Ranking tables
Private Equity: Buyouts | USA
Illinois
Rankings overview for Lawyers
Amit Mehta Paul Hastings LLP16 Years Ranked
Brooks B Gruemmer McDermott Will & Schulte16 Years Ranked
Douglas C Gessner Kirkland & Ellis19 Years Ranked
Kimberly A deBeers Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates21 Years Ranked
Kimberly T. Smith Katten5 Years Ranked
Matthew J Richards Ropes & Gray LLP5 Years Ranked
Bradley Schmarak Reed Smith LLP19 Years Ranked
Chris E Abbinante Sidley Austin LLP9 Years Ranked
Christopher Sheaffer Paul Hastings LLP6 Years Ranked
Gary R Silverman White & Case LLP19 Years Ranked
Michael B Gray Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP15 Years Ranked
Michael Shaw Much Shelist, P.C.3 Years Ranked
Mitchell Roth Much Shelist, P.C.6 Years Ranked
Richard J Campbell Kirkland & Ellis5 Years Ranked
Ted M Frankel Kirkland & Ellis6 Years Ranked
Teri Lindquist Perkins Coie LLP13 Years Ranked
Alexis Cooper Sidley Austin LLP1 Years Ranked- Andrew W McCune Holland & Knight LLP19 Years Ranked
Brendan Head Kirkland & Ellis12 Years Ranked
Christopher S. Atkinson Katten1 Years Ranked
Corey Fox Kirkland & Ellis5 Years Ranked
Geoffrey C Cockrell McGuireWoods LLP1 Years Ranked
Gregory Metz McDermott Will & Schulte5 Years Ranked
Harris Eisenberg DLA Piper LLP (US)7 Years Ranked
James R Cruger Perkins Coie LLP14 Years Ranked
Jeffrey Smith Sidley Austin LLP14 Years Ranked
Kristian Werling McDermott Will & Schulte5 Years Ranked
Mark R Grossmann Katten5 Years Ranked
Michael A Nemeroff Vedder Price PC17 Years Ranked
Raymond F. Bogenrief Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates4 Years Ranked
Richard Radnay Paul Hastings LLP5 Years Ranked
Steven V Napolitano Kirkland & Ellis23 Years Ranked
Timothy Castelli Ropes & Gray LLP3 Years Ranked
All Lawyers profiles
Senior Statespeople
S Stephen L Ritchie
Kirkland & Ellis | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Senior Statespeople | 20 Years RankedStephen Ritchie's practice includes representing private equity firms and portfolio companies in major transactions. He regularly advises on complex acquisitions and sales.
Eminent Practitioners
E Jon A BallisKirkland & Ellis | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Eminent Practitioners | 22 Years RankedJon Ballis is chairman of Kirkland & Ellis. He is a highly experienced practitioner who is well versed in representing private equity firms in substantial transactions.
Band 1
1 Brian F Richards
Paul Hastings LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 1 | 19 Years RankedBrian Richards is a strong presence in the market who is notably active representing private equity clients in the sale of companies. He regularly handles international mandates.
1 Neill Jakobe
Ropes & Gray LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 1 | 11 Years RankedNeill Jakobe acts on high value transactions in the private equity space. He advises on acquisitions and dispositions, among other deals.
1 Sanford E PerlKirkland & Ellis | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 1 | 22 Years RankedSanford Perl is a leading corporate lawyer who represents prominent private equity firms. His experience includes acting on multibillion-dollar mergers.
Band 2
2 Amit MehtaPaul Hastings LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 2 | 16 Years RankedAmit Mehta is a key partner in the team. He assists private equity clients with the acquisition of businesses.2 Brooks B Gruemmer
McDermott Will & Schulte | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 2 | 16 Years RankedBrooks Gruemmer represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies, among other clients. He often works on sales and acquisitions.2 Douglas C GessnerKirkland & Ellis | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 2 | 19 Years RankedDouglas Gessner has a practice which includes recapitalizations and the formation of private equity funds. He also frequently handles acquisitions and sales.2 Kimberly A deBeers
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 2 | 21 Years RankedKimberly deBeers' experience includes advising portfolio companies on transactions. Her practice regularly sees her handling international deals.2 Kimberly T. Smith
Katten | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedKimberly Smith is recognized for her capabilities in M&A. She has additional expertise in LBOs and joint ventures. She serves as the global chair of Katten's corporate department.2 Matthew J RichardsRopes & Gray LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedMatthew Richards has an impressive practice that includes advising on international deals. He is experienced in handling acquisitions and divestitures for private equity firms.
Band 3
3 Bradley Schmarak
Reed Smith LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 3 | 19 Years RankedBradley Schmarak is adept at handling transactions in the private equity space. He possesses experience in recapitalizations and debt and equity raises.3 Chris E Abbinante
Sidley Austin LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 3 | 9 Years RankedChris Abbinante represents private equity sponsors and corporations in large transactions. He has experience in the life sciences sector.3 Christopher SheafferPaul Hastings LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 3 | 6 Years RankedChristopher Sheaffer acts for clients in the space on various acquisitions. Sheaffer chairs Paul Hastings' corporate department in Chicago and is recognized for his growing profile.3 Gary R Silverman
White & Case LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 3 | 19 Years RankedGary Silverman represents private equity funds in acquisitions and is active on work with international scope. He is well known in the market, and commentators note his experience in the space.3 Michael B Gray
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 3 | 15 Years RankedMichael Gray is adept at handling private equity and venture capital matters. His expertise covers financings and fund formations.3 Michael Shaw
Much Shelist, P.C. | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years RankedMichael Shaw offers clients deep experience in the private equity space. He heads the private equity and add-on acquisitions practices at Much Shelist.3 Mitchell RothMuch Shelist, P.C. | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 3 | 6 Years RankedMitchell Roth represents private equity firms in transactions such as platform acquisitions. His clients also include investors and entrepreneurs.3 Richard J CampbellKirkland & Ellis | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 3 | 5 Years RankedRichard Campbell frequently handles M&A and capital markets transactions. He is experienced in advising on cross-border matters.3 Ted M FrankelKirkland & Ellis | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 3 | 6 Years RankedTed Frankel represents a range of clients that include private equity sponsors. He has strong skills in acquisitions, divestitures and recapitalizations.3 Teri Lindquist
Perkins Coie LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 3 | 13 Years RankedTeri Lindquist represents private equity firms in acquisitions and frequently acts on fund formation work. She has further expertise in leveraged buyouts and workouts.
Band 4
4 Alexis CooperSidley Austin LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedAlexis Cooper is an highly respected name in the Illinois private equity market. She represents high profile clients in a broad range of transactions.
4 Andrew W McCune
Holland & Knight LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 19 Years RankedAndrew McCune of Holland & Knight represents private equity firms in transactions such as platform acquisitions. He has further expertise in deals such as divestitures.4 Brendan HeadKirkland & Ellis | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 12 Years RankedBrendan Head is engaged on numerous transactions in the private equity space. He has experience acting on acquisitions and joint ventures.4 Christopher S. AtkinsonKatten | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedChristopher Atkinson advises both corporate and private equity clients, as well as venture capital firms, on a range of transactions. His broad sector expertise overs technology and life sciences.
4 Corey FoxKirkland & Ellis | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedCorey Fox is a respected practitioner who works on a host of deals. His expertise covers financings and M&A.4 Geoffrey C Cockrell
McGuireWoods LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedGeoffrey Cockrell is the chair of the firm's private equity group. He has built an excellent reputation for the quality of his advice, with a focus on transactions in the healthcare space.
4 Gregory MetzMcDermott Will & Schulte | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedGregory Metz acts on private equity transactions. He often advises on deals within the construction, healthcare and manufacturing sectors.4 Harris Eisenberg
DLA Piper LLP (US) | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 7 Years RankedHarris Eisenberg is an established name in the Illinois private equity space. He advises on a broad range of transactions, with expertise spanning industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and technology.
4 James R CrugerPerkins Coie LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 14 Years RankedJames Cruger is a notable lawyer in private equity transactions. He often handles deals such as M&A and divestitures.4 Jeffrey SmithSidley Austin LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 14 Years RankedJeffrey Smith represents private equity firms in acquisitions and stock sales. He also handles joint ventures, mergers and restructurings.4 Kristian WerlingMcDermott Will & Schulte | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedKristian Werling is highlighted by market sources for his experience in private equity transactions. He is experienced in handling healthcare deals.4 Mark R GrossmannKatten | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedMark Grossmann's practice incorporates expertise in both strategic and private equity M&A. He often advises on cross-border transactions.4 Michael A Nemeroff
Vedder Price PC | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 17 Years RankedMichael Nemeroff acts for corporations and private equity firms on M&A. He often advises on cross-border mandates.4 Raymond F. BogenriefSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedRaymond Bogenrief has an excellent reputation for his work representing clients in private equity and acquisitions.4 Richard RadnayPaul Hastings LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedRichard Radnay works on a range of transactions including domestic and cross-border M&A. His sector expertise covers healthcare, life sciences and technology.4 Steven V NapolitanoKirkland & Ellis | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 23 Years RankedSteven Napolitano's clients include private equity firms. He frequently acts on M&A and leveraged buyouts.4 Timothy CastelliRopes & Gray LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedTimothy Castelli assists significant players in the private equity market with a range of transactions. His broad industry expertise includes experience in technology and pharmaceuticals.
Up and Coming
U Kelly PadgettPaul Hastings LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Up and Coming | 5 Years RankedKelly Padgett frequently assists with divestitures and acquisitions for private equity firms.
Associates to watch
Daniel MilesPaul Hastings LLP | Private Equity: Buyouts2025 | Associates to watch | 2 Years RankedDaniel Miles is a rising associate with a growing reputation. He advises clients on high profile sales and acquisitions.