Practices:

• Compliance and Investigations
  • Political Law
• Corporate
  • Corporate Counseling and Governance
  • Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
• Government Contracts
  • Corporate
• Political Law

Industries

• Aerospace and Defense
• Construction and Engineering

Experience

Joseph O. Blanco focuses on general corporate counseling with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions. In addition to mergers and acquisitions, Mr. Blanco's experience includes working with clients to structure and implement strategic alliance relationships; representing investors in making and monitoring private equity investments; assisting special committees of boards of directors in conducting special reviews and investigations; and advising clients regarding federal and governmental programs and regulations.

Atlanta Magazine recognized Mr. Blanco on their 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 lists of Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Stars.

Prior to joining McKenna Long & Aldridge, Mr. Blanco clerked for the Honorable Frank M. Hull of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. During law school, Mr. Blanco served as Editor-in-Chief of the Emory Law Journal and was elected to membership in the Order of the Coif. Before law school, Mr. Blanco served as a naval officer aboard the USS Nicholson and on the staff of the Commander of Destroyer Squadron Four. During college, Mr. Blanco served in numerous leadership positions, including Student Body President of the University of Notre Dame.

Notable Engagements

Represented Pratt Industries (U.S.A.), Inc., the largest privately-owned paper and packaging company in the U.S., in the issuance and sale of $112 million of notes for the construction of a paper recycling mill in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Represented River Capital, an Atlanta-based private equity fund, in connection with the sale of Tronair, Inc., one of its portfolio companies, to a financial buyer.  Tronair designs, engineers and manufactures well-recognized brand name ground support equipment for the business, commuter and commercial aviation markets

Reviewed and updated a multi-national Fortune 500 company’s global compliance and investigations programs and developed related training programs.

Serves as outside counsel to the Audit Committee of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Engaged by a publicly-traded, regulated company to investigate possible wrong-doing in a division.  The investigation led to immediate reforms in the division and allowed the company to proactively engage its regulators and to cure issues without penalties or negative publicity.

Represented the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of a NYSE, multi-national corporation in connection with an investigation requested by the external auditor in response to illegal acts in a foreign subsidiary.  The investigation resulted in reforms to the company’s governance and compliance system and controls.

Education

• J.D., Emory University School of Law, with high honors, 1999
• B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1992

Admitted

• Georgia