DAN CLIVNER is a member of Sidley’s Executive Committee and the managing partner of the greater Los Angeles offices. He previously served as a global co-leader of the firm’s M&A and Private Equity group. Dan handles high-profile transactional matters for clients in the media and entertainment, telecom, technology, financial services, and retail industries.
Partner
Dan Clivner
- M&A
- Private Equity
- Corporate Governance
He has extensive experience advising both domestic and international private equity and corporate clients on a variety of matters related to M&A, corporate governance, and securities law matters such as leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, public company acquisitions, and restructurings. Dan also advises boards, management, special committees, and investment banking firms on domestic and international corporate transactions.
Prior to joining Sidley, Dan served as managing partner of the Los Angeles office of an international law firm. In 1996, he relocated to Los Angeles from New York to advise The Seagram Company and NBC Universal (formerly Universal Studios) in connection with numerous television, theme park, motion picture and music acquisition, disposition and financing transactions, including the acquisition of Polygram N.V., the sale of USA Networks, and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Seagram’s merger with Vivendi SA.
The Los Angeles Business Journal recognized Dan in its “LA500” (2025) and “Top 100 Lawyers” (2022–2023) lists and further honored him with the “Champion of Diversity” award (2022). He was also named to its “Leaders of Influence: Private Equity Investors & Advisors” list (2020–2024). St. John’s University School of Law honored Dan with its 2022 “Honorable John E. Sprizzo Award,” presented to noteworthy alumni for their contributions to the law and their communities. Minority Corporate Counsel Association selected Dan as a 2019 “Rainmaker” and named him to its annual list honoring diverse lawyers for their business acumen, passion, and dedication to proactive client development. He was recognized as the 2016 “Corporate Lawyer of the Year” by the Century City Bar Association and Law360 named him an “MVP” for private equity in 2016.
Experience
- Representative Matters
- Memberships and Activities
Examples of Dan's representations include:
- ZMC in its acquisition of a controlling stake of semiconductor silicon solutions and services company Pure Wafer.
- Ridgeview Partners in its growth investment in IOT software and payment solutions provider PayRange.
- 9 Story Media Group, a portfolio company of ZMC, in its US$186 million sale to Scholastic.
- Siris Capital Group in its acquisition of BearCom, a North American solutions provider of wireless communications and security technologies, from Bertram Capital.
- Simeio, a portfolio company of ZMC, in its acquisition of PathMaker Group (PMG), a provider of identity management services and solutions.
- ZMC in its strategic investment in Wpromote, an independent digital marketing agency.
- CafeMedia, a portfolio company of ZMC, in its acquisition of Slickstream, an engagement product for independent publishers, from Hivepoint.
- ZMC in its acquisition of Resonate, a provider of A.I.-powered consumer data and intelligence.
- ITRenew, a portfolio company of investment funds managed by ZMC, in its pending sale to Iron Mountain valued at US$925 million.
- Mavenir in connection with a US$500 million private placement by Koch Strategic Platforms.
- ZMC affiliated investment funds in their acquisition of iconic comedy brand The Second City.
- Affiliates of Siris Capital Group, LLC and Pulse Secure, LLC in the sale of Pulse Secure, LLC to Ivanti, Inc.
- KKR in its investment in ReliaQuest.
- Investment funds managed by an affiliate of ZMC in their acquisition of Simeio Solutions.
- Affiliates of Siris Capital Group, LLC in their US$1.7 billion acquisition of Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
- ITRenew, Inc. in its acquisition of eSISO, LLC.
- Investment funds managed by an affiliate of ZMC in their acquisition of CMI Marketing, Inc.
- An investor group led by investment funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC in its US$1.4 billion acquisition of 40.6 percent of OneMain Holdings, Inc. from affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC.
- Siris Capital Group, LLC in its US$2 billion acquisition of Web.com Group, Inc.
- Siris Capital Group, LLC in the sale of its portfolio company, Polycom, Inc., to Plantronics, Inc. for a combination of stock and cash consideration valued at US$2 billion.
- Lagunitas Brewing Company in connection with its sale to Heineken N.V.
- Financial advisor to Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. in its US$821 million acquisition of Intralinks Holdings, Inc.
- Siris Capital Group, LLC in its US$2 billion acquisition of Polycom, Inc., US$654 million acquisition of Xura, Inc. (formerly Comverse) and US$1 billion acquisition of Premiere Global Services, Inc. (“PGi”).
- Lagunitas Brewing Company in connection with entering into a 50/50 partnership with Heineken N.V.
- Cast & Crew Entertainment Services, Inc. in its US$700 million sale to Silver Lake Partners.
- Health Net Inc. in its $6.8 billion acquisition by Centene Corp.
- IPC Healthcare, Inc. in its US$1.6 billion acquisition by Team Health, Inc.
- Siris Capital in its acquisitions of Digital River, Inc., TNS, Inc. and Tekelec Inc. and subsequent sale of Tekelec to Oracle Corporation.
- Airvana Network Solutions, Inc., in its sale to Ericsson.
- JPMorgan in the restructuring of MGM Studios.
- Universal Studios Japan in acquiring theme park rights to “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” from affiliates of Warner Bros.
- M*Modal Inc. in its sale to affiliates of One Equity Partners.
- Fast Retailing Co., including in its acquisition of J Brand Holdings, LLC.
- ZMC, including in its acquisitions of Cast & Crew, Inc. and Alloy, Inc., in its sale of Alloy Entertainment to Warner Bros. Television.
- Blackstone Capital Partners, including in its acquisitions of Performance Food Group Company and Pinnacle Foods Corporation.
- Pinnacle Foods in its acquisitions of Birds Eye Foods and Wish-Bone and proposed merger with Hillshire Brands.
- Airvana, Inc., and CBaySystems Holdings in recapitalization transactions.
- Ripplewood Holdings, including in connection with its acquisition and sale of Japan Telecom.
Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.
- Board Member and Past Chairman, Public Counsel
- Vice President, The Baruch College Fund of Baruch College, City University of New York
- Member, Williams Institute Legal Council at UCLA Law School
- Member, California Bar Association
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, Association of the Bar of the City of New York
- Director, APLA Health (2006–2012)
Capabilities
SERVICES AND INDUSTRIES
News & Insights
Credentials
Admissions & Certifications
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court, S.D. of New York
- California
- New York
Education
- St. John's University School of Law, J.D., 1988
- CUNY - Baruch College, B.B.A., 1985 (with honors)