University of Virginia Darden School of Business

University of Virginia School of Law

University of Oklahoma

Investment Banker & Advisor to Investment Management Firms (Colchester Partners)

Colchester Partners is an investment banking and strategic advisory firm serving the needs of investment management organizations and their professionals since 2002. Our services include mergers and acquisitions; strategic advice on matters such as ownership succession planning and structuring equity incentives; and valuations. 

I provide investment banking advice to a wide variety of investment management firms, with a particular expertise in non-control investments in, and equity sales involving, alternative asset managers.

Colchester Partners LLC

Managing Director

Largest law firm by revenue globally; tops U.S. private equity M&A league tables.

Led Organization of Firm’s Asset Management M&A Practice Group
•	Advised clients on 15+ minority equity investments or equity sales, including as advisor to Warburg Pincus, Golub Capital, Francisco Partners, Clearlake Capital Group and Vector Capital and to Blackstone Strategic Capital Holdings on its investment in Rockpoint Group.
•	Established multiple internal teams capable of addressing market, in response to operational data and growth goals.
•	Developed operational framework to increase execution efficiency.

Evaluation of M&A Targets and Related Opportunities, Negotiation (General M&A)
•	Advised 10+ clients on 50+ transactions (other than asset management transactions), often a sale of control of a mid-market private target.
•	Prepared 8 private equity-backed companies and 2 divisions for successful $12M to $1.5B exits.
•	Identified and evaluated contingencies that impact how a client achieves value from a transaction.
•	Structured transactions to optimize regulatory constraints, value drivers and other preferences.
•	Negotiated daily from different positions of strength and using varied media and styles.

Execution, Management, Leadership
•	Led dozens of work streams on each transaction to completion at the same point in time.
•	Trained clients to model distribution waterfalls, funds flows and other mechanics in Excel.
•	Described in upward review as a “skillful manager, who delegates thoughtfully,” with a “commitment to excellence;” “several [associates] identify you as their favorite partner.”

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Partner (Mergers & Acquisitions)

Associate

DealStage enables attorneys & transactional professionals to better manage the deal process lifecycle from drafting to closing.  DealStage is a workflow tool based on a closing checklist design that is familiar to deal execution professionals.  The resulting improvement in deal information-flow allows participants to work together more effectively to complete action items, resolve open issues and eliminate gating items earlier in the process, reducing the potential for errors, re-works & delays.

Product Development, Startup Formation
•	Identified a gap in the legal services market for an app to manage transactional workflows
•	Interviewed potential users in core and ancillary markets to understand common wants
•	Launched an enterprise-grade SaaS-based product into the market
•	Responsible initially for the administrative functions and accounting books of the company

Business Development, Revenue Strategy
•	Identify and generate sales leads for cold and warm sales calls
•	Develop and test revenue and pricing strategies
•	Conduct pitches with regional to multinational law firms and other user types
•	Develop relationships with lead customers and channel partners
•	Presented at Harvard’s 2014 “Disruptive Innovation in the Market for Legal Services” conference, featuring Clayton Christensen, and at other industry events

DealStage.com

Co-Founder & Owner

As part of a summer position during law school, I drafted and reviewed documents for venture financings and the formation of a VC fund for the most active law firm in the venture financing market (according to the 2007 Dow Jones/Private Equity Analyst survey).

Gunderson Dettmer

Summer Associate

As part of a summer position during law school working for a federal judge, I delivered research for four judicial opinions, including one regarding habeas corpus relief from a life sentence.

U.S. District Courts

Summer Legal Intern - The Honorable Jack T. Camp (N.D. Ga.)

• Used referrals and data regarding age, occupation and organizational affinity to identify likely donors 
• Cultivated and pitched donation proposals to the organization’s most important alumni including senior executives, entrepreneurs, financiers and other professionals across the country
• Tripled premium-level donations by creating a new annual giving club and retaining club donors

Pi Kappa Alpha Educational Foundation

Director of Development

I worked in a dual-role writing for and editing a monthly trade magazine and related weekly newsletter that were each focused on the venture capital and private equity industries.  In addition, I have written articles on a freelance basis for several other publications, such as Barron's and Southern Living.

• Gained expertise to originate and write four to 10 monthly stories about VC deals and industry trends
• Built a network of venture capitalists and other industry insiders to source articles
• Helped produce the monthly magazine on a three-to-five person fact-checking and editing team

Thomson Reuters

Senior Editor - Venture Capital Journal / Private Equity Week

• Supported a field sales representative in a team selling mutual funds and retirement plans to financial advisors
• Earned Series 7, Series 63 and Series 65 FINRA financial licenses and completed sales training
• Grew commissions 250% over one year and gained responsibility over two additional sales territories

Lord, Abbett & Co.

Internal Wholesaler

• Advised 40 chapters on issues related to finances, recruiting, management, strategy and liability

Charles Fellers