BRIEN WASSNER is a global co-leader of Sidley’s Private Equity practice and a co-leader of the New York M&A and Private Equity group. He is also recognized in Chambers USA for Private Equity: Buyouts in New York (2022–2024). Brien represents large cap and middle market private equity sponsors and other private capital investors and asset managers, as well as their portfolio companies, in connection with complex transactions including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, financings and general corporate matters. He has extensive experience in domestic and cross border leveraged buyouts, take-privates, carve-outs, distressed investments, special situations and structured equity investments and joint venture transactions. In Chambers USA 2022, clients said that “[Brien] is a creative thinker and always finds a way to get to a solution even in complex situations” and describe Brien as “a tireless worker who provides solid commercial advice.”
Brien’s clients include private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds, family offices, hedge funds, pension funds, venture capital funds and other sponsors and asset managers, financial institutions, public and private companies and their financial advisers.
Brien often advises clients on transactions that are multijurisdictional in nature and subject to complex regulatory regimes. Representative industries include financial services and insurance, software and technology, healthcare and life sciences, media, real estate, business services, retail and consumer products, manufacturing, logistics and transportation, telecoms, energy and infrastructure.
Prior to joining Sidley, Brien was a partner at another global law firm in the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice and was one of the leaders of its Private Capital Industry group.