A Partner based in the Firm’s Chicago office, Cole Parker’s practice focuses on advising private equity sponsors, family offices and other investors on the structuring, negotiation and execution of complex business transactions. He represents clients in a broad range of matters, 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 and family office advisory work. Cole has handled matters for numerous private equity sponsors, including A&M Capital, Thoma Bravo, THL, Sheridan Capital Partners, KPS Capital Partners, New Water Capital, ParkerGale, Beecken Petty O’Keefe, Citadel and Pritzker Private Capital.
A leader in the private investment and family office space, Cole 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.
Cole has advised on transactions across a wide variety of industries, including software, technology, business and consumer services, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, food and automotive.
Cole’s notable experience prior to joining Simpson Thacher includes advising:
- Private equity sponsor in the execution of definitive agreement to acquire a human capital management software company for $12.3 billion
- Private equity sponsor in its $10.5 billion global carve-out acquisition from a publicly listed company of an aviation software business
- Private equity sponsor in its $8 billion take-private acquisition of a business spend management software company
- Private equity sponsor in its $5 billion cross-border carve-out acquisition from a publicly listed company of an automated robotic and automated systems business
- Private equity sponsor in its $3 billion disposition of software provider serving automotive industry
- Private equity sponsor in its $1.8 billion take-private acquisition of a provider of critical event management software
- Private equity sponsor in its $1.2 billion sale of pre-packaged food business
- Family office in the sale of a billion-dollar family business
- Family office in the spin-out of its direct investment team and $500 million GP stake investment in resulting investment business
- Family office in its acquisition of minority interest in NFL sports franchise
- Family office in the spin-out of its venture investment team and $500 million GP stake investment in resulting venture investment business
- Family office in its $500 million GP stake investment in an emerging private equity manager
- Formation of multi-billion investment management and family governance platform for family office serving an international royal family
He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Indiana University Maurer School of Law, his M.B.A from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business and his B.S., summa cum laude, from Utah State University.