Christopher D. Graham

Partner
RELATED SERVICES

Chris Graham is the Co-Office Managing Partner of the Providence office and serves as Co-Chair of the Firm's Corporate and Transactional Department.

Chris advises business clients of all types, although he invests much of his time on matters involving private equity. He has led teams of lawyers in many different types of corporate transactions, both domestic and cross-border..

Chris Graham is the Co-Office Managing Partner of the Providence office and serves as Co-Chair of the Firm's Corporate and Transactional Department.

Chris advises business clients of all types, although he invests much of his time on matters involving private equity. He has led teams of lawyers in many different types of corporate transactions, both domestic and cross-border.

Chris counsels startup enterprises and assists in their capital formation, represents emerging companies and private equity investors in different rounds of equity financing, and negotiates acquisitions, dispositions and management buyouts for corporate buyers and sellers, private equity funds and management teams. He frequently represents borrowers in financing transactions, including highly leveraged financings that are integral parts of private equity buyouts. His clients include private equity funds, Fortune 500 companies, international conglomerates, privately held manufacturing companies and numerous technology and life science startups.

Chris' work in private equity provides him with a unique understanding of the concerns of each party involved in a typical transaction and a considerable network of personal contacts so that he is well suited to assist clients in planning and implementing strategies as well as anticipating issues and crafting creative and cost-effective solutions.

In addition, Chris enjoys an active general corporate practice with background in secured lending and municipal finance. He is general counsel to many closely held businesses as well as to businesses acquired by his private equity clients, handling issues ranging from employment matters to commercial contract disputes. He also serves as counsel to several nonprofits.

Chris’ experience includes the representation of:

  • MindImmune Therapeutics, Inc., in the issuance and sale of $12.4 million Series A convertible preferred stock
  • Nabsys 2.0 LLC in an investment of $25 million by Hitachi High-Tech Corporation through the issuance and sale of the client’s Series B and B-1 Units
  • Enhanced Energy Group, Inc., operating as CarbonPoint Solutions, in its sale to Caterpillar Inc.
  • Carousel Industries of North America, Inc., in its sale to NWN Corporation for cash and equity in the buyer
  • Starwood Energy Group Global, Inc., a leader in private energy infrastructure investments based in Connecticut, as special local counsel in its acquisition of the Manchester Street Power Station from Dominion Generation, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE: D), as part of a larger purchase of two of Dominion’s combined-cycle gas turbine plants for approximately $1.23 billion
  • Mahr Federal Inc. in its acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Engineering Synthesis Design, Inc., from its 39 stockholders in a strategic acquisition
  • Results At Last, LLC, dba Autoraptor, a provider of CRM services to automobile dealerships, in its sale to a private equity-backed company
  • Libertas Copper LLC, dba Hussey Cooper, in its purchase of a product line from Mueller Industries
  • Global Container International LLC in its growth capital investment by an international private equity fund
  • KPS Mid-Cap Investments, an affiliate of KPS Capital Partners, in the acquisition of Libertas Copper LLC (dba Hussey Copper)
  • R3 Education Inc., a private equity-backed owner of three offshore medical schools and related properties, in the sale of its shares to an international buyer
  • Nabsys 2.0 LLC, a pioneer in whole-genome mapping, in the issuance of $21,000,000 of preferred equity
  • Voda Inc., an emerging company bringing predictive software tools to the water industry, in a $3 million convertible note round
  • Dental Partners LLC, a dental practice management business, in the sale of its units to a private equity-backed platform
  • MindImmune Therapeutics, Inc., a drug discovery company, in a series of convertible note and preferred stock offerings
  • An international specialty materials conglomerate in the acquisition and disposition of several business units with domestic and overseas operations
  • Heritage Village Water Company in its merger with Connecticut Water Service Inc. (NASDAQ: CTWS) in a stock-for-stock exchange
  • Firestone Financial Corp. in its stock-for-stock acquisition by Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB)
  • The specialty pharmacy subsidiary of a large retail drug store chain in over 25 acquisitions of retail and mail order pharmacy operations
  • A Fortune 500 company in strategic venture investments and a series of corporate restructuring projects
  • Outside counsel to WWRD, an international manufacturer of luxury goods, including advising on several bolt-on cross-border acquisitions
RELATED EXPERIENCE
RELATED EXPERIENCE
RELATED NEWS & EVENTS
CREDENTIALS
Education
  • J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1981
  • B.A., magna cum laude, Brown University, 1976
Bar Admissions
  • Rhode Island
Professional Affiliations
    • Board of Directors, Slater Technology Fund
    • Member, Rhode Island Bar Association
    • Director, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce
      • Chair, Education Council
    • Director, Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council
    • Member, Rhode Island Foundation Long-Term Education Planning Committee
    • Member, Rhode Island Supreme Court Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee
Awards & Recognitions
    • Named, Leaders and Achievers Honoree, Providence Business News (2023)
    • Named, AV Preeminent Attorney for 25 Years – Judicial Edition, Martindale-Hubbell (2023)
    • Named, AV Preeminent Attorney – Judicial Edition, Martindale-Hubbell (2022)
    • Named, Chambers USA, Corporate/Commercial Law in Rhode Island (2003-2023)
    • Named, The Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance, Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (1995-2024)
    • Named, Providence Mergers and Acquisitions Law Lawyer of the Year, The Best Lawyers in America® (2021)
    • Named, Providence Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year, The Best Lawyers in America® (2014)
    • Named, Power List, recognizing influential lawyers and members of the judiciary in Rhode Island, GoLocal Prov (2016)
    • Named, Rhode Island Super Lawyers®, Mergers & Acquisitions (2007-2020)
Community Leadership
    • Director, Junior Achievement of Rhode Island; Executive Council Chair
    • Chair, Teach For America/Rhode Island Regional Board of Advisors