Jessica Richards is counsel in the Business Group and a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions team. Her practice focuses on corporate transactional and commercial matters for private companies, with an emphasis on Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) transactions and complex commercial contract work.
Jessica advises business owners, companies, sellers and trustees on all aspects of ESOP implementation, transactions and compliance. Her experience includes corporate restructuring in preparation for ESOP transactions, transaction execution and post-closing governance and compliance. Drawing on her background in mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance, Jessica regularly counsels clients on structuring ESOP transactions that align strategic business objectives with applicable regulatory requirements. Her work spans the full lifecycle of ESOPs, from initial planning through ongoing compliance and governance matters.
Known for her practical, business-minded approach, Jessica partners closely with business owners and management teams to support long-term business goals, succession planning and growth strategies, including expansion initiatives. In addition, Jessica advises clients on a wide range of U.S. and cross-border commercial matters, including distribution and supply chain arrangements, goods and services agreements, master service agreements (MSAs), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and hosting agreements, and other bespoke commercial arrangements. She works with private companies across diverse industries, including construction, manufacturing, professional services, healthcare, accommodation and food services, real estate, waste management, media and advertising, energy and technology.
