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Meet Our Professionals

John R. Hairr III

Partner
Charlotte | 704.335.9070
Fax | 704.334.4706

John Hairr has over 33 years of experience advising clients engaged in a full range of domestic and cross-border business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, auction-type divestitures, spinoffs, restructurings, and alternatives to traditional mergers and acquisitions transactions, such as joint ventures and strategic alliances. He also represents companies with regard to the acquisition and sale of distressed businesses, including through Section 363 bankruptcy sales.

John counsels companies regarding debt and equity financings, including acquisition financings, and he regularly advises clients with regard to a broad range of their general commercial, securities, franchise, compliance, corporate governance, and real estate needs.

John serves clients ranging from Fortune 500 corporations and closely held companies to entrepreneurial startups and local governments. He counsels non-U.S. companies who seek to enter or expand their presence in the U.S. market through acquisitions, as well as U.S. companies acquiring or selling businesses overseas. John represents clients in a wide range of industries that include consumer products and services, technology, manufacturing and distribution, lighting, automotive, steel, water and utility systems, pharmaceutical, and textiles.

Representative Experience

  • Counseled a U.S. pharmaceutical company regarding the acquisition of a drug portfolio from a multinational pharmaceutical company as well as the restructuring and spinoff of the acquisition subsidiary.
  • Represented a U.S. pharmaceutical company in connection with the sale via merger of the company to a private equity group.
  • Counseled a chain of retail grocery stores in a series of seven transactions involving the sale of its equity interests in shopping centers to an investment company.
  • Represented a Fortune 500 automotive retailer in more than 25 transactions involving the purchase and sale of more than 50 automobile dealership businesses and collision repair centers.
  • Represented counties, cities, and other governmental authorities in connection with multiple acquisitions and dispositions of water, distribution, and utility systems.
  • Counseled “stalking horse” and other bidders in connection with business acquisitions pursuant to Section 363 bankruptcy sales.
  • Advised a Fortune 500 retail company and other multinational public companies regarding internal restructurings and mergers.
  • Counseled manufacturing companies in securing long-term commodity supply agreements with established and greenfield mines throughout the world.
  • Represented a closely held domestic titanium alloy company regarding an investment in the company by a foreign strategic partner.
  • Represented a management team in connection with a management buyout of a domestic steel company and subsequent representation of the company in connection with the sale of its business to a private equity group.
  • Counseled a Fortune 500 heavy equipment manufacturing company regarding its acquisition of a domestic logistics business.
  • Represented a closely held medical and athletic products manufacturing company in connection with the sale of its medical products division to a London Stock Exchange-listed strategic buyer.
  • Counseled a publicly held U.S. Christmas ornament manufacturing company in the sale of the company via merger to a strategic buyer.
  • Represented a subsidiary of a Fortune 500 bank holding company in connection with its acquisition of an insurance company.
  • Counseled a U.S. subsidiary of a multinational public company regarding the sale of its quartz manufacturing business to an investment fund portfolio company.
  • Represented a domestic subsidiary of a multinational textile company in multiple acquisitions and sales of textile businesses and facilities and related acquisition financings.

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Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America in Corporate Law, 2013-2025; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2024-2025
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ in Business Law; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Corporate Law; Commercial Contracts; Venture Capital & Emerging Companies
  • Business North Carolina magazine's "Legal Elite" in Business Law
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Memberships

  • Providence Day School, Board of Advisors, 2023-present; InterFaith Basketball League, Coach of Fourth and Sixth Grade Boys' Teams, 2021-present
  • North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Board of Directors, 2013-2023; Chair, 2020-2022; Vice Chair, 2017-2020; Executive Committee, 2017-2023; Governance Committee, Chair, 2015-2020, Member, 2013-2023; IDEA Committee, 2020-2023
  • American Bar Association, Served as Member of Task Force of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association to Develop a Model Shareholders’ Agreement
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Membership Committee, 2010-2012; CLE Curriculum Committee, 2006-2008
  • First Presbyterian Child Development Center, Board of Advisors, 2012-2016
  • Mecklenburg County Bar Foundation, Development Committee, 2011
  • Catawba Lands Conservancy, Board of Directors, 2002-2008; Secretary and Executive Committee Member, 2004-2008; Development Committee, 2001-2009
  • Lupus Foundation of America, North Carolina Chapter (LFANC), Board of Directors, 2001-2004
  • Youth Basketball Coach at YMCA, InterFaith Basketball League, and Jewish Community Center, 1992-1998, 2008-2010, 2019-2021