W. Bryan Rakes

Representative Matters

• Represented a private equity fund and its portfolio company in several acquisitions of Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise bakeries
• Served as lead counsel to a private equity fund in multiple acquisitions and related debt financings, resulting in its ownership of four restaurant brands with over 350 locations and 70 parcels of real estate
• Served as lead counsel to a large family office in the acquisition and financing of 14 affiliated businesses and 39 associated owned and leased real estate properties
• Served as lead counsel to Wayside Technology Group, Inc. (NASDAQ; WSTG) and its U.S., UK, and Canadian subsidiaries in their acquisition and financing of CDF Group and the American and Canadian affiliates of Interwork Technologies Inc.
• Served as lead counsel to the U.S. subsidiary of a Canadian company in its acquisitions of a global business-to-business digital music services and rights platform and an interactive streaming mechanical royalty collection agency
• Served as lead counsel to the portfolio company of a private equity group in its purchase of a division from General Electric Corporation and related debt financings
• Served as lead counsel to a private equity firm in the acquisition of a group of clothing stores, related debt financing, and rollover equity investment by founders
• Represented the borrower in a music publishing transaction, including a $330 million equity investment, and senior and subordinated financings of $70 million in the context of a workout
• Represented an IT solutions company in the $200 million sale of its software portfolio to a private equity firm
• Represented a Hong Kong–based pet products company in a management buyout transaction and related debt financings involving Hong Kong, the United States, Canada, and the Cayman Islands
• Represented a digital media company in its acquisition of a division of a public company in the higher education industry
• Served as lead counsel to an anatomic pathology laboratory in its acquisition of a laboratory providing urologic services, and its affiliated entity
• Served as lead counsel to a technology company in its acquisition of an email infrastructure and data center technology company, and related debt financings
• Served as lead counsel to both lead investors and companies in numerous investment rounds

Education

• J.D. magna cum laude Syracuse University College of Law 2001
• • Executive editor and associate editor, Syracuse Law Review, 1999-2001
  • Chancellor's scholar
• B.A. Transylvania University 1996
• • Dean's scholar

Bar Admissions

• Maryland

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association, Section of Business Law
• Member and former board member, Association for Corporate Growth, Maryland Chapter
• Teaches entrepreneurship and management programs at The Johns Hopkins University
• Graduate, Greater Baltimore Committee's LEADERship Program

• Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A, Maryland, 2021 – 2024
• The Daily Record, Leadership in Law, 2022
• The Best Lawyers in America, 2018 – 2025
  • Lawyer of the Year, 2024
• Legal 500
  • M&A/corporate and commercial - M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m), 2022 – 2023
• Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Maryland

Volunteerism

• Member, Advisory Committee, Civic Works
• President, Board of Directors, Everyman Theatre