Sidley Century City Office Adds Private Equity Partner From Cooley LLP

Century City – A highly regarded private equity team led by Mehdi Khodadad has joined Sidley Austin LLP from Cooley LLP, where Mr. Khodadad led that firm’s private equity practice. The team consists of Mr. Khodadad, partners Josh DuClos and Eric Kauffman, counsel Stacy Crosnicker and several associates. Mr. Khodadad, Mr. DuClos and Mr. Kauffmann are in Sidley’s Century City office, while Ms. Crosnicker is in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Khodadad and Mr. 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 healthcare. 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.”  

Mr. Kauffman concentrates on labor and employment matters, providing strategic support to the technology and life sciences sectors and their private equity and venture capital sponsors. He advises on a wide array of matters, including transactional matters, mergers and acquisitions (both buy-side and sell-side), financings, spinoffs and divestitures, and corporate structuring. 

Ms. Crosnicker counsels private equity clients and their portfolio companies on issues related to employee benefits that arise in mergers and acquisitions, and guides employers through the transition of employee benefits. She designs and implements equity incentive plans and other compensation arrangements for private and public companies.

The addition of Mr. Khodadad and his team to the firm’s M&A and Private Equity group follows the notable hires of Ken Baronsky in Greater Los Angeles and Adam Weinstein, Tony Feuerstein and John Butler in New York, all within the last twelve months. These hires continue Sidley’s demonstrated commitment to growing its M&A and Private Equity practice across key markets.

“Our recent recruiting success is the result of a very intentional push to become a dominant player in private equity,” said Brian Fahrney, global co-leader of Sidley’s M&A and Private Equity practice. “We’ve grown our global practice significantly in recent years, adding talent, resources and gaining critical client work. Sidley is a leading global firm with long-standing strengths in the energy, life sciences, insurance, technology and media industries.”

With 2,000 lawyers in 20 offices around the globe, Sidley is a premier legal adviser for clients across the spectrum of industries. Follow Sidley on Twitter @SidleyLaw.

Attorney Advertising – Sidley Austin LLP, One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, +1 312 853 7000. Sidley and Sidley Austin refer to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at www.sidley.com/disclaimer.


Venable Joined in Washington DC by IP Litigator

WASHINGTON, DC (May 14, 2019) – Venable LLP is pleased to announce that Charles J. Monterio, Jr. has joined the firm’s IP Litigation Practice as a partner in the Washington, DC office.

Mr. Monterio handles complex patent litigation cases for both plaintiffs and defendants, achieving four wins in recent years, including three trial wins. He also possesses extensive experience in patent-related strategic counseling and post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. And he has achieved this in a wide range of technologies, including the chemical industry, manufacturing processes, medical devices, electronic devices, and computer software. Prior to joining private legal practice almost 15 years ago, Mr. Monterio served on a United States Senate committee conducting legal policy studies related to IP and biotechnology.

Megan Woodworth, co-chair of the IP Litigation Practice, said, “Charles is a trial-tested attorney with ample knowledge of complex patent litigation and strategic counseling who I have known both personally and professionally for years. His experience and reputation for consistently achieving positive results for clients will complement our existing IP practice.” 

Commenting on his move to Venable, Mr. Monterio said, “I look forward to this new chapter of my career in joining this phenomenal group of IP litigators. The firm’s reputation of being focused on IP, their strong national presence, and the innovative ways in which they represent their clients were critical factors in my decision to come to Venable. The firm is also a great cultural fit for me. Among other things, I was struck by the firm’s commitment to, and forward thinking about, diversity in our profession,” he said.  

Mr. Monterio received a J.D. from Drake University Law School in 2004 and a B.S in architectural engineering and civil engineering from the University of Miami in 2001.

###

Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 850 professionals across the country, including California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients’ objectives in the U.S. and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, visit https://www.venable.com/.

About The Author