White & Case advises Ares Management funds on equity investment in Leaf Home

Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised Ares Management funds ("Ares") on its preferred equity investment in Leaf Home alongside Gridiron Capital and co-investors.

The equity investment was made in connection with Leaf Home's acquisition of Erie Home, expanding Leaf Home's position as the largest DTC residential services and products provider across North America and adding significantly expanded capabilities and offerings for homeowners.

Both Leaf and Erie are part of the Gridiron portfolio of companies, and Gridiron will retain majority ownership of the combined company. Ares led a preferred equity investment in Leaf as part of the transaction, which Gridiron supported with additional investment. Apollo funds led the debt financing for the acquisition and recapitalization of Leaf, along with participation from Ares.

Ares is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes.

The White & Case team was led by M&A partner Daniel Kozin (New York). The team also included M&A associates Jacquie Smith and Yousef El Zohiry (both in New York); Tax partner Scott Fryman (New York); Employment, Compensation & Benefits partner Tal Marnin and counsel Annie Anderson (both in New York); Technology Transactions partner Burr Eckstut and associate Nashel Jung (both in New York); Debt Finance partner Brenda Dieck (Los Angeles); Trade partner Cristina Brayton-Lewis and associate Dara Brown (both in Washington, DC); Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity partner F. Paul Pittman (Washington, DC) and associate Yuhan Wang (Silicon Valley); Financial Restructuring and Insolvency partner Charles Koster (Houston); and White Collar partner Lauren Papenhausen and associate Abigail Mahoney (both in Boston).

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