Jeffrey A. D. Cohen focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions for private equity funds, technology companies and government contractors. In this role, he leads complex domestic and cross-border transactions for strategic and private equity-backed companies across a range of industries and industry verticals. Jeff also regularly advises clients in the areas of general corporate matters, corporate governance, and securities regulations.
Having served over 20 years as trusted adviser to private equity professionals and entrepreneurs, he is known for his ability to focus on key issues, partner with clients on working toward their goals, and understand issues from both a business and legal perspective.
Known as one of the country’s leading small business advocates, Sharon Heaton, founder of sbLiftOff, is an avidly sought speaker on small business, growth strategies and M&A. sbLiftOff serves commercial and government contracting companies with $10 million to $100 million in revenues and more than $2 million in EBITDA.
Heaton’s book, LIFT OFF: 12 Things to Know Before You Sell Your Company, published by FORBES, is available on Amazon. Appointed to the Small Business Administration’s Investment Capital Advisory Committee, she is working nationally to increase small business access to investment capital. Heaton publishes in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Washington Business Journal, Alabama.com and regional outlets around the country.
Heaton has been associated with the global law firms of Skadden Arps and Latham & Watkins and has served as Senior Counsel on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, General Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. She co-founded Wellford Energy Group, an investment bank serving clean energy and low carbon companies. Previously, she was Deputy Counsel of a Fortune 500 company operating in ten states.
Ms. Heaton holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School and a B.A. from Barnard College.
A Director within Cherry Bekaert’s Deal Advisory practice, Ricky White has over 20 years of buy- and sell-side due diligence, finance, and accounting consulting experience. He has worked on more than 100+ middle-market deals covering advisory on mergers & acquisitions, financial due diligence, Quality of Earnings (QoE) and valuation engagements. He has deep government contracting industry expertise and, over the last decade, has focused solely on mergers & acquisitions.