Three attorneys join McDonald Hopkins’ Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group
McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce the addition of three talented attorneys to its national Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. The addition of Maggie Jokinen, Eden Messick, and Blake Spiller underscores the firm's continued investment in the strategic growth of its M&A practice and its commitment to attracting exceptional legal talent.
“We're thrilled to welcome Maggie, Blake, and Eden to our growing team. Each brings an impressive track record and diverse experience that will strengthen our group from day one. I'm excited to see the impact they'll have on our clients, our team, and to see their own professional growth as they build their careers here at McDonald Hopkins," said Christal Contini, Chair of the Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group.
Maggie advises public and private companies in a broad range of domestic and cross-border corporate transactions. Representing both buy-side and sell-side transactions across a wide variety of industries, She guides clients through every stage of the deal process.
“I’m committed to producing excellent work product for clients. While I am a zealous advocate for my clients throughout their transactions, I also value respectful collaboration across the table because, among other reasons, I believe that deal counsel helps set the tone for post-transaction integration,” she said.
Prior to joining McDonald Hopkins, Maggie practiced at an international law firm, where she advised on high-value mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of dollars. In addition to transactional work, she counseled companies on corporate governance and SEC disclosure matters and assisted clients with financing matters and shareholder activism preparedness.
Eden’s practice focuses on representing clients in a broad range of mergers and acquisitions, including buy-side and sell-side transactions, carveouts, distressed sales, and other complex corporate transactions. Eden previously worked at an international law firm, where she advised clients throughout all stages of the transaction process.
Her experience includes conducting legal due diligence, drafting and negotiating transaction documents, and counseling clients on corporate governance matters. She has represented clients across a variety of industries in significant transactions, including the sale of precision metal component manufacturers, utility infrastructure service providers, and wine producers, as well as acquisitions involving food manufacturing, infrastructure inspection services, and industrial water treatment businesses.
“McDonald Hopkins was my destination firm because I wanted to work more closely with clients and focus more on middle-market deals,” she said. “It’s an added bonus that everyone I’ve met has been so kind and welcoming.”
Blake focuses on middle-market and strategic transactions for private equity funds and private companies, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and related financing matters.
Prior to his time at McDonald Hopkins, he gained valuable in-house legal experience at a venture capital fund where he drafted and negotiated core venture capital financing documents for over 85 pre-seed and seed-stage financings, reviewed acquisition-related agreements, and negotiated more than 200 commercial contracts.
“I approach client work with a practical, business-minded perspective. Having worked in-house, I understand that clients need advice that is clear, actionable, and aligned with their business objectives. I focus on understanding the client’s goals, identifying the issues that matter the most, and helping clients manage risk without losing sight of the broader business context and goals,” Blake said.
