Simpson Thacher & Bartlett added M&A partners Shiva Sandill and Trevor Currie, capital structure solutions partner David Gremling and executive compensation and employee benefits partner Lauren Cates to its newly opened Chicago office. Executive compensation and employee benefits partner James Beebe also recently joined the firm in New York.
“Shiva, Trevor, Dave, Lauren and James strengthen capabilities at the heart of our private capital and corporate clients’ businesses,” Alden Millard, chair of Simpson Thacher’s executive committee, said. “Their arrivals mark a significant step in our U.S. growth, deepening our ability to guide clients through complex transactions, capital structure challenges and executive compensation matters.”
Ryan Harris, managing partner of the Chicago office, added, “With these latest additions, our Chicago team is growing to nearly a dozen partners, and Shiva, Trevor, Dave and Lauren extend our reach across middle market M&A and private equity, capital structure solutions and executive compensation and employee benefits. We are focused on bringing the best lawyers in the market together across our transactional, financing, restructuring, advisory and litigation practices, focusing on top talent who put clients, culture and community first.”
Sandill said, “Simpson Thacher is a premier destination for companies and sponsors navigating their most consequential transactions. Its exceptional depth across M&A, private equity and finance creates an outstanding platform for my team to deliver for our clients, and I’m excited about what we can build together.”
Currie said, “We look forward to working with the Chicago team and colleagues across the Firm to advise clients on their most important transactions.”
Gremling said, “Simpson Thacher’s integrated platform and deep relationships across private equity, finance and capital markets create a distinctive opportunity to help clients address their most complex capital structure needs. I look forward to joining the Chicago team and working with colleagues across the Firm to deliver practical, solutions-oriented advice.”
Cates said, “The firm’s global platform, collaborative culture and reputation for advising on the most impactful deals set it apart.”
Beebe said, “I’m excited to help clients tackle the compensation issues critical to getting deals done.”
Sandill and Currie bring complementary experience advising companies and investors across the business lifecycle. Sandill’s and Currie’s practices span M&A, venture capital, corporate finance and capital markets, including acquisitions, divestitures, buyouts and recapitalizations for public and private companies, private equity funds and venture capital funds. Sandill previously served in-house at Caterpillar, a construction-equipment manufacturer.
Gremling is a restructuring lawyer who advises companies, sponsors and other stakeholders on complex capital structure matters. His experience includes Chapter 11 cases, liability management exercises, recapitalizations and financing transactions across a range of industries. He will be a member of the firm’s capital structure solutions practice.
Cates and Beebe advise on the creation, negotiation and implementation of executive compensation and benefits arrangements across mergers, acquisitions, strategic investments and other corporate matters, including in connection with restructurings and bankruptcies. They bring deep experience with the tax, securities and corporate governance considerations that shape compensation structures and executive benefits programs for public and private companies, financial institutions, executives and other clients.
