Nick Ustaski
Overview
Experience
Representative Matters
Apax Partners — Advised funds advised by Apax Partners on its definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake of Herjavec Group, an award-winning global managed security services provider and cyber operations leader.
Brightstar Capital Partners — Advised Brightstar Capital Partners on its acquisition of California-based Amerit Fleet Solutions, Inc., a provider of vehicle fleet maintenance and repair services throughout the United States.
iNRCORE, LLC — Advised iNRCORE, LLC, a portfolio company of The Jordan Company, on its combination with Gowanda Components Group, a vertically integrated manufacturer of high-performance electronic components for transportation, aerospace and defense and other high-reliability applications.
Waud Capital Partners — Represented Waud Capital Partners in its acquisition of The CE Shop LLC, a leading provider of online real estate education.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) — Advised Nexstar Media Group, Inc and its subsidiaries in connection with its acquisition of BestReviews LLC, a leading provider of premium online product reviews, from Tribune Publishing (Nasdaq: TPCO) for $160 million dollars. Nexstar is the largest television station owner in the U.S., with 197 stations in 115 markets addressing nearly 63% of U.S. television households.
Trinseo (NYSE: TSE) — Advised Trinseo a global materials company and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber, on its contemplated acquisition of Arkema’s polymethyl methacrylates (“PMMA”) and activated methyl methacrylates (“MMA”) businesses. PMMA is a transparent and rigid plastic with a wide range of end uses across several end markets including automotive, building & construction, medical and consumer electronics.
L Catterton — Represented L Catterton, which along with CCMP Capital entered into a definitive agreement under which a consortium led by L Catterton and its affiliates will acquire a controlling interest in Truck Hero®, Inc., the leading provider of functional aftermarket accessories for pickup trucks and Jeep® vehicles.
Luminate Capital Partners — Represented Luminate’s portfolio company AutoQuotes LLC’s add-on acquisition of Axonom Inc., a leading provider of visual CPQ solutions.
Atlas Partners — Advised Altas Partners in its investment into Unified Women’s Healthcare, a leading practice management platform in women’s healthcare.
Jaws Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: JWS) — Advised Jaws a special purpose acquisition company, on its proposed merger with Cano Health, LLC, a leading value-based care delivery platform for seniors. The transaction values the combined company at an enterprise value of approximately $4.4 billion.
AE Industrial Partners (AEI) — Represented AEI in simultaneous acquisitions of Linkware, a provider of software solutions and consulting services to federal government organizations, and Pangiam, a security and travel consulting services provider.
Lexitas — Advised Lexitas, a leading provider of digital and in-person deposition and court reporting services, on a transformational acquisition of Registered Agent Solutions Inc. (RASi), significantly enhancing Lexitas’ service line, offering access to Registered Agent representation and compliance services.
CapVest Partners LLP — Advised funds managed by CapVest Partners LLP on its agreement to acquire Datasite Global Corporation, a leading SaaS provider for the corporate transactions and M&A industry.
Arena Energy, L.P. — Representation of Arena Energy, L.P., which filed a prepackaged Chapter 11 case in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas to pursue a sale of its assets as a going-concern. The sale—which is supported by Arena’s first-lien revolving lenders and second-lien term lenders—will restructure more than $1 billion in funded indebtedness and address over $500 million of plugging and abandonment liabilities.
Chesapeake Energy Corporation — Representation of Chesapeake Energy Corporation and 40 of its subsidiaries in their Chapter 11 cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Chesapeake is a premier oil and natural gas exploration and production company with a high-quality, unconventional oil and natural gas asset portfolio, with substantial positions in top U.S. onshore plays. Chesapeake and its debtor-affiliates had more than $9 billion of funded debt obligations as of the commencement of their Chapter 11 cases. Prior to commencing the Chapter 11 cases, Chesapeake obtained commitments from certain of its secured creditors for over $4 billion of new capital, including a $925 million new money debtor-in-possession financing facility, a $600 million fully backstopped rights offering, and $2.5 billion of exit facilities as part of a comprehensive restructuring support agreement that would eliminate approximately $7 billion of Chesapeake’s funded debt obligations.
Akorn, Inc. — Representation of Akorn, Inc. and certain subsidiaries (“Akorn”), a specialty generic pharmaceuticals company with approximately $861.7 million of funded indebtedness, in their Chapter 11 cases filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
Fort Point Capital — Representation of Fort Point Capital, an investment firm focused on lower middle market, service-oriented companies, and their portfolio company AMS Fulfillment Holdings LLC, a full service outsourced logistics provider, in the financing of its acquisition of EchoData Group, a leading provider of omnichannel fulfillment services to fast growing B2C and B2B customers in the consumer products, educational products, marketing materials and subscription box verticals.
Clerk & Government Experience
Legal ExternHonorable Judge Brigid Mary McGrathCircuit Court of Cook County
Prior Experience
Summer Associate/Law Clerk, Nyhan, Bambrick, Kenzie & Lowry
Legal Intern/Consultant, Acme World Sports, LLC
Pro Bono
Conduct an estate planning process, drafting a will and trust for a military veteran and spouse.
Research, comply, and draft documents related to a Midwest Innocence Project criminal conviction appeal.
Draft, represent, and file expungement/sealing of criminal actions of pro bono clients in Harris County Houston, Texas.
Assist a Texas 501 (c)(4) company and foundation with classification of its employees and independent contractors.
Assist the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law with union, labor, and employment research related to reformation/transformation of policy.
More
Thought Leadership
Publications
Nicholas M. Ustaski, “To Kneel or Not to Kneel, To Tweet or Not to Tweet: Professional Athlete Political Speech and Social Media in the Workplace,” Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Employment Law Update, 2020 Edition
Memberships & Affiliations
Board Member University of Delaware Hockey Alumni Association
Board Member St. Ignatius College Prep Ice Hockey Program
Member Texas Bar Association
Member of Houston Bar Association
Member of Chicago Bar Association
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2020Texas
- 2020Illinois
Education
- Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of TechnologyJ.D.cum laude2019
CALI Awards in Business Organizations and Employment Discrimination
Chicago-Kent Certificate of Service for 50 hours of Pro Bono Community Service
Chicago-Kent Law Review
Editor, Chicago-Kent Employee Rights & Employment Journal
Editor, Illinois Public Employee Relations Report
- University of DelawareB.A., History (American History Concentration) & Foreign Languages and Literatures (Ancient Greek and Roman Culture Concentration)
magna cum laude, with Distinction
2016Men's Ice Hockey Captain — Named to ESCHL 2nd Team All-League for Ice Hockey
William E. Meakin Award for Excellence in Academics and Community Service
Alumni Award for Academic Achievement
Thomas J. Craven Prize for Best Undergraduate Essay in Subject of History