Blank Rome LLP announced that Eric Simonson has joined the firm as a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity group. Simonson has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities, corporate finance, technology transactions, general business and corporate law. He is based in the firm’s New York office.

“Eric brings significant corporate experience to Blank Rome and we are pleased that he has joined the firm,” said Alan J. Hoffman, co-chairman and managing partner. “Eric’s experience will be a great complement to our strong national corporate team and our expanding international practice.”

Simonson joins Blank Rome from K&L Gates, where he was a partner in the Corporate practice and split his time between the New York and Seattle, Washington offices. He has extensive experience in international acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, “going private” transactions, complex joint ventures, partnerships, corporate restructurings, the acquisition of troubled companies and distressed assets, and international securities offerings. He represents a broad range of clients, from small privately held companies to large public companies as well as financial investors and investment banking firms in mergers and acquisitions transactions. Simonson has represented a number of Chinese and other East Asian companies in their efforts to access U.S. capital markets and comply with U.S. securities law. In addition, Simonson also has experience with internal corporate investigations and corporate governance matters; and capital-raising activities, including early stage venture capital financings, and complex commercial arrangements.

Simonson is admitted to practice in New York and Washington. He earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the University of Chicago Law School; and his Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Colgate University. He is a frequent lecturer on M&A, distressed investing, private equity, technology and media-related topics at programs run by organizations, including Practising Law Institute, Thomson Media, the Conference Board and Interlaw.