Maureen M. Crough

Sidley is representing funds advised by Wafra Inc. (“Wafra”) in the acquisition of Aquila Air Capital (“Aquila”) from funds managed by Warburg Pincus LLC. Aquila is a specialty finance platform focused on providing aviation asset financing, including purchasing and leasing aircraft engines. Wafra is a global alternative investment manager with approximately US$28 billion of assets under management across a range of alternative assets, including real assets, real estate, and strategic partnerships. The transaction with Wafra is expected to provide substantial capital to support Aquila’s continued growth, furthering its mandate to purchase, sell, finance, and lease aircraft, engines, and other aviation equipment. The Sidley team is being led by Brien Wassner, Atman Shukla, Adrian Zhang (M&A and Private Equity), and Kelly Dybala (Global Finance). Additional team members include Courtney Luster, Isabella Russo-Tiesi, Adi Milstein, and law clerk Angela Chow (M&A and Private Equity); Bart J. Biggers (Transportation); Reid McKinney and Mimi Mallory (Global Finance); Eric Wolf and Amanda Casanueva (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); Christian Brause, Oliver Currall, Andy Lau, Joel Lifshitz, and Ellie Verran (Tax); Eric Hoffman (Labor, Employment and Immigration); Scott Goldstein (Insurance); Francesca Blythe, Alan Charles Raul, Stephen W. McInerney, Ben Cross, and Anila Rayani (Privacy and Cybersecurity); Mark Kaufmann and Andy Dykstra (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions); Vadim Brusser, Patrick Harrison, and Anna Kubinska (Antitrust and Competition); Jen Fernandez, Sven De Knop, James Mendenhall, Alessandra Moroni, and Kayla Scott (Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy); Maureen Crough and Sarah Jehl (Environmental); Alex Kaplan (Securities and Shareholder Litigation); and Craig Francis Dukin (White Collar Defense and Investigations).~~Sidley is representing funds advised by Wafra Inc. (“Wafra”) in the acquisition of Aquila Air Capital (“Aquila”) from funds managed by Warburg Pincus LLC. Aquila is a specialty finance platform focused on providing aviation asset financing, including purchasing and leasing aircraft engines. Wafra is a global alternative investment manager with approximately US$28 billion of assets under management across a range of alternative assets, including real assets, real estate, and strategic partnerships. The transaction with Wafra is expected to provide substantial capital to support Aquila’s continued growth, furthering its mandate to purchase, sell, finance, and lease aircraft, engines, and other aviation equipment. The Sidley team is being led by Brien Wassner, Atman Shukla, Adrian Zhang (M&A and Private Equity), and Kelly Dybala (Global Finance). Additional team members include Courtney Luster, Isabella Russo-Tiesi, Adi Milstein, and law clerk Angela Chow (M&A and Private Equity); Bart J. Biggers (Transportation); Reid McKinney and Mimi Mallory (Global Finance); Eric Wolf and Amanda Casanueva (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); Christian Brause, Oliver Currall, Andy Lau, Joel Lifshitz, and Ellie Verran (Tax); Eric Hoffman (Labor, Employment and Immigration); Scott Goldstein (Insurance); Francesca Blythe, Alan Charles Raul, Stephen W. McInerney, Ben Cross, and Anila Rayani (Privacy and Cybersecurity); Mark Kaufmann and Andy Dykstra (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions); Vadim Brusser, Patrick Harrison, and Anna Kubinska (Antitrust and Competition); Jen Fernandez, Sven De Knop, James Mendenhall, Alessandra Moroni, and Kayla Scott (Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy); Maureen Crough and Sarah Jehl (Environmental); Alex Kaplan (Securities and Shareholder Litigation); and Craig Francis Dukin (White Collar Defense and Investigations).

Oct 18

2 min

Sidley represented ZMC in its acquisition of a controlling stake of semiconductor silicon solutions and services company Pure Wafer. The acquisition will help ZMC expand its U.S. operations to meet the demands of semiconductor original equipment makers. The Sidley team was led by Vijay Sekhon and Dan Clivner (M&A and Private Equity), and included Nikita Ponomarev, Sam E. Hulsey, Emily A. Hunter, Cat Zhang, Antoinette R. Petkov, Rudy A. Ramirez, Karin Baca, and Jean Shen (M&A and Private Equity); Banks Bruce, Sean Damm, Angela Fontana, Alexander S. Waddell, Caroline Roberts, and Mimi Mallory (Global Finance); Lauren A. Gallagher, Gregory C. Matisoff, and Amanda M. Casanueva (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); Maureen M. Crough (Environmental); Cathryn Le Regulski, Emily M. Wajert, and Allison C. Ivey Toth (Employment); Ash Nagdev (Privacy and Cybersecurity); James W. Lowe and Jason C. Semmes (Antitrust and Competition); Eric Schwartz and Ernesto R. Claeyssen (Commercial Litigation and Disputes); Keith Hayden Del Prete and Serena M. Patel (Real Estate); Scott J.F. Goldstein (Insurance); Rachel D. Kleinberg and Jonathan M. Westreich (Tax); Stephen M. Fronk and Paul Kariyawasam (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions); and Michael D. Mann (White Collar Defense and Investigations).~~Sidley represented ZMC in its acquisition of a controlling stake of semiconductor silicon solutions and services company Pure Wafer. The acquisition will help ZMC expand its U.S. operations to meet the demands of semiconductor original equipment makers. The Sidley team was led by Vijay Sekhon and Dan Clivner (M&A and Private Equity), and included Nikita Ponomarev, Sam E. Hulsey, Emily A. Hunter, Cat Zhang, Antoinette R. Petkov, Rudy A. Ramirez, Karin Baca, and Jean Shen (M&A and Private Equity); Banks Bruce, Sean Damm, Angela Fontana, Alexander S. Waddell, Caroline Roberts, and Mimi Mallory (Global Finance); Lauren A. Gallagher, Gregory C. Matisoff, and Amanda M. Casanueva (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); Maureen M. Crough (Environmental); Cathryn Le Regulski, Emily M. Wajert, and Allison C. Ivey Toth (Employment); Ash Nagdev (Privacy and Cybersecurity); James W. Lowe and Jason C. Semmes (Antitrust and Competition); Eric Schwartz and Ernesto R. Claeyssen (Commercial Litigation and Disputes); Keith Hayden Del Prete and Serena M. Patel (Real Estate); Scott J.F. Goldstein (Insurance); Rachel D. Kleinberg and Jonathan M. Westreich (Tax); Stephen M. Fronk and Paul Kariyawasam (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions); and Michael D. Mann (White Collar Defense and Investigations).

Nov 15

2 min

Sidley is representing a consortium, headed by APG Asset Management N.V. (APG), on behalf of the largest Dutch pension fund, ABP, and Australian Retirement Trust (ART), in the acquisition of Riverstone Holdings’ equity stake in Pattern Energy Group LP. The consortium joins the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), which acquired Pattern Energy alongside Riverstone in 2020. Pattern Energy is one of the world’s largest privately owned developers and operators of wind, solar, transmission, and energy storage projects. It will leverage this new investment to advance its market-leading development pipeline of over 25 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy and transmission projects and support its operating facilities and in-construction portfolio of nearly 10,000 megawatts (MW) across North America. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The Sidley team is being led by Private Equity/M&A partners Brien Wassner and Chris Barbuto, senior managing associate Rachel Fridhandler, and Energy partner Greg Lavigne. Additional team members include Sam Hulsey, Victoria Richmond, Sarah Wiley, Kyle Patel, Tamia Sutherland, and law clerk Landon Garfinkel (M&A and Private Equity); C.J. Polito, Keturah Brown, John David Thompson, Marcela Varela, Juan Camarena Paz, Meredith Kuykendall, Annaliese Oliveira, Charlie Peskin, Alexander Thompson, and law clerks Julien Blanchard and Zev Falik (Energy and Infrastructure); Christian Brause, John Schaff, and Andrew Smith (Tax); Lauren Gallagher, Gregory Matisoff, and Ryan McLeod (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); John Kuster, Danica Muir, and Zachry Tannis (Commercial Litigation and Disputes); Jen Fernandez, Kayla Scott, and Nick Wiggins (Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy); Keith Hayden Del Prete, Jonathan Koh, and Serena Patel (Real Estate); Alex Csordas (Capital Markets); Heather Palmer and Maureen Crough (Environmental); Rebecca Stuart and Allison Ivey Toth (Labor, Employment and Immigration); Steve McInerney and Sasha Hondagneu-Messner (Privacy and Cybersecurity); Alena Thomas (Global Finance); Scott Goldstein (Insurance); Rachelle Soderstrom (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions); and Craig Francis Dukin (White Collar Defense and Investigations).~~Sidley is representing a consortium, headed by APG Asset Management N.V. (APG), on behalf of the largest Dutch pension fund, ABP, and Australian Retirement Trust (ART), in the acquisition of Riverstone Holdings’ equity stake in Pattern Energy Group LP. The consortium joins the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), which acquired Pattern Energy alongside Riverstone in 2020. Pattern Energy is one of the world’s largest privately owned developers and operators of wind, solar, transmission, and energy storage projects. It will leverage this new investment to advance its market-leading development pipeline of over 25 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy and transmission projects and support its operating facilities and in-construction portfolio of nearly 10,000 megawatts (MW) across North America. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The Sidley team is being led by Private Equity/M&A partners Brien Wassner and Chris Barbuto, senior managing associate Rachel Fridhandler, and Energy partner Greg Lavigne. Additional team members include Sam Hulsey, Victoria Richmond, Sarah Wiley, Kyle Patel, Tamia Sutherland, and law clerk Landon Garfinkel (M&A and Private Equity); C.J. Polito, Keturah Brown, John David Thompson, Marcela Varela, Juan Camarena Paz, Meredith Kuykendall, Annaliese Oliveira, Charlie Peskin, Alexander Thompson, and law clerks Julien Blanchard and Zev Falik (Energy and Infrastructure); Christian Brause, John Schaff, and Andrew Smith (Tax); Lauren Gallagher, Gregory Matisoff, and Ryan McLeod (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); John Kuster, Danica Muir, and Zachry Tannis (Commercial Litigation and Disputes); Jen Fernandez, Kayla Scott, and Nick Wiggins (Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy); Keith Hayden Del Prete, Jonathan Koh, and Serena Patel (Real Estate); Alex Csordas (Capital Markets); Heather Palmer and Maureen Crough (Environmental); Rebecca Stuart and Allison Ivey Toth (Labor, Employment and Immigration); Steve McInerney and Sasha Hondagneu-Messner (Privacy and Cybersecurity); Alena Thomas (Global Finance); Scott Goldstein (Insurance); Rachelle Soderstrom (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions); and Craig Francis Dukin (White Collar Defense and Investigations).

Dec 16

3 min

Sidley is representing short line operator Pinsly Railroad Co. in its proposed acquisition of Hondo Railway LLC, a short line railroad company in Hondo, Texas. Hondo Railway LLC, founded in 2006 by Don Lee and Mark Holland, leases 13,200 feet of track and serves customers that ship a range of commodities, including flour, corn syrup, and ethanol. Hondo Railway LLC operates transload facilities and provides customers with interchange access to both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific, as well as access to 80,000 feet of industrial track for use in transloading and storage of railcars. The Sidley team is led by partner Cliff W. Vrielink and counsel Chris Folmsbee, with assistance from associates Jeff Kinney, Ayo Adaranijo, and Di Duan (all Energy and Infrastructure). Additional team members include senior counsel Terence M. Hynes (Transportation), counsel Marc Korman (Transportation), associate Stephen S. Laudone (Transportation), partner Kyle Fiet (Lobbying), partner Margaret Allen (DOT), partner Leslie Shubert (Anti-Corruption), associate Whitney L. Beber (Anti-Corruption), partner Lauren A. Gallagher (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation), associate Elizabeth T. Burns (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation), associate Joanna Janica (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation), senior counsel Patrick Casey (Labor, Employment and Immigration), partner Beatriz Azcuy (Real Estate), associate Connor T. Evans (Real Estate), senior counsel Glenn L. Pinkerton (Energy, M&A, Private Equity), partner Rachel D. Kleinberg (Tax), counsel Maureen M. Crough (Environmental), associate staff attorney Sarah A. Jehl (Environmental), and counsel Scott J.F. Goldstein (Insurance).~~Sidley is representing short line operator Pinsly Railroad Co. in its proposed acquisition of Hondo Railway LLC, a short line railroad company in Hondo, Texas. Hondo Railway LLC, founded in 2006 by Don Lee and Mark Holland, leases 13,200 feet of track and serves customers that ship a range of commodities, including flour, corn syrup, and ethanol. Hondo Railway LLC operates transload facilities and provides customers with interchange access to both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific, as well as access to 80,000 feet of industrial track for use in transloading and storage of railcars. The Sidley team is led by partner Cliff W. Vrielink and counsel Chris Folmsbee, with assistance from associates Jeff Kinney, Ayo Adaranijo, and Di Duan (all Energy and Infrastructure). Additional team members include senior counsel Terence M. Hynes (Transportation), counsel Marc Korman (Transportation), associate Stephen S. Laudone (Transportation), partner Kyle Fiet (Lobbying), partner Margaret Allen (DOT), partner Leslie Shubert (Anti-Corruption), associate Whitney L. Beber (Anti-Corruption), partner Lauren A. Gallagher (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation), associate Elizabeth T. Burns (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation), associate Joanna Janica (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation), senior counsel Patrick Casey (Labor, Employment and Immigration), partner Beatriz Azcuy (Real Estate), associate Connor T. Evans (Real Estate), senior counsel Glenn L. Pinkerton (Energy, M&A, Private Equity), partner Rachel D. Kleinberg (Tax), counsel Maureen M. Crough (Environmental), associate staff attorney Sarah A. Jehl (Environmental), and counsel Scott J.F. Goldstein (Insurance).

Sep 3

2 min

Sidley is representing LWCC, Louisiana’s largest workers’ compensation insurance carrier, in its acquisition of Prescient National. Prescient National is a North Carolina-based, AM Best “A” rated, high-performing national workers’ compensation insurance company. The Sidley team is led by Sean Carney and Nicole Mouzakiotis (both Financial Institutions – Insurance), and includes Sara Africano, Scott Goldstein, Michael Bay, Paul Drake, and Jordan Papai (Financial Institutions – Insurance); Peter Edgerton, Tyler Replogle, and Alice Qin (Tax); Eileen Liu and Paige Garcia (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); Elizabeth McCloy and Brandon Bryer (Real Estate); Natalie Chan, Teresa Reuter, and Allison Ivey Toth (Labor, Employment and Immigration); Steve McInerney and Philip Robbins (Privacy and Cybersecurity); Stephen Fronk, Paul Kariyawasam, and Adia Brantley (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions); Maureen Crough and Sarah Jehl (Environmental); and Edward Sharon (Antitrust and Competition).~~Sidley is representing LWCC, Louisiana’s largest workers’ compensation insurance carrier, in its acquisition of Prescient National. Prescient National is a North Carolina-based, AM Best “A” rated, high-performing national workers’ compensation insurance company. The Sidley team is led by Sean Carney and Nicole Mouzakiotis (both Financial Institutions – Insurance), and includes Sara Africano, Scott Goldstein, Michael Bay, Paul Drake, and Jordan Papai (Financial Institutions – Insurance); Peter Edgerton, Tyler Replogle, and Alice Qin (Tax); Eileen Liu and Paige Garcia (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); Elizabeth McCloy and Brandon Bryer (Real Estate); Natalie Chan, Teresa Reuter, and Allison Ivey Toth (Labor, Employment and Immigration); Steve McInerney and Philip Robbins (Privacy and Cybersecurity); Stephen Fronk, Paul Kariyawasam, and Adia Brantley (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions); Maureen Crough and Sarah Jehl (Environmental); and Edward Sharon (Antitrust and Competition).

Dec 18

1 min