Chris Hewitt is a businessman's lawyer.
A corporate attorney with an M.B.A, Chris serves as a strategic advisor to the boards of directors and management of public and sophisticated private companies on mergers and acquisitions, takeover preparedness and defense, corporate governance, corporate counseling and SEC compliance. In short, Chris helps clients find solutions and avoid business problems.
Business Transactions. Chris has the business acumen to assist clients not only in structuring, negotiating, and closing sophisticated business transactions, but also in strategically analyzing and understanding how the transaction relates to the client’s business. Chris began his career in the New York office of Skadden Arps and came to Tucker Ellis from Jones Day, where he was partner for nine years in the M&A practice group. As a result, Chris brings a "Big Law" sophistication to each matter, while crafting cost-effective solutions with Midwestern practicality. He understands that negotiating a transaction is not about keeping score on deal points won or lost or taking polarizing positions. Chris practices the art of "getting to yes" negotiating, which means not only effectively articulating the client’s interests in a transaction and making sure the documentation protects those interests, but also resolving, in a common-sense fashion, the myriad, idiosyncratic issues that often arise in transactions.
As illustrated below in his representative transactions, Chris has negotiated numerous high-profile, multibillion-dollar acquisitions and divestitures, as well as many smaller deals, and has worked on transaction financing, including debt and equity offerings. He works with clients in industries such as energy, minerals and mining, manufacturing, retailing, media and technology, to name a few.
Corporate Governance and Compliance. Now more than ever, boards of directors need the pragmatic advice of trusted lawyers like Chris who understand the issues directors face. Chris has extensive boardroom experience advising directors on the issues they confront in today’s dynamic corporate governance environment—experience that enables him to cut through the clutter and assist directors in making informed decisions.
In addition, Chris has successfully defended large and small public companies in contests for corporate control, including both hostile takeovers and proxy contests, and has assisted numerous companies in responding to shareholder proposals. He has also assisted engaged shareholders in establishing a dialogue with the board and management of struggling public companies.
Chris is frequently sought after to speak on corporate governance, M&A and securities laws matters, and has published several articles on these topics. He is also co-editor of the firm’s blog on corporate law, Lingua Negoti, which means “the language of business.”
Chris is ranked in Chambers USA 2018 in the area of Corporate/M&A (Ohio). Sources remark on his "commercial awareness, deep legal knowledge and remarkable negotiating skills," and clients "value his ability to "explain complex legalities in a simple way."
Chris comes from a large family that includes two brothers and five sisters, and is a triplet with two of his sisters. He and his wife are the proud parents of three children. Chris is also a fitness nut, working out every morning before work.