Sidley Adds Team Led by Private Equity Partner
Sidley Austin LLP has grown its private equity group with the addition of a team from Cooley LLP led by Mehdi Khodadad, who led Cooley’s private equity practice. The team consists of Khodadad, partners Josh DuClos and Eric Kauffman, counsel Stacy Crosnicker, and several associates. Khodadad, DuClos and Kauffmann are in Sidley’s Century City, California, office, while Crosnicker is based in Washington, D.C.
Khodadad and DuClos represent corporations and entrepreneurs along with their private equity and venture capital sponsors in matters related to private and public financings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, leveraged buy-outs, cross-border and other related private equity transactions. While their practice spans many industries, they are particularly active in technology and health care. Clearlake Capital Group is a long-standing client.
“Mehdi and his team are a force in the private equity market and their reputation as trusted advisers to Clearlake and a number of peer firms is widely recognized,” said Dan Clivner, co-leader of the firm’s global M&A and Private Equity practice and managing partner of the greater Los Angeles offices. “They have embraced the opportunity to join Sidley and merge their extraordinary legal talent, creativity and client relationships with our growing global team. We look forward to partnering together in L.A. and around the world.”
BMO Financial Corp. Adds Two New Members to Board
BMO Financial Corp. (BFC) announced the appointment of Christine Edwards and Charles Matthews to the BMO Financial Corp. board of directors.
Edwards, who also serves on the Board of BFC’s parent, Bank of Montreal, in Canada, chairs the Bank Regulatory practice group of Winston & Strawn LLP. She focuses on the regulation of the financial services industry, and regularly advises public company boards of directors and executive officers on corporate governance and public and regulatory policy issues. Edwards has worked for over 30 years in the financial services industry.
Matthews is president and CEO of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, which provide natural gas service to nearly 1 million customers in the city of Chicago and 54 northern suburbs. Matthews brings more than 30 years of energy industry experience in operations, finance, marketing, risk management, and mergers and acquisitions.
“Christine and Charles both bring impressive business acumen, insights and expertise from their successful careers,” said John Rau, BMO Financial Corp. chair. “The board is excited to welcome them, and we look forward to their contributions to help advance our strategic priorities.”
Edwards serves as vice chair of the board of trustees and is on the executive, audit, and nominating and governance committees for Rush University Medical Center. She also serves on the leadership board of the US Chamber of Commerce Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness in Washington D.C. Edwards received a B.A. in English and Education from the University of Maryland and a J.D. with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Matthews presently serves on the boards of Navy Pier, World Business Chicago, Chicago Urban League, Economics Club of Chicago, United Way of Metro Chicago, Illinois Utility Business Diversity Council (IUBDC), the Ounce of Prevention Fund, and Talladega College. He also actively participates in the Commercial Club of Chicago and its Civic Committee and Chicago United. Matthews earned a Master of Finance from Clark Atlanta University School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Talladega College.
Tags: BMO Financial Corp, Sidley