Louis practices in the area of corporate law concentrating on corporate finance and private equity. In the private equity area, Louis has represented investors in private equity and venture capital financings, merger and acquisitions and in a variety of complex business transactions. On the finance side, Louis has experience representing banks, financial companies and portfolio companies in connection with loan transactions across various industries, including the radio and television broadcasting, cable television, publishing and wireless industries. He is very active in the firm's Latin America practice and has assisted clients in a number of advisory capacities with respect to investments and compliance in the region.
Louis also has experience representing liability insurers in connection with coverage matters, particularly in the financial services industry. Louis has been named a Massachusetts Rising Star in the area of Securities & Corporate Finance (2005-2011).
Notable Experience
· Represented a U.S. private equity fund in making a controlling investment in a Brazilian fiber company.
· Represented U.S. private equity fund in its acquisition of a money transfer business with operations in the U.S., Guatemala, Mexico and Spain.
· Represented lead investors in the acquisition of a money transfer business with operations in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic.
· Represented a U.S. private equity investor in the $1.2 billion acquisition of RCN Corporation.
· Represented NYSE-listed telecommunications company in $500 million acquisition of approximately 1,800 communications sites.
· Represented founders in connection with the negotiation of a sale of a Honduran cable TV operator.
· Represented lead private equity investors in connection with equity financing, subordinated debt financing and senior debt financing of joint venture with Warner Bros. totaling $600 million dollar financing (transaction was awarded "Media Industry Deal of Year" by Investor Dealer Digest).
· Represented private equity investors in financing and acquisition of wireless PCS assets divested from Cingular Wireless.
· Represented lead private equity investor in the negotiation of its control investment of a Puerto Rican cable TV operator.
· Represented lead private equity investors in the successful $160 million acquisition of a Puerto Rican wireless company pursuant to a Section 363 bankruptcy auction.
· Represented lead private equity investors in the acquisition and financing of a company in the life settlements industry.
· Served as fund formation counsel for a $550 million fund.
· Served as fund formation counsel for a $1.1 billion fund.
· Represented venture capital funds in connection with their equity investments in a cable television sports programming channel.
· Represented lead private equity investor in connection with a $60 million equity investment in a newly launched Latino-themed digital cable network.
· Represented lender in a senior financing of a radio broadcast company.
· Represented lender in a senior financing of a US magazine publisher.
· Part of the team engaged by a lead investor to oversee its equity and debt financing of a radio and television broadcast company.
Before Edwards Wildman
Prior to joining the Firm in 2001, Louis was a summer associate at the Boston office of a national firm.
Besides Edwards Wildman
Louis is a board member of Beacon Academy. He enjoys martial arts, baseball, golf and spending time with family and friends.
News & Publications
September 15, 2011, Louis Mercedes Earns Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys 2011 Latino Leadership Award
June 20, 2011, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Cites Louis Mercedes as an 'Up & Coming' Lawyer
June 2, 2011, Louis Mercedes Honored by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as an 'Up & Coming Lawyer'
January 5, 2011, EAPD Admits Five Attorneys to Partnership and Promotes Two to Position of Counsel
October 7, 2010, EAPD Attorneys Selected For Inclusion in Super Lawyers 2010
August 13, 2010, New Faces for EAPD's Latin American Practice
August 12, 2010, Latin American Practice Publishes Second Edition of Regulatory Update
May 28, 2010, Congratulations to EAPD client, Palladium Equity Partners, LLP on Acquisition
January 1, 2010 - March 31, 2010, EAPD Launches Latin American (Re)insurance Regulatory Update Service
November 23, 2009, EAPD Represents an Afflilliate of Palladium Equity Partners
November 6, 2009, EAPD Attorneys Selected For Inclusion in Super Lawyers 2009
October 30, 2008, EAPD Attorneys Named Super Lawyers 2008
Industries
· Cable
· Broadcasting
· Telecommunications
· Wireless & Satellite
Memberships
· Boston Bar Association
· Massachusetts Bar Association
· American Bar Association
· Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys
· Board Member of Beacon Academy