KEANU BALANI’s practice focuses on complex corporate transactions and matters across a variety of industries, including the cosmetics, consumer products, and entertainment sectors. He works on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and general corporate matters.
Keanu participated in Sidley’s Pro Bono Fellowship Program, working at the ACLU of Southern California in the LGBTQ, Gender & Reproductive Justice division. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he worked in the beauty industry.
During law school, Keanu served as co-chair of UCLA OUTLaw, academic support co-chair of the Latinx Law Student Association, and worked at the UCLA School of Law Academic Outreach Resource Center, where he organized UCLA Law’s Annual Diversity Reception, counseled prospective law students on the application process, and edited application materials, such as resumes and personal statements.
Keanu graduated in the top five of his graduating class, earning six “Masin Family Academic Excellence Gold Awards,” which is an award given to the highest performing student in a competitive law school course with a curve, and two “Silver Awards” for second highest performance. He also received the Achievement Fellowship full-ride scholarship, and the “Lawrence E. Irell Prize” for achieving the highest grade point average in the law school class at the end of his second year.