Suzanne Saxman > Seyfarth Shaw LLP > Chicago, United States > Lawyer Profile

Seyfarth Shaw LLP
233 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE
SUITE 8000
CHICAGO, IL 60606 - 6448
ILLINOIS
United States

Position

Partner

Career

For more than three decades as a corporate lawyer, Suzie has counseled clients—from entrepreneurs and startups to large, privately held companies across multiple industries—through every phase of growth, during times of economic prosperity and economic downturn.

She prides herself on handling matters “in scale” with an eye toward practical advice that advances company objectives. Suzie works with clients in two capacities: executing deals and functioning as outside general counsel, often at the same time. Her clients benefit from this continuity of service and the institutional knowledge she develops by their side. She knows what it’s like to run the business and stays in the trenches with the client after the deal is closed.

Suzie brings substantial legal know-how, a high-volume track record of transactions, and a commitment to speak the language of her clients in every deal. She analyzes complex, confidential, and strategic opportunities to address the legal issues presented. Suzie then translates the opportunity into a quick and responsive action plan that provides a road map for growth. She takes a holistic approach, working across the client organization and bringing in financial, diligence, and client counsel to assemble the deal “dream team.”

As chair of the M&A practice group, Suzie drives the growth and professional development agenda for more than 60 attorneys at all levels. She has been an avid consumer of M&A trends for the last decade, making it her mission to bring this knowledge back to the team. Suzie also drives technology adoption for her team, including use of new artificial intelligence tools for client service and the creation of a unique budgeting app used to predict legal fees for transactions. In all things, Suzie sets a model for performance and client service with a goal of supporting and leading a world-class team. This work has made her more well-rounded and better equipped to serve her clients.

Education

  • JD, University of Illinois College of Law
    With honors
    University of Illinois Law Review, topics editor
  • BA, University of Michigan
    With honors

Lawyer Rankings

United States > M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m)

(Hall of Fame)

Suzanne SaxmanSeyfarth Shaw LLP

The ‘business-forward and strategic‘ team at Seyfarth Shaw LLP is sought out by clients ranging from start-ups and middle-market companies to major multinational firms to advise on transactions involving specialized industries such as business services, technology and life sciences. Leadership duties are divided between Suzanne Saxman, who operates from the firm’s Chicago office and is praised for her ‘deep expertise‘ in transactions and joint ventures, and New York-based Andrew Lucano, who is noted for his ability to stay on top of trends in the market such as fraud carveouts in private target acquisition agreements. Further key contacts at the practice include the ‘exceptional attorney’ Aaron Gillett, who is based in Chicago, and Paul Pryzant, a Houston-based practitioner who excels at handling transactions involving private equity funds. In New York, Stanley Bloch has a focus on transactions involving clients from the communications sector, while Breanne Vaclavik is regularly called upon to act as outside general counsel to clients and is based in the firm’s Chicago office.