Sidley Austin LLP

We are deeply saddened by the devastating impact of the wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles area. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, including our colleagues, alumni, clients, and friends throughout the region. We are grateful to the firefighters and first responders from LA and elsewhere for their tireless efforts to protect lives and property. With nearly 50 years of commitment to Los Angeles, we are dedicated to supporting its resilience and recovery. Our lawyers are heeding the call: assisting clients and providing pro bono legal services in partnership with a variety of local organizations as well as donating generously to support those in need. We are here to help. Together, we are strong.

Sidley welcomes Jane Rheem, who has joined the firm as Chief Data & AI Officer. Recognized as the No. 2 most influential person in data analytics in the 2024 DataIQ 100, Ms. Rheem has led the data analytics and data science functions at multiple organizations across her 25-year career. She most recently served as Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Zurich North America. At Sidley, she will lead the strategic alignment and execution of advanced technology including data, analytics, and artificial intelligence — working closely with senior business professionals and the firm’s AI Council to launch Sidley’s Data Strategy 2025. Read more on her arrival here: https://bit.ly/4gt8U3d.

This spring, Peter Bruland will make firm history when he becomes the first Sidley associate ever to argue before the Supreme Court of the United States. As a senior managing associate in our Supreme Court, Appellate, and Litigation Strategies practice, Bruland has written dozens of briefs, grappling with the challenges and rewards of working through the most complex legal matters. Now, he’ll take his legal skills to the highest level arguing in the pro bono case Rivers v. Lumpkin. Read here as Peter shares more on the procedural puzzle behind the case, Sidley’s investment in pro bono endeavors, and more: https://bit.ly/4aNaxYz.

Sidley has advised Rivean Capital’s portfolio company, Green Mobility Holding, on the #acquisition of Pinoma Holding, the parent company of LeaseMyBike GmbH — one of Austria’s market-leaders in the (e)-bike leasing sector. The Munich-based Sidley team was led by Dr. Christian Zuleger and Thomas Komanek, supported by Laura Persin, Markus Feil, and Louise Freund. Read more here: https://bit.ly/40JTa6i.

Congratulations to Sidley partner Amy Lally, who has been named among Daily Journal Corporation’s 2025 “Leading Commercial Litigators.” As global co-leader of our nationally recognized Consumer Class Action practice, Amy represents clients from a broad range of products and services industries in commercial litigation matters, including class actions, false advertising claims, and contract disputes. Read more on her practice here: https://bit.ly/4hG8tnc.

Since opening in 2012, Sidley’s Houston office has grown to 90 lawyers, becoming a destination firm for top legal talent and clients across key industries. Co-managing partners Cliff Vrielink and George Vlahakos share how our deep local roots, high-level work, and strong firmwide connections drive success. Read the full Q&A: https://bit.ly/42Fy2QW.

Congratulations to Herschel Hamner, who has been named co-leader of Sidley’s Energy and Infrastructure practice, serving alongside Tara Higgins, Kenneth Irvin, James MacArthur, and Cliff Vrielink. Based in Sidley’s Houston office, Herschel’s practice focuses on debt financings in the energy and infrastructure industries. He regularly represents borrowers and lenders in working capital facilities, acquisition financings, development capital facilities and warehouse financings – with a significant portion of his practice devoted to representing private credit lenders in highly structured transactions. Herschel has extensive experience working on financings for companies in the conventional energy space, and he has handled several complex energy transition and renewables matters in recent years. Read more on Herschel’s practice here: https://bit.ly/3Q6jTF8.

Sidley has been honored as a 2024 Environmental “Practice Group of the Year” by Law360. In a profile on the firm’s Environmental practice, the publication highlighted our representation of Vineyard Wind to protect its large offshore wind energy project, Cummins Inc. in its resolution of a major federal investigation, and Potomac Riverkeeper Network in its battle to get the city of Alexandria to stop discharging coal tar into the Potomac River. "We have had a separate group on environmental law for over 35 years," said Sidley partner Byron Taylor co-leader of our Environmental practice and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. "It's a key practice area of the firm. Many of our clients have environmental issues, and they look to us when critical issues crop up, whether it's permitting litigation, deal support like M&A transactions, and regulatory advice when they're looking for guidance on ways to minimize risks and improve their operations." Read the full profile here: https://bit.ly/41bCOVz.

Sidley is advising Ariel Investments, the first and oldest Black-owned mutual fund company in the U.S., in connection with its formation and launch of Ariel Project Level, a new private investment fund built to “level the playing field” through investment in women’s sports. The new fund is being led by Mellody Hobson, Ariel’s Co-CEO and President, Jason Wright, the former President of the National Football League’s (NFL) Washington Commanders, who will serve as Project Level’s Managing Partner & Head of Investments, and Emma Rodriguez-Ayala, Ariel’s Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel. Sidley is also advising Project Level in connection with its initial investment in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)’s recently announced Denver, Colorado-based expansion team, which will become NWSL’s 16th franchise when it begins play in 2026. The Sidley team is being led by Boston office managing partner Elizabeth Shea Fries, global leader of the firm’s market-leading Investment Funds practice, and New York partner Charles Baker, co-chair of the firm’s market-leading Entertainment, Sports and Media (ESM) industry group, together with Eric Geffner, Patrick Michel, and Luisa Lizoain. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3Ex50ZM.

Sidley represented International Paper (IP) as U.S. antitrust counsel in connection with its US$7.2 billion #acquisition of UK-based packaging provider DS Smith. IP is a global provider of renewable fiber-based packaging and pulp products. The Sidley team was led by Jim Lowe, and includes Laura Collins, Jason Semmes, and Melissa Gerdts. Read more here: https://bit.ly/42F7bVt.