Francesco Castaldi advises private equity sponsors, family offices and private companies in connection with the negotiation and structuring of complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, divestitures, private equity investments, venture capital and growth equity investments, recapitalizations and restructurings. He also has significant experience in related corporate governance, executive compensation and general corporate matters.

Lauren Cates advises public and private companies, private equity firms and investors on executive compensation and employee benefits matters in connection with mergers and acquisitions, carve-outs, strategic investments and other significant corporate transactions. She counsels clients on the compensation and benefits aspects of complex transactions, as well as the structuring and implementation of executive compensation, equity incentive and employment arrangements.

Trevor Currie advises privately held emerging and high growth companies, multinational corporations, venture capital funds, private equity funds and corporate venture groups on a range of complex business transactions. He has extensive experience counseling clients on mergers, acquisitions, private equity investments, venture capital matters, equity and debt financings, divestures, corporate restructurings and general corporate matters.

David Gremling advises companies, private equity sponsors, lenders and other stakeholders in complex corporate restructurings, special situations and liability management transactions. His practice encompasses chapter 11 cases, prepackaged and out-of-court restructurings, cross-border insolvency matters, recapitalizations, debtor-in-possession and exit financings, distressed M&A transactions and other strategic capital structure transactions. Dave has represented domestic and cross-border clients across a wide range of industries including consumer products, energy, healthcare, telecommunications, technology and sports, among others.

Ryan Harris, Managing Partner of Simpson Thacher’s Chicago office, advises private equity sponsors, family offices, and public and private companies across a broad range of complex transactions, including leveraged buyouts, domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate representations. He advises family offices on strategic, family and operational matters, including the structuring of traditional and alternative investment vehicles, management carry programs, key employee co-investment arrangements, and governance and succession. Ryan has also represented numerous private equity funds including GTCR, ParkerGale, Equity Group Investments, Beecken Petty O’Keefe & Company, Union Park Capital and Maxwell Street Capital Partners.

Ryan has been recognized by Chambers USA in “High Net Worth - Family Offices & Funds Structuring” (2023-2026) and was recognized by Best Lawyers in the areas of Corporate Law, and Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law (2026).

Ryan Jackson represents private companies and private equity and venture capital firms across a range of complex business transactions, including leveraged acquisitions and divestitures, mergers, venture and growth equity investments, corporate carve-out transactions, recapitalizations and restructurings, executive compensation and incentive equity matters. Ryan also advises families navigating key considerations for setting up a family office, including structure types, employee incentive programs, regulatory requirements and financial flexibility.

As a Partner in the Firm’s Capital Structure Solutions Practice, Jack Luze advises public and private companies, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, lenders and other capital providers on a broad range of debt financing and related transactions. He has extensive experience representing clients with respect to liability management transactions, financings, divestitures and acquisitions, and in- and out-of-court restructurings. He also advises boards of directors and senior management of distressed companies regarding fiduciary duties and corporate governance matters. 

Jack has advised a number of public and private companies regarding complex liability management, restructuring and other financing transactions in recent years, including Klöeckner Pentaplast, McDermott International, PetSmart, Envision Healthcare, Altera Infrastructure, Benefytt Technologies, IPC Systems, Oasis Petroleum, Ascena Retail Group, Windstream Holdings and Seadrill Limited. Jack has also advised a number of private equity sponsors, lenders and other capital providers in similar transactions. Jack has represented clients in a range of industries, including manufacturing, energy, oil and gas, construction, healthcare, technology and software, retail, telecommunications and financial services.

Kyle McHugh advises private equity sponsors and public and private company clients in complex transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, take-private transactions, joint ventures, divestitures, private financings, venture capital and other growth-based investments, recapitalizations and restructurings. He also has significant experience in related corporate governance, executive compensation and general corporate matters.

Cole Parker’s practice focuses on advising private equity sponsors, family offices and other investors on the structuring, negotiation and execution of complex transactions, including leveraged buyouts, take-private transactions, domestic and cross-border acquisitions, carve-outs, corporate restructurings, secondary transactions, GP stakes deals, equity financings, and venture capital and growth equity investments, as well as general corporate counseling. He also advises family offices on strategic and operational matters, including the structuring of traditional and alternative investment vehicles, management carry programs, key employee co-investment arrangements, and cash management systems designed to support the liquidity and cash flow needs of families and their investment vehicles. 

Erica focuses on ERISA fiduciary matters and works closely with the Firm’s investment fund clients on issues related to the formation and fundraising of funds, including plan asset rules and venture capital operating company and real estate operating company structuring, and other exemptions. She works closely with fund clients across numerous strategies, including private equity, real estate, infrastructure, growth, credit and debt, and many others. Her practice also includes ERISA matters in the funds’ related mergers and acquisitions and investment work.

Shiva Sandill focuses his practice on M&A, venture capital, corporate finance and capital markets transactions. He advises private and public companies, private equity funds and venture capital funds on acquisitions, divestitures, buyouts and recapitalizations, and represents emerging and middle-market companies from formation through exit, including in life sciences and healthcare.

Ziyad Ziyadzade represents private equity sponsors, family offices, and public and private companies across a broad range of strategic transactions. Based in the Firm’s Chicago office, he advises clients on complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, private equity investments, joint ventures and public offerings.