Martin A. Clarke
Martin A. Clarke
+1.203.905.4541

Overview

Marty Clarke is co-leader of the firm's Corporate, M&A and Securities Practice Group in the New York/Philadelphia/Stamford region and serves on the firm's Directors Committee. He is a Connecticut and New York corporate attorney who represents private equity funds as well as public and private companies in mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. He also counsels corporate clients and emerging companies in connection with a wide range of business transactions, including joint ventures, restructurings and debt and equity financings.

In addition, Mr. Clarke serves as vice chair on the board of directors and coordinates pro bono services for Abilis Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides services for individuals with special needs and their families.

Mr. Clarke served as a former law clerk/court crier for Judge Charles M. Metzner at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Prior to his legal career, he gained practical experience working for Chase Manhattan Bank and Marine Midland Bank, where he was involved in both operations and the hedging of derivatives, including foreign currency and U.S. dollar interest rate swaps.

Representative Experience

  • Represented shareholder of Subway®, one of the world's largest restaurant brands, in the sale to affiliates of Roark Capital
  • Represented Hometown Food Company, home to an iconic portfolio of American baking goods and formed by Brynwood Partners, a private equity firm, in its acquisition of Birch Benders, a fast-growing producer of delicious, better-for-you pancake and waffle mixes, toaster waffles, and pancake and baking cups, from Sovos Brands Inc.
  • Represented Brynwood Partners in its acquisition of De Wafelbakkers, a leading manufacturer of branded, co-manufactured and private label frozen pancakes, waffles and French toast in the U.S., from The Oklahoma Publishing Company, a subsidiary of The Anschutz Corp.
  • Represented Brynwood Partners, a private equity firm, in its formation of Buitoni Food Company and acquisition of the North American Buitoni® business from Nestlé USA Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of food products and non-alcoholic beverages and a subsidiary of Nestle SA, the world's largest food and beverage company
  • Represented Hometown Food Company, a company formed by Brynwood Partners, in its $375 million acquisition of a portfolio of brands from The J.M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM), a leading manufacturer of food and beverage products
  • Represented Cold Spring Brewing Company Inc., a leading beverage manufacturer that produces energy drinks, carbonated flavored waters and brews craft beers and a portfolio company of Brynwood Partners, in its add-on acquisition of Carolina Beverage Group LLC, a world-class specialty beverage co-packer for leading beverage brands, from SunTx Capital Partners
  • Represented High Ridge Brands Co., a portfolio company of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, in its acquisition of Dr. Fresh LLC
  • Represented Back to Nature Foods Company LLC, the owner of the Back to Nature and SnackWell's brands and a portfolio company of Brynwood Partners, in its $162.5 million sale to B&G Foods Inc. (NYSE: BGS)
  • Represented Brynwood Partners in its acquisition of Cold Spring Brewing Company Inc., a leading beverage manufacturer that produces energy drinks, carbonated flavored waters and brews craft beers
  • Represented High Ridge Brands, a branded personal care company and a portfolio company of Brynwood Partners, in its $415 million sale to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
  • Represented of Brynwood Partners its acquisition of Sunny Delight Beverages Co. from J.W. Child Associates
  • Represented Brynwood Partners in its sale of DeMet's Candy Company for $221 million to Yildiz Holdings A.S., owner of the Godiva® chocolate brand
  • Represented Brynwood Partners in the formation of Harvest Hill Beverage Company and its acquisition of the Juicy Juice® business from Nestlé USA
  • Represented Harvest Hill Beverage Company in its acquisition of American Beverage Corp., manufacturer and marketer of Little Hug® Fruit Barrels and Daily's® alcoholic cocktail drinks and mixers
  • Represented Back to Nature Foods Company in its acquisition of the SnackWell's® business from Mondelēz Global LLC
  • Represented Brynwood Partners in the formation of JPC Acquisition Co. and the acquisition of Joseph's Pasta Company from Nestlé Prepared Foods Company
  • Represented High Ridge Brands Co. in its acquisition of various brands from the Dial Corporation Inc., including L.A. Looks®, Dep®, Zero Frizz®, Thicker Fuller Hair®, Coast®, Soft & Dri®, and Pure & Natural®
  • Represented Golden Sun Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of private equity fund Brynwood Partners, in connection with its acquisition of Newhall Laboratories, a leading marketer of widely recognized personal care brands including La Bella®
  • Represented Balance Bar Holdings in connection with its sale of Balance Bar Company, a leader in the nutrition/energy bar category, to NBTY Inc., a global leader in vitamins, supplements and active nutrition products and a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group
  • Represented Pearson Candy Company in its acquisition of the Bit-O-Honey candy brand from Nestlé

  • Represented MasTec Inc., a telecommunications and infrastructure construction company, in the acquisition of a large scale utility projects contractor
  • Represented Fresh-Aire UV, a manufacturer of indoor air quality (IAQ) products/technology for residential, commercial, industrial, agriculture, healthcare and other specialized markets, to DiversiTech Corp.
  • Represented a private equity backed specialty insurance broker and its affiliates in multiple acquisitions of insurance businesses
  • Represented a Fortune 500 client in its acquisition of an engineering company focused on analyzing, predicting and managing the health of critical systems
  • Represented a private equity-backed leader in flow and energy measurement solutions in its add-on acquisition of a leading manufacturers of thermocouples, RTDs, PT100s and thermowells in North America
  • Represented a financial technology company in its sale to a private equity-backed corporation
  • Represented an end-to-end provider of time tracking and field service and construction management software, in its sale to a private equity backed global Software as a Service (SaaS) business providing field service management solutions to trade and specialty contracting industries
  • Represented a leading manufacturer of plastic product protection in its add-on acquisition of a contract manufacturer specializing in clean room injection molding of plastic components for the medical and biotechnology industries
  • Represented an end-to-end provider of time tracking and field service and construction management software, in its sale to a global SaaS business providing field service management solutions to trade and specialty contracting industries
  • Represented Energy Equity Partners L.P. in its sale of Clearfield Energy L.P., a 125-year-old crude oil, condensate and water services company with operations in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, to Crosstex Energy L.P. and Crosstex Energy Inc.
  • Represented a drug development company in connection with its venture capital financing and licensing transactions
  • Represented a Fortune 1000 company in its acquisition of a specialty manufacturing company
  • Represented a venture capital partnership focused on healthcare investing in its formation and capitalization of corporations dedicated to the development of novel therapeutic applications
  • Represented a financial services company in connection with its debt and equity financing transactions
  • Represented a of division of a Fortune 500 company in its acquisition of an interest in a decision sciences and analytics services company
  • Represented a Fortune 500 company in its acquisition of a specialized helicopter business

Credentials

Education
  • Fordham University School of Law, J.D., cum laude
  • Lehigh University, B.A., English, honors
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Connecticut
  • New York
Court Admissions
  • All State Courts in Connecticut
  • All State Courts in New York
Memberships
  • American Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Association for Corporate Growth Connecticut
Honors & Awards
  • Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Corporate/M&A, 2011-2019, 2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2007-2025
  • Consumer Dealmaker of the Year, The Deal magazine, 2020
  • Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2020-2023
  • Connecticut Super Lawyers magazine, 2006, 2009-2011, 2014-2019
  • The Legal 500 USA, 2011-2012, 2014-2019

Speaking Engagements

8th Annual Private Equity U.S. Spring Forum

Markets Group / May 6-7, 2019
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News

Holland & Knight Earns More Top Rankings for M&A and Private Equity Deals in 2023 League Tables

Press Release / February 28, 2024

Holland & Knight Surges to Top of M&A and Private Equity League Table Rankings for 2023

Press Release / January 17, 2024

Holland & Knight Represents Hometown Food Company on Acquisition of Birch Benders

Press Release / January 30, 2023

Holland & Knight Advises Brynwood Partners on Acquisition of De Wafelbakkers

Press Release / April 8, 2021

Holland & Knight's Martin Clarke Named Consumer Dealmaker of the Year by The Deal

Press Release / October 8, 2020

Holland & Knight Advises Brynwood Partners on Purchase of Buitoni Pasta’s North American Business

Press Release / July 6, 2020
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