BCLP’s new partner class brings transatlantic reach and broad practice depth

Following a vote of the partnership, 15 lawyers have been promoted to partner at BCLP, effective January 1, 2027.

This year's class comes from eight offices across the US and Europe: Atlanta, Berlin, Denver, Irvine, Kansas City, London, New York and St. Louis. Together, they represent a range of key practices, including Business & Commercial Disputes; Energy, Environment & Infrastructure; M&A & Corporate Finance; Planning & Zoning; Real Estate; Restructuring & Insolvency; and Tax & Private Client.

“Each of these lawyers has earned the trust of our clients and colleagues through sound judgment, hard work and a genuine commitment to collaboration,” said BCLP CEO Steve Baumer. “We’re proud to welcome them to the partnership and look forward to the leadership they’ll bring to our firm.”

The new partners are:

George Avery, London
George Avery is an M&A and PE lawyer who advises sponsors, strategics and management on a range of domestic and cross-border transactions, including buyouts, minority investments and bolt-ons. He has particular experience in the Food & Agribusiness and Financial Services sectors, and has been a key member of the client teams for several firmwide private equity and corporate clients. George has recently been recognized by Legal500 as a “key lawyer” in our London M&A team.

Nick Bedo, Atlanta
Nick Bedo handles complex, large-scale litigation involving commercial disputes, products liability and mass torts, copyright and trademark matters, and sports and fiduciary litigation. A significant portion of his recent work involves major PFAS mass tort litigation. He also represents teams and universities on contract issues and emerging NIL disputes. Nick is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch and as a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star.

Connor Blevins, Denver
Connor Blevins focuses on energy transactions for renewable and non-renewable energy projects, including mergers and acquisitions, project development, purchase and sale of energy projects, and corporate matters. He also represents project developers in the carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS) industry. He advises on the financing, formation and operation of joint ventures and partnerships, as well as complex commercial agreements for renewable energy, oil and gas, and CCUS projects.

Courtney Brand, Kansas City
Courtney Brand’s practice focuses on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. She also advises on private equity investments, reorganizations and corporate governance matters. She represents public and private companies across a broad variety of industries. Clients describe her as dependable, responsive and attentive to detail.

Jordan Buchheit, St. Louis
Jordan Buchheit practices in the M&A & Corporate Finance group and is also a member of our Sports, Media & Entertainment team. He regularly advises public and private companies, private business owners and investors on a broad range of complex domestic and cross-border transactions and other related matters. He was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2026.

Brittainy Cavender, St. Louis
Brittainy Cavender advises clients on a broad range of environmental, health and safety matters, including enforcement actions, litigation and transactional issues. Her work frequently involves the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. She serves as the chair of the Missouri Bar Association’s Environmental and Energy Law Committee and sits on the board of directors for NAMI St. Louis.

Matias Gallego-Manzano, New York
Matias Gallego-Manzano is a commercial litigator who handles matters involving commercial contracts, financial services, distressed assets and real estate disputes, from inception through trial. His practice includes contract disputes, high-value loan enforcement and workout matters, guaranty litigation, environmental and construction disputes, commercial landlord-tenant matters and claims involving fraud, fiduciary duties and other business torts. In addition to his client work, Matias is an active leader within the firm and the legal profession. He serves as the New York office liaison for the firm’s Race Ethnicity Inclusion Network (REIN), has held numerous mentorship and recruiting roles, and previously served as regional co-chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Hispanic National Bar Association. He is also a dedicated pro bono advocate who has successfully represented multiple asylum seekers in immigration proceedings. Before becoming a lawyer, Matias taught social studies and mathematics in Miami, Florida, an experience that continues to inform his leadership style, commitment to mentorship and ability to explain complex issues in a clear and practical manner. Matias was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2023 through 2026.

Ben Hogan, Denver
Ben Hogan is a first-chair litigator who represents clients nationwide in complex business disputes and appeals. He has tried cases to juries in federal and state courts and argued appeals in the Fourth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits and various state appellate courts, securing precedent-setting victories across practice areas. His briefing experience includes petition- and merits-stage work in the US Supreme Court. A member of the firm’s Appellate and Supreme Court Group and Business & Commercial Disputes Practice Group, Ben’s practice spans class actions, healthcare litigation, products liability, trade secrets, intellectual property and regulatory compliance. He also maintains an active pro bono practice, which includes helping to overturn wrongful convictions with the Innocence Project. Ben clerked for Judge Robert B. King of the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Stephen Kozey, Denver
Stephen Kozey focuses on M&A and related transactions, including LBOs, carveouts, joint ventures, minority investments and restructurings. He advises private equity sponsors, public and private companies, founders and management teams across many industries. Before returning to BCLP, he was general counsel at a Nasdaq-traded company.

Alex Liebetrau, Kansas City
Alex Liebetrau focuses on commercial real estate, handling acquisitions, dispositions, financing, development and leasing for office, retail, industrial and mixed-use properties. She also advises on commercial real estate transactions within the energy sector. She represents utility companies in the acquisition of electric energy generating projects, including build-transfer transactions across the US. She is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Real Estate Law.

Jonathan Pruitt, Atlanta
Jonathan Pruitt (JP) advises public and private companies on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and corporate reorganizations. His clients work in manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, private equity, technology and infrastructure. He was part of a team recognized with The M&A Advisor’s 2026 Energy Deal of the Year (Over $1B) award.

David Root, Irvine
David Root is a trial attorney who represents businesses and individuals in complex real estate disputes, M&A litigation and distressed asset matters. His real estate work includes loan workouts, foreclosure actions and commercial property disputes. His M&A practice covers post-closing disputes, purchase price adjustments and fiduciary duty claims.

Christian Spatz, Berlin
Christian Spatz advises on insolvency and restructuring law, including distressed M&A, and has practiced in this area since 2010. He works with companies in crisis as well as directors, shareholders, investors, lenders and insolvency administrators. He is recognized in The Best Lawyers in Germany for Restructuring and Insolvency Law.

Ed Tjaden, St. Louis
Ed Tjaden develops personalized estate planning strategies for individuals and families. As a member of our Fiduciary Litigation Team, he also represents clients in trust and estate administration disputes. He served as a Specialist in the US Army. In law school, he was president of the Student Veterans Association and was named the 2018 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellow.

Sheridan Treger, London
Sheridan Treger handles all forms of planning and development work. His particular focus is development consent orders for nationally significant energy infrastructure and major retail, commercial, residential and mixed-use schemes. He has advised UK and international developers, utility companies and local authorities. Sheridan is recognized for Planning & Zoning in both Legal 500 and Chambers UK 2027, which named him an Associate to Watch.