Overview
Bob Criswell is a partner in the firm’s Corporate and Securities Group. He concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, as well as general corporate and financing matters. His practice consists of the representation of publicly and privately held companies in a variety of industries including financial services, banking, industrial products, media and real estate.
Bob also works with corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and their principals in virtually all aspects of their formation and financing.
Representative Matters
- Represented a bank holding company in connection with its acquisitions of banks and bank holding companies
- Represented a state pension fund in connection with its acquisition of a controlling interest in a holding company for a network of radio stations
- Represented an equipment leasing company in connection with the sale of its assets
- Represented a company in the steel industry in connection with its sale to a publicly traded steel company
- Represented a publicly traded conglomerate in connection with its acquisition of an on-line travel business
- Represented a financial services company in connection with its acquisition of an investment advisor
- Represented an investment advisor in connection with numerous joint ventures (using limited liability companies) with other investment advisors
- Represented an insurance company in connection with the sale of its portfolio of limited partnership interests in hedge funds and private equity funds
- Represented a state pension fund in connection with its acquisition of the assets of a company in bankruptcy
- Represented a food manufacturer in connection with its acquisition of the assets of another food manufacturer
- Represented a mezzanine fund in connection with the sale of its stock in a portfolio company
- Represented a financial services company in connection with its acquisition of the assets of a software company
Practice Focus
- Bank Mergers and Acquisitions and Regulatory Applications
- Broker-Dealers
- Business Contracts
- Business Succession Planning
- Corporate Counseling
- General Corporate
- Investment Advisers
- Investment Management
- Lease Finance
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Portfolio Acquisitions and Sales
- Private Funds: Fund/Sponsor Representation
Admitted
Illinois, 1994
Education
DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 1994
University of Wisconsin - Madison, B.A., with honors, 1990
Notable Engagements
Social Impact Fund FormationChapman served as counsel to a social impact fund managed by Local Initiatives Support Corporation that provides project loans to acquire, preserve, and improve affordable housing in the Detroit metropolitan area. Chapman assisted in the formation of the fund, which involved raising capital through multiple credit facilities with local, regional, and national financial institutions.
Insights
Publications
- Co-author, “Illinois limited liability company operating and maintenance issues,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Illinois Business Law Series, LLCs and Partnerships, 2005 edition
Presentations
- Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and Chicago Bar Association seminars on limited liability company management structures