40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch - Bruce Ettelson
Bruce I. Ettelson is a partner at Kirkland & Ellis where he practices Corporate Law, Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures, and Venture Capital law. He has a strong emphasis in structuring and forming private equity funds and their management companies. At the relatively young age of 36, Bruce has established himself as a noted national innovator in private equity and fund formation issues. Two private equity funds that he is responsible for include the $4 billion Madison Dearborn Capital Partners IV, L.P., which is the largest private equity fund in Chicago, and the $2.5 billion Vestar Capital Partners IV, L.P. He has also structured and formed private equity funds that are associated with commercial and investment banks, including FleetBoston Bank, PNC Bank, Key Bank, U.S. Bancorp and A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. A nominator said, "I don't think that anyone in the entire country has played a lead role in so much private equity fund formation work, and again, he is only 36!" Bruce is one of only 41 attorneys in the Untied States listed in An International Who's Who of Private Fund Lawyers, published by Law Business Research Ltd. (2000).
In addition, Bruce also represents investors in making and monitoring investments in private equity funds. He also has extensive experience in representing private equity clients in private equity and venture capital investments, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate counseling.
As a member of the Democratic National Committee, Bruce co-hosted a women's leadership forum event for President Clinton in March 2000 and co-hosted two other events with Karenna Gore for her father, Vice President Gore. In addition, he serves on the finance committees for Sen. Richard Durbin and Martin Castro's campaign for the U.S. Congress. He is also a member of the National United Jewish Communities Young Leadership Cabinet and former Chairman of Mount Sinai Medical Institute Council.
Bruce is an Illinois Attorney Under 40 to Watch.
Reprinted with permission from Law Bulletin Publishing Company, July 2001.
