Winston & Strawn Names 20 New Partners

Chicago – December 3, 2024 – Winston & Strawn LLP is pleased to announce that 20 of the firm’s lawyers have been elevated to partner.

These accomplished lawyers represent 11 practice areas and eight offices globally. The new partners reflect the broad scope of the firm’s capabilities and the varied clients and high-growth industries we serve.

“This class of newly elevated partners exemplifies a commitment to providing superior client service and excellence in their respective areas of practice,” said Chairman Steve D’Amore. “The broad range of practices and offices they represent reflects Winston’s commitment to addressing the variety of challenges our clients face with commercially focused solutions wherever our clients do business. We are proud of these partners’ accomplishments, and we look forward to helping them achieve continued success and growth at the firm.”

The following lawyers make up this year’s partnership class:

Rand Brothers (Washington, D.C.) focuses his practice on representing clients across a broad range of industries in product liability and mass tort litigation in federal and state courts nationwide. Through this work, Rand routinely manages interdisciplinary science teams, develops causation defenses, and works closely with experts across diverse scientific and medical fields.

Matthew Brunmeier (Chicago) focuses his practice on representing private investment funds in all stages of operations, including fund formation, regulatory compliance, operational matters and small business investment company (SBIC) licensing.

Chris Capitanelli (New York) advises clients in structuring, documenting, negotiating, and administering various forms of complex debt finance transactions, with an emphasis on esoteric structured finance and secured lending transactions. He represents specialty finance companies, multinational banks, funds, asset managers, and placement agents in securitizations, term and warehouse asset-based financings, forward-flow arrangements, and other finance transactions.

Thania Charmani (New York) has a broad range of experience representing U.S. and international clients in federal and state courts in complex, high-stakes commercial, securities, and antitrust litigation, including significant experience in representing clients in matters relating to blockchain technology and digital assets. Thania has also litigated matters in habeas corpus litigation and reproductive rights.

Ben Chrisman (Dallas) advises public and private companies and private equity firms in connection with a broad range of strategic transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, minority and growth equity investments, and other general corporate matters.

Kara Cooper (Chicago) counsels clients on a variety of labor and employment matters, including whistleblower defense, restrictive covenant prosecution and defense, internal investigations, employee discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, reductions in force, unfair labor practice charges, and collective bargaining. She represents employers in state and federal court proceedings, administrative agency proceedings, arbitration, and mediation.

Ahtoosa Amini Dale (Dallas) is a trial lawyer with significant courtroom experience in both federal and state court, as well as arbitrations.  Her practice focuses on patent and intellectual property litigation across a broad spectrum of technologies. She also has experience representing corporations and individuals in complex commercial litigation including employment and business disputes, class actions, consumer privacy, and product liability.

Libby Deshaies (Chicago) is an experienced trial lawyer who handles complex and high stakes commercial matters in state and federal courts nationwide, with a particular focus on defamation, technology, and product liability matters. She represents clients in a wide range of industry sectors and guides teams through all phases of litigation, including trial and on appeal.

Patrick Doerr (Charlotte) focuses his practice on white collar, government enforcement, internal investigations, and grand jury investigations for financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies, and individuals. He frequently advises clients on navigating statutory and regulatory obligations and assists clients in investigating and addressing potential regulatory, criminal, and civil violations on matters adverse to the DOJ, CFPB, OCC, and state attorneys general, among others. 

Paul Huddle (Chicago) focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and general corporate matters. He works closely with private equity firms, privately held and family-owned businesses, and public companies to address their business and financial needs.

Paul Jezierny (Miami) delivers comprehensive guidance to private capital sponsors, supporting them through every phase of the evolution of their funds and firm. Paul’s practice encompasses a broad range of matters, including fund formation, GP-led secondary transactions, portfolio company investment and exit structures, sponsor formation and spin-outs, and strategic transactions such as investment manager acquisitions and minority “GP stakes” deals.

Jason Jun (New York) focuses on corporate and finance transactions, and has experience representing lenders, sponsors and borrowers in connection with complex financial transactions, including acquisition financings, working capital facilities, asset-based lending, restructurings and alternative/structured financing solutions. 

Tom Kopko (Chicago) advises on legal, economic and strategic needs of private fund managers and their principals and management teams. Tom counsels both large, well-known sponsors and emerging managers with all aspects of their business, including organization, governance, regulatory compliance, fund formations, seed/anchor investments, revenue shares, spin outs, and other strategic transactions, such as continuation vehicle offerings and other complex GP-led secondary transactions.

Suzanne Labi (London) focuses her practice on high-value, complex, and multi-jurisdictional international arbitration and commercial litigation. She has represented clients across sectors ranging from oil & gas, financial services, mining & metals, and technology. Suzanne has experience in a range of dispute resolution procedures including international arbitration, litigation proceedings in the Courts of England & Wales, and mediation.

Katie Mariani (Chicago) focuses her practice on complex business transactions, including representing public companies, private companies and private equity funds in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other investment transactions. She also provides counsel on commercial engagements and corporate governance matters for companies and investment groups in a wide range of industries.

Michael Meneghini (Chicago) is a litigator with extensive trial and appellate experience. His practice spans a wide range of litigation in federal and state courts, including business tort disputes, securities litigation, and patent litigation. He has a depth of experience in all aspects of commercial litigation, including critical motions, trial, posttrial matters, and appeals.

Karalena Senese (Chicago) concentrates her practice on product liability, class actions, and intellectual property. She has substantial experience with complex nationwide product liability litigations, in state and federal courts. She also has significant experience representing major pharmaceutical companies in intellectual property disputes. In both her product liability and intellectual property practice, she has deep experience preparing technical experts for trial.

Eric Shinabarger (Chicago) focuses his practice on privacy counseling, data breach response, and regulatory compliance. He assists clients to create privacy and data security compliance programs from scratch as well as improving on existing practices. He regularly advises on privacy and data security matters associated with mergers, acquisitions, investments, and other significant corporate transactions.

Ben Smolij (Houston) focuses his practice on corporate and securities work for public and private companies across all stages of growth. He advises companies, private investors, financial advisory firms, and private equity clients in capital markets and M&A transactions including disclosure and reporting obligations under U.S. federal securities laws, stock exchange listing obligations, and general corporate governance matters.

James Waters (Dallas) advises bank and non-bank lenders and borrowers in complex financing transactions, including asset-based and cash-flow lending facilities, specialty financings, and mezzanine, second lien, and unitranche financings. He also represents financial institutions in distressed lending transactions, loan workouts, restructurings, and debtor-in-possession financings. He has extensive experience guiding clients through complex intercreditor and subordination matters.