Yu

Jeongseok Jay Yu

Partner
Co-Chair, Private Equity Transactions Practice Group
Boston, New York

I go the extra mile to achieve excellence without sacrificing execution efficiency. I tackle clients’ problems with passion and grit, and offer practical advice.

Jeongseok Jay Yu focuses on private equity and public and private companies, in connection with domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance matters, minority investment, divestitures, joint ventures, restructuring, and other corporate matters across a variety of sectors. His clients include private equity and venture funds, their portfolio companies, and strategic buyers and sellers in public and private acquisitions.

Jay’s private equity work has included leveraged buyouts and minority investments in the U.S. and other jurisdictions, on behalf of private equity firms such as Blackstone, KKR, Blue Wolf Capital Partners, Entrepreneurial Equity Partners, Riverside Partners, Vista Equity Partners and many others.

Jay has worked on financings and strategic transactions on behalf of companies, venture and growth equity funds in a number of industries including biotechnology, software, consumer, energy and healthcare. He draws from that experience to offer timely, practical and informed perspective on the guidance he provides his emerging company client base. 

Jay was born in South Korea and is native in Korean, and is fluent in Japanese. 
 

Education

  • Harvard Law School, J.D, 2012
  • Yale University, B.A. in Economics and Psychology, with distinction in Psychology, cum laude, 2006 
    • Richard U. Light Scholar

Bar and Court Admissions

BAR ADMISSIONS
  • Massachusetts
  • New York

Languages

  • Korean
  • Japanese

Experience

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS TRANSACTIONS
  • Blue Wolf Capital Partners, LLC in connection with several matters, including:
    • with the acquisition of CIVCO Radiotherapy, a global leader of radiotherapy patient positioning and immobilization equipment*
    • with its acquisition of RHA Health Services, a leading provider of community-based health services focused on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs and substance use challenges*
  • Entrepreneurial Equity Partners in connection with several matters, including:
    • its acquisition of Salm Partners, the largest contract manufacturer of fully cooked sausages and premium hot dogs in the United States*
    • its acquisition of Organic Milling Inc., a leading contract manufacturer of cereal, granola, snacks, and ingredients for leading brands and private label customers*
  • Riverside Partners in connection with its acquisitions of Convergence Northwest and Grade A Student Inc., two leading providers of managed IT and cybersecurity services based in Portland, Oregon and Ottawa, Canada, respectively*
  • Lincolnshire Management portfolio company Dalbo Holdings, a service provider in the oil and gas industry, in connection with the acquisition of Blazer Water Transfer, a provider of water management solutions for hydraulic fracturing*
  • Achieve Partners Management in its acquisition of Optimum Healthcare IT, a provider of professional healthcare IT consulting and staffing services*
  • Quickbase, Inc. (a portfolio company of Vista Equity Partners) on its acquisition of CloudPipes, a UK and Bulgarian provider of cloud-based integration and automation platforms*
  • SJL Partners, KCC and Wonik in connection with the matters relating to their US$3.1 billion acquisition of MPM Holdings (Momentive), a leading global specialty chemicals and materials company based in Waterford, NY, including matters relating to post-closing restructuring.*
  • Hanwha Systems in a number of matters, including:
    • its strategic investment in Kymeta Corporation, a U.S.-based developer of satellite communication systems*
    • its acquisition of the businesses and assets of Phasor Solutions Limited, a U.K.-based developer of satellite communications antenna system
  • Undisclosed Pharmaceutical Company based in Massachusetts in connection with its proposed acquisition of certain IP assets in the United States* 
  • Undisclosed Entertainment Company based in South Korea in connection with its proposed acquisition of an agency company in the United States* 
  • Undisclosed Singaporean Pharmaceutical company in connection with its proposed acquisition of a company based in California* 
  • Undisclosed private equity client in connection with its proposed acquisition of a retailer chain in Alaska*
  • Undisclosed private equity client in connection with its Dental Services Organization-related matters* 
  • Undisclosed multifamily office in connection with its proposed transactions involving fiber-optic cable linking Europe, the Gulf and other areas* 
  • Undisclosed Visual Effects Studio in connection with its contemplated sale process* 
  • Convergence Networks / Grade A (portfolio companies of Riverside Partners) in connection with certain add-on acquisitions in the United States*
  • Centre Partners in connection with its sale of Stonewall Kitchen, a leading manufacturer of premium branded specialty food and gift products, including jams, olive oils, bottled sauces, crackers and pancake mixes*
  • Crestview Partners in connection with the acquisition of Emerald EMS, an electronics manufacturing services provider specializing in high-mix, low-volume engineering, design, prototyping, testing, assembly and lifecycle support services for blue-chip original equipment manufacturers across a range of end markets*
  • KKR in connection with acquisition of Epicor Software Corporation*
  • Blackstone Real Estate Partners VIII L.P. in connection with its joint venture transaction with Hilton Grand Vacations to purchase Elara, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club*
  • Snow Phipps Group in connection with acquisition of BlackHawk Industrial Distribution, Inc.*
  • New Mountain Capital in connection with its acquisition of the majority ownership position in One Digital Health and Benefits*
  • New Mountain Capital, LLC and Medical Specialties Distributors (MSD) in connection with the sale of MSD to McKesson Corporation*
  • Microsoft Corporation in connection with acquisition of Nokia Corporation’s phone business for a total consideration of approximately $7.2 billion (€5.44 billion) in cash*
  • Oaktree Capital Group, LLC in connection with pre-signing matters relating to an agreement to sell approximately 62% of the Oaktree business to Brookfield Asset Management Inc.*
  • Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners in connection with several matters, including:
    • its acquisition of euNetworks*
    • its acquisition of Cologix, Inc.*
  • Funds advised by Apax Partners in connection with acquisition of AssuredPartners, Inc.*
  • Pamplona Capital Management in connection with the formation of a joint venture with Northwell Health to form Formativ Health*
  • Taylor Morrison Home Corporation in connection with acquisition of the operations and homebuilding assets of Acadia Homes & Neighborhoods*
  • Nielsen Holdings N.V. in connection with its agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Harris Interactive Inc., which was structured as a tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Harris common stock*
VENTURE CAPITAL/EMERGING COMPANIES
  • Carrick Capital Partners in connection with its Series B Investment in Bishop Fox, a company providing offensive security solutions ranging from continuous penetration testing, red teaming, and attack surface management to product, cloud and application security assessments*
  • NewSpring Capital in connection with its investment in BetterNight, a leading provider of comprehensive sleep care through its virtual care platform*
  • Undisclosed Biotech Company based in Massachusetts in connection with its Series B and Series C investment rounds* 
  • Undisclosed Biotech Company based in Pennsylvania in connection with procurement of IP license from a university’s patent office* 
  • Undisclosed aerospace startup in connection with its proposed capital raise round and on-going legal issues*
  • Undisclosed startup in connection with its formation and capital raise-related matters* 
OTHER CORPORATE, RESTRUCTURING AND CAPITAL MARKETS TRANSACTIONS
  • Pacific General in connection with a strategic investment in Old World Provisions, Inc. and the formation of a consortium with S Food Inc., a leading South Korean food manufacturer focused on value-added meat products and high-quality food ingredients
  • Various general corporate and other on-going matters for: Toys ‘R’ US Asia, KCC Corporation, LG Uplus, DL Energy Co., Momentive Performance Materials, Momentive Technologies and various other undisclosed clients* 
  • Orchestra Private Equity in connection with structuring matters* 
  • Undisclosed Korean Start-Up in connection with its “Delaware Flip”
  • Undisclosed Web3 Company in connection with its on-going regulatory compliance matters*
  • Undisclosed Portfolio Company of a private equity sponsor in connection with recapitalization and governance related matters which involved consent from each of its lenders*
  • Templar Energy LLC on restructuring and governance related matters in connection with a comprehensive restructuring transaction that closed on a fully consensual out-of-court basis with consent from 100% of each of its second lien lenders, equity holders and first lien RBL lenders*
  • Blackstone in connection with the repurchase by Crocs, Inc. of a portion of outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of Crocs, Inc. (the “Preferred Shares”) owned by Blackstone and the conversion of the remainder of the Preferred Shares owned by Blackstone into the common stock of Crocs, Inc.*
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent for the first lien revolving lenders, on restructuring and governance related matters in connection with the Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of Paragon Offshore plc and various subsidiaries*
  • J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as financial advisor to Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: BOBE) in connection with its definitive merger agreement with Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POST)*
  • The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, J.P. Morgan Securities plc and Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc as initial purchasers in connection with an offering of US$500 million aggregate principal amount of 2.125% Notes due 2020, issued by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd. and guaranteed by The Export-Import Bank of Korea*
  • Hyundai Capital Services in connection with an update of a global medium term notes program and an issuance of notes thereunder in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S*
  • Shinhan Bank in connection with an update of a global medium term notes program and an issuance of notes thereunder in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S*
  • The initial purchasers, led by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, in connection with the offering by Cimpress N.V. of $275 million aggregate principal amount of 7% Senior Notes due 2022 in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S*
  • The initial purchasers of $1.540 billion in aggregate principal amount of Secured Tower Revenue Securities issued by SBA Tower Trust, representing interests in a mortgage loan made by the Trust to indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of SBA Communications Corporation*
  • BofA Merrill Lynch, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Wells Fargo Securities in the public offering of $750 million of 2.100% Senior Notes due 2019 of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire”) and the public offering of $400 million of Floating Rate Senior Notes due August 2017 of Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation (“BHFC”), which were guaranteed by Berkshire*
  • Capsugel S.A., a société anonyme incorporated in Luxembourg, in its sale of additional $415 million of 7.00%/7.75% Senior PIK Toggle Notes due 2019, pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S*
* - The above representations were handled by Jay prior to joining Foley Hoag LLP.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Sergeant (Interpreter), Republic of Korea Army, 2006-2008

Other Publications

IN THE MEDIA

Honors & Involvement

HONORS
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch - Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024)
INVOLVEMENT
  • Council of Korean Americans (CKA), Steering Commmittee Member - Boston Chapter

Speaking Engagements

  • “2026 State of the VC Industry,"  United Korean Founders’ East Meets West Summit (January 2026)
  • "East Meets West – Building the Future Beyond Borders," United Korean Founders (January 2026)
  • "Robotics Startup Boot Camp Part 2: International Growth – Meet the Founders," RoboBusiness Conference (October 2025)
  • "License-Out Negotiations with Global Pharma and Patent Strategies for Korean Companies," Korea Health Industry Development Institute’s Licensing & Intellectual Property Webinar  (September 2025)
  • "Conducting Business in the United States - Issues to Consider from a Legal Perspective," MassRobotics / Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) (September 2024)
  • "Uncovering the Deal-Breakers for Private Equity Buyers," M&A Forum – Don’t Block the Exit (Part 2) (June 2024)
  • “Conducting Business in the U.S.” Korean Society of Digital Health - 2023 Fall Symposium (November 2023)
  • "Conducting Business in the United States - Legal Issues to Consider," Bridge to MassChallenge - Japan Program (September 2023)
  • “Unveiling the Potential of Startups,” Massachusetts General Hospital and ActnerLab (April 2023)
  • “An Overview of Mergers & Acquisition Agreements and Issues to Consider from the Perspectives of Buyers and Sellers,” 2023 Korean American Biotech Association Seminar (March  2023)