Sidley partners Sean M. Carney and Scott R. Williams have been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as “Notable M&A Dealmakers” on its 2025 list. The feature highlights Chicago professionals who are “guiding transformative deals across industries.”
Sean is a co-leader of Sidley's Private Equity practice, a co-leader of Sidley’s global Insurance practice, and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Sean’s practice focuses on advising insurers and reinsurers, investment banks, private equity firms, and other participants in the insurance and financial services industries in a variety of corporate, securities, and regulatory matters. Crain’s has specifically highlighted Sean’s role in Arthur J. Gallagher's acquisition of Woodruff Sawyer and his work in Sentry Insurance's US$1.7 billion acquisition of The General.
Scott is known for his work on transformative, highly complex and first-in-kind transactions. Over the course of his career he has played a significant role in transaction with an aggregate value in excess of US$325 billion. His work over his 20 plus years of practice has included public and private mergers and acquisitions, spinoffs, carveout sales of businesses, joint ventures, significant investments, and bankruptcy reorganizations. Crain’s has noted his advise to the special committee of Nordstrom on its US$6.3 billion sale to a group including Nordstrom family members and to US Cellular on its US$4.4 billion sale to T-Mobile.
