Brian Schafer > Winston & Strawn LLP > Chicago, United States > Lawyer Profile

With evidence of global M&A work across Asia, Latin America, and Europe, Winston & Strawn LLP routinely advises on complex commercial arrangements, public and private M&A and SPAC business combinations. The department leverages the firm’s tax, antitrust and IP expertise, and regularly acts for target companies, funds, and strategic companies. The company is co-led by Matt Stevens, a Chicago-based lawyer who represents public companies and private equity clients in various strategic M&A. Co-heads Matthew Stockstill, Brian Schafer, and Brad Vaiana are situated in Dallas, Chicago, and New York, respectively. The experienced Chicago attorney Matthew Bergmann focuses on complex private equity and capital markets, while industry veteran Oscar David covers cross-border M&A and joint ventures. In Los Angeles, Eva Davis is a key contact for private companies and boards of directors, while Chicago’s Peter Clarke handles complex business transactions. In Miami, Rick Martin ‘demonstrates great knowledge’ in securities and financing transactions, primarily in the tech and infrastructure sectors.

Winston & Strawn LLP’s client roster comprises a host of middle-market private equity funds, hedge funds, and institutional investors, who engage the firm for representation in big multi-jurisdictional transactions. Spearheading the practice from Dallas, Matthew Stockstill is a prolific advisor whose diverse practice spans acquisitions, disposals, and fund formation and management instructions. Co-head Brian Schafer, based in Chicago, is the key relationship partner to major financial sponsors such as Wind Point Partners and Excellere Partners, while in New York, co-head Brad Vaiana is noted for his transactional pedigree, handling leveraged buyouts, take-privates, distressed deals, growth equity investments, and exits. Co-head Timothy Kincaid, operating from the Chicago office, has recently been active in healthcare and education-related mandates. Eva Davis, based in Los Angeles, assists a wide range of funds with domestic and international capital deployment. David Lange, Austin Leach, and Brendan Mace also come recommended.