John C. Ethridge, Jr.

John Ethridge has more than 35 years of experience advising clients with respect to a wide variety of business transactions. These include acquisitions and divestitures involving both publicly- and privately-held businesses, joint ventures, venture capital, private equity, lease financing, commercial lending, public offerings, and private placements of debt and equity securities and technology licensing.

In addition to his transaction-based practice, John is engaged in a general corporate law practice in which he advises manufacturers, distributors, retailers, service providers, technology companies, healthcare providers, and other clients with respect to the organization and formation of business entities, corporate governance, financing arrangements, and the negotiation and preparation of agreements and contracts relating to those businesses including employment agreements, shareholder agreements, licensing agreements, and supply and distribution agreements.

Current clients include businesses engaged in durable goods manufacturing, retail and wholesale distribution, medical device manufacturing and distribution, timber management, logistics software development and distribution, healthcare practice management software development and distribution, healthcare practice management, medical services delivery (technical and clinical), healthcare billing and collection, dental and medical practice management, medical service networks, heavy equipment distribution, and financing and messaging communication services.

John is actively involved in leadership roles with a number of educational, religious, and civic organizations, including service on the Board of Directors of Wesley Woods Senior Living (chairman), the Zoo Atlanta Leadership Council, the Board of Directors of Start with One International (clean water), and the Candler School of Theology Committee of 100. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Murphy-Harpst Children’s Center, the Emory Law School Advisory Board, and the University of Georgia Board of Visitors, and is a former member of the Southwest District Committee on Ordination of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. John previously served on SGR's Executive Committee.

While at Emory University School of Law, John was elected to the Order of the Coif and served on the Board of Editors of the Emory Law Journal.

John's Practice

Representative Matters

• Extensive experience representing clients ranging from small businesses to large publicly traded companies on corporate, operational, transactional, and financing matters.
• Representation of a timber management organization including in connection with the management buyout of the largest shareholder and planning for generational changes of control.
• Representation of management in connection with the purchase of a medical device manufacturer with private equity support. Continuing representation through subsequent sale of the company.
• Representation of a small cap medical technology company including in the transaction through which it became a public company.
• Representation of a company which provides care management, quality oversight, and clinical assessment services in all 50 states (including partnering with Medicare, 45 state Medicaid agencies and 25 federal agencies) in connection with acquisitions and operational matters.
• General representation of an international company engaged in the development and distribution of hardware and software technology to educational institutions.
• Representation of multi-location single specialty medical care providers in connection with sales to private equity groups, including dental practices, radiation therapy practices, and pain management clinics.
• Representation of medical care providers in connection with the acquisition of additional locations and assets.
• Representation of healthcare management companies in connection with the acquisition of medical and dental practice assets and practice management arrangements.
• Representation of a multi-location national heavy truck dealer in connection with its sale to a family office.
• Representation of an integrated hardware and software company operating in the public safety logistics and safety space from formation through initial capital raise, private equity investments and sale to a private equity group.
• Representation of a manufacturing process automation company in connection with the sale of the business to a strategic buyer.
• Representation of a family member in connection with a long running dispute with other family members that involved mediations, negotiations and an agreed upon sale of the business to an unrelated party.
• Representation of a startup logistics software company in connection with the organization of the company and initial and seed funding.
• Representation of an IT hardware distributor specializing in end-of-life assets and parts in connection with its general operational and financing needs and ultimate sale to a private equity group.
• Representation of a revenue cycle management company providing software and services to first responders in connection with its acquisition and roll up of companies and subsequent sale to a large private equity group.
• Representation of the non-family executor of a large estate in connection with disputes with various family members over the operation and disposition of various business assets.
• Represent of private equity groups in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio companies.
• Representation of sponsors in connection with funds formation projects including in the timber management industry.
• Representation of management rollover investors in connection with the purchase or repurchase of a business.
• Representation of an internal family-owned conglomerate in connection with its US operations including establishment of manufacturing facilities and distribution of generic pharmaceutical products.
• Representation of an international family-owned manufacturing business in connection with the construction and operation of US manufacturing facilities used to produce hard flooring surfaces.
• Representation of a senior living provider with multiple locations in connection with operational matters and financings.