Michael P.Gurdak (Mike)

Partner

Washington + 1.202.879.5470

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Mike Gurdak's practice focuses on helping clients comply with United States sanctions and trade controls. Mike advised on one of the first, if not the first, shipment of goods from the United States to Cuba in 2016 following the easing of U.S. sanctions against Cuba.

Mike regularly provides advice to clients on economic sanctions programs and embargoes administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), including anti-boycott regulations, administered by the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) administered by the Department of State. He also has assisted clients with various other trade-related matters, including customs issues such as country of origin marking, classification, antidumping/countervailing duties, and Made in USA matters.

Mike has assisted clients develop or strengthen compliance programs in connection with sanctions and trade controls, and he provides training on those issues. He also assists clients in the preparation and submission of voluntary disclosures, advisory opinions, and license applications. Mike frequently analyzes the applicability of U.S. trade controls to business transactions, often in due diligence reviews in connection with M&A transactions.

Mike has traveled to Cuba to assist a client in its mission of restoring and conserving Ernest Hemingway's home outside of Havana. He also has written extensively and presented frequently on the scope of U.S. sanctions and trade controls.

Mike maintains an active pro bono docket and has spent significant time assisting Jones Day's efforts to provide legal services to immigrant detainees in Texas seeking asylum.

Experience

  • Direct lender provides $151 million senior secured credit facility to private equity-backed API integration platformJones Day advised a direct lender, as administrative agent, sole lead arranger, and bookrunner, in connection with a $151 million senior secured credit facility provided to a large private equity sponsored company that provides a SaaS platform for building, deploying, and managing integrations between software applications.
  • Arsenal Capital Partners' portfolio company acquires Mascoat Ltd. and Verdia, Inc.Jones Day advised Arsenal Capital Partners in the acquisition and financing by portfolio company Seal For Life Industries of Mascoat Ltd. and Verdia, Inc., both privately owned specialty industrial coatings companies.
  • CIeNET sold to ALTENJones Day advised CIeNET in the sale of CIeNET to ALTEN Group, a leader in engineering and technology consulting.
  • Entravision Communications acquires majority stake in RedmasJones Day represented Entravision Communications Corporation (NYSE: EVC) in the acquisition of a 51% interest in Redmas owned by the Cisneros Interactive Group.
  • TD Securities arranges $190 million acquisition financing for Whole Earth Brands, Inc.Jones Day advised TD Securities (USA) LLC, as arranger, in connection with a $190 million senior secured credit facility comprised of a $140 million term loan and a $50 million revolving credit facility to Whole Earth Brands, Inc, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
  • Merchant banking firm provides $60 million senior secured credit facility to multinational software companyJones Day represented a merchant banking firm in connection with a $60 million senior secured credit facility comprised of a $50 million initial term loan facility, a $5 million delayed draw term loan facility, and a $5 million revolving credit facility provided to a multinational software company.
  • LORD Corporation acquired by Parker Hannifin for $3.675 billionJones Day advised LORD Corporation in its $3.675 billion acquisition by Parker Hannifin Corporation.
  • Wireless communications infrastructure holding company obtains CAD$92 million financingJones Day served as U.S. counsel to a wireless communications infrastructure holding company in connection with a CAD$92 million senior secured credit agreement, consisting of CAD$82 million senior secured term loans and a CAD$10 million senior secured revolving credit facility to fund the acquisition of Beanfield Metroconnect WT Inc., a Toronto-based fiber network provider.
  • Arsenal Capital Partners acquires Seal for Life Industries from Berry Global Group Inc. for $328 millionJones Day advised Arsenal Capital Partners on the $328 million acquisition of Seal for Life Industries from Berry Global Group Inc.
  • ENGIE-led consortium wins competitive bidding process in Brazil for $8.6 billion acquisition of TAGJones Day advised ENGIE in the $8.6 billion acquisition and related financing of 90% of Transportadora Associada de Gás SA ("TAG"), the largest natural gas transmission network owner in Brazil, from Brazilian state oil company Petróleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras).
  • Diamond S Shipping merges with tanker business of Capital Product Partners for $1.65 billionJones Day advised Diamond S Shipping L.P. in its $1.65 billion merger with the tanker business of Capital Product Partners (CPP).
  • Crestline Direct Lending provides $96 million secured credit facility to identity verification providerJones Day represented Crestline Direct Lending, as lead arranger and agent, in connection with a $96 million senior secured credit facility provided to an international identity verification, document authentication, and fraud prevention technology services provider.
  • Fairmount Santrol and Unimin merge creating CoviaJones Day advised Fairmount Santrol in its merger with Unimin Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of SCR-Sibelco NV, in a tax-free, cash and stock transaction, creating a leader in proppant and industrial materials solutions.
  • BWXT obtains $800 million senior secured credit facilityJones Day represented BWX Technologies, Inc. in connection with a US$800 million senior secured credit agreement consisting of a US$500 million senior secured revolving credit facility; a US$50 million senior secured term loan A; and a CAD$250 million senior secured term loan A.
  • Owens Corning obtains $800 million credit facilityJones Day represented Owens Corning, a global developer and producer of insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites, in connection with a $800 million revolving credit facility.
  • International Automotive Components Group completes refinancing of Senior Secured NotesJones Day advised International Automotive Components Group, S.A., a leading global supplier of automotive components and systems, in connection with the issuance of $215 million of Senior Secured Notes due 2023 to Gamut Capital Management, L.P. in a private placement.
  • Nextel Participações amends and restates two existing loan agreementsJones Day advised Nextel Participações Ltda., the Brazilian operating subsidiary of NII Holdings, Inc., in connection with the amendment and restatement of two existing loan agreements in an aggregate principal amount of $245 million with China Development Bank, as administrative agent.
  • Citizens Bank provides $45 million senior secured financing to veterinary specialty hospital practiceJones Day represented Citizens Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, in connection with a $45 million secured credit facility provided to a veterinary specialty hospital practice.
  • Citizens Bank provides $150 million credit facility to Golden West Packaging GroupJones Day represented Citizens Bank, N.A. in connection with a $150 million credit facility provided to Golden West Packaging Group LLC, a holding company for investments in the packaging industry.
  • Canacol Energy obtains $265 million senior secured credit facilityJones Day advised Canacol Energy Ltd., a vertically integrated, publicly listed, international energy company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of crude oil and natural gas, in connection with the $265 million senior secured credit facility provided by a multinational consortium of banks led by Credit Suisse, as lead arranger and administrative agent.
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    November 2023 Alert

    BIS Releases Rules to Revise and Expand Controls Relating to Semiconductors and Advanced Computing

    August 2023 Alert

    Biden Administration Issues Highly Anticipated Executive Order on U.S. Investment in China

    August 2023 Alert

    Federal Agencies Highlight Benefits of Self-Disclosure, Emphasize Enforcement of Trade Violations in Tri-Seal Compliance Note

    May 2023 White Paper

    2022 Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Year in Review

    December 2022 Alert

    EU Proposes Corporate Criminal Penalties for Sanctions Breaches

    November 2022 Alert

    CFIUS Releases First-Ever Penalty and Enforcement Guidelines

    OCTOBER 2022 Commentary

    U.S. Government Issues Sweeping Controls Relating to Semiconductors, Advanced Computing, and China

    May 2022 White Paper

    Impact of Global Sanctions Regimes Relating to Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus

    October 2021 Alert

    USTR Accepting Comments on Reinstating Certain Exclusions to Section 301 Tariffs

    October 2021 Alert

    Department of Commerce Seeks Comment on Regulation of IaaS Providers
    View All

    Additional Publications

    • July 2008
      Navigating U.S. Sanctions Laws: Risks and Benefits of Voluntary Self-Disclosures, Jones Day Corporate Criminal Investigations Newsletter

    Speaking Engagements

    • September 9, 2016
      Legal Challenges of Doing Business in Cuba, Association of Caribbean Corporate Counsel Summit
    • September 15, 2015
      Executive Roundtable Series - Opportunities and Risks in the International Marketplace: Developments and Trends in International Trade, Export Controls, and Global Cybersecurity
    • December 14, 2011
      2011 Export Briefing - Export Essentials for In-House Counsel and Compliance Personnel: What Every In-House Counsel and Export Compliance Personnel Should Know to Advise Their Clients on US Export Laws and Regulations
    • October 20, 2011
      Executive Roundtable Series - National Security and Export Control Reform, Take Two. Or Three. Or Four ... ?

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