E. Eric Rytter
PEOPLE

E. Eric Rytter

Partner
rytter.eric@dorsey.com

Overview

ERIC IS A VALUED ADVISOR TO HIS MID-MARKET PRIVATE EQUITY SPONSOR AND PRIVATE COMPANY CLIENTS, HELPING THEM NAVIGATE A VARIETY OF LEGAL CHALLENGES, FROM OPERATING ISSUES AND FINANCINGS TO THE INTRICACIES OF M&A STRATEGY AND EXECUTION.

Eric is a partner, chair of the Dorsey Policy Committee (Board of Directors), and chair of the firm’s Private Equity Practice Group. His practice focuses on advising private equity funds, other financial sponsors, their portfolio companies, and international corporate entities on a broad range of legal issues and transactional scenarios, including domestic and cross-border acquisitions, leveraged acquisitions, growth equity investments, financing arrangements, and other corporate advisory matters. He has extensive experience advising on corporate and M&A issues relating to financial restructuring and reorganization, as well as investments in distressed situations and transactions. He also has experience with private equity and venture capital investments in the United Kingdom and continental Europe, as well as in China.

Education & Admissions

Columbia Law School (LL.M., 2001), Editor, Columbia Business Law Review

Cambridge University (B.A. in Law (LL.B.), 2000), Honours; (M.A), Board Member, Faculty of Law

University College Dublin (M.A., 1997), Honours

Muhlenberg College (B.A., 1994), cum laude

Admissions

  • New York

Experience

Representative Transactions

His recent transactions have included representation of:

  • Warburg Pincus LLC and certain of its affiliates, in connection with ongoing portfolio company matters.
  • Serent Capital, LLC and certain of its affiliates, in connection with ongoing portfolio company matters.
  • Hygiena, LLC, a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus, in connection with the sale of the company to EW Group.
  • Early Warning Services, LLC, a fintech company headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, in the sale of its mobile authentication technology to Payfone (now Prove).
  • Management of MetaMetrics in connection with the sale by Pamlico Capital to Apax Digital Fund.
  • Management of Vivona Brands Ltd. in connection with sale by Inflexion Private Equity Partners to Webster Equity Partners.
  • Capital Vacations, LLC, a vertically integrated hospitality organization, in connection with multiple strategic transactions, acquisitions and financings, including ongoing corporate advisory work.
  • Management of Orion Systems Integrators in connection with the sale of Orion by Potomac Equity Partners to One Equity Partners.
  • National Hospitality Group in connection with various corporate matters, including several strategic initiatives.
  • AgriBriefing, a portfolio company of Lyceum Capital, in its acquisition of Urner Barry.
  • CityMD, a leading urgent care provider and portfolio company of Warburg Pincus, in connection with a series of acquisitions, including the acquisition of STAT Health from PE firm Spanos Barber Jesse & Co.
  • TA Associates in connection with its investment in Biocomposites, a manufacturer and marketer of calcium compound biologics for surgical use. 
  • NorthEdge Capital and senior management on the sale of Utiligroup Ltd., a market leading provider of innovative SaaS solutions to the U.K. utilities and energy industry, to Accel-KKR.
  • DocuTAP, a healthcare technology company and provider of electronic medical records and practice management software for urgent care clinics and portfolio company of Warburg Pincus, in the purchase of Clockwise.MD, a private patient engagement software provider of online scheduling solutions for healthcare organizations located in Atlanta, Georgia. 
  • RS Energy, a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus LLC, in connection with add-on acquisitions and certain ongoing corporate matters.
  • KidKraft, Inc., a portfolio company of Mid Ocean Partners, in connection with certain ongoing corporate matters.
  • Early Warning Services, LLC in connection with its acquisition of clearXchange, the largest financial institution-led digital payments network in the United States.
  • Serent Capital and certain of its affiliates in connection with various portfolio company-related strategic and operational matters. 
  • TA Associates and certain affiliates in connection with portfolio company strategic and operational matters.
  • Smarte Carte International Holdings, Inc., a private manufacturer of vended equipment in the sale of an equity stake to 3i Group plc.
  • A Tampa-based investment fund in connection with investments in the digital payments industry.
  • Certain affiliates of Livingbridge Equity Partners in connection with portfolio company matters.
  • Hillerich & Bradsby Co. in connection with the sale to Wilson Sporting Goods of global brand, sales, and innovation rights relating to the LOUISVILLE SLUGGER mark, and related manufacturing and licensing arrangements.
  • Early Warning Services, LLC in connection with its acquisition of Authentify, Inc., a worldwide leader in phone-based, multi-factor authentication solutions.
  • Funds affiliated with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in connection with certain co-investments.
  • Lee Equity Partners, LLC and certain affiliates in connection with a transaction with Project Pie, LLC, a fast-casual pizza chain based in Carlsbad, California.
  • Early Warning Services, LLC in its Series D investment in Payfone Inc. and negotiation of strategic alliance.
  • Certain investors in America's Best Franchising, Inc. in connection with the sale of ABFI to Vantage Hospitality.
  • A New York based family office in connection with a series of investments in the hospitality and recreational industries.
  • CVC Capital Partners in its $4.4 billion proposed acquisition of the iShares ETF business from Barclays.
  • Icahn Capital LP, in connection with its proposed bid to acquire the assets of Blockbuster Inc. out of bankruptcy.
  • Citicorp Mezzanine Partners in connection with the sale of Standard Steel to Trimaran Capital Partners.
  • U.S. Treasury in the restructuring of Chrysler and GM.
  • Angelo, Gordon & Co. in connection with its acquisition of the roadside assistance business from Citigroup.
  • Bain Capital in connection with the financing of Bain's acquisition of FCI from the French energy group Areva.
  • A sponsor-backed investment vehicle specializing in distressed and turnaround investment situations in connection with investments in the hospitality and timeshare industries.
  • The Bermuda provisional liquidators of Lehman Re Ltd. in connection with the chapter 15 bankruptcy case of Lehman Re and certain asset dispositions with respect thereto.
  • A global Information Communications Technology networking and related services company in connection with its first investment in China, an acquisition of a distribution and servicing business with over 700 employees.
  • Xerium Technologies, Inc. in connection with its global restructuring and emergence from Chapter 11.
  • Fuel Outdoor Holdings LLC, a portfolio company of Och-Ziff Capital Management, in connection with various corporate matters and follow-on investments.
  • ICV Partners and its portfolio company, Sterling Foods, Ltd., in connection with Sterling's acquisitions of Buena Vista Food Products, Inc. and Blue Ribbon Baking Company.
  • Panaria Group Industrie Ceramiche S.p.A. in its acquisition of Florida Tile Industries, Inc. from Milestone Capital.

News & Resources

Articles

D&O Insurance and the Two Words to Fear: Capacity Exclusion
Private Equity Bulletin - 2016 U.S. Presidential Election
Private Equity Bulletin - Trade Secrets And Non-Compete Agreements In The United States
Author, ABA Section of International Law, Private Equity and Alternative Investments Committee Update: “The Changing Landscape of GP/LP Negotiations”
“New Trends and Challenges Facing Private Equity and Venture Capital Investors,” Aspatore: Inside the Minds, Thomson Reuters
"Going Long: What Private Equity Sponsors in US Infrastructure Long Term Lease Concessions Need to be Thinking About," Infrastructure Investor
"The Liquidity Crisis: Opportunities in Distressed Assets," Financier Worldwide

News & Press Mentions

Super Lawyers Recognizes 10 Dorsey Lawyers in New York
Dorsey New York Partner Eric Rytter Named Policy Committee Chair
Super Lawyers Recognizes 11 Dorsey Lawyers in New York
Super Lawyers Recognizes 13 Dorsey Lawyers in New York
Super Lawyers Recognizes 15 Dorsey Lawyers in New York
Two Dorsey New York Partners Rise to New Leadership Positions
Super Lawyers Recognizes 19 Dorsey Lawyers in New York
Dorsey Advises Briefing Media in Strategic Investment and Global Partnership with Urner Barry
Super Lawyers Recognizes 19 Dorsey Lawyers in New York
Dorsey Holds Investing in Brand Value Event
Dorsey Wins Five 2016 M&A Awards
Dorsey & Whitney Represents Early Warning in Acquisition of clearXchange
Columbia Law Alumni Recognizes Dorsey Partner Eric Rytter as Co-Chair of ABA International Private Equity Committee
Dorsey Partner E. Eric Rytter Named Co-Chair International Private Equity Committee
Dorsey & Whitney Advises Lee Equity Partners in Project Pie Transaction
Dorsey Partner E. Eric Rytter Named to Private Equity & Alternative Investments Committee of ABA Section of International Law
Partner Eric Rytter Discusses His Decision To Join Dorsey
Dorsey Adds Private Equity Partner To New York Office

Events & Speaking Engagements

Dorsey's Fourth Annual Private Funds Symposium
Dorsey's Private Funds Symposium 2019 Post-Event Resources
Investing in Brand Value

Select Presentations

  • PLI, Panelist, “Doing Deals in a Global Economy: Navigating Obstacles and Insurance Challenges in Cross-Border M&A Transactions,” March 2021
  • Dorsey Private Funds Symposium, Chair/Moderator & Panelist, “Cross Border Fund Issues: Market Comparison of Significant Deal Terms,” 2019
  • Host & Moderator, “Investing in Brand Value,” June 2017 
  • Moderator, “What Are the Issues After a Portfolio Company Changes Hands?” Capital Roundtable PE Operating Partner and Portfolio Company Conference, May 2017
  • “Outbound China Foreign Direct Investment into the U.S. and its Impact on the M&A Market,” Presentation to Hi-Finance Delegation (Chinese financial investor professionals), May 2017
  • Chair & Moderator, “Innovation Clusters,” ABA Section of International Law, Spring Meeting, Washington D.C. April 2017
  • Moderator, “Human Capital Integration During M&A,” Capital Roundtable PE Operating Partners and Portfolio Company Conference, May 2016
  • Presentation to PICC Property & Casualty Limited (China’s largest and the world’s 3rd largest insurer):  “The US Private Equity Fundraising Market,” April 2016
  • Presentation to Robert Bosch GmbH: “Negotiating M&A Transactions with a Private Equity Counterparty,” November 2015
  • Moderator, “The Dynamic Role of Operating Partners—How It’s Evolving in PE Firms’ Structures,” Capital Roundtable PE Operating Partner and Portfolio Company Conference, June 2015
  • Moderator, “Private Equity Fund Formation: The Changing Landscape of GP/LP Negotiations,” ABA Section of International Law, Spring Meeting 2015
  • Moderator, “Creating Value through Acquisitions,” Capital Roundtable Best Practices for Overseeing PE Portfolio Companies Conference, September 2014
  • Chair & Moderator, “Private Equity & Portfolio Companies,” ABA Section of International Law, Spring Meeting 2014
  • Panelist, “Unleashing the Tiger – the Importance of Infrastructure in International Investment and Development,” ABA Section of International Law, Spring Meeting 2014
  • Speaker, “Strategic Expansion and Financing Opportunities for Chinese Companies in the U.S.,” China New Leaders Forum 2012
  • Panelist, “Trends in Venture Capital Investing,” UVA Law/Darden 2010 Private Equity Symposium
  • New York Private Equity Network (“NYPEN”) Legal Education Series (2005 – 2008)

Industries & Practices

  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • China
  • Closely Held Businesses
  • Corporate Governance & Compliance
  • Digital Health
  • Emerging Companies
  • Europe
  • Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Hospitality
  • Investment Funds
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
  • Technology

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Chair, International Private Equity and Alternative Investments Committee, ABA Section of International Law, 2014-2016 
  • Vice-Chair, International Private Equity and Alternative Investments Committee, ABA Section of International Law, 2012 - 2014

Community Involvement

  • Board Member, Camp Fire Conservation Fund 

Accolades

  • Listed in New York Super Lawyers, 2017-2022
  • Recommended by Legal 500 United States, 2019
  • Recognized by Acquisition International's 2016 M&A Advisor Awards for "Best Mid-Market Private Equity Practice Group - USA & Best Sporting Goods Transaction: Wilson/H&B"
E. Eric Rytter