Rob R. Carlson

ROB CARLSON focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, formation of private investment funds, public and private securities offerings, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions, representing publicly traded and privately held corporations, as well as private equity and venture and growth capital funds.

Rob regularly represents strategic and private equity buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions, and sponsors and investors in connection with the formation and operation of private equity funds and venture capital funds. Rob represents issuers and underwriters in public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities. He also counsels boards of directors and committees on corporate governance matters. His industry experience includes working with companies and investors in the biotechnology, software, hardware, telecommunications, medical device, e-commerce, payments, transportation, entertainment, and gaming industries.

Rob has been featured in Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law (2016 and 2020), and Securities and Capital Markets Law (2020), Northern California Super Lawyer (2016–2019, 2025), and in Who’s Who Legal for Mergers and Acquisitions (2016). In addition, he has been ranked as “Highly Regarded” in M&A by IFLR1000 (2018–2020) and a recommended lawyer in Legal 500 United States. for Venture Capital and Emerging Companies (2025).

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Radiology Partners and its subsidiary Mosaic Clinical Technologies in the acquisition of Cognita Imaging.
• Athene in its acquisition (with Motive Partners) of ARS.
• Shenzhen Longsys Electronics Co., Ltd. in its acquisition of an 81% interest in SMART Modular Technologies do Brasil – Indústria e Comércio de Componentes Ltda.
• Tempest Therapeutics in connection with its merger with Millendo Therapeutics.
• McAfee in connection with its purchase of Light Point Security.
• Platinum Equity in acquisitions and dispositions of companies in the telecommunications, manufacturing, construction, consumer products and pharmaceutical marketing sectors.
• Variant Equity in its acquisition of Coach USA Administration, Inc. from Stagecoach Group Plc.
• Brocade Communications Systems, in its acquisition of Ruckus Wireless.
• Brocade Communications Systems, in its acquisition of the SteelApp application delivery control business of Riverbed Technology.
• Zingbox in its sale to Palo Alto Networks.
• Variant Equity in the sale of Curb Taxi Media to Firefly.

Company Capital Raising Transactions

• Radiology Partners in connection with its US$720 million equity capital raise from investors.
• ElastiFlow, Inc., in its series seed financing led by Venture Guides.
• CAIS in connection with equity financings from Eldridge Industries, Apollo Global Management, Motive Partners, and Franklin Templeton.
• Bespoke Partners in connection with a preferred equity financing from AEA Growth.

Private Investment Fund Formation and Investment Matters

• Sequoia Capital Heritage Fund in connection with numerous private fund investments and co-investment transactions.
• Ocean Avenue Capital Partners in connection with strategic co-investment transactions.
• Synchrony in connection with its investment in Ariel Alternatives’ Project Black.
• Galaxy Digital in connection with the formation of its Galaxy Interactive fund and co-investment funds.
• American Family Insurance in connection with the formation of venture capital investment funds.
• Restive Ventures in the formation of multiple venture capital investment funds and related investments.
• Fiat Ventures in the formation of venture capital funds and related investments.
• Antler in connection with the formation of multiple US funds and special purpose vehicles.

Public Offerings

• Capricor Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CAPR) in connection with its confidentially marked public offerings, PIPE transactions and “at-the-market” programs.

Other Strategic Transactions

• Radiology Partners in connection with its strategic collaboration with Aidoc, for the provision of artificial intelligence solutions in RP’s radiology practices.
• Dubai World with respect to its investment in MGM Resorts International and CityCenter joint venture, and subsequent refinancing of CityCenter.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• Member, Sidley’s Office of General Counsel
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, California Bar Association
• Past Chair of the Executive Committee, Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Business and Corporations Law Section 

• Represented multiple clients through the Sidley Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program.