Ira C. Gubernick

Co-Chair, Corporate Practice Group

Recent News:

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 250 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in Best Lawyers in America 2026 Edition

Best Lawyers selected more than 250 Cozen O'Connor lawyers from 26 of the firm's US offices for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Ira serves as co-chair of the Corporate Practice and as a member of the firm’s board of directors. He leads corporate transactions on behalf of public and private companies, funds and family offices, dynamic startups, and ambitious entrepreneurs.

His current practice focuses on the areas of mergers and acquisitions, strategic joint ventures, private equity and growth transactions, restructurings, financings, and business advising. Ira advises clients across numerous industries, including health care, technology, gaming, manufacturing, wholesale, and retail and he serves as lead counsel on diverse deals valued in the millions to billions of dollars.

Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor, Ira practiced at several other international and regional law firms, and served for more than a decade as an in-house general counsel and business development executive.

Ira received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and earned his B.A. in accounting, with distinction, from The George Washington University. He is a member of the accounting academic society, Beta Alpha Psi; the business academic society, Beta Gamma Sigma; and the leadership honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa. At The George Washington University, Ira served as president of the Student Association and a university trustee. He was the inaugural recipient of the School of Business’s Distinguished Scholar Award.

Outside of his legal practice, Ira serves on the Leadership Advisory Council of The George Washington University, executive board of the Philadelphia Art Museum’s Corporate Partners Program, and is an active volunteer and fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research.

Ira is an incredible advocate and attorney. He has demonstrated an ability to work with a wide range of transaction partners.
Chambers and Partners USA 2024
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Experience

Represented a steel fabrication and erection company in connection with the acquisition of a steel company with operations in the United States and India.


Represented a health care real estate investment and management company in its acquisition of 10 skilled nursing facilities in California and a simultaneous master lease of the facilities to a long-term care advisory and services organization.


Represented QuickFrame, a developer of an online video marketing platform, in its sale to MNTN, a provider of online digital advertising software. 


Represented a New York-based private equity firm in its add-on acquisition of several funeral home and cemetery businesses.


Represented a dance sneaker manufacturer and retail company in its equity raise of seed capital from members of an organization of seed capital angel investors.


Represented an emerging business that provides supply purchasing solutions to business in the creation of a $20 million senior credit facility.


Represented NewSpring Capital in its Series D equity investment in Deposco, Inc., a provider of cloud-based fulfillment software.


Represented Omega Systems, LLC, a cloud hosting and managed IT services provider, in its sale of a majority stake in the company to private equity firm Pfingsten Partners, L.L.C. 


Represented Darco Capital, the family office investment vehicle of David J. Adelman, in its acquisition of American Harvest Vodka and Beach Whiskey brands of distilled spirits and liquors.


Represented the owners in the sale of more than 25 franchises in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and exclusive territorial rights, to a growing franchisee. The owners sold the business operations only, with the franchisee continuing to lease many of the restaurants from the sellers. 


Represented a New York-based private equity firm in its acquisition of substantially all of the assets and all cemetery properties of the 10 facilities comprising Savannah Family of Funeral Homes and Savannah Family Cemeteries located in Savannah, Ga., and the one facility known as Kurzawa Funeral Home located in South Amboy, NJ.


Represented one of the nation's largest providers of post-acute care services in connection with a strategic joint venture that purchased from REIT landlords the real estate and buildings of 18 skilled nursing facilities that are leased by the client. The transaction also involved the sale of eight skilled nursing facilities by the client to third parties.


News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 250 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in Best Lawyers in America 2026 Edition

August 21, 2025

Best Lawyers selected more than 250 Cozen O'Connor lawyers from 26 of the firm's US offices for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Legal 500 Recognizes Seven Cozen O'Connor Practice Areas and 15 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its 2025 Legal Guide

July 02, 2025

For more than 30 years, The Legal 500 has assessed the strengths of law firms in more than 100 jurisdictions. The rankings use a series of criteria, including client feedback, submissions from law firms, and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.

Cozen O’Connor Lawyers and Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2025 Guide

June 05, 2025

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 98 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2025 edition.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Legal 500 Recognizes Six Cozen O’Connor Practice Areas and 16 Attorneys in its 2023 Guide

July 10, 2023

Cozen O'Connor's Aviation (Litigation/Regulation), Construction, L&E, M&A (Midmarket), Shipping (Finance and Litigation/Regulation) practices were ranked by the Legal 500.

Cozen O’Connor’s Corporate Practice and Multiple Attorneys Recognized in IFLR1000 2022 Edition

October 24, 2022

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that the firm’s Corporate Practice and multiple attorneys in the firm’s Corporate and Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practices have been recognized by IFLR1000 in its 2022 edition.

Cozen O'Connor Names Four Shareholders to Board of Directors

September 12, 2022

Cozen O’Connor has elected shareholders Susan Eisenberg, Gene Giotto, Ira Gubernick, and Gina Smith to the firm’s board of directors.

Cozen O’Connor’s Corporate Practice and Multiple Attorneys Recognized by IFLR1000

September 16, 2021

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that the firm’s Corporate Practice and multiple attorneys in the firm’s Corporate and Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practices have been recognized by IFLR1000.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

ACC Greater Philadelphia - Corporate Counsel University

February 13, 2018 - Philadelphia, PA

Industry Sectors

Education

  • New York University School of Law, J.D., 1989
  • George Washington University, B.Acy., with high distinction, 1986

Awards & Honors

Chambers and Partners USA, 2024-2025

Best Lawyers in America, 2026

IFLR1000, Highly Regarded, 2019-2025

Philadelphia Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2017

  • Pennsylvania
  • Co-Vice Chairman, IMPACT 2014 Capital Conference; Co-Chairman, IMPACT 2015 Capital Conference
  • Executive Board of the Corporate Partners Program, Philadelphia Art Museum, 2013 – 2020, 2022
  • Executive Council, The George Washington University Luther Rice Society
  • Executive Leadership Team, American Heart Association's 2014 Heart Ball
  • Active Participant, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
  • Leadership Advisory Council, The George Washington University