Jenner & Block announced that private equity lawyers Alan B. Rothand Christopher J. Douglass joined the firm as partners in the Chicago office as part of the Corporate, Private Equity, and Mergers and Acquisitions practices.

With more than three decades of experience, Roth leads one of the most active fund formation and small business investment company (SBIC) practices in the U.S., focused primarily on private equity fund formation, including SBIC licensing, investment and compliance, corporate acquisitions, and the representation of closely held corporations and individuals. Chambers USA has recognized him as a leader in the area of Corporate/M&A and private equity. Private equity sponsors seek Roth’s vast fund formation experience, including both in the pre-licensing and post-licensing stages of the SBIC process.

Douglass has spent most of his career representing private equity and mezzanine funds, including SBICs. He focuses on representing funds as they make, manage and exit investments, as well as counseling the funds’ portfolio companies on a wide range of business, financing, securities and governance issues.

With the addition of Roth and Douglass from Locke Lord comes one of their colleagues, Kate Price, who is joining the firm as special counsel, will significantly broaden the firm’s private equity capabilities and add more than 50 new private equity and SBIC clients. Price has also spent her career representing private equity and mezzanine funds and generally concentrates on fund formation, SBIC licensing and regulatory matters and related issues.

“We are pleased to have Alan and Chris joining Jenner & Block,” said Terrence J. Truax, the firm’s managing partner. “Alan has built a national reputation as the ‘guru’ of SBICs and is a trusted adviser to many fund principals. The talent and experience of the team will significantly expand our private equity practice and allow us to better serve our fund clients throughout the United States.”