Eric A. Vendt

Eric A. Vendt

PARTNER
FALLS CHURCH
T: 703.280.9261
F: 703.280.8940

WASHINGTON
T: 202.659.6800

Mr. Vendt is an experienced advisor to emerging growth and middle-market companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs.  His practice covers a broad range of corporate matters, including formation, governance, capital raising, venture capital, private equity and traditional corporate financing, mergers and acquisitions, and succession planning.  As outside general counsel, Mr. Vendt advises on a wide range of commercial contract issues related to subcontractor, licensing, and distribution & supply agreements. 

Drawing on corporate, tax and estate-planning strategies, he regularly represents business owners in planning and executing succession plans through tax-efficient family transfers, sales to key management or other insiders, and M&A transactions.  As a tax advisor, Mr. Vendt has significant experience with pass-through entities such as S corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint venture structures; tax-efficient transfers of business interests and other property; investments in private companies; and equity compensation arrangements for key employees.

He is a frequent lecturer on topics related to business succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and partnership and corporate taxation.

RECOGNITIONS

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2017–Present)
 

Memberships & Activities

  • Member: Small Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum (SECAF) Board of Directors 
  • Member: American Bar Association, Member, Business Law Section, Middle Market and Small Business Committee; Private Equity and Venture Capital Committee
  • Member: PangeaNet Board
  • Vice Chair: Middle Market and Small Business Committee of the Business Law Section of ABA (2014 - 2017)
  • Member: Board of Directors, Dominion Christian School (2006 - 2011)
  • Membership Committee Member: Small Emerging Construction Advisory Forum (2018)
  • Certified Public Accountant: Maryland, 1992 (Inactive)
  • Elder: Fourth Presbyterian Church
  • Best Lawyers Designation

Business and Corporate, Private Equity and M&A

Mr. Vendt advises clients on mergers, acquisitions, financings, and equity sales and purchases in a wide range of sectors, with transactions ranging in value from a few million to more than $250MM. His clients have included government contractors, technology companies, construction companies, nursing home facilities, community hospitals, nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs.  His experience includes representation of:
  • The owner of a government contractor providing data center operations and management, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity and IT strategic planning in equity sale valued in excess of $10MM.
  • A construction client in connection with an $11MM acquisition of crane rental company.
  • An entrepreneur in connection with the acquisition and financing of a cloud computing and data infrastructure technology company from a publicly traded business and technology service company.
  • The owner of a nursing home facility in its sale to a large regional northeastern healthcare and real estate firm specializing in post-acute care and senior living sectors.  
  • A community hospital in a merger with a large-scale health care provider system.
  • A large state government contractor engaged in IT solutions for Medicare/Medicaid systems in a $250MM sale to a private equity buyer. 
  • A large federal government contractor engaged in the intelligence and defense space in a $180MM sale to a private equity buyer. 
  • An environmental nonprofit association in the acquisition of a Canadian company with mission oriented technology.
  • The owners of an enterprise cloud computing and data infrastructure technology company in a sale to a large, private-equity financed IT and infrastructure technology company in an equity transaction valued at $28.5MM.
  • The owner of a business providing space-outfitting services to healthcare and government clients in an $8MM sale to a tribal owned buyer. 
  • A 149-bed community nonprofit hospital in a sale to a large regional nonprofit healthcare provider in a transaction involving capital commitments by the acquirer of approximately $100MM.
  • Two after-hours pediatric and adult urgent medical care facilities in a sale to a community hospital
 

Private Capital

Mr. Vendt is experienced representing venture funds, family offices, emerging growth companies, nonprofit organizations and others in connection with a wide array of investments and financings.  Representative clients include:
  • A European venture capital fund in connection with seed investments in U.S. start-up companies. 
  • A venture capital fund in connection with Series A investment in a scientific instrumentation company.
  • A family office in connection with numerous private company minority investments.
  • An emerging growth consumer products company in connection with two rounds of venture capital financing.
  • A nonprofit in a private investment in a technology company in order to promote music education in furtherance of its charitable purpose.
  • A venture debt fund in numerous investments in bio medical start-up entities
 

Tax

Mr. Vendt is an experienced tax advisor, including
  • On entity and joint venture structures, operational and transactional planning, company restructurings, equity issuances and exit strategies.
  • To business owners and wealthy individuals in connection with structuring tax-efficient transfers of business interests and other property.
  • On taxation of pass-through entities such as S corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies.
  • On taxation of equity compensation arrangements for key employees, including option, units, phantom stock and "profits" interests in both the corporate and LLC context.
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

Succession Planning - National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) 2023 Central and Southern Region Meeting (2023)

GovCon M&A: How to Create Value in an Uncertain Economy - GovConnects’ Scale-Up Series, Howard County Chamber of Commerce (2020)

Start Smart: Advising Start-Ups on Formation and Early-Stage Organizational Issues – ABA Business Law Spring Meeting (2019)

2018 Tax Reform Update (2018)

ABA Private Company Deal Point Study – Presentation to PANGEA European Corporate Attorneys – Bucharest, Romania (2018)

Anatomy of a Middle Market Capital Raise – ABA Spring Meeting (2015)

Business Divorce From Prenup to Breakup – ABA Annual Meeting (2013)

Advanced Estate Planning and Business Succession Planning Techniques – Greater Washington Society of CPAs (2012)

You Can’t Fly Under the Radar: Why Small and Mid-Sized Companies Need to Worry about Antitrust and Consumer Protection Laws – ABA Fall Meeting (2011)

Business Succession Planning and Estate Planning for the Family Vacation Home – National Business Institute (2011)

Succession Planning & Retirement Plans For Business: Exit Strategies and other Risk Considerations (2010)

Government Contracting M&A: 2009 in Review and Trends Going Forward (2009)

Tax & Succession Planning - Alexandria Dental Society (2009)

ARTICLES

Client Alert: SBA Payment Relief for All Current and New 7(a), 504 and Microloans Disbursed Prior to September 27 

While many small businesses are in the throes of considering whether to take or return disbursements as part of their Paycheck Protection Program loans, the SBA has announced guidance on another portion of relief granted by the CARES Act.  As part of its coronavirus debt relief efforts, the SBA will make payments of  principal, interest, and any associated fees that borrowers owe on all current 7(a), 504, and Microloans in regular servicing status for six months.  This also includes any new 7(a), 504, and Microloans that are disbursed prior to September 27, 2020.  However, this relief does not apply to Paycheck Protection Program loans or Economic Injury Disaster loans.

Client Alert: Addressing Contract Performance Impacted by the Coronavirus under District of Columbia Law

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide-ranging impact on all types of businesses operating in the District of Columbia.  Some businesses have had to shut down their operations because employees have contracted the coronavirus.  Other businesses have had to cease operations because government orders have required them to close as part of the DC government’s efforts to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.  And a few businesses have had to close simply because customer demand has vanished due to any number of a combination of factors including fear, diminishing customer disposable income and one or more of the government orders described above.

IRS Releases Anticipated Guidance for 2012 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program; Announces New Compliance Procedures for Low-Risk U.S. Citizens Residing Abroad

In a continued effort to combat offshore tax evasion and increase international compliance, on June 26, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service  provided updated guidance to the 2012 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (the “2012 OVDP”), and announced that new compliance procedures will be available for certain non-resident taxpayers effective September 1, 2012


Client Alert: June 30 Deadline for Foreign Bank Account Reporting (FBAR) Requirements

This is a reminder that U.S. taxpayers with a financial interest over foreign financial accounts exceeding $10,000 in the aggregate at any point during the 2010 tax year must file a Form TD F 90-22.1 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by June 30, 2011. The form must be received by the IRS by such date rather than postmarked by such date. The IRS has recently expanded the group of persons subject to the filing requirement and has also provided a new opportunity for U.S. taxpayers to file FBARs for prior years without incurring penalties.


Client Alert: Corporate Diligence - Things to Consider During Troubling Times

In an era of increasing litigation, keeping accurate, detailed corporate minutes is critical.  In addition to their standard function of recording and reflecting decisions made by company management and directors and the deliberation of those decisions, corporate minutes can help establish that company directors have met their fiduciary obligations and have executed a sound decision-making process.  Conversely, poor minute keeping can result in protracted litigation to determine the care that went into a board's decision to act.  It is vital for a company to keep an accurate, precise and complete record of director decision-making and oversight.  Furthermore, the failure to maintain such corporate formalities could result in a piercing of the corporate veil action and allow claimants to reach the assets of a company's shareholders. Our Corporate attorneys can assist you in updating your company's books and records. 


NEWS

A Record 87 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024, Ten Selected as “Ones to Watch”

87 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 (copyright 2023 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). New practice areas of recognition include CleanTech Law and Entertainment and Sports Law. The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the Best Lawyers website, at bestlawfirms.com.

73 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2023, Six Selected as “Lawyer of the Year”

73 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 (copyright 2022 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

75 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2022, Eight Named “Ones to Watch”

A record 75 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 (copyright 2021 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

71 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2021, Six Named “Lawyer of the Year”

A record 71 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021 (copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

57 WTP Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2019, Four Named "Lawyer of the Year"

57 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019 (copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site.

59 WTP Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2018, Two Named "Lawyer of the Year"

59 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018 (copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

In addition, two lawyers were selected as “Lawyer of the Year” for their particular areas of practice.


59 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2017, Eight Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Fifty-nine lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017 (copyright 2016 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices.

In addition, eight lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” for their particular areas of practice. 


WTP to Cohost Panel Discussion

Buying or selling a government contracting or tech business? Learn how to navigate today's market.

Panelists:
Ted Lauer, Access National Bank; Eric Vendt, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston; Mitchell Martin, Merrill Advisory Group

Thursday, October 2, 2008 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP
3190 Fairview Park Dr, Ste 300, Falls Church, VA
Space is limited. Kindly RSVP to aarcadipane@wtplaw.com.


Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Increases Its Number of Falls Church Attorneys and Expands Its Northern Virginia Location

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP (WTP) has expanded its Falls Church office - by increasing the number of attorneys and enlarging its office space. Glenn R. Bonard, Eileen Morgan Johnson, Thomas Mugavero, Christy Richardson, and Andrew J. Terrell have joined Raymond J. Diaz, Michael Gartner, Christopher A. Jones, Katherine McCarthy, Edward J. O'Connell, and Eric A. Vendt in WTP's offices at 3190 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 300, Falls Church, VA 22042.


Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Elects Seven New Partners

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston L.L.P. is pleased to announce that seven attorneys have been elected partners. The firm congratulates Edward U. Lee III, Dana O. Lynch, Cameron J. MacDonald, Raymond L. Marshall, Aryeh E. Stein, Ilana Subar, and Eric A. Vendt.