TAMPA, Fla. — Corporate law attorney Gregory C. Yadley, from the full-service business law firm Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick, LLP, recently represented Tampa’s Cigar City Brewing in the company’s acquisition by Colorado-based brewery Oskar Blues.
Yadley, who specializes in business mergers and acquisitions, said the deal to purchase the craft brewery came together quickly.
“The acquisition gives Cigar City great capital support for expansion,” Yadley said. “It’s the largest brewery in Florida, and now it has the opportunity to capitalize on and expand from its very strong platform.”
Oskar Blues is owned by Fireman Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm. Cigar City was founded by Joey Redner in 2009.
“This is Joey Redner’s first step into the world of mergers and acquisitions, and he did it in a big way,” Yadley said. “People who have been successful in the craft beer space are entrepreneurs, but they’re also people with personality and individuality. They care about their team, their culture and building loyalty. They thrive on the energy that exists in the world of craft beer.”
“There’s a lot of consolidation in the brewing world, particularly among craft breweries,” Yadley said. “There are other companies that will have the opportunity to sell or partner up, and Shumaker plans to be active in that space.”
Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick attorneys have represented several other craft brewers in the region, including Brew Bus Brewing, Inc. and 3 Daughters Brewing.
About Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP is a full-service business law firm with more than 245 lawyers, 60 paralegals and 500 employees in five offices: Toledo and Columbus, Ohio; Tampa and Sarasota, Fla.; and Charlotte, N.C. In each of its markets, Shumaker is the premier provider of quality legal services to individuals, small businesses, healthcare providers, nonprofits and Fortune 500 and international corporations. Whether it's commitment to clients or work in the community, involvement lies at the core of all Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick’s initiatives.
About Gregory C. Yadley
Gregory C. Yadley represents business entities of all sizes, including closely held and family businesses and large and small public companies. He represents these clients in financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiations and disputes, strategic planning, legal compliance and general corporate matters. Yadley is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, a co-editor of The Florida Bar “Florida Corporate Practice Manual” and co-director of the annual Federal Securities Institute. He serves as the chairman of the American Bar Association's Middle Market and Small Business Committee, and is on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies.