Counsel to Counsel - May 2008 - (Page 30)

was a clear underlying thread of why they wanted the transaction to happen.” No matter how sound a deal is in concept, inevitably emails may get misconstrued, documents misinterpreted. Langdale says Gate put people in the same room, which helped resolve issues before they became too big. As a result, Pourshins understands its role in the parent company’s overall scheme. “I think the rationale for the deal is even clearer now than it was before,” he concludes. “The other piece is that we’ve had a fair degree of autonomy to get on and grow the business. Knowing what the direction is makes it easier to press on and make decisions.” company, and when we shouldn’t do that because it might squash innovation and prevent them from doing what they do best,” she explains. Most of the new entities were small companies with an entrepreneurial spirit and business approach. Brown says the last thing A Full Menu gategroup has diversified significantly in the last year. It now comprises a stable of air travel service businesses: n n n n n Room to Grow Affording the newly acquired entities breathing room is a key part of gategroup’s strategy. For Brown and her legal team, that means striking a balance between making sure each business gets the help it needs but still has enough autonomy as well. “One thing we really focus on is determining when we need to overlay a process or procedure that’s necessary to integrate the n n n n partnership at a glance Powell Goldstein LLP Powell Goldstein LLP has approximately 250 lawyers in more than 18 practice areas, representing corporations and organizations throughout the world. The 99-year-old firm has offices in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Dallas and Charlotte, N.C. Mostofthenewentities weresmallcompanies withanentrepreneurial spiritandbusiness approach…thelast thinggategroupwantsto doissquashwhatmade themsuccessfulinthe firstplace. gategroup wants to do is squash what made them successful in the first place. Moving beyond the legacy business requires that the legal department be increasingly flexible as it gets to know the fine permutations of each new business. Brown says she spends a lot of time listening and chooses her words carefully. n Gate Gourmet, the legacy business, is a leading flight caterer. deSter provides a full range of food and beverage presentation concepts. potmstudios designs in-flight packaging, cutlery and service utilities. eGate Solutions offers software for in-flight service management. Performa and Elan create guest service concepts and training for airlines and hotels. Supplair provides informal packaged food options. Gate Aviation provides aircraft cleaning, security and deicing. GateSafe conducts Transportation Security Administration-compliant inspections of catering and cargo, and monitoring. Harmony supplies service items from pillows to headsets. Pourshins specializes in logistics and supply chain management. “Whatever answer I come up with for a particular problem that a newly acquired entity faces, I have to be clear in my mind that that’s going to be the answer they use going forward,” she relates. “I’m very mindful of precedent setting.” In the end, it’s all about relationships. No matter how smart a deal is, it’s up to the people on both sides to make it work. “The real trick to integration is to make sure there is rapid alignment on the goals we need to achieve,” says McGrath. “You need a free flow of information, cooperation while respecting each business’s independence. I would say, so far, so good.” Andrew Hough is a partner in Powell Goldstein’s Atlanta office. Before joining the firm, he served as Gate Gourmet, Inc.’s general counsel. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and complex commercial transactions. Contact him at ahough@pogolaw.com. 30 LexisNexis® Martindale-Hubbell®

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Counsel to Counsel - May 2008

Counsel to Counsel - May 2008 Contents Harassment Policies NEC Corporation of America and Duane Morris LLP Lost or Stolen Data: Minimizing Fallout On-Boarding the Board Drafting Fair, Efficient and Enforceable Arbitration Agreements Responding to Counterfeit Products Crafting an English-Only Workplace Policy Distressed Debt: New Players, Global Sophistication Make Restructuring More Complex IP Confidential: Plan Ahead, Act Fast to Protect Your Trade Secrets Adverse Changes: Think Ahead in a Strained M&A Market Optimizing Web 2.0 Technology: Expanding Your Professional Network Union Pacific Railroad Company and Patton Boggs LLP Warming Warning: Develop Your Climate Change Strategy Now Risk Sharing: Expect New Obstacles and Expenses in Syndicated Loans E-Discovery in Action Diversification at the Gate Energy

Counsel to Counsel - May 2008

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