CUSTOM CONTENT JUNE 28, 2021

LEADERS OF INFLUENCE : , Investors & Advisors

ITH THE UNIQUE AND UNCHARTED SCENARIOS THAT WE ALL FACED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, GROWING businesses in the market for private equity have had to face a whole new landscape. The economic climate forced Wprivate equity investors and advisors play in terms of the business world overall has perhaps never been more important. For this issue, we’ve reviewed the careers of many of the most notable private equity related professionals in the region and have selected some of the very best to be showcased here. Divided into two alphabetically listed groups (Private Equity Investors their careers and specialties. Congratulations to each of the outstanding professionals who made this list and thank you for your contributions to the local business community’s success. 70 LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL – CUSTOM CONTENT JUNE 28, 2021

LEADERS OF INFLUENCE: PRIVATE EQUITY & INVESTORS

ANTHONY BERKUS CLAY BRYAN NISHITA CUMMINGS STEVE DAVIS Managing Director Managing Director, Financial Sponsors Coverage Lead Managing Partner, Co-Head of Growth Equity, Managing Director and Head of the Beauty Duff & Phelps, A Kroll LLC Business FocalPoint Partners, LLC and Co-Portfolio Manager & Personal Care Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. Intrepid Investment Bankers nthony Berkus is managing director lay Bryan is a managing director and in the Transaction Advisory Services Financial Sponsors Group lead at Focal- ishita Cummings is a managing partner, teve Davis is a managing director and Apractice of Duff & Phelps. He started his CPoint Partners, a middle market invest- co-head of growth equity, and co-portfo- head of the Beauty & Personal Care 20-year career in public accounting at PwC ment bank headquartered in Los Angeles, Nlio manager for Kayne Anderson Capital Spractice at Intrepid Investment Bankers. and for the last 16 years has been focused with branch of ces in Chicago, New York, Advisors’ growth private equity activities. He is a co-founder of Intrepid and has more exclusively on nancial and accounting due and Shanghai. FocalPoint has a long history She has played a leading role in building a than 25 years of diligence. Since joining Duff & Phelps in of delivering top quality founder-owned team of 20 people with a focus on diversity experience. Davis established the Beauty & 2011, Berkus has been a valued advisor to businesses to the private equity market with the team being over 50% female or Personal Care practice, uniquely combining private equity clients, growth investors, and with EBITDA consistently ranging from minority. This team of professionals has middle-market M&A expertise with a dedi- strategic buyers. With deep experience in $10-50 million. Bryan has approximately invested together in nearly 40 software com- cated focus on the beauty and personal care software, media and consumer industries, 21 years of experience panies, with Cummings being responsible industry, and has since built the practice Anthony serves his clients by drawing from in private equity coverage, debt and equity for 30 platform investments and 17 exits, into one of the leading advisors to the sector a broad range of technical and business capital markets, M&A, special situations, across four funds and ve co-investment in the country. He is widely regarded as a knowledge to solve complex nancial dil- and both in- and out-of-court restructurings, vehicles. She is responsible for playing a leading authority in the category of Beauty igence matters. While also working with providing solutions to investors ranging in pro-active leadership role in re ning the & Personal Care M&A and is one of most established private equity funds and corpo- size from middle market to large cap public team’s proprietary sourcing strategy over active investment bankers in the industry. rations, Berkus has been an advisor to sev- company transactions. He has represented time, including the expansion into Canada, He has a deep understanding of trends and eral private equity funds while they were in clients across a range of industries and has identifying investment themes, developing value-drivers across the sector, maintains their earlier stages and continues to advise advised entrepreneurs, private equity funds, actionable new investment opportunities, ongoing dialogue with the acquirer and them as these clients have grown their and other asset managers throughout his deal execution and driving enterprise value investor universe, and has a proven track funds sizes to nearly $1 billion in committed career. He has worked at both bulge bracket creation within existing portfolio compa- record of helping clients sell to global strate- capital and over $3 billion in assets under and boutique investment banks, structuring nies. Cummings has also advised a number gic acquirers and value-added private equity management. and executing complex transactions both in of portfolio companies through successful groups. the U.S. and internationally. exit processes.

BEN DUNBAR ADAM FEIT LLOYD GREIF JERI J. HARMAN Managing Partner Managing Director, Head of Financial Sponsors, President & CEO Founder & Chairman Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Healthcare and Life Sciences Greif & Co. Avante Capital Partners Investment Management MUFG Union Bank loyd Greif is at the top of his game in his eri Harman was recently named chair- en Dunbar was an investor before he dam Feit is managing director and head eld, which is M&A deal-making. A man of the board of NN Inc., a publicly could legally drive a car. At thirteen of nancial sponsors, healthcare and Lveteran investment banker, 2021 marks Jtraded diversi ed industrials company. Byears old, he worked six days a week, Alife sciences for MUFG Union Bank’s his 40th anniversary in the eld and next She was also named one of the most inu- earning and saving money as a Little League Commercial Banking group. He has 20 year marks the 30th anniversary of the ential women in mid-market M&A by umpire. By the time he was fteen, he’d years of experience covering and advising investment bank he founded and leads, Mergers and Acquisitions magazine in 2021, amassed a kid fortune of $15,000. His stock- clients, underwriting and structuring deals, Greif & Co., a middle-market investment a designation she has received every year broker grandfather encouraged him to invest and building and leading teams across global bank that engineers merger & acquisition since 2016. Avante Capital Partners has the savings. Where the average nancial corporate and investment banking, commer- transactions between $50 million and $2 invested more than $400 million in lower advisor sits somewhere between 51-55 years billion in enterprise value, as well as equity middle-market businesses across the U.S. old, Dunbar (29 years old) has looked to was responsible for forming the Financial and debt nancings in excess of $10 million, to date, and total AUM is now over $840 shake up the industry since he graduat- Sponsors coverage model in 2017, the Spe- exclusively for entrepreneurially owned million. Harman’s company makes debt ed college in 2014. His practice includes cialized Industries coverage model in 2020, and operated growth companies. Greif is and equity investments of $5 million to $35 releasing podcasts discussing what’s going and also served as the market president for a zealot for his clients, always putting their million to lower middle-market businesses on in nancial markets and teaching more the Los Angeles region. Feit currently leads interests rst, religiously avoiding conicts to nance , minority recaps, acqui- complex nancial topics outside of his daily the strategic efforts to provide nancing of interest, and working diligently for the sitions, and growth. She has more than 30 client advice. Similar to a stock, he doesn’t for private equity sponsors across the Unit- equally-driven entrepreneurs he represents. years of nancing and M&A experience. look at where his clients are today but ed States supporting leveraged buyouts, His extreme work ethic is legendary, going Prior to Avante, Harman founded and led where they are going to be and will invest recapitalizations, and add-ons. The Sponsor back to the days when he worked midnight the LA of ces for American Capital Ltd. time now to help them get there. Finance group is a relatively new area of to nine at Grocery Co. to pay his and Allied Capital Inc. focus for the bank. Feit was charged with way through school at UCLA and USC, spearheading the group at inception and working full-time while attending college setting its strategic vision. In the four years full-time. since inception, Feit and his team have more than tripled their revenue. 72 LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL – CUSTOM CONTENT JUNE 28, 2021

LEADERS OF INFLUENCE: PRIVATE EQUITY & INVESTORS

JEREMY HOLLAND TODD KALTMAN NATHAN LOCKE MICHAEL METZGER Managing Partner, Origination Managing Director, Transaction Opinions Managing Partner, Co-Head of Growth Equity, Media & Tech Investment Banker The Riverside Company Duff & Phelps, a Kroll Company and Co-Portfolio Manager Drake Star Partners Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. eremy Holland is a managing partner odd Kaltman is a managing director in ichael Metzger is a partner at Drake at The Riverside Company, leading the Duff & Phelps’ Transaction Opinions athan Locke is a managing partner, Star Partners, a global media / tech JOrigination team across the various Tpractice. He brings to the table more co-head of growth equity, and co-portfo- Minvestment bank with approximately funds/strategies in North America. Holland than 30 years of corporate and securities Nlio manager for Kayne Anderson Capital 100 professionals across the U.S., Europe joined Riverside in 2010, when the rm valuation experience, including more than Advisor’s growth private equity activities. and Asia. He advises companies on M&A recruited him to switch from executing deals 20 years with Duff & Phelps where he is Locke has played a leading role in building and growth stage nancings and leads the to focusing on originating new investment responsible for both business origination and a highly experienced and diverse team rm’s gaming and digital media practice. opportunities in the Western U.S. and project execution. Kaltman specializes in of 20 professionals with over 50% being His recent transactions include the sale Canada. He has more than 20 years of pri- providing fairness opinions, solvency opin- females or minorities. Together this team of Echtra Games to Zynga, Lightstream to vate equity experience, closing deals across ions and valuation advice for a wide variety has invested in nearly 40 companies with The Vitec Group, FreshPlanet / SongPop to a range of industries and throughout the of purposes. He has advised both public and Locke being responsible for 30 platform Vivend, EyeEm to NewValue, Slightly Mad . Holland’s inuence in the private companies (sponsor-backed and investments and 17 exits across four funds Studios to Codemasters, Avira to Invest- private equity community is heavily derived founder-owned) and their boards of directors and ve co-investment vehicles. He is also Corp and nWay to Animoca. Previously, from his enthusiastic support of other on numerous corporate transactions, includ- responsible for playing a pro-active leader- Metzger was a senior banker at Houlihan M&A professionals’ careers. He has spent a ing mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buy- ship role in identifying investment themes, Lokey’s TMT Group, principal at MESA tremendous amount of time over the years outs, going-private transactions, spin-offs, developing actionable new investment Global and co-founder and principal at thoughtfully referring deals to people who and recapitalizations. Externally, Kaltman opportunities, deal execution and creating Covert & Co. Before that, he held senior would not have otherwise seen them, help- has advised a wide range of private equity value within existing portfolio companies. management and engineering positions at ing people work their way through career rms, including some of the largest in the Locke is also a member of the Kayne Part- AT&T, IBM and Mindspeed. He holds ve advancement and/or pivoting their career in world as well as myriad middle-market fund. ners Investment Committee. In 2020, Locke patents in the eld of communications and a new direction. His broad experience, keen analytical skills advised on a successful exit of 4C Insights, also serves as the chair and board director of and passion for developing young talent a TV and social media technology platform. the German American Business Association have made him a go-to technical advisor to He has also played an integral role in the (GABA) in Southern California. young staff over the past 20 years. teams’ fundraising efforts.

JOEL MONTMINY CYRUS NIKOU GARY RABISHAW NISHEN RADIA President and CEO Founder and Managing Partner Managing Director and Founding Principal Co-Founder, Managing Partner Montminy & Co. Atar Capital Intrepid Investment Bankers FocalPoint Partners, LLC

oel Montminy founded and leads his yrus Nikou is the founder and managing ary Rabishaw is a managing director and ishen Radia is co-founder and managing eponymous investment bank, Montminy partner of Atar Capital, a private invest- founding principal of Intrepid Invest- partner of FocalPoint Partners, a middle J& Co. He spearheads both Montminy Cment rm based in Century City, where Gment Bankers. He established and leads Nmarket investment bank headquartered & Co.’s daily operations as well as client he oversees the rm’s strategy, including the Commercial & Consumer Technology in Los Angeles, with branch of ces in Chi- assignments across the globe. Montminy is M&A, operations, and business develop- practice for the rm, building the practice cago, New York, and Shanghai. Since its well known for leading both domestic and ment. Atar was founded in 2016 and focuses into one of the leading national advisors inception in 2002, FocalPoint has grown international merger & acquisition transac- on buyouts of underperforming companies to the consumer electronics, audio/video to become one of the largest investment tions, as well as private placements of equity within the lower middle market. In fewer and music technology sectors. Throughout banks in the Los Angeles area, with over 60 securities and debt, restructurings, business than four years, Atar has built an impressive a nance career spanning nearly 30 years, professionals who deliver a diversi ed suite valuations, fairness opinions and strategic portfolio of 11 companies with an aggregate Rabishaw has been involved in numerous of advisory services to clients, including advisory assignments. Today, Montminy & revenue of over $1 billion per year, with domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, debt placements, Co. has 22 employees, including 15 regis- over 12,000 employees, and operations including mergers and acquisitions, private and nancial restructurings. FocalPoint tered reps and is consistently ranked as one located throughout North America, Europe, equity capital raises, and nancing for com- has closed more than 32 deals in the past 18 of Los Angeles’ top boutique investment and Asia. In March 2021, Atar announced panies spanning the consumer, industrial, months with an aggregate transaction value banks. Montminy also prides himself on the the acquisition of Universal Lighting Tech- healthcare, and business services sectors. of $3.1 billion, including many notable importance of a rm that provides relevance nologies and Douglas Controls from Pana- He regularly advises companies on their sale transactions in the private equity market. and impact, for not only its clients but also sonic Corporation. Nikou attributes the to private equity rms and also represents Radia has approximately 24 years of its employees, families, and community. In success of his rm to building a team that is leading PE rms in the sale of their portfolio investment banking experience advising the past 18 months, Montminy has person- nimble, adaptive, and responsive to market companies. Recent completed transactions owners and stakeholders of middle-market ally completed 10 transactions totaling over conditions. During the 2020 lock-down, he include the sale of Jlab Audio, owned by companies (typically those with revenues of $500 million in transaction value. guided the rm to acquiring two healthcare Catalyst Holdings, Petra Capital and Eagle $75 to $500 million) on mergers and acqui- companies that are focused on behavioral Private Capital to Noritsu Koki; the sale sitions, debt and equity recapitalizations and health and one company focused on sustain- of KontrolFreek to Steel Series, which is nancial restructurings. able food packaging. backed by Denmark-based PE rm Axcel; among other sales. JUNE 28, 2021 CUSTOM CONTENT – LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL 73

LEADERS OF INFLUENCE: PRIVATE EQUITY & INVESTORS

STEPHEN ROSSI MARK SAMPSON MARTY SARAFA PATRICK SHIM Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets Co-Founder and Managing Partner Managing Partner Managing Director & Chief Investment Of cer Palm Tree LLC Paci c Growth Investors, LLC Century Park Capital Partners 1927 Capital Management, LLC

n 18 months, Steve Rossi designed and ark Sampson has over 30 years of arty Sarafa is one of the founders of atrick Y. Shim is a managing director launched Palm Tree’s investment banking experience in the private equity and Century Park Capital Partners and has of 1927 Capital Management, LLC, a I practice leveraging his 20 years of honed Mbanking industry, mostly focused in the Mbeen with the rm since its formation P family of ce in partnership with the insights about what’s deemed an essential middle market and lower middle market and in 2000. He is responsible for sourcing, Galleano family, a multi-generation wine- advisory service to an investor or company in large part in Los Angeles. Sampson start- closing, and managing investments struc- making family based in Southern Califor- given his background as a lender, investor ed his career in banking which culminated tured as leveraged recapitalizations, later and operator. In 2020 alone, his efforts in managing a west coast credit product stage , and leveraged buyouts. equity, , real estate, and were integral in Palm Tree’s success having portfolio on behalf of Credit Suisse. Samp- He is a member of the rm’s Investment other investment strategies through leading advised over 24 clients on transactions son has been a private equity investor for Committee and currently sits on the boards worth close to $700 million on the buy and the past 20+ years, having been a founder of of Accelalpha and MCCi. During his time a managing director of investments at Mirae sell side all the while building out coverage both Vintage Capital Partners and recently with Century Park Capital Partners, Sarafa Asset Securities & Investments (USA), in Chicago. Rossi further designed and Paci c Growth Investors. During this time, has overseen the completion of 68 acqui- where he focused on a wide range of private marketed a service that guided clients seek- Sampson has completed over 20 invest- sitions, including 22 platform acquisitions equity and real estate investments, as well ing main street loans access to that federal ments, has sat on over 10 corporate boards, and 46 add-on acquisitions. In 2020, Sarafa as the rm’s strategic investment opportu- loan program. Looking ahead to 2022, he majority of which were based in Southern completed the acquisition of a new plat- is launching an outsourced capital markets California. During his career, he has been form, Accelalpha, a technology consulting of directors of Foothill Family Service, a function that will further expand how Palm involved in the nancing of over $1.0 bil- rm focused on the implementation of non-pro t organization based in Pasadena, Tree integrates with clients to help them lion of capital. In 2017 Sampson co-founded Oracle products both in the cloud and on and currently serves as a Commissioner of prepare for, respond to, and execute on stra- Paci c Growth Investors, focusing on the premise. Since then, Sarafa has led two the Planning Commission for the city of tegic events. His vision and contributions lower middle market, which currently has add-ons for Accelalpha, including Prolog Upland, as well as a Committee Member to the private equity community are of great investments in four middle market compa- Partners, a logistics IT consulting services of the city’s Airport Land Use Committee. value and deserve recognition. nies, three of which are located in Southern rm, and Key Performance Ideas, a leader Additionally, Shim is an active member of California. in the implementation and management of The California Club, where he serves on its Oracle Enterprise Performance Management Advancement Committee. solutions.

AARON SOLGANICK ALEX SOLTANI GEORGE SWAIN ANIL TAMMINEEDI CEO Founder, Chairman & CEO Founder & CEO Principal Solganick & Company Skyview Capital, LLC George Swain Investments Angeleno Group

aron Solganick focuses on middle-mar- lex Soltani founded Skyview Capital in eorge Swain is the founder and CEO of nil Tammineedi is a principal with ket software and technology-enabled ser- 2005 and is chairman of the rm’s exec- George Swain Investments. GSI is an Angeleno Group, a pioneer in providing Avices M&A transactions, which requires Autive and investment committees. He Gindependent global investment bank Agrowth capital for next generation clean a very speci c skill set not just of the is a serial entrepreneur and started his rst that assists small and middle-market compa- energy and climate solutions companies. nuanced M&A process but navigating com- business when still a student at UCLA. Sol- nies in completing special situation transac- Since 2008, Tammineedi has been a mem- plex technology matters as well. He has a tani brings extensive operational experience tions. Swain oversees all investments, inves- ber of the investment team and serves on real presence as a leader in the Los Angeles to his work in private equity. His strong tor relations, and operations at GSI. He is the Angeleno Group Investment Commit- deal community with the ability to execute business acumen and prescient investment a seasoned investment banker with more tee. He leads investments across several sec and close transactions and a reputation as instincts have led to successful acquisitions than 25 years’ experience and has advised tors including sustainable mobility, energy an elite-level advisor to both strategic and across a number of different industries. Sol- on more than $800 million of transactions. storage, resource ef ciency and smart infra- private equity clients. He has carved out a tani is actively involved with every aspect Throughout his career, Swain has leveraged structure. Tammineedi is actively involved reputation for working on complex domestic of the transaction life cycle and plays a his deep industry knowledge to take a stra- on the boards of several Angeleno Group and international M&A transactions that signi cant role in all of Skyview Capital’s tegic approach to dealmaking rather than portfolio companies including Stem, Cri- help clients acquire or sell next-generation investments. Soltani also serves as chairman chase transactions. The best compliment tigen, Patriot Environmental Services and and fast-growing technology companies. of the board of directors for all current Sky- people say is that he is a visionary strategist. mPrest. Tammineedi has had many success- Solganick oversees not only his own book view Capital portfolio companies. In addi- He has a broad range of experience in merg- es in identifying investments and creating of business but also manages a number of tion, he has served as chairman of the board ers and acquisitions, debt and equity nanc- value for its limited partners, including most professionals and of ce staff. He is a natural of directors of Sourceone Wireless Group, ing and strategic partnerships. He and the recently driving a signi cant transaction for leader and a respected deal professional and and Collins Enterprise Solutions. Soltani team at GSI believe that greater diversity of its portfolio company Stem, Inc., a global is thought of in high regard among the pri- also has served as a member of the board of investment vehicles and intermediary nan- leader in arti cial intelligence (AI)-driven vate equity ecosystem in Los Angeles. directors of Fastech Integrated Solutions, cial institutions can be developed to bridge clean energy storage. PAS Technologies, TRM Copy Centers, and the gap between money centers and the full Amvest Financial Group. spectrum of entrepreneurs seeking capital. 74 LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL – CUSTOM CONTENT JUNE 28, 2021

LEADERS OF INFLUENCE: PRIVATE EQUITY & INVESTORS

JEFF WHITE GUY ZACZEPINSKI JONATHAN ZUCKER DAN CLIVNER Partner & SVP Managing Partner Managing Director and Head of the Managing Partner Skyview Capital, LLC Century Park Capital Partners Capital Markets Group Sidley Austin LLP

eff White has been actively involved with uy Zaczepinski has been with Century Intrepid Investment Bankers an Clivner is co-leader of Sidley Austin’s all M&A efforts at Skyview Capital since Park Capital Partners since 2005. He is onathan Zucker is a managing director 330-lawyer global M&A and private Jits inception. He brings decades of experi- Gresponsible for sourcing, evaluating and and head of the Capital Markets Group Dequity (PE) practice; managing partner ence that encompass private equity, invest- structuring growth equity and trans- Jat Intrepid Investment Bankers. He of its Greater Los Angeles of ces – where ment banking and executive management. actions, as well as monitoring portfolio com- joined Intrepid in 2014 to establish and lead he heads the Corporate department – and a White has held critical positions at many pany investments. Zaczepinski currently sits Intrepid’s Capital Markets Group. With member of the rm’s Executive Committee. distinguished rms, such as Merrill Lynch on the boards of CJ Pony Parts, Covercraft Intrepid, Zucker has advised on debt and As a leader, he holds the distinction of the and Platinum Equity Holdings. White Industries, MCCi, Accelalpha, and Domin- equity capital raises for businesses across opening of the Century City of ce for two established and continues to successfully ion Youth Services. Zaczepinski is a special- diverse industries. Since forming the Cap- rms and for the building of a global prac- head up Skyview Capital’s business devel- ist in the auto aftermarket industry. In April ital Markets Group, Zucker has established tice that rose from 40th place to 6th place opment team. He is responsible for driving 2021, he led Century Park’s recapitalization trusting relationships with numerous clients between 2016 and 2020. While leading one growth through acquisitions by identifying, of CJ Pony Parts, the market leader in the who have returned to Intrepid for sell-side of the most proli c M&A and PE practices negotiating and assessing all transaction classic Mustang e-commerce space. Zacze- engagements after successful capital raises. in the country, he continues to handle some opportunities within the M&A and business pinski has also led ve add-on acquisitions For example, American Logistics Company of the rm’s most high-pro le transactional development team. White is also a member for Covercraft Industries, a Century Park (ALC) originally hired Zucker to complete matters for clients and dedicates time for the of the rm’s investment committee. Recent- portfolio company, and a market leading a dividend recapitalization transaction in LGBTQ community and the rm’s diversity ly, White expanded his role to working more player in the custom automotive accessory 2018 and subsequently tapped Intrepid for and inclusion initiatives. Clivner has exten- closely with the rm’s founder to spearhead market, providing premium quality exterior the sale of its student transportation division sive experience working on matters related the rm’s global M&A, strategic alliance and interior protection products for auto- in 2020. Zucker advised another repeat cli- to private equity, M&A and corporate and corporate development strategy. In motive enthusiasts. Zaczepinski believes in a ent, Artisan Vehicles, through three capital governance, and advises executives, boards, addition to his responsibilities at Skyview exible and supportive approach in manag- raises before ultimately selling the business management, special committees and Capital, White was the US Chair of the ing the rm’s holdings, providing value-add- to Sandvik, the Swedish powerhouse. In investment banking rms on domestic and G8 Young Summit, and he served on the ed experience and thoughtful insights into addition to his transaction advisory activity, international corporate transactions. membership committee of Milken Institute guiding high growth businesses. Zucker is a well-known and respected voice Young Leaders Circle for six years. in the deal community.

ANTHONY CONSOLI JIM DAVIDSON SUZIE DORAN Managing Partner Managing Director & President Partner Massumi + Consoli LLP Avant Advisory Group SingerLewak

nthony Consoli is a managing partner ames F. Davidson is managing director, uzie Doran is a distinguished individual of Massumi + Consoli LLP in Los Ange- president, and founder of Avant Advisory with the ability to apply an outside the Ales, where he represents private funds JGroup, a management consulting and Sbox business approach. She has helped and other nancial institutions, along with operationally focused nancial advisory rm some of the largest private companies and their portfolio companies, in structuring that specializes in middle-market M&A, emerging entrepreneurial clients seize value and negotiating complex private equity and forensic, fraud, corporate investigations, oper- and opportunity for their respective compa- M&A transactions in the middle market. ational turnarounds and nancial restructur- nies. She has a fundamental commitment At the foundation of Consoli’s practice is ings. Davidson and Avant Advisory Group and desire for the success of her clients’ a commitment to dealmaking through a provide M&A transaction support and have business goals. She analyzes businesses focus on the highest standards of excellence, performed hundreds of buy-side and sell-side through a very wide lens with the premise aligning incentives between MCLLP and its diligence engagements that include nancial that there’s always so much more below the clients and endeavoring to provide elegant / quality of earnings and operations for com- surface. With this wide lens approach, she and commercial solutions to nuanced chal- panies ranging from distressed to multi-bil- has helped numerous clients achieve goals lenges. Consoli co-founded Massumi + Con- lion-dollar rms. He and his rm have been they did not see themselves at rst. She soli LLP over six years ago after spinning out engaged by both counsel and buyers/inves- has helped clients prepare, pivot, scale and of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Consoli has since tors to investigate and opine on numerous create value for their companies and ready overseen the rm’s aggressive growth as it forensic and fraud examinations, including themselves for scalability and exponential has evolved into one of the largest private post-acquisition issues and disputes. Davidson growth. In the course of her career, and equity M&A practices on the West Coast. integrates experience from private industry, particularly in the past two years, Doran has The rm counts among its impressive client public accounting, auditing and consulting. advised some of the most prevalent entre- roster some of the most discerning investors His specialties include mergers and acquisi- preneurial companies in Los Angeles on a in the country. tions, distressed and special situations that sale, acquisition or merger. comprise insolvency, bankruptcy, nancial restructurings, and operational turnarounds. 75 LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL – CUSTOM CONTENT JUNE 28, 2021

LEADERS OF INFLUENCE: ADVISORS

DAMON FISHER MEHDI KHODADAD ARI LANIN JONATHAN LITTRELL Partner Partner Co-Chair, Private Equity Practice Group Managing Partner Kirkland & Ellis LLP Sidley Austin LLP Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Raines Feldman LLP

amon Fisher serves as the chair of Kirk- ew peers can match Mehdi Khodadad in ri Lanin advises companies, private onathan D. Littrell is the managing part- land’s Los Angeles Of ce Operations the variety, nancial creativity, and sheer equity rms and investment banks in ner of Raines Feldman LLP. Littrell has DCommittee where he leads more than Foutput of the deals he orchestrates. He A public and private merger transactions, Jsigni cant transactional experience in 300 attorneys and business professionals. is “consigliere” and primary deal counsel sales of stock and assets, and joint ventures. a broad range of corporate, private equity, During the past year, he has served as a to Clearlake Capital Group, which calls He is co-chair of Gibson Dunn’s Private venture capital and securities disciplines. resilient leader helping the of ce to pivot, Mehdi rst for the majority of its transac- Equity Practice Group. Lanin has handled His practice includes the representation of thrive and retain its character in the midst tions. Clearlake’s $3 billion take-private long-term investments and acquisitions for public and private entities, fund sponsors, of COVID-19. In February 2020, just one acquisition of Endurance International Katzenberg’s WndrCo since its 2017 forma- family of ces and asset management rms month before the citywide shut down man- Group, Inc. in combination with the con- tion and advised The Chernin Group on its in all aspects of and date, Kirkland opened two new of ces in current acquisition of Web.com from Siris sale of Otter Media Holdings to AT&T Inc. nance including structuring and restruc- Los Angeles. The rm, which had been a Capital Group, LLC illustrates Khodadad’s in a deal worth a reported $1 billion. Lanin turing, mergers and acquisitions, equity staple downtown for 25 years, opened a sec- extraordinary track record for advising cli- also counsels some of the most well-known nancings, fund formation, joint ventures, ond location in Century City. In addition to ents on complicated deals. Competing with private equity rms in LA on their complex private placements and go public trans- helping to lead the of ce’s virtual transfor- multiple bidders who had been negotiating transactions. Lanin’s recent deals include a actions. Littrell’s recent accomplishments mation, Fisher continued to advise private with Endurance for months, Khodadad had number of acquisitions, growth investments in the M&A space include serving as lead equity rms navigating the economic fallout 72 hours to lead a 20-lawyer Sidley team and sales for Aurora Capital Partners and counsel for a roll-up and go public transac- from the pandemic. His practice focuses on in structuring and executing the Clearlake Platinum Equity. tion involving two private equity funds that mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts bid and transaction and then executing on generated a market cap of $1.65 billion for and equity nancings for private equity the acquisition of Web.com and concurrent the client. He also represented a Colorado sponsors and their portfolio companies in a spin-off of Endurance’s Constant Contact medical company in a $300 million reverse wide variety of industries. business to line up with the closing of the merger with a $700 million acquiring entity Endurance transaction. and concurrent funding resulting in a $1 billion enterprise valuation.

RICK MADDEN PETER MASSUMI ANANT PATEL TREVOR SALIBA Partner Managing Partner, Co-Founder Partner, Advisory Services and TAS Practice Leader Managing Partner, Global Head of Private Equity, Kirkland & Ellis LLP Massumi + Consoli LLP GHJ M&A and Strategy NMS Consulting, Inc. ick Madden is a leading authority on eter Massumi is a private equity attor- nant Patel, CPA, has over 25 years of private equity mergers and acquisitions. ney who is a consummate professional public accounting experience, leads both revor Saliba is the founding managing RBased in Kirkland’s Los Angeles of ce, P with deep private equity experience and AGHJ’s Advisory Services Practice and partner of NMS Consulting, a global Madden maintains a diverse corporate prac- technical expertise, impressive ability to Transaction Advisory Services Practice and Tmanagement consulting and strategic tice, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, understand and deliver on clients’ needs, is a member of the Executive Committee advisory rm based in the rm’s Beverly out-of-court restructurings and securities and a commitment to a thoughtful deal- for GHJ. On an international level, Patel Hills of ce where he serves a global client offerings and advises clients with respect to making practice. Identifying a clear need in is also the global chair of the HLB’s (the base. At NMS Consulting, Saliba currently corporate governance and SEC-reporting the market to present a better solution to world-wide accounting network GHJ is a leads a global team of over 250 professionals requirements. Madden’s expertise lies in private equity sponsors for middle market member of) Transaction Advisory Group. across 15 of ces throughout the United the breadth and depth of his experience M&A counsel, Massumi and his co-founder, He advises clients in the area of mergers and States, Europe, Middle East and Asia. Saliba representing sophisticated private equity Tony Consoli, spun out of Kirkland & Ellis acquisitions and provides nancial due dili- is an alumnus of Columbia Business School. investors across nearly all industries and in 2015 to start what they set out to become gence consulting such as quality of earnings, He is the former past president of the Los sectors. His experience advising leading pri- the preeminent law rm specializing in pri- working capital analysis, EBITDA analysis Angeles/Orange County Chapter for the vate equity rms, including long-time client vate equity / M&A. The rm’s mission has and projections and deal structuring. As a Global Association of Risk Professionals. TPG Capital, on the full lifecycle of transac- been to deliver the premier level of private previous owner and manager of a number Most recently, Saliba has served as the key tions allows him to navigate client risks and equity / M&A counsel within a framework of family-owned retail businesses, Patel pos- principal advisor to number of mergers and act as a key business and strategic advisor. radically different than, and with service sesses a high business acumen. His entrepre- acquisition transactions in the nancial Since the onset of COVID-19, Madden has superior to, the entrenched big rm model. neurial inquisitive mindset challenges the services, ntech and infrastructure sectors worked with a number of clients to address Massumi has built a force to be reckoned ways clients think about problems and the with latter comprising the establishing of a liquidity needs for their portfolio companies, with – it is now one of the largest dedicated strategic direction of their business. Patel’s dedicated fund focused on real estate and as well as to make impactful investments in private equity / M&A practices on the West approach to advisory appeals to the rm’s infrastructure in the United States, Europe businesses in need of capital injection. Coast. high-pro le clients, especially in the private and Asia. equity eld. 76 LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL – CUSTOM CONTENT JUNE 28, 2021

LEADERS OF INFLUENCE: ADVISORS

CHRISTINE SHIN FABIO SIMI NATALIE TRONKINA MARC WOLF Partner/ Co-Chair of Corporate Group Senior Vice President, Private Equity and M&A Partner Partner, Co-Leader - Financial Services Russ August & Kabat Services CohnReznick CohnReznick Marsh hristine Shin is a M&A attorney and atalie Tronkina started her profession- arc Wolf, CPA, is a Los Angeles co-chair of the Corporate Group at abio Simi is a senior vice president in al career working as a controller for a private equity and nancial services CRuss, August & Kabat. After graduating the Private Equity and M&A practice Nfamily-owned manufacturing business. Mveteran with more than 40 years of Wellsley College and Yale Law School with Fof Marsh in Los Angeles. The practice She later served as a senior associate in the experience providing strategic deal advisory, honors. Shin started her career at Linklaters provides private equity rms, corporations Audit and Assurance Practice of McGladrey audit and tax consulting services to a broad in Hong Kong and focused her early years as and the M&A advisory community with in Los Angeles, where she audited both range of nancial sponsors including private an attorney on advising large private equity pre-acquisition risk due diligence, reps and public and private companies. She’d spent equity, venture capital, real estate, hedge, rms such as Carlyle, KKR and Blackstone warranties , tax insurance, and almost seven years at Duff & Phelps, where , private REITs, regulated on their investments in Asia. She has built transactional resources throughout the life she served as director and took an active investment companies, registered invest- hands-on experience in working together cycle of an asset. Marsh’s team acts as an role in developing the West Coast trans- ment advisors and broker-dealers. Wolf with companies based in India, Russia, external advisor to help manage a portion action advisory practice. Leveraging this is co-leader of CohnReznick’s Financial South Korea, China, Mongolia, Australia, of the acquisition process to help identify valuable wisdom and experience, Tronkina Services Industry practice and known as a Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Philippines, Indo- potential risk elements of a deal, lower has spent the last seven years working for trusted advisor and accountant throughout nesia and Jakarta and continues to advise transaction costs, or help facilitate “stuck CohnReznick and is a partner and member the private equity ecosystem. He is rooted clients on both international and domestic deals‚” where an insurance policy eases the of the rm’s Transactional Advisory Ser- in the Los Angeles nancial service and transactions within her current practice. In concerns on both sides of a transaction. vices practice, in Los Angeles. In her role, private equity industry. Throughout his 2018, Shin sought out to build a sophisticat- Prior to joining Marsh, Simi served as a Tronkina works closely with PE rms help- career, he has developed a reputation for ed M&A practice that caters to the middle managing director in the Institutional ing them evaluate and navigate portfolio getting deeply involved with his clients market M&A community in Los Angeles. Equity Sales group at Cowen and Company company acquisitions. She has experience and the broader private equity community. She has successfully achieved this goal and Lehman Brothers. His other experience assisting client with engagements of various Whether advising private equity clients on and has represented various private equity includes serving as president at California sizes and in multiple industries. Regardless an overall investment strategy or guiding clients including The Yucaipa Companies, Peptide Research, Inc. a chemical reagent of size or industry, she uncovers and identi- them through an acquisition or an exit, GEM Group and Transom Capital Group in manufacturing company. es key matters for consideration and helps Wolf leverages his industry knowledge and their middle-market acquisitions. her clients negotiate accordingly. experience to help his clients achieve their vision.