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Simpson Thacher Expands Chicago Office

10.28.26

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP today announced that M&A Partners Shiva Sandill and Trevor Currie have joined, and Capital Structure Solutions Partner David Gremling and Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Partner Lauren Cates will join the Firm in its newly opened Chicago office. The additions underscore the Firm’s commitment to building a premier Chicago platform, deepening its capabilities across M&A, capital structure solutions and executive compensation. Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Partner James Beebe also recently joined the Firm in New York.

“Shiva, Trevor, Dave, Lauren and James strengthen capabilities at the heart of our private capital and corporate clients’ businesses,” said Alden Millard, Chair of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Committee. “Their arrivals mark a significant step in our U.S. growth, deepening our ability to guide clients through complex transactions, capital structure challenges and executive compensation matters.”

“With these latest additions, our Chicago team is growing to nearly a dozen partners, and Shiva, Trevor, Dave and Lauren extend our reach across middle market M&A and Private Equity, Capital Structure Solutions and Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits,” said Ryan Harris, Managing Partner of the Chicago office. “We are focused on bringing the best lawyers in the market together across our transactional, financing, restructuring, advisory and litigation practices, focusing on top talent who put clients, culture and community first.”

“Simpson Thacher is a premier destination for companies and sponsors navigating their most consequential transactions. Its exceptional depth across M&A, private equity and finance creates an outstanding platform for my team to deliver for our clients, and I’m excited about what we can build together,” said Shiva.

“We look forward to working with the Chicago team and colleagues across the Firm to advise clients on their most important transactions,” added Trevor.

“Simpson Thacher’s integrated platform and deep relationships across private equity, finance and capital markets create a distinctive opportunity to help clients address their most complex capital structure needs,” said Dave. “I look forward to joining the Chicago team and working with colleagues across the Firm to deliver practical, solutions-oriented advice.”

“The Firm’s global platform, collaborative culture and reputation for advising on the most impactful deals set it apart,” said Lauren.

“I’m excited to help clients tackle the compensation issues critical to getting deals done,” added James.

Shiva and Trevor bring complementary experience advising companies and investors across the business lifecycle. Shiva’s and Trevor’s practices span M&A, venture capital, corporate finance and capital markets, including acquisitions, divestitures, buyouts and recapitalizations for public and private companies, private equity funds and venture capital funds. Shiva previously served in-house at Caterpillar Inc., the world’s largest construction- equipment manufacturer.

Dave is a restructuring lawyer who advises companies, sponsors and other stakeholders on complex capital structure matters. His experience includes chapter 11 cases, liability management exercises, recapitalizations and financing transactions across a range of industries. He will be a member of the Firm’s Capital Structure Solutions Practice.

Lauren and James advise on the creation, negotiation and implementation of executive compensation and benefits arrangements across mergers, acquisitions, strategic investments and other corporate matters, including in connection with restructurings and bankruptcies. They bring deep experience with the tax, securities and corporate governance considerations that shape compensation structures and executive benefits programs for public and private companies, financial institutions, executives and other clients.

The Chicago office serves asset management, private equity, lenders and other financial institutions, family offices and corporate clients across a broad range of transactional, financing, restructuring, regulatory and disputes matters, including clients pursuing private capital and middle-market investment strategies. Working closely with lawyers across Simpson Thacher’s global platform, the office provides clients with access to the Firm’s market-leading capabilities across M&A, private funds, financing, capital markets, banking and credit, restructuring, executive compensation and employee benefits, real estate, tax, regulatory and litigation matters.

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