Jason Morelli, a corporate partner in Latham & Watkins’ Chicago office, advises public and private companies, and private equity sponsors on complex corporate transactions, including:

  • Cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
  • Leveraged buyouts of public and private companies
  • Strategic investments and PIPEs
  • Divisional carveouts
  • Merger-of-equals transactions
  • Takeover defense matters
  • Proxy contests

Jason provides clients with creative solutions to complex issues drawn from a keen sense of market practice. He regularly writes and speaks on M&A topics.

Jason's representative work includes advising clients on transactions in diverse industries, including:

Healthcare & Life Sciences

  • GTCR in a number of health care and life sciences transactions, including its investments in PathGroup Holdings (one of the largest independent laboratories in the United States) and Experity Inc. (a market-leading urgent care technology provider)
  • Corza Medical in its acquisition of Katena Products, Inc. (a medical device company focused on ophthalmic surgery products)
  • Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation’s US$1.045 billion acquisition of Johnson & Johnson’s Codman Neurosurgery business
  • Sirona Dental Systems in its US$8 billion merger of equals with DENTSPLY International 
  • Baxalta Incorporated in its US$900 million acquisition of the ONCASPAR product line from Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals
  • Royal DSM in its US$2.6 billion transaction involving a joint venture with JLL Partners to acquire Patheon Inc. in a take private transaction and combine DSM Pharmaceutical Products to form a global contract development and manufacturing organization

Hospitality, Gaming & Leisure

  • Golden Entertainment Inc.’s US$850 million acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties LLC from Whitehall Street Real Estate Partners in a cash and stock transaction 
  • Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. in connection with the US$1.5 billion Reverse Morris Trust transaction between Starwood's vacation ownership business, Vistana Signature Experiences, and Interval Leisure Group
  • Kimpton Group Holdings in its US$430 million sale of Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group to InterContinental Hotels Group
  • Starwood Capital Group in the acquisition of TMI Hospitality Inc, including more than 180 hotels, its management company and development platform
  • Darden Restaurants, Inc. in connection with the sale of the Red Lobster chain of restaurants to Golden Gate Capital

Technology/Telecom

  • LogMeIn in its US$1.8 billion acquisition of the GoTo business of Citrix Systems, a provider of collaborative communication solutions for small businesses, via a Reverse Morris Trust transaction
  • GTCR in its
    > Acquisition by tender offer of Global Traffic Network, Inc.
    > Sale of Protection One, Inc. to Apollo Global Management

Industrials & Manufacturing

  • Illinois Tool Works in its
    > US$450 million acquisition of the Engineered Fasteners and Components business (EF&C) of ZF TRW
    > The US$3.2 billion sale of its industrial packaging segment to The Carlyle Group
  • Globe Specialty Metals in its US$3.1 billion merger of equals with Grupo FerroAtlantica to create a leading international silicon and specialty metals producer
  • Georgia-Pacific in its US$1.5 billion acquisition of Buckeye Technologies
  • A. O. Smith Corporation in its US$875 million sale of its international Electrical Products Company division to Regal Beloit Corporation

Pro Bono

Complementing his corporate work, Jason has a longstanding relationship with an innovative non-profit organization that invests in and supports a portfolio of educational charities throughout the city. He advises on a wide variety of business matters.   

Bar Qualification

  • Illinois

Education

  • JD, Notre Dame Law School, 2007
  • BS, Xavier University, 2004