Chris E. Abbinante

CHRIS ABBINANTE is co-managing partner of Sidley’s office in Chicago and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He also is one of the leaders of the Corporate practice in the Chicago office, and is co-chair of the firm’s Accounting and Finance Committee. Chris has served in numerous other leadership roles at Sidley, including co-leader of the firm’s Private Equity practice as well as the co-leader of the Emerging Companies practice.

Chris is repeatedly recognized as a top dealmaker and represents private equity sponsors and corporate clients on complex transactions, including leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, investments, joint ventures, and other corporate matters. He also works with emerging companies, entrepreneurs, and growth capital investors in connection with their investment activities and corporate needs. Over the past 25 years, Chris has represented clients across a number of industries, including healthcare services, medical products and devices, specialty finance, and other financial products and services, technology/e-commerce, media/entertainment, consumer and retail, and business services.

His private equity investor and sponsor clients have included RoundTable Healthcare Partners, BDT Capital Partners, Lovell Minnick Partners, Fortress Investment Group, Peak6, 22C Capital, TowerBrook Capital Partners, and Svoboda Capital, and their respective portfolio companies. Chris has also represented a variety of public and private companies, and other institutions. Recently, he has represented the Big Ten Conference, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Fortune Brands, Novant Health, Apex Clearing Corp., The Roderick Group, 37signals, Farmer’s Fridge, and Tock.

Chris has been recognized by numerous industry publications, most recently by Chambers USA for Illinois Private Equity: Buyouts (2023–2025) and Illinois Corporate/M&A: Private Equity (2017–2023). Law360 (recognized as a “Rising Star” in 2010 and one of the publication’s 10 corporate finance lawyers under 40 to watch); PLC Which Lawyer (recommended in the area of Private Equity/Venture Capital); Best Lawyers in America (Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law: 2013–2019); Best Lawyers in America (recognized as a 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” – Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law); and Legal 500 U.S. (Private Equity Buyout: 2014–2017).

• Board Member, The Goodness Web (TGW)
• Board Member, Window To The World Communications (WTTW)
• Board Member, Big Shoulders Fund
• Member, Leaders Council, Legal Services Corporation
• Member, Economic Club of Chicago
• Board Member (former), DuPage Children’s Museum
• Member (former), IrishAngels (University of Notre Dame-affiliated angel investing group)
• Board Member (former), World Business Chicago, Legal Advisory Board
• Board Member (former), Chicago Sports Commission