ROGER WILEN is a partner and private equity lawyer in Sidley’s Chicago office. Roger represents private equity funds in all phases of the investment cycle, including original platform, add-on acquisitions, portfolio company representation and ultimate divestiture. Roger structures, negotiates and documents acquisitions (and sales) of privately-owned businesses involving complex capital structures, including acquisitions structured with multiple tiers of debt (including seller financing) and equity, tax-deferred rollovers and tax-efficient equity incentive arrangements. Most of these transactions require Roger to advise his clients on and to structure and negotiate complex shareholder arrangements.
Roger advises and counsels private equity funds, portfolio companies and management teams across a wide variety of industries, including software, healthcare, consumer products, packaging, manufacturing, technology, utilities, and retailing.
Roger also represents private equity sponsors in the formation of their committed capital investment vehicles. Roger represents management teams in their employment and equity arrangements with private equity sponsors.
Roger’s representative private equity clients include Thompson Street Capital Partners, Prospect Partners, Prairie Capital, Eureka Growth Capital, and ClearPoint Investment Partners.
Roger has significant international experience through Sidley’s 10 international offices as well as previously serving as resident lawyer in Warsaw, Prague and Kiev representing Eastern European governments in the sale of state-owned enterprises and representing European, American and Canadian investors in emerging market investments and government tenders.
Roger is recognized in the 2015–2019 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law.