BRAD MEISSEN represents private equity and venture capital firms in connection with their organization, operations, management, capital raises, portfolio investments, and other strategic transactions. Brad has significant experience representing both large, sophisticated global asset management firms and emerging startup managers that operate and invest in different geographies (U.S. and abroad) and raise and deploy capital across multiple private equity asset classes, primarily focused on leveraged buyout, growth equity, venture capital, real estate, secondaries, private credit, and sports.
His industry experience includes representing sponsors and investors in the energy and natural resources, sports, entertainment and media, airlines, biotechnology, infrastructure, FinTech, aviation, space exploration, healthcare, agriculture, cryptocurrency, insurance, gaming, education, and renewable energy industries. Brad also advises clients on SEC, CFTC, FINRA, Advisers Act, Company Act, and related regulatory matters, including manager startup and seeding, SEC registration and exemptions (RIA/ERA), and related compliance programs, guidance, and best practices.
Brad also represents limited partners and institutional investors in connection with their investments in funds, and has advised clients in connection with complex secondary transactions, including restructurings, continuation funds, and other GP-led transactions. In addition, he regularly advises clients in a broad range of negotiated transactions, such as seed capital and anchor investor arrangements, joint ventures, co-investments, portfolio company investments, investment warehousing, single investor funds, special opportunity funds, managed accounts, placement agreements, credit facilities, carried-interest arrangements, spinouts, revenue shares, acquisitions/sales of equity, and other strategic transactions.
Brad is a member of Sidley’s premier, award-winning Private Equity Fund Formation practice group which was awarded Chambers USA 2024 band rankings in Private Equity: Fund Formation. Sidley’s Investment Funds group has also been named “Law Firm of the Year” in Private Funds Law® in U.S. News – Best Lawyers 2022 “Best Law Firms.”
Brad’s representative matters include:
- Orion Resource Partners in the closing of Orion Mine Finance Fund III, a private equity fund focused on precious and base metals investments with US$2.3 billion in capital commitments.
- Canyon Partners Real Estate in the establishment of a joint venture platform with AECOM Capital, and the closing of AECOM-Canyon Equity Fund, which reached its hard cap with just over US$500 million in capital commitments, focused on large scale commercial real estate development projects.
- United Airlines’ venture capital arm, United Airlines Ventures, on closing of United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund with over US$200 million in capital commitments, a first-of-its kind venture capital fund designed to support startups focused on decarbonizing air travel and sustainable aviation fuel investing, which was named the winner of Fast Company’s 2024 World Changing Ideas Awards.
- Northleaf Capital Partners in connection with multiple limited partner investments in GP-led single-asset continuation fund secondary transactions.
- American Family Insurance in the organization of its venture capital arm, American Family Ventures, and closing of multiple venture capital investment funds and co-investment vehicles, including the closing of AmFam VC Fund IV, LP, its second multiple limited partner venture capital fund with US$444 million in commitments with a focus on early-stage startups impacting the insurance industry.
- Folium Capital in the formation of a fund of one pursuant to which a Swiss family office will invest US$75 million in agricultural investment opportunities.
- Synchrony in connection with its US$100 million limited partner commitment in Ariel Alternatives’ Project Black.
- Galaxy Digital in connection with the formation of its Galaxy Interactive funds and co-investment vehicles.
- Mesirow Financial in the sale of its US$8 billion hedge fund business, Mesirow Advanced Strategies, to Lighthouse Investment Partners.
- Mirae Asset Global Investments in connection with multiple designated investment vehicles and investments in portfolio companies and go-private transactions.
Before entering the private sector, Brad served on active duty as an officer in the United States Air Force leading high G-force and high-altitude training programs, achieving the rank of Captain.
Brad received his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law and his MBA in finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Brad received his B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy, where he was a letterman and All-Mountain West Conference Academic Team selection on the Air Force football team. Brad currently serves on the Board of the Air Force Academy Foundation, the endowment of the United States Air Force Academy.