Robert Morrill

“Rob is extremely thoughtful in identifying important issues that clients care about and negotiating their resolution in a respectful, but aggressive manner. He is an excellent attorney and our go-to partner.”  – Chambers USA 2022

Rob Morrill is the lead partner of Bartlit Beck’s corporate practice group. Rob’s practice focuses primarily on middle-market mergers and acquisition transactions and he has extensive experience representing private equity funds in leveraged acquisitions and dispositions. He also serves as principal outside counsel to several portfolio companies of fund clients, and advises clients on a wide variety of general corporate and transactional matters. 

Rob has been recognized by numerous legal industry publications, including Chambers USA, which has recognized him in each year since 2014 as a leading M&A attorney in Colorado. A client source in the 2018 edition of Chambers USA noted that Rob is “extremely bright and knowledgeable – the full package in terms of understanding legal issues but with business aspects in mind.”

Notable Experience

Industrial Services Transactions

• Represented Platte River Equity in its acquisition of Belt Power, a distributor and fabricator of conveyor system components, including conveyor belts, equipment and accessories
• Represented Platte River Equity in its acquisition of Municipal Emergency Services, a leading equipment supplier and service provider to first responders throughout the United States
• Represented Platte River Equity in its acquisition of GME Supply Company, a distributor of fall protection and safety equipment for at-height workers in the telecommunications, solar and construction markets
• Represented Platte River Equity in its acquisition of Vertical Supply Group (VSG), a leading distributor and direct retailer of arborist tools and equipment, and the subsequent sale of VSG to Gridiron Capital
• Represented Platte River Equity in its acquisition of Dealers Transmission Exchange, a provider of powertrain repair and maintenance services to the energy, industrial and mining industries
• Represented Permian Basin Sand Company, a Texas-based frac sand supplier, in its $275 million sale to Hi-Crush Partners (NYSE: HCLP)
• Represented Lariat Partners in its acquisition of Newpark Environmental Services, a Texas-based provider of waste disposal services to the offshore oil and gas industry, from Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE: NR)
• Represented Federal Signal Corporation in connection with its acquisition of VESystems, LLC, and the sale of the assets of Pauluhn Electric to Cooper Industries
• Represented First Reserve Corporation in the sale of its portfolio company Aquilex Corporation to Harvest Partners, LLC, and subsequently represented Aquilex in its acquisition of Southeastern Mechanical Services, Inc. and SMS Global, Inc.

Aviation and Aerospace Transactions

• Represented Platte River Equity in its acquisition of CTS Engines, a provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul services for jet aircraft engines, and the subsequent sale of CTS Engines to J.F. Lehman & Company

• Represented Platte River Equity in its acquisitions of Sierra Alloys and TSI Titanium and the subsequent sale of the combined companies to Tinicum L.P.

• Represented Platte River Equity in a series of six strategic acquisitions to create PRV Aerospace, a manufacturer of critical components for the commercial aerospace and defense industries, and the subsequent sale of PRV Aerospace to Court Square Capital Partners

Healthcare Transactions

• Represented Mortara Instrument, Inc., a Wisconsin-based medical diagnostic and monitoring device company, in its $330 million sale to Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HRC)

Agriculture and Chemicals Transactions

• Represented Platte River equity in its acquisition of MFG Chemical, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals serving a wide variety of end markets, including asphalt, mining, oilfield, and water treatment
• Represented Platte River Equity in its acquisition of Tiger-Sul Products, a manufacturer of sulfur fertilizers and crop performance products
• Represented Platte River Equity in its acquisition of Profile Products, a leading erosion control, vegetative establishment, mulch and soil amendment products manufacturer

Professional Activities and Community Service

Board of Directors, Dumb Friends League

Acknowledgements, Presentations, and Publications

Chambers USA Private Equity Guide (2021)

Chambers USA Private Equity Practice Guide (2020)

Chambers USA Private Equity Practice Guide (2019)

Keys to Drafting and Negotiating Effective Acquisition Agreements – National Constitution Center webinar (2013)