Practice Areas
- Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions/Securities
- Mergers & Acquisitions
Education
- B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1994
- J.D., Wake Forest University, 1997
Bar & Court Admissions
- North Carolina, 1997
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, 1997
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina, 1999
- U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina, 1999
Joseph (Joe) A. Fernandez
Responsive, diligent and client-focused, Joe Fernandez forms close, long-term relationships with his business and energy clients by understanding their needs and delivering timely, practical solutions to their complex transactional matters—including purchase, sale and finance transactions for strategic parties, financial institutions and private equity groups.
He possesses specific experience representing energy companies in corporate finance and project finance transactions, negotiating and drafting project contracts, in acquisitions and divestitures of project companies, and in the operation of electric generating facilities.
Mr. Fernandez spent approximately 18 months seconded to the legal department of Cogentrix Energy, Inc., one of the nation’s largest independent power producers. In that capacity, he helped to coordinate the acquisition of a portfolio of power generating facilities and the refinancing of a $750 million corporate term loan and revolver.
He has also represented Cogentrix in multiple corporate and project financings and in the sale of its 50 percent stake in Birchwood Power Partners, L.P. to subsidiaries of General Electric Capital Corporation for $110 million. Mr. Fernandez represented Bojangles' Holdings, Inc. in a recapitalization transaction and the transfer of control of the company to a private equity group in a transaction valued at approximately $220 million. For Hi-Tech Fuses, Inc., he facilitated the sale of its high-capacity fuse business to Thomas & Betts Corporation for approximately $35 million.
Representative Client Services
- Purchase and sale transactions for strategic parties, financial institutions and private equity groups
- Corporate finance and project finance transactions
- Acquisitions and divestitures of electric generating facilities
- Negotiating and drafting project contracts for electric generating facilities
- Legal advice concerning the operation of electric generating facilities
Of Note
- Graduate, Charlotte Chamber Leadership School
- Graduate, Leading the Way program, United Way of the Central Carolinas, Inc.
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association: Business Law Section
- North Carolina Bar Association: Business Law Section