Philip B Taub

Practice Areas

Since joining Nixon Peabody more than 29 years ago, Phil Taub has had the pleasure of advising investors, middle-market private companies, large public companies, entrepreneurs, and C-level executives in many different kinds of corporate transactions all over North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Phil was born in Southern Africa and finished his secondary education in the United States. His love of family, travel, outdoor adventure, and community permeates everything he does.

I have more than 29 years of experience in middle market corporate transactional work, including mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, startups, shareholder disputes, and venture capital financing. Nixon Peabody’s platform enables our team to represent the full range of clients at any one time.

Phil has been described as “the consummate trusted advisor,” who is “very practical and determined to get the deal closed,” and who “consistently excels at solving client’s complex problems.” Phil routinely taps into a broad network of middle market contacts to help clients source new transaction opportunities, identify sources of capital, hire key employees, and engage other key service providers, from investment bankers to accountants. Phil believes that “as lawyers we have to do a lot more than just provide excellent service and work; we need to understand our client’s business and find ways to add value to their business.”

At Nixon Peabody, Phil has served in many leadership roles. Phil currently chairs the firm’s Policy Committee, which acts as the Board of Directors. Phil also currently leads the firm’s nationally acclaimed Private Equity and Family Office practice group. This is a dynamic and experienced group comprised of private equity lawyers around the firm, ranging in skills from fund formation to transactions, to representing portfolio companies, to resolving claims among investors. Previously, Phil has served as the chair of the Business Department and on the firm’s Management Committee and Compensation Committee.

Phil is a frequent lecturer and presenter on the latest trends in mergers and acquisitions, business strategies, and issues most important to PE funds, independent sponsors, family offices, CEOs, CFOs, and general counsel. Deeply committed to our community, Phil and his wife Julie started a new charity in the spring of 2017 to benefit our veterans called Swim With A Mission (see www.SWAM.org). So far, they have already raised over $12.5 million to benefit tens of thousands of veterans needing assistance. Phil is a board member at the National Navy SEAL Museum in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Phil is also the immediate past president of the board of the Granite State Children’s Alliance, which attends to child victims of abuse. He also serves on the board of Elliot Hospital and Elliot Health System. In 2015, Phil co-founded a de novo bank called Primary Bank, a full-service community bank headquartered in Bedford, NH, and currently serves on the board of directors. He is a former member of a number of community not for profit boards, including, the Derryfield School, the YMCA, and Junior Achievement.

When Phil is not on his phone or in front of his computer, he is likely spending time with his family, working out with a Navy SEAL, or walking his three English springer spaniels through the woods, occasionally skeet shooting, sometimes competing in triathlons, and always happy to share a single malt scotch or fine tequila. If not for the complete intellectual engagement of working with a wonderful group of clients, Phil would enjoy being a safari guide in the Okavango Delta or a boat captain in the Mediterranean Sea.

Our clients continue to be tested to manage in a challenging market. A number of trends have suddenly been accelerated, which, when combined with so much dislocation in the market, creates opportunities for those who can see the trends, are bold enough to pursue them, and have the liquidity to do it successfully. Management teams will be challenged to survive and thrive, but some will fail. Valuations for weaker companies will drop and some of those companies will be acquired by purchasers still flush with cash. Companies in now hot areas, for example, telemedicine, non-perishable food production, and vaccine production, will command higher valuations. Both strategic and financial sponsors are going to have a tougher time trying to win the “hot” sellers, but both will have opportunities to acquire weaker companies at distressed prices. Through it all, I think the middle market continues to present great opportunities for savvy dealmakers to find and create value for their investors and stockholders.

Career

George Washington University National Law Center, J.D.

Boston University, B.S.

Professional Memberships

Phil currently serves on the following boards:

Swim With A Mission, Inc. (Co-Founder and President)

National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum (Ft. Pierce, Florida)

Primary Bank (New Hampshire)

Elliot Health Systems (New Hampshire)

Phil formerly served on a number of other community boards, including:

Granite State Children’s Alliance (Past President)

The Greater Manchester Family YMCA

The Derryfield School

Junior Achievement

Philip is a former president of the local bar association.