LAWYER
John D. LaRocca
Partner | Philadelphia
John D. LaRocca

Mr. LaRocca practices primarily in the areas of private equity, mergers and acquisitions, carve-outs and alternative investments and serves as a strategic advisor to several family-run enterprises. He has represented a wide range of private equity buyers and sellers and their portfolio companies in both domestic and cross-border transactions across various industries, including healthcare, technology, manufacturing, consumer products, and professional services. He has also represented several public accounting firms in connection with alternative practice structure reorganizations and related investments by private equity firms.   In conjunction with our firm’s private client group, he also advises several family-owned businesses in respect of shareholder, succession planning and corporate matters.

Mr. LaRocca has been ranked among the top private equity buyouts lawyers in the United States Chambers USA, where he is recognized for having “excellent judgment, knowing exactly when to be more flexible and when to stand firm.” He has been listed as a top lawyer for private equity buyouts in The Legal 500 US, which noted his “very good business-sense.” Particularly interested in working capital and complicated purchase price and waterfall mechanics and alternatives, Mr. LaRocca served as a certified public accountant and senior accountant with Price Waterhouse prior to joining Dechert.

Mr. LaRocca co-authored the 2018 through 2022 editions of The International Comparative Legal Guide to Private Equity - United States Chapter.

  • Grant Thornton in connection with an alternative practice structure reorganization and related investment by New Mountain Capital in Grant Thornton Advisors.
  • Graham Partners in its acquisitions and sales of several portfolio companies, including Infiltrator Systems, Atlas/Vitron, Transaxle, Schneller, Strata Products, Strata Proximity, Innovative XCessories, GFX Ltd, HemaSource, Acme Cryo, Medbio, Damping Technologies, Velocity and Rhythmink
  • EisnerAmper in connection with an alternative practice structure reorganization and related investment by TowerBrook Capital Partners in Eisner Advisory Group.
  • Eisner Advisory Group LLC in connection with several acquisitions of accounting and wealth management firms.
  • Marcum LLP in connection with several transactions.
  • Graham Partners Growth Fund in connection with several investments.
  • Graham Capital in its sale of the Graham Architectural Products business and the Graham Engineering business.
  • Graham Partners in the US$2.25 billion acquisition (along with Apollo Management, L.P.) of BPC Holding Corporation (parent of Berry Plastics Corporation).
  • A family office in connection with its investment in Philadelphia Union MLS franchise.
  • Gerber Technology in its sale to American Industrial Partners.
  • Norma Group, a German-based portfolio company of 3i Group plc, in various transactions, including its acquisition of Breeze International Products Corporation from Wind Point Partners.
  • FMC Corporation in its acquisition of Elf Atochem’s soda ash business.
  • Citigroup Venture Capital Equity Partners, L.P. in its US$340 million sale of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock to Madison Dearborn Partners LLC.
  • Citigroup Venture Capital Equity Partners, L.P. in its sale of Airxcel to Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. LLC.
  • Strategic Industries in several transactions, including the sale of GST Autoleather to funds serviced by Advantage Partners, LLP, an Asia-based private equity firm.
  • FastenTech, Inc. in its sale to UK-based Doncasters as well as in numerous acquisitions, including Gear & Broach, Inc., Acraline Products Inc., Meco, Inc., Triumph Group, Inc.’ s special processes business, Katsakos Industries Inc., Spun Metals, Inc., and BNC & Associates, Inc.
  • TouchPoint, Inc. in its acquisition of Healthcare Technology carve-out business from InterMetro Industries Corporation.
  • Church & Dwight in several acquisitions, including its acquisition of the Del Pharmaceuticals division from Coty Inc., its acquisition of the SpinBrush toothbrush business from Procter & Gamble and its acquisition of the OxiClean business of Orange Glo International.
  • Shareholders Agreement for Succession Planning, 26th Annual Estate Law Institute Conference — Philadelphia, PA (November 7, 2019)
  • The Art of the Deal — Finding What Works, Duke Fuqua 2019 Inaugural Southeast Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference — Durham, NC (September 7, 2019)
  • Going to the Big Dance — Putting Your Best Foot Forward: The First Steps in Significant Corporate Transactions, Association of Corporate Counsel (DELVACCA) Conference — Philadelphia, PA (March 20, 2013) 
  • Strategies for Moving Away From the Bid Process in Buyouts, The Private Equity Fund Forum on Legal Structuring, Structuring Innovations, & Fund-Raising Success Conference — San Francisco, CA (June 23, 2005)
Services
    • Drexel University, B.S., 1985
    • Temple University Beasley School of Law, J.D., 1990, magna cum laude, business editor of the Temple Law Review
    • New Jersey
    • Pennsylvania
    • Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

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