James M. Fischer

Partner

About

Areas of FocusCorporate Emerging Growth and Venture Capital Energy and Natural Resources Finance Financial Services Healthcare Mergers and Acquisitions Private Equity Public Company Advisory

Bar admissionsNew JerseyNew York

CourtsUnited States District Court for the District of New Jersey

EXPERIENCE

Represented Ghost Robotics, a leading innovator in legged robotics, on its strategic partnership with LIG Nex1, a South Korean defense technology company, through LIG Nex1's control-stake acquisition of Ghost Robotics
Represented Vertex, Inc., a global provider of tax technology solutions, in its acquisition of ecosio, a leading B2B integration provider in electronic data interchange and e-invoicing
Represented Ascensus, the nation's largest independent retirement and college savings services provider, in the disposition of ESOP Services business
Represented Ascensus, the nation's largest independent retirement and college savings services provider, in the acquisition of certain assets of The Vanguard Group, Inc.
Represented Ascensus, the nation's largest independent retirement and college savings services provider, in its sale to Wex Health, Inc.
Represented Ascensus, the nation's largest independent retirement and college savings services provider, in the asset acquisition of the retirement and recordkeeping services business of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company and Companion Life Insurance Company
Represented Legrand North and Central America, an electrical and digital building infrastructure company, in its acquisition of ZPE Systems, a developer of an IT infrastructure management software
Represented Spatial Data Logic, a New Jersey software company providing permitting, licensing, code enforcement and workflow automation software for counties and municipalities, in the sale of a majority equity stake in the company
Represented Meet Perry, a first-of-its-kind multi-family office inspired wealth membership, alternatives platform, in its Series A minority investment financing
Represented client in an equity acquisition of a medical device manufacturer/seller that is a wholly owned subsidiary of a French company, located near Lyon France
Represented Globant, a digitally native company providing businesses with technology solutions, in its acquisition of 100% of equity of Blankfactor Group Holdings Ltd., a digital transformation services company
Represented Globant, a digitally native company providing businesses with technology solutions, in its acquisition of Exusia, a U.S.-based IT services consulting firm specialized in full lifecycle AI, data engineering, cloud migration, and analytics capabilities including strategy, implementation, and managed services
Represented Legrand North and Central America, an electrical and digital building infrastructure company, in various acquisitions across multiple verticals, such as audiovisual, lighting, data center and power distribution, intelligent power and IP networking, including its US$1.2 billion acquisition of Milestone AV Technologies, as well as its acquisitions of Champion ONE, Focal Point, Starline (formerly known as Universal Electric), Kenall, Server Technology, Finelite, Pinnacle Architectural Lighting, Luxul and Raritan
Represented Ascensus, the nation's largest independent retirement and college savings services provider, in over 35 acquisitions, including its acquisitions of UnifyHR, BB&T's bundled recordkeeping business, Goldleaf Partners, Nyhart, United Retirement Plan Consultants, Provident Trust Group and Sallie Mae's 529 college savings plan administrator, Upromise Investments
Represented LiquidityEdge, a financial technology services provider, in its corporate organizational work and US $150 million sale to MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
Represented FGI-Industries Ltd. in its initial public offering
Represented Vertex, Inc., a global provider of tax solutions, in its acquisition of LCR-Dixon Corporation
Represented Merck Global Health Innovation Fund in various emerging company equity investments and acquisitions
Represented a privately held truck leasing, transportation and logistics company in various strategic acquisitions
Represented Hartfield, Titus & Donnelly, a financial services company, in connection with the sale of its subsidiary, MuniBrokers, to MarketAxess Holdings Inc., as well as various other corporate and strategic matters
Represented a private equity-sponsored technology-enabled marketing firm serving the senior living sector in its acquisition of a senior living-focused sales consulting company
Represented a family-owned firm in its sale of a controlling interest in its solar energy business to a private equity firm
Represented an engineering testing firm in its sale to a private equity firm
Represented Onyx Enterprises International Corporation, a leading e-commerce platform for niche markets focused on the auto parts space, in a business combination with Legacy Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), the combination of which resulted in a NYSE publicly traded company named PARTS iD, Inc.
Represented a New York City-based real estate developer in connection with several luxury residential real estate projects throughout Manhattan and Queens, including the negotiation of developer-level and preferred equity-level joint ventures, senior and mezzanine financing, and consummation of equity raises
Represented several real estate developers throughout New York and New Jersey in connection with various hotel and resort and other real estate projects, including the negotiation of developer-level and preferred equity-level joint ventures and consummation of equity raises and financing
Represented a producer of advanced material technology and sustainable insultation products in its sale to a private equity firm
Represented ENSO LP and affiliates, providers of data analytics to financial institutions, in an equity sale to ICAP plc
Represented a private equity firm in the sale of a multinational manufacturer in the transportation sector
Represented a publicly traded company in connection with multiple divestitures of business segments that provide military and civilian aircraft components and other parts, as well as metal-forming machines
Represented a private label tea and coffee company based in the United Kingdom in the acquisition of a U.S.-based natural ingredients supplier
Represented a medical device design and manufacturing business in connection with its sale to a robotic-assisted surgery company

Education

J.D., Seton Hall University

magna cum laude
Seton Hall Legislative Journal

B.A., Catholic University of America

summa cum laude

Awards

Chambers USA

Band 3, New Jersey, Corporate/M&A (2016-2024)

Additional Awards

New Jersey Law Journal – Dealmaker (2021)

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Bylines

Author, "How Has COVID-19 Impacted M&A Agreements?," JDSupra, April 2021

Seminars

Media Mentions

Mentioned, "LA Piper Snags 2 Corporate Partners From Faegre Drinker," Law360, March 24, 2022
Mentioned, "James Fischer Interviewed on How Insurtechs Are Changing the Customer Experience," April 2020

Prior Experience

Jim worked as a research assistant in the United Kingdom's House of Commons and as an intern on Capitol Hill. At his previous firm, Jim served as co-leader of the corporate group and chair of the corporate and securities group.

Civic and Charitable

Pro Bono Partnership (New Jersey Chapter)

Memberships And Affiliations

Member, American Bar Association
Member, Corporate and Business Law Section, New Jersey State Bar Association
Member, Business Law Section, New York State Bar Association
Board of Directors, Trading Cross Connects US LLC and Trading Cross Connects Holdings Limited (2010 – 2012)
Board of Trustees, Chair, American Herbal Products Association (2005 – 2006 and Chair, 2006, respectively)
Member, American Herbal Products Association ERB Foundation (2006 – present)