Luke J. Cole represents clients on matters spanning the lifecycle of the employment relationship, including negotiating and drafting employment agreements, counseling on the wide array of issues that arise during employment, and advising on separation agreements and reductions in force.
Mr. Cole particularly focuses on employment and labor matters in connection with complex transactions for both public and private clients across industries and sectors, including transactions that involve multinational workforces and collective bargaining agreements. In addition, Mr. Cole regularly reviews and drafts restrictive covenant agreements that must comply with various federal and state requirements.
Prior to joining Ropes & Gray in 2024, Mr. Cole practiced in the labor and employment group of another leading law firm in New York City.
Experience
- Represented Cardinal Health in its pending $1.115 billion acquisition of Integrated Oncology Network, an independent community oncology network.
- Represented Genstar Capital in its pending majority investment in Flourish Research, a multi-site clinical trial organization.
- Represented Kohlberg & Company in its majority investment in CLEAResult, a provider of energy efficiency and sustainability services.
- Represented TSG Consumer Partners in its investment in Summer Fridays, a premium skincare and makeup brand.
- Represented American Industrial Partners in its acquisition of Veolia North America’s sulfuric acid regeneration business.
- Represented Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steelmaker, in its $14.1 billion pending acquisition of U.S. Steel.
- Represented an insurance company in connection with investigating and preparing a position statement in response to a charge of discrimination filed with a state anti-discrimination agency.
- Represented Trimble Inc. in the contribution and sale of its agricultural business to a joint venture formed with AGCO Corporation, a transaction that involved employees on five continents.*
- Represented Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in the sale of its railcar leasing business to American Industrial Transport, a portfolio company of ITE Management LP.*
- Represented Splunk Inc. in its $28 billion sale to Cisco Systems, Inc.*
- Represented Ball Corporation in the $5.6 billion sale of its aerospace business to BAE Systems.*
- Represented PPL Corporation in its $3.8 billion acquisition of Rhode Island’s largest electric and gas utility, the Narragansett Electric Company.*
- Represented Pandion Therapeutics in its $1.85 billion acquisition by a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.*
- Represented the New York Mets baseball club in its successful salary arbitration against player J.D. Davis, the first ever salary arbitration win for the Mets.*
*Prior to joining Ropes & Gray