Introduction

A “hands-on” lawyer, Randy represents strategic businesses in a wide range of commercial transactions, acquisitions, and exits, and serves as the primary outside counsel to leading companies.

With more than 30 years of experience, Randy Bridgeman is a seasoned corporate and M&A lawyer. In his transaction practice, Randy counsels on all aspects of the deal, including pre-deal planning, letters of intent, due diligence, tax planning and structuring, purchase agreement negotiation and drafting, and post-sale integration. Randy is known as an accessible and active partner, regularly acting as deal lead and coordinating an Ashurst Perkins Coie team through transaction execution.

In addition to his transaction practice, Randy serves as the primary outside counsel to various emerging, growth, and late-stage companies across various industries. In this role, he guides clients in their day-to-day utilization of the firm’s broad service offerings in areas such as commercial contracts, corporate governance, employment, executive compensation, disputes, regulatory compliance, tax, environmental, trade, and estate planning.

Randy’s clients include companies with domestic and overseas operations in manufacturing, technology, consumer brands, food and beverage, beverage alcohol, transportation, business services, automotive sports, and professional services. In conjunction with his primary outside counsel role, Randy has experience guiding companies through bet-the-company litigation and resolving complex shareholder and family business disputes.

Education & credentials

  • University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1992
  • University of Notre Dame, B.A.,

    with honors

    , 1989
  • K&L Gates LLP (formerly Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP), Chicago, IL, Partner (Chairman of Chicago Corporate Practice)

Professional recognition

  • Selected for Inclusion in Crain’s Chicago Business' Notable Gen X Leaders in Law, 2019

  • Finalist for the “Food & Beverage Dealmaker of the Year” category in The Deal Awards Middle Market, 2019

  • *The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.

Impact

  • Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network, Board Member (Former Chairman)
  • Chicago Bar Association, Mergers and Acquisitions Subcommittee, Former Chairman
  • Chicago Bar Association, Corporation and Business Law Committee, Former Chairman

Some of Randy’s notable engagements include the following:

  • Guiding fourth-generation family members in the sale of their 135-year-old food additive business.
  • Representing a nondairy milk manufacturer in its two-stage $345 million Series E funding round and the related redemption of its founding investor.
  • Representing a multinational food manufacturer in corporate venture investments in the alternative ingredients sector.
  • Serving as longtime outside counsel to a privately held food manufacturer with multinational operations, advising on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial contracts, trade regulations, executive compensation, and strategic litigation.
  • Representing a family-owned multistate transportation services company in its sale to a private equity fund.
  • Representing a multinational lottery management and technology company in its sale to a private equity fund.
  • Representing a family-owned industrial services company in its sale to a private equity fund.
  • Representing the management team of a pharmaceutical services business in its $650 million sale to a publicly held acquirer.
  • Counseling emerging food and beverage brands in capital raising, including early-stage beverage alcohol brands.
  • Managing a series of cross-border and joint-venture transactions for a multinational food ingredient company.
  • Representing a global manufacturer in the structuring, negotiation, and formation of a series of joint ventures with co-manufacturers in Australia, South Africa, and Indonesia to expand the client’s supply chain and solidify the client’s international capabilities with respect to its global customers.
  • Representing a beverage alcohol distiller in its acquisition of the assets comprising various spirits brands.
  • Representing an employee-owned specialty engineering firm in its merger with a strategic competitor.
  • Serving as acquisition counsel for a fast-growing transportation services company.
  • Serving as client liaison and contributing to case management and strategy formation in a material litigation matter.
  • Representing a multinational lottery operator, technology, and professional services provider in the preparation and submission of a response to an RFP issued by the state of Illinois for the private management of its lottery and leading the drafting and negotiation of the private management agreement governing the relationship.
  • Counseling various clients in complex commercial contracting arrangements involving supply, distribution, co-manufacturing, bottling, and equipment procurement, particularly in the food and beverage industry.
  • Advising a Japanese-owned joint-venture equipment manufacturer in a series of strategic acquisitions of an independent dealership.
  • Representing a range of public and privately held companies in strategic acquisitions and divestitures in various industries.
  • Representing a privately held mortgage services firm in its sale to a private equity fund in an approximately $200 million leveraged buy-out.
  • Representing a publicly held mining company in the sale of its industrial minerals division to a strategic acquirer for approximately $80 million.
  • Representing a privately held food manufacturer in the sale-related services division to a strategic acquirer for more than $100 million.
  • Representing an armored car services company in its sale to a strategic competitor for approximately $25 million.
  • Representing a publicly held paper products company in its acquisition of a publicly held office products retailer for approximately $1.5 billion.
  • Representing a national, privately held staffing company in its sale to a private equity firm in an approximately $130 million leveraged buy-out.
  • Representing a multinational pharmaceutical company in the sale of its cardiac division to another strategic pharmaceutical business for approximately $100 million.