Overview
Christopher D. Sheaffer is a partner in the Private Equity and M&A practices of Paul Hastings and is Chair of the Chicago Corporate Department. His practice is focused on representing private equity firms in leveraged buyouts, minority investments, add-on acquisitions, divestitures and recapitalizations. He is a trusted leader for clients investing in a wide range of transaction sizes and sectors, including Cortec Group (over 20 transactions), Wynnchurch Capital (over 20 transactions), BPOC (over 20 transactions), Pfingsten Partners (over 40 transactions), May River Capital and Five Arrows Capital Partners. Chris also regularly represents public companies, closely-held businesses, entrepreneurs and senior management teams in connection with mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions.
In Chambers USA 2023, clients had the following to say about Chris: “[Chris is] very proactive, pragmatic and easy to work with." As well as: “Christopher is a sophisticated transactional practitioner and an excellent negotiator.”
Recognitions
- Recognized as a notable practitioner in IFLR1000 (2023)
- Recognized as a top ranked Private Equity lawyer in Chambers (2020‑2023)
- The Legal 500 USA, M&A/Corporate and Commercial: Private Equity Buyouts (2021-2023)
Education
- Northwestern University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude)
- University of Notre Dame, B.S. in Civil Engineering (cum laude)
Representations
- Represented BPOC in over 20 transactions, including:
- Its sale of Maxor National Pharmacy Services;
- Its acquisition of Praxis;
- Its acquisition of Bridgeway;
- Its sale of Maverick Healthcare;
- Its acquisition of Zenith American Solutions;
- Its sale of Medical Solutions;
- Its acquisition of Spectrum Professional Services;
- Its sale of RSA Medical;
- Its acquisition of Medical Solutions; and
- Its acquisition of himagine solutions.
- Represented Cortec Group in over 20 transactions, including:
- Its acquisition of A1 Garage Door Services;
- Its acquisition of Circle Surrogacy;
- Its formation of Companion Pet Partners;
- Its acquisition of LOV Holdings;
- Its sale of Community Veterinary Partners;
- Its acquisition of Rotating Machinery Services;
- Its acquisition of Aspen Medical Products;
- Its acquisition of Window Nation; and
- Its sale of Cranial Technologies.
- Represented Pfingsten Partners in over 40 transactions, including:
- Its acquisition of Ascend Solutions;
- Its acquisition of Pacific Laser Tech;
- Its acquisition of Tempest Telecom Solutions;
- Its acquisition of Fowler Holdings;
- Its acquisition of Fairbank Equipment;
- Its sale of Fire King;
- Its acquisition of NEC Group;
- Its acquisition of Omega Systems Consultants;
- Its acquisition of Environmental Lights; and
- Its sale of Midwest Products and Engineering.
- Represented Wynnchurch Capital in over 20 transactions, including:
- Its acquisition of Hydraulic Technologies;
- Its acquisition of Reagent Chemical & Research;
- Its sale of Midland Industries;
- Trimlite's acquisition of Builders Hardware;
- Its sale of Critical Process Systems Group;
- Its acquisition of Trimlite Manufacturing;
- Critical Process Systems Group's acquisition of Nuance Systems;
- Its acquisition of MPL Holdings;
- Its acquisition of Boss Industries; and
- Its acquisition of Critical Process Systems Group.
- Represented Five Arrows Capital Partners in connection with:
- Bridgeway's acquisition of Innovative Software Solutions;
- Its acquisition of Bridgeway; and
- Its acquisition of Innovative Software Solutions.
- Represented May River Capital in connection with:
- Its acquisition of Boston Centerless;
- Unibloc's acquisition of Standard Pump;
- Its acquisition of Unibloc;
- Industrial Flow Solutions merger with Stancor; and
- Its acquisition of Dickson/Unigage.
- Represented Brenntag SE in connection with:
- Its acquisition of Globe Chemical; and
- Its acquisition of JM Swank.
Engagement & Publications
- Paul Hastings' Investment Bank Engagement Letter Study (2013-2014)
- Bloomberg BNA webinar “Alternatives for Portfolio Company Structures in Private Equity Transactions” (February 21, 2013)