Timothy R. Lavender

Partner

Location
Chicago
Phone number
(312) 857-2630

Timothy Lavender chairs the firm’s Corporate practice, bringing more than thirty-five years of global transactional leadership to every engagement. A seasoned dealmaker and trusted advisor, Tim has guided clients through the full spectrum of mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financings, general corporate and tax matters, internal investigations, and litigation avoidance. Over the course of his career, he has built deep, enduring relationships with private individuals and entrepreneurs, small and fast-growth companies, large middle-market businesses, and multinational corporations alike. Tim is distinguished not only for the practical, results-driven counsel he delivers, but also for the steady, even-keeled disposition he brings to high-stakes negotiations. His CPA credential further sharpens his perspective, allowing him to evaluate transactions through a rare, multi-disciplinary lens that few attorneys of his caliber possess. Clients and their constituents alike consistently cite the credibility and trust Tim has cultivated over decades of practice, a testament to his ability to translate sound business judgment into pragmatic, actionable legal strategy.

Tim frequently serves as outside general counsel to many of his middle-market and emerging company clients, drawing on decades of accumulated judgment to manage complex, multi-faceted workstreams with efficient staffing models and seamless delivery of legal advice. He is widely recognized for his diplomatic negotiating style, consistently securing immediate results while cultivating long-term relationships that materially strengthen his clients’ bottom lines. Having begun his career in tax and accounting, Tim brings a rare command of the financial and accounting dimensions of operational issues, a foundation that has enabled him to serve as a versatile, indispensable advisor across the many roles his clients require of him.

Over three decades, Tim has amassed extensive M&A experience spanning small asset acquisitions and dispositions to complex, hundred-million-dollar transactions, providing strategic counsel and leading primary negotiations at every scale. He has advised numerous manufacturing clients on strategic alliances, deftly balancing the protection of intellectual property, management control, and economic expectations against ROI potential. Tim represents sellers, financial and strategic buyers, and private equity firms, and has spent decades representing issuers and investors, among other clients, in debt and equity financings ranging from early-stage venture financing to sophisticated private equity funding, including the formation and operation of private investment funds.

In addition, Tim guides clients through every stage of financing preparation, including private placement memoranda, and his extensive experience extends deeply into the securities arena, where he possesses longstanding familiarity with both private and public issuances of equity and debt. He also counsels real estate private equity fund sponsors and institutional investors on real estate fund investments, with particular skill in structuring real estate investment trusts, debt funds, and hedge funds that invest in real estate securities. Drawing on his multi-disciplinary command of tax, corporate, and securities law developed over decades of practice, Tim is a go-to authority on the often-paramount issues that arise in negotiating fund organizational agreements, side letters, and market offering terms.

“As a strategic business partner to my clients, I make it a priority to invest time and energy to learn about the paramount business issues and legal needs of each of my clients and the industries in which they operate.”

Mergers and Acquisitions

Represented Cooke Inc. in its acquisition by merger of Omega Protein Corporation.

Represented the shareholders of a Texas-based oil and gas measurement products company in the sale of capital stock to a multinational energy company.

Negotiated, structured and implemented LNG contracts in the U.S. and other countries.

Served as outside general counsel for a venture firm in connection with its capital investments in various energy-related companies.

Represented a Texas-based crude and refined products trading, transportation and commodities company in various purchases and sales of each product (crude, LNG and other middle distillates). Also represented the company in a termed purchase of 300,000 barrels of middle distillates from a global petroleum company.

Represented a skin and hair care consumer products company in a $43 million sale of the company to a consortium of private equity firms.

Represented an Ohio-based energy services firm and a Chicago-based technology firm in Alternative Public Offering transactions (reverse merger into a public shell).

Represented a Chicago-based private equity fund in various acquisitions ranging from $5 to $20 million for high-tech, manufacturing, distribution, telecommunications and publishing companies in various stages of development.

Represented a publicly traded company in the acquisition of a dairy products manufacturer.

Represented management in a $60 million private equity buyout of a direct marketing company.

Represented a publicly traded company in a $28 million acquisition of a telecommunications service firm.

Represented a registered investment advisor in the $160 million sale of the company to a Canadian based public company.

Equity and Debt Financing

Represented an oilfield services provider specializing in premium hydraulic fracturing, coiled tubing and other pressure pumping services in connection with a $115 million high yield 144A senior note financing, a $50 million tack on financing, and a $20 million preferred equity offering.

Served as outside general counsel for an energy company in the registration statement for its initial public offering and exchange offer for outstanding notes.

Represented an oilfield service provider specializing in premium hydraulic fracturing in connection with an $85 million high yield 144A Senior Note financing and a $30 million preferred equity offering.

Represented an Ohio-based energy services firm and a Chicago-based technology firm in alternative public offering transactions, which resulted in a reverse merger into a public shell.

Represents a major Chicago-based second lien financing fund, a division of a large U.S.-based bank. Tim has represented this fund in several financings ranging from $7.5 million to $20 million.

Represented various commercial lenders loans ranging from $10 million to $50 million in various industries.

Represented various registered investment advisors regarding their general corporate needs. Specifically, assisted one of these advisors in a leveraged ESOP transaction of $10 million (subsequently sold, see above).

Represented an issuer in two 144A financings totaling $78 million for the acquisition of real estate.

Represented a Midwest-based client in various venture capital fundings in over $100 million of equity investments in high tech companies.

Represented the issuer in a $128 million debt equity offering for the development of a hotel and leisure property.

Represented a large life insurance company in the formation of a $300 million mezzanine debt fund and the formation of a $200 million affiliate fund.

Represented a $1 billion hedge fund in its formation and annual securities filings.

Recommended in the inaugural edition of The Legal 500 City Elite – Chicago for Corporate and M&A, 2025

Ranked as a leading practitioner by Chambers USA in the Corporate/M&A area, 2008-2011, 2014-2019 and in the Private Equity area, 2008-2011.

Recommended in US Legal 500 for his work in the M&A: Middle Market area, 2010-2026.