J. Allen Overby
Member
Nashville
(615) 742-6211
aoverby@bassberry.com
https://www.bassberry.com/professionals/overby-j-allen/
Allen Overby has counseled some of the nation’s most influential companies with respect to mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, public company disclosure obligations, and a wide range of securities regulation matters. Allen’s practice focuses primarily on public companies and middle market M&A transactions between $50 million and $1 billion, with an emphasis on cross border mergers and acquisitions and other strategic transactions.
Allen has been recognized by Chambers USA and is “described by sources as a ‘tenacious negotiator’ and a practitioner who ‘sees the big picture.’ Additionally, clients highlight his astute commercial awareness and praise him for bringing a business perspective to transactions. His practice offers considerable experience in M&A, private equity and corporate governance matters.” (from Chambers USA 2018). Allen’s practice involves:
- Mergers & Acquisitions/Cross-Border & Domestic – Representing public and private companies in connection with merger and acquisition transactions, and financing transactions (including offerings of debt and equity securities); Representing companies based in the U.S. and abroad in connection with cross-border mergers and acquisitions and strategic investments.
- Corporate Governance & Public Company Disclosure – Advising public companies on corporate governance, fiduciary duties, securities law compliance, public company disclosure obligations, executive compensation and takeover defense matters.
- Securities Regulation – Advising as independent counsel for regulatory and compliance matters. Representative matters include the Regulatory Audit of the New York Stock Exchange from 2005 to 2013 and serving as audit committee disclosure counsel to an NYSE listed global financial services company. As a former member of the staff of the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Washington, D.C., Allen also works closely with audit and special committees regarding a wide variety of issues.
Allen is a past member of the firm’s Executive Committee and the past chair of the Corporate & Securities Practice Group.
In addition to his law practice, Allen served as an adjunct professor at the Vanderbilt University Law School where he taught courses on mergers and acquisitions and the federal securities laws.
Memberships
American Health Law Association (AHLA)
Lex Mundi — Cross Border Transactions Group
Media Mentions & Firm News
Accolades
Chambers USA — Corporate M&A (2008-2009, 2013-2023)
The Best Lawyers in America© — Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities Regulation (2007-2024)
Best Lawyers® — Nashville Securities Regulation “Lawyer of the Year” (2024, 2022, 2018, 2014); Nashville Corporate Governance Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2020); Nashville Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law “Lawyer of the Year”(2019, 2017); Nashville Mergers and Acquisitions Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2012)
The Legal 500 United States 2016 — M&A/Corporate and Commercial for M&A: Middle-Market (sub-$500m)
IFLR1000 — Notable Practitioner (2019-2021)
Lawdragon “New Stars”
Mid-South Super Lawyers (2007-2008)
Mississippi Law Journal — Editorial Board Member (1987)
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Former Senior Counsel
Related Services
Related Industires
Education
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Georgetown University - LL.M., 1993
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University of Mississippi School of Law - J.D., 1987
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Millsaps College - B.A., 1985
Admissions
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Tennessee, 1997
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Mississippi, 1988
"Allen Overby maintains a strong standing in the market and advises on both public and private M&A transactions. 'Allen is a formidable lawyer. He does a very good job.'"
From Chambers USA 2022
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Georgetown University - LL.M., 1993
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University of Mississippi School of Law - J.D., 1987
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Millsaps College - B.A., 1985
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Tennessee, 1997
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Mississippi, 1988
"Allen Overby maintains a strong standing in the market and advises on both public and private M&A transactions. 'Allen is a formidable lawyer. He does a very good job.'"
From Chambers USA 2022