Ashlee Sawyer Gilson
Counsel Corporate & Finance
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Ashlee Sawyer Gilson advises clients on both buy-side and sell-side deals and on representations and warranties insurance in deals. Additionally, Ashlee frequently assists clients with corporate governance matters.
Ashlee counsels clients worldwide in a diverse range of industries with a focus on identifying business-oriented solutions for her clients. She identifies and explains risks while working together with her clients to reach practical solutions that advance client goals. Her practice focuses on the aerospace and defense; government services; automotive; and technology, media, and telecommunications industries.
Ashlee serves as an internal firm resource with respect to representations and warranties insurance, frequently assisting on matters across the firm for the purpose of guiding clients through the insurance process, including reviewing quotes received from potential insurers, shepherding the underwriting process, negotiating policies and final policy issuance.
Ashlee leverages her experience clerking for the Hon. Myron T. Steele of the Delaware Supreme Court and serving as a judicial intern for the Hon. Kevin R. Huennekens of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to add valuable insight regarding how a court might view today's deal in the future and, when problems arise, working hand in hand with litigators to reach resolution. During law school at the University of Virginia, Ashlee served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Virginia Tax Review and an Editorial Board member of the Virginia Law Review, honing her drafting and organizational skills, which she now uses to manage deal teams of subject-matter and country-specific professionals in complex cross-border transactions.
Ashlee co-leads our DC-area Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) and is a member of the Northern Virginia recruiting and summer associate committees. She enjoys mentoring junior associates as they develop through their time at the firm.
Representative experience
Advised IBM on the acquisition of Manta Software, Inc., a global provider of data lineage services that allow enterprises to better understand their data and its origin sources.
Advised MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, in the acquisition of the federal division of Attain, LLC for US$430m.
Advised KBR, Inc., on its US$800m acquisition of Centauri, LLC, a provider of high-end space, directed energy, and other advanced technologies, from Arlington Capital Partners.
Advised HC2 Holdings, Inc. on the US$250m sale of Global Marine Group, an offshore engineering services provider of which HC2 indirectly owned approx. 73%, to J.F. Lehman & Co.
Advised Ford Motor Company on Volkswagen AG’s US$2.6bn investment into Ford’s autonomous vehicle platform company, Argo AI.
Advised DLH Holdings, a health care services contractor, on its US$70m acquisition of Social & Scientific Systems, a public health research organization.
Advised KBR, Inc., a global technology, engineering, procurement, and construction company, in its US$600m acquisition of Wyle Inc., a specialized government services provider.
Acquisition by KBR, Inc. of Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc., a professional, technical, and mission support service provider to U.S. government agencies, from Honeywell International Inc.
Advised 21st Century Fox in the formation of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between Fox and The National Geographic Society.
Advised MAXIMUS (NYSE: MMS) in its US$300m purchase of Acentia, a technology and management solution-provider to government and health agencies.
Advised Affinia Group in the separate sales of its global chassis and filtration businesses for total enterprise value of approximately US$1.5bn.
Advised broadcasters, including Fox Television Stations and Home Shopping Network, in television station acquisitions and dispositions.
Advised a senior housing company and its affiliates in financing and loan modification transactions and the disposition of its U.S. portfolio.
Advised a private equity portfolio company in general corporate matters and a strategic acquisition of a housewares manufacturer.
Advised a power generation company in the sale of its interests in a hydroelectric facility.
Advised a private equity fund in connection with the acquisition of a manufacturer and marketer of outdoor products and housewares.
Credentials
- J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, Order of the Coif, 2012
- B.A., The University of Chicago, Phi Beta Kappa, Dean's List, 2008
- Virginia
- District of Columbia
- Supreme Court of Virginia
- Member, Business Law Section, American Bar Association
- Member, Fairfax Bar Association
- Member, Virginia Bar Association
- Member, Virginia State Bar