Samir A. Gandhi

SAMIR GANDHI is the global practice leader of the firm’s Capital Markets group, a co-leader of the firm’s India practice, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.  

Sam focuses on capital markets offerings, corporate matters, and private equity transactions. He represents sponsors, issuers, and underwriters in a broad range of capital markets activities and has extensive experience advising corporate clients on disclosure and governance matters, complex financial structures, public offerings, and private placements. Sam also represents domestic and foreign fund sponsors, investment banks, and other private investors in their private equity and venture capital activities, and rights holders and media companies in sponsorship and media contracts in the sports and entertainment industries. 

“[Sam] is very strong, combines excellent judgment and practicality, and balances clients' needs.”
Chambers USA 2024

Sam’s leadership on behalf of clients has earned him acknowledgment in numerous industry publications. Sam is ranked in Chambers USA (2004–2025) and Chambers Global (2007–2025) for USA — Nationwide Capital Markets: Debt & Equity: Eastern United States, where sources say Sam “is spectacular,” adding, “he is one of the most pragmatic guys around and has emerged as a real leader in the Bar” (2020). Legal 500 has recommended Sam in the areas of capital markets debt and equity offerings (2010–2015). Sam has also been ranked in Chambers Asia-Pacific for Corporate/M&A (International Firms) (2010–2012). He was named a Capital Markets “MVP” by Law360 in 2024 and was recognized in Diversity & The Bar Magazine as one of the “15 Rainmakers Who Always Shine” in 2015. Sam has also been recognized in the 2016 edition of Who's Who Legal: Capital Markets. Sam was also named to India Business Law Journal’s “The International A-List” 2025.

Sam serves as host of The Sidley Podcast, which brings compelling perspectives on complex, newsworthy topics at the intersection of business and law. Each episode features a discussion with Sidley lawyers on the critical issues that matter to senior business leaders.

Recent matters include:

• Representation of Lumexa Imaging Holdings, Inc. in its US$462.5 million initial public offering of common stock.
• Representation of the underwriters in Central Bancompany, Inc.’s US$373 million initial public offering.
• Representation of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited on its US$457.1 million upsized initial public offering.  
• Representation of the special committee of the board of directors of Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) in its US$6.25 billion acquisition by certain members of the Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool, S.A.B. de C.V.
• Representation of Fortune Brands in the spinoff of its cabinets business, MasterBrand, Inc.
• Representation of Athene Holding Ltd. in its initial public offering — named “Equity Deal of the Year — Americas” in 2017 by The International Financial Law Review.
• Representation of Ardent Health Partners, Inc., Aspen Insurance, Aprea Therapeutics, Inc., Biodesix, Inc., Blue Ocean Acquisition Corp., Nextracker, Inc., and Soho House & Co., Inc., in their initial public offerings.
• Representation of the underwriters in the initial public offerings of Brazil Potash, Inc., Bridge Investment Group Holdings, Inc., Immuneering Corporation, Tyra Biosciences, Inc., Pharvaris N.V.,  GoHealth, Inc., Lefteris Acquisition Corp., Newmark Group, Inc., Franklin Financial Network, Inc., Klaviyo, Inc, Contineum Therapeutics, and SelectQuote, Inc.
• Representation of the underwriters in securities offerings by ABB Ltd., American Campus Communities, BGC Partners, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald LP, CHS, Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Fortune Brands Home & Security,  Freddie Mac, Hubble, Inc., Land O’ Lakes, Inc., Mid-America Apartments Inc., McKesson, Newmark Group, Inc., NV5 Global, UMB Financial, Orchid Island Capital, Inc., O’Reilly Auto Parts, Retail Opportunity Investment Company, REV Group, Inc., Stryker, Inc., UDR, Inc., Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, V2X, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and Western Alliance Bancorporation.
• Representation of Athene Holding Ltd., Argo Financial Services Ltd., AmTrust Financial Services, Maiden Holdings Ltd., Sumitomo Corporation of America and USAA as issuer in public and private securities offerings. 
• Representation of Athene Holding in its proposed merger with Apollo Global Management, in an all-stock transaction creating a pro forma US$29 billion market cap company (with Athene valued at approximately US$11 billion).
• Representation of Evolution Media Capital in corporate, advisory and investment matters.
• Representation of the Confederation of North American, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) in their corporate, governance and media matters. 

• Sam earned the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, Executive Leadership Program Certification in 2025.
• Sam is the chair of the College Advisory Council of the University of Chicago and co-chair of the Board of Directors of the United Way of New York City. He is a board member, and was formerly the board chair, of South Asian Youth Action (SAYA), a non-profit organization focused on fostering South Asian youth academically, professionally, and personally.
• Sam was a member of the 2016 FIFA Reform Committee.