A.J. Swartwood
A.J. Swartwood is a corporate attorney with over seven years of experience advising middle-market and founder-led businesses across the full transaction lifecycle. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture capital transactions, with particular emphasis on sell-side representations in private, middle-market deals, including strategic and private equity acquisitions, add-on transactions, and restructurings. A.J. serves as a trusted advisor to founders and executives on deal structure, risk allocation, post-closing governance, and corporate housekeeping matters.
Prior to joining Kirton McConkie, A.J. practiced at Farrell Fritz, P.C. in New York City, and began his career at Willkie Farr & Gallagher, LLP, where he advised public and private companies, private equity sponsors, and asset managers on transactions ranging from $75 million to $35 billion in value. A.J. is known for practical deal judgment, efficient execution, and collaborative client service from letter of intent through closing.
* Practice in Utah authorized from April 2, 2026, to October 2, 2027, under Rule 14-809 of the Rules Governing the Utah State Bar. Supervised by Rob Yates, a member of the Utah State Bar.
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law, JD, 2017
- Honors: Goldsten Award for Outstanding Classroom Achievement
- Activities: National Baseball Arbitration Competition; Peer Advisor; Captain, National Champion Men’s Softball Team; Virginia Journal of Law and Technology
- Brigham Young University, BA, Communications and Humanities, magna cum laude, 2013
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
- Activities: Sports journalist at BYUtv; U.S. Congressional News Correspondent; UNICEF Representative; Captain, award-winning Model UN team
Experience
Publications
- Co-author, “Must Lenders Negotiate Post-Borrower CRE Default?” Citybiz.com, December 2023 (Goulston & Storrs, P.C.)
- New York
- NY State Bar Empire State Counsel Pro Bono Honoree (2022)
- Willkie Farr & Gallagher, LLP Goldsten Award for Outstanding Classroom Achievement, University of Virginia School of Law (2017)
- Board Member, Legal Aid Society (New York, NY) – youth-focused legal services nonprofit; responsibilities include governance, strategic planning, and fundraising.