Wes represents public and closely held businesses and non-profit organizations in all aspects of their operations, from formation and start-up through growth, ongoing operations, and exit planning. Wes also represents a broad range of individual estate planning clients, from young families who are just starting out to high-net-worth individuals and families with complex estate, business, and succession planning objectives.
Wes formerly worked as a CPA specializing in financial services at a Big Four accounting firm. Wes’s background as a CPA helps him advise clients on complex legal, financial, and tax issues.
American Bar Association
Connecticut Bar Association
Business Law Section
Tax Section
Estate Planning Section
New Haven County Bar Association
Rising Star, Connecticut Super Lawyers® – Estate & Probate, 2018-2024
University of Connecticut Law School Morris Pomp Tax Award, 2016
University of Connecticut Law School Foundation Award for Exceptional Achievement & Scholarship, 2016
Editor-in-Chief, Connecticut Law Review, 2016
Represented shareholders and affiliates in connection with $150,000 recapitalization and sale of grocery store chain involving type-F reorganization and significant roll-over equity components.
Represented import and distribution company in connection with sale of a majority stake in a Rwandan tea estate to a strategic buyer in a transaction valued at $12,600,000.
Represented private investment group in connection with investment fund structuring and financing for $19,000,000 real estate portfolio acquisition.
Advised foreign private equity fund in connection with the acquisition of a US based food manufacturer.
Represented family-owned cheese manufacturer and importer in connection with its acquisition by a family office buyer.
Advised European food cooperative in connection with acquisition of a US based food manufacturer and related real estate.
Represented manufacturing company in connection with sale of the company to a strategic buyer in a transaction valued in excess of $14,000,000.
Represented insurance industry service provider company in connection with type-F reorganization and sale to private equity firm for $20,000,000+.
Represented private investment group in connection with investment fund structuring and financing for $25,000,000 acquisition and development transaction.
Advised point-of-care media and advertising company and its founder and President and Chief Executive officer on partnership debt and equity structuring and funding in connection with sale of the company for $75,000,000 to a private equity-backed technology platform company.
Represented large chemical manufacturing company in connection with various strategic acquisitions of specialty chemical companies.
Represented developer client in connection with the formation, structuring, and financing of a qualified opportunity fund.
Represented healthcare roll-up company in connection with strategic acquisitions of various psychiatric and wellness organizations.
Represent and act as corporate counsel to various manufacturing companies.
Represent and advise foreign family office on all aspects of U.S. operations.
Advised a tax-exempt school on endowment and institutional fund matters and compliance issues following the sale of the school’s operating assets to a for-profit entity.
Represented a tax-exempt college and provided advice on endowment and institutional fund issues in connection with the college’s disaffiliation from a larger university.
Represented a tax-exempt social welfare organization in connection with its dissolution and distribution of its charitable funds pursuant to a cy pres action.
Advised US and foreign charities on tax-exemption compliance related to cross-border charitable activities and donations.
Formed and represented a broad spectrum of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations including schools, colleges, hospitals, youth camps, grant making foundations, and political action and lobbying organizations, as well as organizations providing services related to social welfare, youth sports, affordable housing, land conservation and historic preservation, religious and faith-based activities, arts and humanities, and small share farming.
Experience converting public charities to private foundations, public charities to supporting organizations, and private foundations to supporting organizations.
Provided guidance on corporate governance, unrelated business income tax, private inurement and private benefit transactions, and intermediate sanctions.
Experience structuring and drafting charitable fund governing instruments including endowment declarations, charitable lead trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and gift modification agreements.