John Gilson

About

Partner John Gilson co-heads Holland & Knight LLP's Independent Sponsor and Search Funds teams in Charlotte. He represents corporate acquirers, financial buyers, and sellers in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. He works on leveraged buyouts, carve-outs, and cross-border transactions. He advises on minority stakes, growth equity, and venture capital investments. He handles Section 1202 QSBS, joint ventures, and structured equity products. John Gilson earned his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Before Holland & Knight LLP, he practiced with firms in New York and in Charlotte. For traditional searchers and self-funded searchers, he handles equity structuring and transaction execution.

Who is a good fit for John Gilson

• Traditional and self-funded searchers who need equity structuring for an acquisition.
• Independent sponsors acquiring a company who want counsel through closing.
• Owners who are selling a company through a merger or a divestiture.
• Buyers completing a leveraged buyout or a carve-out of a company.

Education and admissions

Education

• Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D.
• State University of New York at Albany, B.A.

Bar admissions

Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina

Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America guide, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2024-2027; Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, 2026, 2027; Venture Capital Law, 2027
• Chambers USA - America's Leading Lawyers for Business guide, Corporate/M&A (Charlotte & Surrounds), 2025, 2026
• The Legal 500 USA, M&A/Corporate and Commercial - Private Equity Buyouts: Middle-Market (up to $500M), 2024
• Rising Star, North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine, Corporate Finance and Securities, 2013-2018
• President's Volunteer Service Award, AmeriCorps, 2010-2011
• Charlotte Business Journal, Corporate Volunteerism Award, 2010
• Essay Competition Winner, American Judges Foundation, "Spoliation Sanctions in the Post-Enron Corporate Community; Procedural Remedies Used to Deter Substantive Corporate Fraud," 2003
• Dean's List Scholar, State University of New York at Albany
• Phi Alpha Theta

Specialties

Representative matters

As described on the firm’s website.

• Represented a North Carolina-based independent sponsor in its sale of a manufacturing and technology company to a private equity-backed supplier and servicing provider
• Represented a North Carolina-based independent sponsor and its portfolio company in the acquisition of an inventive technology agency with a focus on subscription-based commerce
• Represented an Illinois-based independent sponsor in its acquisition of a Pennsylvania-based leading provider of specialized medical equipment repair services
• Represented a North Carolina-based independent sponsor in its acquisition of a leading North Carolina general contractor and construction company
• Represented a Pennsylvania-based independent sponsor in its acquisition of a leading developer of electrochemical research and development instrumentation and software
• Represented a North Carolina-based company specializing in the production of metal conveyor or power transmission chains for the glass sector in its cross-border sale to a private equity-backed leader in the niche market of designing, producing and marketing mechanical parts and electronic equipment in Europe
• Represented a California-based independent sponsor in its investment in a leading alternative energy system provider in California
• Represented a North Carolina-based independent sponsor in its acquisition of a leading provider of website and e-commerce development solutions
• Represented a North Carolina-based digital marketing agency in its cross-border sale to a European private equity-backed global business transformation agency specializing in digital services and business transformation

Deal profile

Typical deal size

Any deal size

Remote work

In-person / regional