Todd R. Southwell is a partner in the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity practice groups. His areas of focus include mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions and general corporate representation matters. Todd is directly involved in all phases of transactions and business counseling matters, including management and board discussions, initial planning, structuring, negotiations, document drafting and implementation. He is regarded as a seasoned deal lawyer and business advisor by clients.
Private Equity and Mergers & Acquisitions Transactions: Todd has extensive experience representing both US and non-US private equity firms, portfolio companies, strategic and corporate entities, venture capital funds, family offices and individuals with acquisitions, divestitures, add-ons, mergers, roll ups, buyouts, exchange and tender offers, takeovers, leveraged buyouts, strategic alliances, capital raises, corporate reorganizations and restructurings, and joint ventures.
General Company Representation: Todd also works closely with clients on their day-to-day governance, general corporate, new venture and business-related matters. This entails contract drafting and negotiation, governing document preparation, directors’ duties, corporate governance, disclosure issue advice, compliance matters and board and manager assistance.
Todd is engaged by companies and business owners of all sizes in a variety of industries. Among the industries in which Todd has substantial transactional and business advisory involvement are the agriculture, airline, container, energy and utilities, financial institution, food and beverage, insurance, logistics, manufacturing, medical and healthcare, plastics and synthetic materials, processing and software and technology.
Prior to joining the firm, Todd was a member of the corporate practice groups for an international firm and regional firm where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions and general corporate representation matters.
- Named to Illinois Rising Stars list
- Leading Lawyers, 2017, 2018, and 2020
- Association for Corporate Growth Private Equity and Mergers and Acquisitions Committee
- Association for Corporate Growth Annual Food and Beverage Conference Co-Chairman
- Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network
- PRO | Presidents Resources Organization
- Winnetka Hockey Club, Board Member
- Speaker, “Corporate Considerations on Strategic Location and Investment Strategies for Japanese Companies in the U.S.,” Japan Institute for Overseas Investment (JOI), Tokyo, Japan, 11 September 2024
- Speaker, “Corporate Transparency Act and Current US M&A Trends,” Japan Institute for Overseas Investment (JOI), Tokyo, Japan, 11 September 2024
- Speaker, “Investing in the High-Tech Industries in the U.S.,” K&L Gates and Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI), Taipei, Taiwan, 10 September 2024
- Speaker, “Investing in the Semiconductor Industry in the U.S.,” K&L Gates and Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI), Hsinchu, Taiwan, 9 September 2024
- Roundtable Speaker, "M&A Trends in Food and Beverage," Association for Corporate Growth Chicago, 11 May 2021
- “Joint Ventures: A Primer.” Co-Author of article that was published in the Middle Market Edition of the SRR Journal.
