Skawenniio Barnes
Partner
(o) 203.325.5055
sbarnes@fdh.com
Vcard
Ska is a partner in FDH’s Corporate group. She represents clients in general corporate and domestic and cross-border transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, equity financings, investments, and corporate governance.
Ska’s practice is focused on representing private funds, as well as their portfolio companies, in their investment and M&A activities. She also regularly advises private companies in general corporate matters, including corporate governance, capital raising activities, strategic commercial agreements, and restructurings.
Representative transactions include:
- Representing middle-market private equity funds across the life-cycle of their buyout investments, including platform acquisitions, equity financings, add-on transactions, and sale processes.
- Representing growth equity and venture capital funds in financings involving early-stage and high growth companies, including preferred equity issuances, secondary sales, warrants, convertible debt and SAFEs.
- Stock and asset acquisitions, including carve-out transactions.
She has experience across various industries, such as technology, consumer products and services, financial services and asset management and healthcare, and represents clients in transactions involving companies with domestic and international operations. Ska’s extensive experience across all types of corporate transactions has allowed her to counsel clients on complex and time-sensitive transactions with a practical, business-minded sensibility.
Ska currently serves on the firm’s Strategic Planning Committee and has co-chaired FDH's Women's Initiative Network. Before joining the firm, she practiced in the corporate department at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York. Originally from Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Canada, she resides in Stamford, CT with her husband, two children, and three samoyeds.
Outside of work, Ska enjoys gardening and international travel. She also serves on the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Leadership Circle and has supported small businesses in her community through pro bono.
Representative Matters
- Represented a multi-national asset manager in its strategic investment in a U.S. registered investment advisor
- Represented private equity sponsor in the acquisition of one of the largest executive coaching and peer advisory businesses in the world
- Represented private equity sponsor in acquisition of celebrity-founded beauty brand
- Represented private equity sponsor in a recapitalization of a car wash business and subsequent add-on acquisitions and sale-leaseback transactions
- Represented lead investor in growth equity investments in the consumer industry, including beauty, health and wellness, and pet food
Honors
-
National Aboriginal Achievement Award, Indspire (2010)
Associations
- Inaugural Cohort Member and Steering Committee, Indigenous Leadership Circle (Canada)
- Chair of Ad Hoc Young Lawyers Committee, Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity (2021)
Practice Areas
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Corporate Governance
- Securities & Equity Financing Transactions
Previous Experience
- Associate, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D.
- Harvard Kennedy School, M.P.P.
- Yale University, B.A.
Admissions
- Connecticut
- New York
o: 203.325.5055
sbarnes@fdh.com
Vcard
Ska is a partner in FDH’s Corporate group. She represents clients in general corporate and domestic and cross-border transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, equity financings, investments, and corporate governance.
Ska’s practice is focused on representing private funds, as well as their portfolio companies, in their investment and M&A activities. She also regularly advises private companies in general corporate matters, including corporate governance, capital raising activities, strategic commercial agreements, and restructurings.
Representative transactions include:
- Representing middle-market private equity funds across the life-cycle of their buyout investments, including platform acquisitions, equity financings, add-on transactions, and sale processes.
- Representing growth equity and venture capital funds in financings involving early-stage and high growth companies, including preferred equity issuances, secondary sales, warrants, convertible debt and SAFEs.
- Stock and asset acquisitions, including carve-out transactions.
She has experience across various industries, such as technology, consumer products and services, financial services and asset management and healthcare, and represents clients in transactions involving companies with domestic and international operations. Ska’s extensive experience across all types of corporate transactions has allowed her to counsel clients on complex and time-sensitive transactions with a practical, business-minded sensibility.
Ska currently serves on the firm’s Strategic Planning Committee and has co-chaired FDH's Women's Initiative Network. Before joining the firm, she practiced in the corporate department at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York. Originally from Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Canada, she resides in Stamford, CT with her husband, two children, and three samoyeds.
Outside of work, Ska enjoys gardening and international travel. She also serves on the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Leadership Circle and has supported small businesses in her community through pro bono.
Representative Matters
- Represented a multi-national asset manager in its strategic investment in a U.S. registered investment advisor
- Represented private equity sponsor in the acquisition of one of the largest executive coaching and peer advisory businesses in the world
- Represented private equity sponsor in acquisition of celebrity-founded beauty brand
- Represented private equity sponsor in a recapitalization of a car wash business and subsequent add-on acquisitions and sale-leaseback transactions
- Represented lead investor in growth equity investments in the consumer industry, including beauty, health and wellness, and pet food
Honors
-
National Aboriginal Achievement Award, Indspire (2010)
Associations
- Inaugural Cohort Member and Steering Committee, Indigenous Leadership Circle (Canada)
- Chair of Ad Hoc Young Lawyers Committee, Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity (2021)
Practice Areas
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Corporate Governance
- Securities & Equity Financing Transactions
Previous Experience
- Associate, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D.
- Harvard Kennedy School, M.P.P.
- Yale University, B.A.
Admissions
- Connecticut
- New York