Katrina L. Berishaj
Managing CounselChair, ERISA & Employee Benefits
Experience
Stradley Ronon Advises Mutual Group in Emigrant Partners Deal
Stradley Ronon represented Mutual Group Inc., a national platform serving independent financial advisers and registered investment advisers, in a transaction involving a strategic investment by Emigrant Partners, a leading minority investor in the wealth and asset management industry.
The deal, announced April 9, enables Mutual Group to expand its national footprint, deepen adviser engagement, accelerate key platform enhancements and position its business for the next phase of growth.
Peter C. Brockmeyer, Alexandra L. Rice, Christopher S. Connell, Dean V. Krishna, Melanie L. Ronen, Christine Rosenblatt, Katrina L. Berishaj and Michael P. BonnerStradley Ronon Represents 1st Colonial Bancorp in Acquisition by Mid Penn Bancorp
Stradley Ronon advised 1st Colonial Bancorp Inc., the parent company of Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based 1st Colonial Community Bank, in a merger agreement with Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based Mid Penn Bancorp Inc. in which Mid Penn acquired 1st Colonial in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $106.1 million. In connection with the holding company merger, 1st Colonial Community Bank was merged with and into Mid Penn’s subsidiary bank, Mid Penn Bank.
The transaction, which was completed on February 27, further expands Mid Penn’s presence in the Greater Philadelphia area and southern New Jersey.
Christopher S. Connell, Katrina L. Berishaj, Avery Marz, Richard E. Peterson, Philip J. Foret, Adriel J. Garcia and Matthew E. SadofskyStradley Ronon Advises Covetrus in Connection with Definitive Agreement for Chewy’s Acquisition of SmartEquine Business
Stradley Ronon represented Covetrus, a Portland, Maine-based global animal-health technology and services company, with respect to its agreement for Chewy Inc. to acquire its subsidiary SmartPak Equine LLC (SmartEquine). The transaction, announced October 30, is expected to close by year-end subject to customary closing conditions.
SmartEquine is a leading U.S. direct-to-consumer provider of equine nutraceutical supplements. The deal will allow for Covetrus to focus on its core business of delivering technology-enabled solutions that help streamline and strengthen veterinary practices.
Lori S. Smith, Joshua G. Galante, Jeremy M. Miller, Katrina L. Berishaj, Peter Bogdasarian, David P. Fitzgibbon, Dean V. Krishna, Avery Marz, Richard E. Peterson, Kate Pfingsten, Melanie L. Ronen and Megan E. Stamm
Stradley Ronon Represents Oak Hill Wealth Advisors in Merger with Cerity Partners
Stradley Ronon advised Oak Hill Wealth Advisors, a wealth management firm based in Lansdowne, Virginia, in its merger with Cerity Partners, a full-service wealth management firm serving high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and their families, businesses and their leadership teams, and nonprofit organizations. The transaction closed on September 30; the value was undisclosed.
Oak Hill will operate under the Cerity Partners name. The partnership will expand Cerity Partners’ footprint in the Washington, D.C., market and is expected to enhance offerings to high-net-worth families, including generational wealth planning, financial and retirement planning, and investment management services.
Dean V. Krishna, Christopher S. Connell, Megan E. Stamm, Linsay Sobers, Melanie L. Ronen, Avery Marz and Katrina L. Berishaj
Stradley Ronon Advises Silvi Materials in Acquisition of Eagle Rock Concrete
Stradley Ronon represented Pennsylvania-based Silvi Materials, a vertically integrated leader in construction materials, in its acquisition of Eagle Rock Concrete, a premier ready-mix concrete producer based in North Carolina. The transaction closed September 2.
The combined company will operate as Eagle Rock Concrete, a Silvi Materials Company. This acquisition represents Silvi’s expansion into the Southeast U.S. construction market, bringing nine high-production ready-mix plants in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Christopher S. Connell, Melanie L. Ronen, Andrew S. Levine, Jeremy M. Miller, Alycia M. Vivona, Richard E. Peterson, Katrina L. Berishaj and Avery Marz
Stradley Ronon Represents Allied Resources Group in Acquisition of Verigent
Stradley Ronon represented Allied Resources Group (ARG) in its acquisition of Verigent, a North Carolina-based staffing firm specializing in telecom and IT network infrastructure. The transaction closed July 31; the value was undisclosed.
ARG is a multidisciplinary provider of engineering, staffing, inspection and field services focused on delivering reliable solutions to critical infrastructure clients nationwide. The acquisition will expand ARG’s workforce solutions platform and strengthen its presence in fast-growing technical markets across the United States, including the data center infrastructure sector.
Steven A. Scolari, Richard E. Peterson, Jason R. Jones, Avery Marz, Katrina L. Berishaj and Jan M. Folena
Stradley Ronon Represents Cook Wealth in Merger with Cerity Partners
Stradley Ronon represented Cook Wealth, a Raleigh-based wealth management firm, in a merger with Cerity Partners, a financial and wealth advisory firm serving high-net-worth individuals and their families and nonprofit organizations and foundations throughout the United States.
The merger expands Cerity Partners’ integrated wealth advisory services, including financial planning, investment management, and tax planning and preparation, into North Carolina.
For more information, visit Cerity Partners’ website.
Megan E. Stamm, Christopher S. Connell, Dean V. Krishna, Linsay Sobers, Melanie L. Ronen, David P. Fitzgibbon, Katrina L. Berishaj, Avery Marz and Fabio Battaglia
Stradley Ronon Represented TradePMR in Acquisition by Robinhood
Stradley Ronon represented TradePMR, a custodial and portfolio management platform for Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), in an approximately $300 million acquisition by Robinhood Markets, Inc., which closed on February 26, 2025. TradePMR has over 25 years in the industry, and the acquisition will accelerate Robinhood’s delivery of investment advisory capabilities to customers by bringing in a scaled RIA custodial platform with approximately 350 firms and more than $40B in assets under administration.
Christopher S. Connell, Dean V. Krishna, Alycia M. Vivona, Melanie L. Ronen, Katrina L. Berishaj, Jason R. Jones, Megan E. Stamm, Linsay Sobers, Richard E. Peterson and Kate PfingstenStradley Ronon Advises Wedderspoon in Acquisition by Masthead
Stradley Ronon represented Wedderspoon Organic Group, the largest seller of New Zealand-sourced and manufactured manuka honey products in North America, in its acquisition by New Zealand-based investment firm Masthead Ltd. Masthead plans to consolidate its consumer brand portfolio into a new holding company, Florenz.
Lori S. Smith, Joshua G. Galante, Megan E. Stamm, Randy M. Friedberg, Katrina L. Berishaj, Peter Bogdasarian, Dean V. Krishna and Linsay Sobers
Stradley Ronon Advises Wealth Legacy Institute in Merger with Cerity Partners
Stradley Ronon represented Denver-based Wealth Legacy Institute, a financial planning and investment management firm, in its merger with Cerity Partners, a financial and wealth advisory firm serving high-net-worth individuals and their families and nonprofit organizations and foundations throughout the United States.
Katrina L. Berishaj, Christopher S. Connell, David P. Fitzgibbon, Dean V. Krishna, Linsay Sobers and Megan E. StammStradley Ronon Advises CenterSquare in Investment in Aligned Data Centers
Stradley Ronon represented CenterSquare Investment Management, a global real estate investment manager, in connection with an equity investment in Aligned Data Centers, a fast-growing data center infrastructure technology company offering colocation and build-to-scale data center solutions. The investment, facilitated through CenterSquare’s strategic partnership with Macquarie Asset Management, will support Aligned’s expanding portfolio.
David H. Joseph, Kevin P. Kundra, Dean V. Krishna, Katrina L. Berishaj and Alexandra L. RiceStradley Ronon Represents Clincierge in Acquisition by Greenphire
Stradley Ronon advised Clincierge, a provider of concierge travel and logistics support for patients participating in clinical trials, in its acquisition by Greenphire, an innovator in software solutions for streamlining clinical trials backed by private equity firm Thoma Bravo, one of the largest software investors in the world. The combination will allow the firms to better support patient care by utilizing cutting-edge technologies.
Steven A. Scolari, Joshua G. Galante, Katrina L. Berishaj, Megan E. Stamm, Linsay Sobers and Kate PfingstenStradley Ronon Advises Mini Melts in Investment by Altamont Capital Partners
A cross-practice team of Stradley Ronon lawyers represented Mini Melts USA, a producer and distributor of novelty ice cream products headquartered in the Philadelphia area, in the acquisition of a controlling interest by Altamont Capital Partners. Altamont Capital is a Palo Alto, California-based private investment firm with more than $4 billion in assets under management.
Altamont Capital partnered with Mini Melts to provide growth capital and support an expansion of its distribution footprint and manufacturing capabilities. Mini Melts’ CEO and founder will remain in his role and as a major investor alongside Altamont Capital and the company’s existing shareholders.
For more information on the deal, read this Wall Street Journal article. (Subscription required.)
William T. Mandia, Steven A. Scolari, Thomas O. Ix, Megan E. Stamm, Joshua G. Galante, Andrew S. Levine, Katrina L. Berishaj and Stephanie E. Sanderson-BraemStradley Ronon Represents Team Epiphany in Acquisition by Stagwell
Stradley Ronon advised Team Epiphany, a consumer marketing agency based in New York City, in its acquisition by Stagwell, a digital-first global marketing network. Founded in 2004, Team Epiphany is a BIPOC-owned-and-operated firm that specializes in cultural relevance, experiential marketing and influencer integration. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Team Epiphany will join Stagwell’s Constellation network, a collective of best-in-class marketing agencies.
Randy M. Friedberg, Lori S. Smith, Joshua G. Galante, Jeremy M. Miller, Linsay Sobers, Katrina L. Berishaj and Peter BogdasarianPronto Repairs Acquired by Tech24
Stradley Ronon represented Pronto Repairs, Inc. in an acquisition by Tech24, a portfolio company of HCI Equity Partners. Pronto Repairs offers repair, maintenance and installation services for foodservice and commercial HVAC equipment to hospitals and medical centers in the New York City area. Tech24 is a national industry leader in commercial foodservice equipment repair and maintenance. The acquisition allows Tech24 to strengthen its presence both in the New York City metropolitan area and in the healthcare segment.
Katrina L. Berishaj, David P. Fitzgibbon, Jeremy M. Miller, Steven A. Scolari and Linsay SobersPacific Asset Management Acquired by Aristotle
Stradley Ronon represented Pacific Life Insurance Company with the sale of its third‐party credit asset management firm, Pacific Asset Management, LLC, which manages over $20 billion in assets, to Aristotle Capital Management, LLC. The transaction creates Aristotle Pacific Capital, LLC (Aristotle Pacific).
Katrina L. Berishaj, Peter Bogdasarian, Philip J. Foret, Thomas L. Hanley, Jason R. Jones, Dean V. Krishna, Mena Larmour, Jeremy M. Miller, Michael W. Mundt, Lawrence P. Stadulis and Megan E. StammBerkshire Asset Management Sells Minority Stake to iM Global Partner
Stradley Ronon represented Berkshire Asset Management (BAM), a Wilkes-Barre, PA-based RIA with $3.96 billion in AUM that specializes in dividend-focused equity portfolios in the sale of a minority stake to iM Global Partner, a leading global asset management network. BAM will join iM Global Partner’s extensive global asset management family and distribution network.
Dean V. Krishna, David W. Grim, Jeremy M. Miller, Katrina L. Berishaj, Peter Bogdasarian and Philip J. ForetThomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Restructures Master Feeder Hedge Fund
Stradley Ronon represented Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, a boutique alternative investment firm focused exclusively on the closed-end fund market, with restructuring a master-feeder hedge fund to add provisions for ERISA investors.
Katrina L. BerishajPetabyte Technology Inc. Acquired by Chewy Inc.
Stradley Ronon represented Petabyte Technology Inc., a provider of cloud-based technology solutions to the veterinary sector, in a $43.4 million acquisition by Chewy, Inc., an online provider of pet food and treats, pet supplies, pet medications and other pet-health products and services. The acquisition is expected to further strengthen Chewy’s pet healthcare product and service offerings.
Lori S. Smith, Joshua G. Galante, Jeremy M. Miller, Peter Bogdasarian, Randy M. Friedberg, Linsay Sobers and Katrina L. BerishajUnited Packaging Acquired by Envoy Solutions
Stradley Ronon represented Bristol, PA-based United Packaging, a leading distributor of high-quality packaging, shipping, safety and janitorial supplies in its acquisition by Envoy Solutions. Envoy Solutions is a specialized distributor and solution provider serving the U.S. market through regional distributors of packaging, facility care and foodservice supplies. The acquisition allows United Packaging access to new world-class products and services while being part of a growing national platform.
Thomas O. Ix, Dean V. Krishna, Jonathan F. Bloom and Katrina L. Berishaj
