier 1 in Litigation, Bankruptcy and Real Estate

Baltimore – Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2018.  Nineteen of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, including three practices with national Tier 1 rankings:  Litigation, Bankruptcy and Real Estate.  At the state level, an additional fifty practices have been ranked in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and VA.

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Recognized as National Tier 1 by U.S. News and World Report

The 2017 edition of U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” has awarded Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP exemplary ratings in its seventh annual rankings of law firms.

Twenty of the firm’s practices were ranked at the national level, as well as thirty-seven in Maryland, ten in Washington, D.C., and two in Roanoke, VA.