Lauren Giles focuses her practice on business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and project finance. Lauren has specific expertise in the transactional and regulatory representation of energy and telecommunications companies. In addition, she advises clients regarding administrative law and procedure, state and federal climate change regulation and National Environmental Policy Act compliance.
Lauren teaches Contracts and Torts at the University of Washington School of Law and is fluent in Spanish.
Selected Experience
Mergers and Acquisitions
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants
Represented McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants in its negotiated $130,000,000 merger with Landry’s Restaurants, Inc., following the defeat of Landry's previously announced hostile tender offer. (2011)
Mobiata, LLC
Represented Mobiata, LLC, a wireless travel application developer and provider, in the sale to Expedia, Inc. structured as a reverse triangular merger. (2010)
Safe Boats International, LLC
Represented Safe Boats International and its existing owners in a recapitalization and investment by private equity firm. (2010)
Renewable Energy Development and Finance
Avista Corporation
Represented Avista Corporation in the development of an energy efficiency upgrade lending program for utility customers. (2010)
Acquisition of hydroelectric developer
Represented developer of renewable energy projects in acquisition of small hydropower developer. (2010)
Investment in hydroelectric developer
Represented private equity firm in investment in a small hydropower developer. (2010)
Lakeview Green Energy, Inc.
$64 million secured debt financing for wind project joint venture. (2009)
Energy Regulation
Renewable portfolio standard
Advise Washington state electric utilities regarding implementation of Washington’s renewable portfolio standard. (Ongoing)
Harvest Wind Project
Represented the members of the Harvest Wind Project as project counsel in connection with the development and financing of a 99 MW wind generating project located in Klickitat County, Wash. (2010)
Commercial Financing
American Seafoods
Negotiation and documentation of a $500,000,000 demand credit facility, with revolving and term loan borrowing and letter of credit facilities, to fund operations of commercial fishing company. (2010)