Skip to Main Content
Overview

Clients rely on Brent to handle complex corporate and financing transactions in the midst of government regulations.

Brent has nearly a quarter century of experience assisting clients in such highly regulated industries as cannabis, renewable energy, and government contracts. A highly qualified transactional attorney, he has the skills to ensure a deal closes at maximum value to the client—as well as the legal knowledge to help clients remain in compliance with industry regulations throughout a merger, acquisition, divestiture, joint venture, or financing deal. Over the course of his career, Brent has overseen transactions with an aggregate deal value of more than $20 billion.

Brent first cut his teeth on transactions in the energy world, representing developers and contractors as they acquired financing. He continues to practice extensively in the sector, with a focus on solar projects. Since the legalization of cannabis in Maryland, he has also devoted a significant portion of his practice to assisting cannabis companies with purchases, sales, restructurings, and financing, as well as to representation of the banks and other lenders supporting the industry. With a practice that has grown as the industry has matured, Brent has represented lenders in placing more than $100 million in loans to local, single state, and multi-state cannabis cultivators, distributors, and dispensaries. He also serves as a key member of the firm’s Ag Finance practice group, which represents lenders and borrowers at all phases of ag finance transactions.

In addition to his experience with energy and cannabis clients, Brent is also highly knowledgeable about best practices involved in corporate transactions for government contractors. He has worked with consulting, defense, and national security contractors and is extensively familiar with various clearance levels for both individuals and locations. Brent routinely assists government contractors through mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and financing transactions, simultaneously providing counsel on the implications of the transaction for existing and future contracts as well as for security clearances.

After more than two decades handling transactions for highly regulated industries, Brent knows his field inside and out. He thrives on the intricacy of the deals and the government regulations involved, and he has a gift for making complex matters straightforward and simple for clients to understand. Brent’s goal is to assist clients in closing the transactions necessary to move their businesses forward, while helping them make educated decisions about the risks and benefits inherent in their industries. 

Industry

Services

Education

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
  • B.A., Missouri State University
    • Accounting

Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
Experience

Cannabis

  • Represented lenders in placing over $100 million of loans to local, single state, and multi-state cannabis cultivators, distributors and dispensaries.
  • Represented a Maryland cannabis company in connection with its restructuring and sale to a public multistate operator.

Government Contractors

  • Represented many government contractors in connection with their sales to private equity firms or strategic purchasers.

Energy/Project Finance

  • Represented co-developers in the development and approximately $1.5 billion financing of a new 540MW combined cycle natural gas fired electric generation facility to be built by Astoria Energy II in NYC – named 2009 Americas Power Deal of the Year by Project Finance International.
  • Represented one of the world's largest energy investors in the acquisition of a more than $4 billion portfolio of project finance loans.
  • Represented major creditors in the financial restructuring of several European oil and gas companies.

Real Estate

  • Represented several Washington, D.C. real estate development firms in the formation of real estate funds, REITs, loans and property acquisition.
Outside the Office

Brent spends most of his free time with his wife and two kids, a daughter and son in elementary school. The family particularly enjoy time outdoors and visits to the beach.

When he has a moment to himself, Brent is a huge fan of games and has lately enjoyed playing Civilization VI and collecting Pokémon cards with his kids.