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Donna L. Brooks

she/her/hers

Partner

860.251.5917
dbrooks@goodwin.com

Hartford, CT

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Donna Brooks bio photo

Donna Brooks acts as a trusted advisor and outside general counsel to clients in diverse industries, including agri-business, education, manufacturing and services. Donna’s clients include cooperatives, colleges, universities and independent schools, and emerging-growth and middle market companies.

Donna assists her clients “in the business of doing business.” She provides advice with respect to business organization, business operations and contracting, entity governance, asset and endowment management, finance (including tax-exempt conduit public finance through the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority/CHEFA), bank borrowing, capital raising, securities offerings, securities law compliance, equity compensation, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions. Donna strives to learn about the business and industry of each of her clients so that she may provide practical and relevant advice. Her clients often call her so that she may be a sounding board to help them think through an issue and offer pragmatic approaches to address the matter at hand.

Throughout her career, Donna has also represented institutional investors, venture capital funds, mezzanine funds and other private investment funds, as well as governmental and quasi-governmental entities in their programmatic and financial assistance activities. Donna has advised private investment funds in making numerous portfolio investments in diverse industries, including retail and consumer goods, manufacturing and health services. Donna has also represented institutional investors in making alternative investments with varying investment objectives, which have included channel finance, credit default obligations, low-income housing and historic rehabilitation tax credits and real estate, both in the United States and internationally.

Throughout her career, Donna has also represented institutional investors, venture capital funds, mezzanine funds and other private investment funds, as well as governmental and quasi-governmental entities in their programmatic and financial assistance activities. Donna has advised private investment funds in making numerous portfolio investments in diverse industries, including retail and consumer goods, manufacturing and health services. Donna has also represented institutional investors in making alternative investments with varying investment objectives, which have included channel finance, credit default obligations, low-income housing and historic rehabilitation tax credits and real estate, both in the United States and internationally.

Credentials

Education

  • College of William and Mary, B.A., 1982, Phi Beta Kappa
  • University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1985

Bar Admissions

  • Connecticut, 1985

Distinctions

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Corporate Law (2020-2027)
  • Listed in Legal 500: Connecticut Elite: Corporate M&A (2026)
  • Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Securities & Corporate Finance (2006, 2008-2010, 2012)
  • BV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Chair of the Connecticut Department of Banking, Securities Advisory Council

Professional Affiliations

  • National Association of College and University Attorneys
  • American Bar Association
  • Connecticut Bar Association
  • Hartford County Bar Association

Experience

General

Act as Outside General Counsel to Major Regional Dairy Cooperative

Represent premier regional dairy farmer cooperative which produces award winning cheeses and other products.  Representation includes contracting, finance, cooperative governance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and litigation.

General Counsel to Global Automotive Technology Leader

Assist global automotive technology leader in engine-based fuel and air management systems, specializing in gasoline and diesel fuel injection systems. Our representation involves licensing, supply chain contracts, product development, environmental matters, real estate, import/export compliance, and employment and employee benefit matters.

Expanded National Footprint for Architectural Firm

Assisted architectural firm in expanding its national footprint through the acquisition of multiple offices across the U.S. from the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm.

National Architectural Firm

Assist architecture firm that has integrated construction services, landscape architecture, structural engineering, and interior design.  Our representation involves governance, contracting, employment and employee benefit matters, finance, and mergers and acquisitions.
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Donna Brooks bio photo

Hartford, CT

860.251.5917

dbrooks@goodwin.com

Areas of Focus

  • Business and Corporate
  • Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures
  • Outside General Counsel
  • Private Equity and Venture Capital
  • Finance
  • Mezzanine Finance
  • Public Finance
  • Higher Education
  • Independent Schools
  • Nonprofits and Exempt Organizations

Related Industries

  • Food and Beverage
  • Manufacturing
  • Life Sciences
  • Startups
  • Education
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