About Peter

Start-to-finish business law guidance for privately held companies, PE, VC

Peter Spier provides a wide range of business law counsel to privately held companies, private equity funds and venture capital investors. He helps them structure and negotiate mergers and acquisitions (M&A), debt and equity financing, and complex contractual transactions. In addition, Peter advises clients on a wide range of day-to-day operational, compliance and strategic issues, including serving as outside general counsel.

Peter is sought ought by clients for his acumen as a highly responsive advisor, his deep and broad knowledge of the law and how it affects his clients’ businesses, and his ability to guide clients during every phase of a business’ life span.

Experience in Action

  • Represents clients in negotiating and structuring M&A, debt and equity capital raises, distribution agreements and myriad other contractual arrangements.
  • Advises owners who are considering exiting their multi-generational family businesses. Peter has extensive experience guiding such owners through a sale process that can seem intimidating and overwhelming at times, helping them achieve their business and financial objectives.
  • Counsels private equity firms and venture capital investors in fund formation, debt and equity investments and private offerings, as well as in the day-to-day business and legal issues that arise in operating their portfolio companies and in their eventual divestitures thereof.
  • Serves as outside general counsel for middle-market and emerging growth companies, helping them on everything from addressing formation issues and preparing governing documents to structuring and negotiating joint ventures, strategic acquisitions and exits.

Successes

Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Represented registered investment advisor in $73 million asset sale to strategic buyer.
  • Represented large family office in $87 million stock acquisition of leading manufacturer of open deck and material hauling trailers.
  • Represented leading provider of data to sports betting industry in $26.5 million stock sale to one of world's largest gaming companies.
  • Represented leading global manufacturer of industrial food processing equipment in stock acquisitions of French manufacturer and supplier of mechanical separation equipment and Dutch food processing equipment manufacturer.
  • Represented privately held manufacturer of air accessories and equipment for both the professional and do-it-yourself markets in $44 million stock sale to international private equity fund.

Private Equity/Venture Capital

  • Represented venture capital fund in sale of large minority interest in hospitality startup to Fortune 500 hospitality company through reverse triangular merger, generating a 5x return for the fund's limited partners.
  • Represented German private equity firm in acquisition of world leader in digital textile printing.

Professional Recognitions

  • Law Bulletin Media "Illinois Leading Lawyer" (2017–2022: Mergers & Acquisitions, Closely & Privately Held Business Law, Gaming & Casino Law and Securities & Venture Finance Law)
  • Corporate LiveWire "Excellence in Private Equity Legal Services" (2018)
  • Illinois Super Lawyers® "Rising Stars" (2012, 2013: Gaming Law, Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions)

Professional & Civic Activities

  • Association for Corporate Growth, Chicago chapter
    • Executive Committee, vice chairman in charge of membership (2020-present)
    • Board of directors (2015-present)
    • Private Equity Committee (2012-present)
    • Capital Connections Committee (2017-present)
  • American Bar Association
    • Mergers & Acquisitions Committee (2009-present)
    • Market Trends Subcommittee (2009-present)
  • International Association of Gaming Advisors (2010-present)
  • Chicago Bar Association
    • Business Transactions Committee, chair (2020-present)
    • Member (2002-present)
  • Jewish Council for Youth Services, board of directors and Executive Committee (2003-2006)

News & Insights

Education

Bar Admissions

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