Gilad R. Berkowitz
Counsel
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Gilad R. Berkowitz
COUNSEL
BALTIMORE
T: 410.347.9443
F: 410.339.4009
WASHINGTON
T: 410.347.9443
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Biography
BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Berkowitz's background cohesively merges at the intersection of law, business and sports which has molded his cutting-edge and interdisciplinary approach to providing strategic legal advice with a winning solution. His practice focuses on corporate matters with an emphasis on national and cross-border transactions including buy- and sell-side M&A, debt and equity financing arrangements, venture capital investment and institutional bank lending. Mr. Berkowitz is experienced handling public and private company security offerings and maintains a robust capital markets practice that represents both issuers and underwriters in a host of debt offerings in connection with fixed-income securities, investment grade debt, leveraged capital, high yield debt and hybrid capital. His practice additionally includes project finance work representing lenders, sponsors, developers, institutional investors, contractors, operators and government entities in major domestic and cross-border projects. On the international front, Mr. Berkowitz has advised both parent and member entities involved with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ands it's premier basketball league as well as in Israel with the top basketball division (Winner's League) in connection with its umbrella sponsorship endeavors and opportunities. Mr. Berkowitz is CARTA proficient and also serves as general outside counsel handling various forms of agreements as well as equity interests for companies in a wide range of industries including pharma, fintech, e-gaming, online betting, and the sports industry platforms. He also advises companies and individuals on a wide range of IP-related matters, including technology transfers, licensing arrangements, joint ventures and partnerships.
Previously, Mr. Berkowitz has worked on buy- and sell-side transactions to or for private equity-backed buyers, legacy businesses, emerging growth orientated tech companies and biotech industry players. Mr. Berkowitz has represented credit unions and other financial institutions in commercial finance transactions and other types of collateral based arrangements, as well as represented borrowers across the full scope of asset based lending in various forms of revolving working capital loan arrangements. In particular, he advised investors and insurance companies in connection with CLOs, syndicated loans and other types of asset based lending arrangements.
While in law school, he wrote and edited for the Duke Law & Technology Journal and was President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. Before practicing law, he founded a talent agency that represented over 100 professional athletes and artists in contract negotiations, marketing and public relations.
Mr. Berkowitz is fluent in Hebrew.
*Not admitted to practice in DC
Previously, Mr. Berkowitz has worked on buy- and sell-side transactions to or for private equity-backed buyers, legacy businesses, emerging growth orientated tech companies and biotech industry players. Mr. Berkowitz has represented credit unions and other financial institutions in commercial finance transactions and other types of collateral based arrangements, as well as represented borrowers across the full scope of asset based lending in various forms of revolving working capital loan arrangements. In particular, he advised investors and insurance companies in connection with CLOs, syndicated loans and other types of asset based lending arrangements.
While in law school, he wrote and edited for the Duke Law & Technology Journal and was President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. Before practicing law, he founded a talent agency that represented over 100 professional athletes and artists in contract negotiations, marketing and public relations.
Mr. Berkowitz is fluent in Hebrew.
Recognitions
- Maryland Super Lawyers®, "Rising Stars" (2023–2025)
- Forbes® 30 Under 30 Finalist 2015, Sports Category
Memberships & Activities
- Advisory Board Member: Congregation Ohr Yisrael
- Pro Bono Attorney: Community Law Center
- Member: Maryland State Bar Association
- Business Law Council and Securities Law Committee Member
- Member: International Bar Association African Regional Forum, Agriculture & Food Section, Corporate Counsel Section, Mining Committee, Oil & Gas Law Committee, Banking & Financial Law Committee, International Trade and Customs Law Committee
- Member: International Bar Association Arab Regional Forum, Closely Held Companies Committee, Corporate & M&A Law Committee, Media Law Committee, Securities & Capital Markets Committee, Technology Law Committee, Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Committee
- Member: Sports Lawyers Association
- Member: Baltimore County Bar Association
- Member: California Lawyers Association
- Business Law, Intellectual Property Law and International Law & Immigration Sections
- Member: Maryland Israel Development Center
- Member: The Associated (Jewish Federation of Baltimore)
- Member: Friends of Israel Defense Forces
*Not admitted to practice in DC
INVESTMENT FUNDS & INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
- Counsel to lead investor and brand ambassador for athletic-wear company in the negotiation of investment and services arrangement with $10 million consumer products private equity fund. Serve as lead associate in reviewing and negotiating fund documents, side letter and related services agreement.
- Counsel to wealth management platform for professional athletes and entertainers in the formation of a series of technology based private equity funds with over $100 million in capital raised. Serve as lead associate in drafting fund documents. Advise on related securities law matters.
- Counsel to financial services firm with over $6 billion in assets under management. Advise general counsel on investment adviser and broker-dealer issues. Draft internal policies and procedures.
- Counsel to private equity fund sponsor in the formation of its flagship venture capital fund focused on making investments in the U.S. cannabis industry. Serve as lead associate in drafting fund documents and legal memoranda on complex regulatory matters.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
- Counsel to $75 million AI robotics company in roll-up merger with publicly traded Canadian technology investment company. Serve as lead associate in negotiating and drafting management rollover documents, post-closing organizational documents and equity incentive plans.
- Counsel to software integrator in $25 million stock purchase. Serve as lead associate in drafting purchase agreement, ESOP termination documentation and complex disclosure schedule.
- Counsel to private equity firm in a series of acquisitions of franchises and related real estate. Draft and negotiate transaction documents and advise on holding company structure.
- Counsel to information technology provider in $21 million sale to portfolio company for cyber-security management company. Serve as lead associate in drafting membership interest purchase agreement, seller-note, related employment agreements, disclosure schedules and organizational structuring documentation.
- Counsel to oil and gas distributor in $8 million purchase of technology company. Draft transaction documents and manage due diligence review including data-room collaboration.
FINANCING & CAPITAL MARKETS
- California counsel to biotech firm in $200 million IPO. Review and comment on transaction documents, including registration statement. Draft organizational documents and opinions.
- Counsel to $35 million fund for non-profit aimed at treating corneal blindness in medical trial financing and negotiating Chinese manufacturer distribution and partnership. Serve as lead associate in IP and technology licensing agreements, IRS and international tax related research, all financing and cooperative venture documentation, and cross-border regulation compliance.
- Counsel to clinical diagnostics growth company in $5 million series-A financing and follow-on $2 million preferred stock offering. Draft UCC opinion and financing documents. Draft subscription agreement and offering documents. Draft related convertible notes and navigate state sponsored legislative requirements.
GENERAL CORPORATE LAW MATTERS
- Counsel to professional sports league. Review legal framework from advisory firms. Draft bylaw provisions, memoranda to client, services agreements, and marketing partnership agreements.
- Counsel to production company and film-makers. Negotiate and draft intellectual property related documentation for assignments, corporate tax restructuring, and buy-out of interests.
- Counsel to growth company. Serve as lead associate and outside-counsel for representation of growth company in all aspects of its corporate needs, including drafting formation and organizational documents, financing documents, and employee compensation documents.
JOINT VENTURES
- Counsel to entertainment and sports financial services firm in $1 million acquisition of sports complex and formation of associated joint ventures. Serve as associate in drafting joint venture agreements with a sovereign wealth fund.
- Counsel to real estate investment firm in formation of a joint venture for $300 million acquisition of a mixed-use office building. Serve as associate in drafting joint venture agreement, legal opinions and formation documents.