Valentine Bleicher

Kirkland & Ellis advised Bain Capital Private Equity and US LBM, a leading distributor of specialty building materials in the United States, in connection with a definitive agreement for Bain Capital to sell a stake in US LBM to Platinum Equity. Bain Capital and Platinum Equity will have equal ownership stakes and joint board governance. The transaction is expected to close by the end of Q1 2024 and is subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed. Founded in 2009 with 16 locations in three states, US LBM has grown into one of the nation's leading distributors of specialty building materials, operating more than 450 locations throughout the country. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners Chris Thomas and Valentine Bleicher and associate George Boden; debt finance partners Melissa Hutson and Yuli Wang; capital markets partners Josh Korff and Michael Kim; and tax partners Mike Carew, Christine Lehman and Rory Minnis.

Oct 17

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis is advising investment firm Wendel on a definitive partnership agreement relating to a strategic investment, which includes the acquisition of 75% of Monroe Capital LLC, a sponsoring program of up to $800 million to accelerate Monroe Capital’s growth and a GP commitment for up to $200 million. Wendel will pay $1.13 billion at the closing. Monroe management will continue to own 25% of the company post-closing. The transaction will dramatically expand Wendel’s asset management platform and rebalance its business model towards more recurring cash flows and growth and follows Wendel’s recent acquisition of IK Partners, a European leader in middle market private equity, as it seeks to build a scaled third-party asset management platform. The transaction is subject to satisfaction of closing conditions and receipt of regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team included asset management M&A lawyers Christopher Gandia, Daniel Lavon-Krein, James Mayne and Christopher Simpson; corporate lawyers Valentine Bleicher, Vincent Ponsonnaille and Louis Gosset; and tax lawyers Nadine Gelli and Lee Morlock.

Oct 22

1 min

A&O Shearman announces today the addition of partner Catherine Hein to its International Trade group in Washington, D.C. A former senior U.S. Department of the Treasury official and national security lawyer, Catherine has deep experience advising on structuring and negotiating transactions to address a range of trade-related compliance issues, including approvals by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).~~Catherine’s arrival reflects the firm’s focus on supporting clients at the highest level on the complex national security, trade, and policy issues that increasingly shape cross border investments and strategic transactions. Catherine joins A&O Shearman with deep experience managing CFIUS reviews for private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, and corporate clients. She has held senior positions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, including serving as CFIUS managing counsel where she led a team of more than 20 lawyers handling CFIUS reviews, and as acting principal deputy assistant general counsel for Enforcement & Intelligence. Her addition strengthens the firm’s bench in CFIUS and foreign direct investment (FDI), sanctions, and export controls—areas that continue to be front and center for our global clients focused on cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and core to our market-leading, multi-jurisdictional International Trade practice.~~Catherine’s arrival reflects the firm’s focus on supporting clients at the highest level on the complex national security, trade, and policy issues that increasingly shape cross border investments and strategic transactions.~~Catherine joins A&O Shearman with deep experience managing CFIUS reviews for private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, and corporate clients. She has held senior positions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, including serving as CFIUS managing counsel where she led a team of more than 20 lawyers handling CFIUS reviews, and as acting principal deputy assistant general counsel for Enforcement & Intelligence.~~Her addition strengthens the firm’s bench in CFIUS and foreign direct investment (FDI), sanctions, and export controls—areas that continue to be front and center for our global clients focused on cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and core to our market-leading, multi-jurisdictional International Trade practice.~~Ken Rivlin, global co-head of A&O Shearman’s International Trade group and Environment and Climate Law group, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Catherine back to the firm. She is a true CFIUS expert whose government and private sector experience will help us meet intense and growing client demand for experienced tactical and strategic advice on how to navigate the CFIUS process and smoothly close transactions. She has an impressive track record guiding complex reviews, assessing filing strategy, securing clearances, negotiating mitigation agreements, coordinating multi-jurisdictional FDI reviews, and anticipating emerging national security review trends. She will be a fantastic addition to our U.S. and international FDI and trade practice.”~~Ken Rivlin~~Catherine joins A&O Shearman from Latham & Watkins. A&O Shearman recently welcomed Paul Astolfi (Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure), Katy McNeil (Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure), Michael Kim (Capital Markets), Ned Schodek (Restructuring), Jan Sysel (Fund Finance), Valentine Bleicher (M&A), and Nick Ramphal (M&A) as partners in the U.S. Globally, the firm has expanded core practice areas with 36 partner hires since the completion of the A&O Shearman merger on May 1, 2024.~~Catherine joins A&O Shearman from Latham & Watkins.~~A&O Shearman recently welcomed Paul Astolfi (Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure), Katy McNeil (Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure), Michael Kim (Capital Markets), Ned Schodek (Restructuring), Jan Sysel (Fund Finance), Valentine Bleicher (M&A), and Nick Ramphal (M&A) as partners in the U.S.~~Paul Astolfi~~Katy McNeil~~Michael Kim~~Ned Schodek~~Jan Sysel~~Valentine Bleicher~~Nick Ramphal~~Globally, the firm has expanded core practice areas with 36 partner hires since the completion of the A&O Shearman merger on May 1, 2024.

Feb 23

3 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised Bain Capital-backed Varsity Brands, a leader in team sports, athletics and spirit, on the sale of Varsity Brands by Bain Capital to KKR. As the new majority owner of Varsity Brands, KKR will support the company as it continues to grow its business. The Varsity Brands platform offers an extensive range of high-quality, customized solutions, services and experiences that support school and team sports, athletics and spirit programs, reaching over eight million athletes and students annually. Read the transaction press release The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners Matthew O’Brien, Laura Steinke and Valentine Bleicher; capital markets partners Joshua Korff and Michael Kim; debt finance partners Maureen Dixon and Patrick Loughery; and tax partners Mike Carew and Polina Liberman.

Aug 26

1 min

A&O Shearman today announces the appointment of Valentine (Val) Bleicher as a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity (PE) partner in Chicago, Illinois.~~Val’s arrival marks a significant step in the firm’s commitment to expanding its U.S. Corporate, M&A, and Private Equity practices. Following the opening of A&O Shearman’s Chicago office last year, her presence provides a strategic advantage in the Midwest, offering an additional key point partner in a region that is critical to the firm’s clients and market growth. Val brings extensive experience and a strong sponsor-side M&A track record across the public and private markets, including leveraged buyouts, divestitures, complex carve-outs, refinancings, and recapitalizations. Her profile directly supports one of A&O Shearman’s top strategic priorities of deepening its private capital offering, which is one of the firm’s fastest-growing sectors. In addition, Val will enhance the firm’s ability to build cross-border relationships and capture greater market share as deal activity accelerates. Fluent in French and admitted to the Paris, Illinois, and New York bars, Val regularly advises French sponsors and corporates on U.S. transactions.~~Val’s arrival marks a significant step in the firm’s commitment to expanding its U.S. Corporate, M&A, and Private Equity practices. Following the opening of A&O Shearman’s Chicago office last year, her presence provides a strategic advantage in the Midwest, offering an additional key point partner in a region that is critical to the firm’s clients and market growth. Val brings extensive experience and a strong sponsor-side M&A track record across the public and private markets, including leveraged buyouts, divestitures, complex carve-outs, refinancings, and recapitalizations. Her profile directly supports one of A&O Shearman’s top strategic priorities of deepening its private capital offering, which is one of the firm’s fastest-growing sectors. In addition, Val will enhance the firm’s ability to build cross-border relationships and capture greater market share as deal activity accelerates. Fluent in French and admitted to the Paris, Illinois, and New York bars, Val regularly advises French sponsors and corporates on U.S. transactions.~~Val’s arrival marks a significant step in the firm’s commitment to expanding its U.S. Corporate, M&A, and Private Equity practices. Following the opening of A&O Shearman’s Chicago office last year, her presence provides a strategic advantage in the Midwest, offering an additional key point partner in a region that is critical to the firm’s clients and market growth.~~Val brings extensive experience and a strong sponsor-side M&A track record across the public and private markets, including leveraged buyouts, divestitures, complex carve-outs, refinancings, and recapitalizations. Her profile directly supports one of A&O Shearman’s top strategic priorities of deepening its private capital offering, which is one of the firm’s fastest-growing sectors. In addition, Val will enhance the firm’s ability to build cross-border relationships and capture greater market share as deal activity accelerates. Fluent in French and admitted to the Paris, Illinois, and New York bars, Val regularly advises French sponsors and corporates on U.S. transactions.~~Alain Dermarkar, U.S. head of Private Equity and U.S. co-head of M&A, said: “Val’s expertise in complex transactions and her proven track record in sponsor-side M&A make her an outstanding addition to our team. Her arrival enhances our ability to provide seamless, high-quality advice across the U.S. and globally.” “I am thrilled to join A&O Shearman and contribute to the firm’s ambitious growth strategy in private equity and M&A and to the development of the Chicago office,” said Val Bleicher. “The opportunity to work with such a talented team to support clients on their most strategic domestic and cross-border transactions is incredibly exciting.” Val joins A&O Shearman from Kirkland & Ellis.~~Alain Dermarkar, U.S. head of Private Equity and U.S. co-head of M&A, said: “Val’s expertise in complex transactions and her proven track record in sponsor-side M&A make her an outstanding addition to our team. Her arrival enhances our ability to provide seamless, high-quality advice across the U.S. and globally.”~~Alain Dermarkar~~“I am thrilled to join A&O Shearman and contribute to the firm’s ambitious growth strategy in private equity and M&A and to the development of the Chicago office,” said Val Bleicher. “The opportunity to work with such a talented team to support clients on their most strategic domestic and cross-border transactions is incredibly exciting.”~~Val Bleicher~~Val joins A&O Shearman from Kirkland & Ellis.

Jan 27

3 min