Brian D. Wolfe

Retired Partner Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity

Chicago +1 312 862 3453

Brian D. Wolfe

Practices

Overview

Brian Wolfe is a retired corporate partner at Kirkland. He is also an adjunct professor at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of North Carolina, where he teaches courses on private equity and small business acquisition, and previously co-led a SAAS roll-up with sale to Alpine Investors.

Brian concentrated his practice on complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and private equity and venture capital investments, and represented numerous private equity firms including Bain Capital, Thomas H. Lee Partners, TPG, Ryan Sports Ventures, Sun Capital, GTCR, Pritzker Private Capital and Hickory Street Capital, and their portfolio companies.

Brian is on the board and audit committee of Chicago Public Media (owner of Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ), the boards of Intersect Illinois, Breakthrough T1D (f/k/a JDRF) Illinois, the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic and the Skandalaris Center at Washington University in St. Louis, serves on the Illinois Courts Commission, and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.

Brian joined Kirkland in 2008, and has been a partner of the Firm since 2013.

TPG Rise Climate in the formation of Rubicon Carbon as a next generation carbon solutions provider and Rubicon Carbon’s $1 billion capital raise (including co-investment).

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Recognition

Member of team awarded the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) 2020 Turnaround and Transaction Award (Mega Company Transaction) for representation of iHeartMedia

Adjunct Professor, "Private Equity Transactions," Washington University School of Law (2013–Present)

Named among the BTI Client Service All-Stars 2016

Briefed and argued a case before the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (2013–14)

Counsel for the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Exploratory Committee (2008–09)

Memberships & Affiliations

Member, Board of Directors and Executive Committee, General Chicago Legal Clinic

Member, National Business Advisory Council, Farmer School of Business, Miami University

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2008Illinois

Courts

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Education

  • Washington University in St. Louis School of LawJ.D.with Honors2007
    Executive Articles Editor, Washington University Global Studies Law Review
  • Miami UniversityB.S., Decision Science2000