Colby W. Smith
Partner
Colby W. Smith
+1.215.252.9589
Overview
Colby W. Smith is a corporate attorney in Holland & Knight's Philadelphia office. Mr. Smith focuses his practice on a variety of business law matters, with an emphasis on middle-market merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions.
Mr. Smith represents clients in a variety of industries, including technology, life sciences, healthcare, manufacturing, distribution and logistics, aerospace and defense, sports and entertainment, retail and consumer products. He represents seed, institutional and venture capital investors, with a focus on corporate venture capital investing. In addition, he represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies in general business law and transactional matters.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Smith was an attorney at a large international law firm's Philadelphia office.
Representative Experience
- Represented SEI Investments Company (Nasdaq: SEIC), a leading global asset and investment manager, in 1) its acquisition of WealthForge Technologies dba Altigo, a cloud-based technology platform that provides inventory, e-subscription and reporting capabilities for alternative investments, 2) the $120 million sale of its family office services business to Aquiline Capital Partners LP, a private investment firm dedicated to financial services and technology, and 3) connection with its acquisition of LifeYield, a tax-smart technology provider
- Represented Harris Freeman & Co. Inc., a leading private brand tea manufacturer, in its definitive agreement to sell certain subsidiaries that operate its private brand tea business in the U.S., Harris Tea, to TreeHouse Foods Inc. (NYSE: THS)
- Represented LXP, a private equity firm providing collaborative liquidity solutions to small and medium-sized businesses in the professional services and light manufacturing and distribution industries, in its recapitalization of Black Creek Integrated Systems Corp., a premier provider of fully integrated public safety software and facility control systems
- Represented BioResource International Inc., a leading developer and supplier of feed additives that help poultry, swine and aqua producers optimize performance and gut health while maximizing profits in a sustainable manner, in its sale to Novus International Inc, a Missouri-based nutrition company that provides solutions for the global animal agriculture industry
- Represented a reconstruction services firm in its sale to an international business services company
- Represented a global healthcare company in its acquisition of a supply chain services provider
- Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of a telecommunications services provider
- Represented a global healthcare company in its acquisition of a financial technology (FinTech) solutions provider
- Represented a restoration and remodeling company in its acquisition of a roof repair and installation services provider
- Represented an aerospace and defense services provider in the sale of its composites and thermoplastics business operations to affiliates of a private equity fund
- Represented a clinical trial testing services provider in its sale to a contract research organization
- Represented a precision plastic extrusion manufacturer in connection with its sale to a medical manufacturer
- Represented a precision contract manufacturer to the life sciences and aerospace industries in its acquisition of a milling, mill/turn and wire machining manufacturer
- Represented a global healthcare company in its acquisition of a life sciences information services provider
- Represented an aerospace and defense services provider in the sale of a component manufacturing operations business to an aircraft manufacturer
- Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of a land acquisition and surveying company
- Represented an animal health company in its acquisition of a software solutions provider to veterinary practices
- Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of a network technology management services provider
- Represented an animal health company in its acquisition of a regional distributor
- Represented a gene therapy company in its sale to a biotech company
- Represented a trucking and logistics service provider in its sale to affiliates of a private equity fund
- Represented an information technology (IT) and business-staffing and consulting firm in connection with its acquisition by a multinational corporation that provides consulting, technology, professional and outsourcing services
- Represented a pharmaceutical manufacturer in its acquisition of a product portfolio
- Represented an early stage accelerator in a variety of fundraising and investment transactions
- Represented a global healthcare solutions company in a strategic relationship with a medical oncology provider
- Represented a beverage manufacturer in a variety of fundraising transactions
- Represented a global healthcare solutions company in its investment in a supply chain management platform
- Represented a patient adherence services provider in its seed investment transactions
- Represented a global healthcare solutions company in a strategic relationship with a workflow solutions provider
- Represented a pharmaceutical manufacturer in connection with its investment in a specialty life sciences company
- Represented an animal health company in its strategic relationship with a veterinary practice workflow solution provider
Credentials
Education
- Rutgers Law School, J.D., with highest honors
- Hobart College, B.A.
Bar Admissions/Licenses
- Pennsylvania
Memberships
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Honors & Awards
- Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Corporate/M&A & Private Equity, 2022-2025
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2022, 2023
- Acritas Star, Acritas Stars Database and Report, 2017-2021
- The Legal 500 USA, Mergers and Acquisitions, 2014-2021
- Client Service All-Star, The BTI Consulting Group, 2020
- 40 Under 40, The M&A Advisor, 2015
- Rising Star, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazine, 2008, 2015
- The Legal Intelligencer, Lawyer on the Fast Track, 2014
- Champion's Award, Cross-Border Deal of the Year (Over $250 Million), Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) New York, 2013
- Paul C. Ireton Memorial Award, Rutgers Law School, 2004